Gift Wrap by Megumi: Summer Wrap Up : My First Blog Post

Thanks to the encouragement and support from my son Michael and Megan Anderson (felter, crafter, blogger/producer extraordinaire at creativebug.com and now Craft War Champion) I am finally doing it! I’m starting my gift wrapping/art blog. Not sure where to start but thought I’d share what transpired over the summer.

"Hopeful Intentions"

A transformative experience for me was working with High School students from the Tsunami affected areas of Northern Japan at UC Berkeley. They were here in the Bay Area as part of the Ayusa organized Softbank Tomodachi Leadership Program learning the Y Plan(Youth-Plan Act Learn Now). I had the privilege of being one of the instructors in the area of Public Space and was given an opportunity to integrate an art component to the experience.

“Hopeful Intentions”
Wurster Gallery
University of CA, Berkeley

Working with 300 young leaders from the tsunami ravaged region of Tohoku Japan and the Y- Plan instructor team, we encouraged the students to write their hopeful intentions on the petals of a wrapping bow- symbolizing their aspirations to bring new life and vitality back to their home communities. It became an installation at Wurster Gallery. The collection of words - about hopes, wishes and dreams on the bows were powerful.

The bows were made from repurposed file folders representing renewal, revival, finding beauty in things we may carelessly throw away or regard as no longer significant.

(Instructions on how to make this bow can be found on Creativebug.com for anyone wanting to launch a similar project or to simply convey a thoughtful message to someone who has been a source of inspiration! )

The work accomplished with the Y Plan brought hope and purpose to these student leaders of not only Japan but the world. It’s my dream to see the words on these bows become a reality. Gift giving, packaging, teaching and public art at its best!

Thank you to Deborah McKoy, Shirl Buss, Susan Hartmann and Y Plan Instructors for all your support and encouragement. This could not have happened without you!
You not only transformed the lives of the students, you were an inspiration to me!

To my daughter Maddie and her boyfriend Eddie, thank you for all your help in the classroom everyday and for being awesome mentors! Your engagement with the students meant so much!

Last day with my students - I will miss them all!

Dwell on Design Event in Los Angeles - June 23, 2012

I want to share this inspiring craft meets design online publication, soon to become a magazine Handful of Salt. Meet Regina Connell, Founder and Editor in Chief. (Thank you Liza Dalby for the introduction!)

“We believe that craft and design and art are related: that in the right hands, great art is designed and great craft is art. And it’s to those hands we dedicate a Handful of Salt. “

(click to read interview)

I was so honored to collaborate with Handful of Salt to invite architects, designers, creators, landscape designers and the general public attending the Dwell on Design Event in Los Angeles to write messages of hope to the 300 High School Students coming from Northern Japan to the United States in August. (see above post). Messages were written on file folder strips which I converted to a large

BOW for Dwell Magazine's Demonstration Stage.

A glimpse of the messages left for the students: does it not stir the heart? I centered my demonstration on how thoughts, intentions, messages can be symbolized through the craft of presentation and carry a meaningful gift in itself.

Renegade Craft Fair - July 21, 2012

I’m one of the workshop instructors of a line up of some incredibly crafty artists being featured on this new online craft/art instructional website: Creativebug.com. If you are inspired by creativity you will be hooked! The trailers of the instructors (make sure to view them) will showcase why you have something to learn from this group of talented teachers. They not only have secret tips to divulge in their craft, but have inspiring philosophies and stories to share.