Japanese New Year Tradition (2013)

Happy New Year 2013!  New Years morning is something I look forward to every year. As far back as I can remember, it's been a tradition growing up celebrating the New Year (Oshogatsu in Japanese) with symbolic foods- ozoni soup (rice cake in fish broth with vegetables); kuri kinton (mashed sweet potatoes with chestnut) symbolizing gold, wealth, prosperity;  kuromame- sweet black soybeans for hard, industrious work and good health; and namasu- seasoned carrot and daikon signifying a strong foundation for family.  My mother passed away years ago but this tradition lives on through my mother in law Kyoko who is a wonderful cook.  While I've made some of the dishes in the past,  this year we cooked everything together and I am officially certified to take this on hereafter and pass it on to my children. I learned all of the dishes from the very best teacher. It's incredible to learn just how much work and hours goes into every detail.   Like gift wrapping, thought behind presentation is of value as the feelings behind the meal is expressed visually.  One of the many traditional influences passed down through the generations...

My family's  Japanese New Year Table
2013 

Memories of my Mother who brought lacquerware from Japan
that we use every New Year

My children receive "otoshidama" money envelope from their grandparents -
a Japanese New Years custom 

Making Mochi (Japanese rice cake) with my daughter
Melanie and Grandmother Kyoko 

The Gift of Handmade Inspiration

Celebrating the last days of 2012 December with a cold.  Wrapped in a blanket with some tea, I'm going through the trailers of the creative artist instructors on CreativeBug.  Their stories reveal the soul behind the craft works of the "makers" and so beautifully shot that it's not only a visual treat but like a good book, it brings you into another world, a new way way of seeing things, inviting you to take a journey into the magical world of handmade creativity.  I invite everyone to treat themselves and explore taking up a new craft in 2013-- learn to knit, sew, embroider or book bind as I plan to do.
Start with the free classes being offered for a limited time on Creativebug.com to get started.  Just a sampling.... I have a free class going on as well.

Paste Paper with Courtney Cerruti
http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/courtney-cerruti

Luminaria Candle Shades with Kelly Wilkinson
http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/kelly-wilkinson-5

Repurposed Bow with Megumi Inouye
http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/megumi-inouye

Embroidery Sampler with Rebecca Ringquist
http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/rebecca-ringquist

Kinokuniya Bookstore Demonstration/Workshop

It's no surprise that December would be a scheduled packed month for a gift wrapper and 2012 was no exception. I've not posted a blog since November!  Thank you to all - friends and family too- that came out for my Repurposed Holiday Bow Demonstration/Workshop at Kinokuniya Bookstore on Friday December 14th in San Francisco's Japantown!  I was invited as their guest artist to help launch their community building public offering series.   

Great idea for bringing people together!

Had fun showing the public how to tranform scrap strips of paper (even origami and washi strips) into a holiday gift bow. The big hit for the young girls was making bows from old recycled Japanese Anime Magazines.  Save those old magazines- there is a new life for them awaiting.

My Family Helping Out
Love you!

SCRAP ART: Creative Reuse Exhibit

"Materials, like people, have the potential for multiple destinies..."

Megumi L.  Inouye

"I search A r T: Repurposed Gift Wrapping"

By Megumi Inouye 

SCRAP ART: Creative Reuse Exhibit
December 1-January 9 2012

Arc Studios and Gallery

San Francisco 

(Click to view details) 

I'm not only honored but excited to share the news.  My gift wrapping artwork was selected to be a part of the "SCRAP ART: Creative Reuse" Exhibit!  I had fun converting old mailing envelopes, ledger paper, maps, recycled catalogs and file folders into wrapping bows!  I want to encourage everyone to visit the gallery and see the show as it will feature many other San Francisco Bay Area artists who repurpose materials for their art.  It's going to be an inspiring exhibition to get everyone thinking about reusing materials in a new way!  Let's show our support to the exhibition organizers SCRAP, a non profit creative reuse center in San Francisco whose existence breathes new life into old objects and reduces waste by diverting over 200 tons of materials heading to the landfill every year!   Hope to see you at the preview reception for those in town!  (A special thank you to my husband Doug who helped me with the challenging task of mounting my boxes to a frame which too was a Scrap purchase! )

Featured Works of Friends in the Exhibition 

Don't miss seeing.... 

Monica Lee's Book Cake 

Dorothy Yuki's Map Centerpiece 

Gift Wrapping Workshops for the Holidays

We're heading into what is my busiest and yet my most favorite
time of the year!  It's also when everyone else is interested in Gift Wrapping...
I always love to share ideas and equally love meeting people at my
workshops.  Here's what I have lined up for the holidays.
Hope to see you in person taking one of my classes.

Gift Wrapping: The Art of Repurposing Everyday Materials 

with Megumi Inouye 

College of San Mateo Community Education (click to view registration information) 

Thursday, November 8, 2012  6:30pm-9:30pm 

Holiday Gift Wrapping Inspirations 

with Megumi Inouye 

College of San Mateo Community Education (click to view registration information)

Saturday, December 1, 2012  1:30pm-4:30pm

Scrap Wrap It

w/Monica Lee and Megumi Inouye 

SCRAP (click to view registration information)

Saturday, December 15, 2012  1:00pm-4:00pm

Creative Bug & Pinterest: "I Made This" Contest

My friends at Creativebug just launched a new contest that I think you might LOVE.  Running until October 16th,  you have three ways to win their grand prize worth well over $400, including a free THREE-month subscription to Creativebug and piles of materials and supplies!   Here are the details:  Have fun and good luck! 

http://blog.creativebug.com/i-made-this-contest/

This is a great time to introduce you to my fellow Creativebug instructors - check out their blogs-  you will not only be inspired to create but it also increases your chances of winning by leaving comments on their Creativebug contest post -after you build your Pinterest board.  Here's the list of my participating Creativebug pals:   (including me!) 

Improv Sewing http://www.improvdiary.com

Hello! Lucky: http://www.hellolucky.com/wordpress/

Rebecca Ringquist: http://www.drop-cloth.blogspot.com/

Jody Alexander: http://wishiwashistudio.blogspot.com

Liesl Gibson: http://oliverands.com/blog/

Jill Draper: http://jilldraperblogs.blogspot.com/

Cal Patch: http://hodgepodgefarm.net/

Rad Megan: http://radmegan.blogspot.com

Natalie Chanin: http://alabamachanin.com/journal/

Courtney Cerruti: http://www.papermusingsblog.blogspot.com/

Megumi Inouye: http://giftwrapbymegumi.blogspot.com/

Heather Ross: http://heatherross.squarespace.com/journal/ 

Gifts of Endearment

Thoughtful gestures of gift wrapped kindness from friends always touches my heart.
Just wanted to post a few things that came my way this week.

Fig Spread from Janet wrapped in the Sports Page (Go Giants!)
with a Cardboard Gift Tag with my initials- paper clipped.  So great! 

 

My friend Kate Frankel is known for her beautiful creations made of wool felt, hand cut.
Love this simple leaf wrap accessory here bounded by a thin leather band.
The apricot jam was equally a treat.
Be on the lookout for her future website... 

My girlfriend Tracy brings succulents wrapped in a basket.
Love it!!!