The "Experience" of Wrapping Workshop

It’s does not happen often when I have the opportunity to teach not only traditional and modern techniques of packaging but offer an “Experience” of wrapping by showing its added value to the spirit of our daily lives. The beauty of wrapping with furoshiki/fabric lies in how it can used in many ways everyday and how it can bring joy and intention to the practice of giving and gratitude. 

My appreciation goes out to Japan Society for inviting me to host this special workshop and to Conde House for the use of their beautiful Machiya inspired showroom reflecting the feel of a traditional Japanese Merchant House. It blends the history of ancient workshop spaces with today’s minimalist sensibilities. Wagashi (Japanese confectionary delicacy) will be shared , handmade by Yuri Vaughn and presented in Furoshiki. 

Please join us 

FUROSHIKI WORKSHOP

(click above for information/registration) 

The Art of Japanese Gift Wrapping with Fabric

Traditional and Modern Adaptations

June 23 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

No.2 Henry Adams St., Showroom 152

San Francisco

Wrapping from the Top

WRAPPING TOP SIDE UP 

Wrapping invariably involves moving around whatever it is that needs wrapping. 

In the event a gift is a box of chocolates or something you don't want

shifted or disheveled, a "top side up" method of wrapping becomes important.
I had fun playing around with kraft paper experimenting with wrapping....

TOP SIDE UP

Wrapping Top Side Up 

Gift Wrapping: New Life for the Old Sweater and Scrap Fabric

Learn to give new life and spirit to the old sweaters/clothes and scrap fabrics 

around your home this holiday through gift wrapping. 

Sunday December 13, 2015

1:00-2:30pm 

Register Here 

Gift Wrapping: New Life for the Old Sweater and Scrap Fabric 

Workshop 

My favorite sweater shrunk in the wash by my husband (love you!) became
the inspiration to Gift Wrap

I will be one of twenty instructors holding workshops at 

WORKSHOP WEEKEND 

in Oakland

Tech Liminal

555 12th St #110

Oakland, California 94607

Saturday and Sunday

December 12 and 13  2015

https://workshopweekend.net/oakland/catalog

"Workshop Weekend is a community-based two-day event that brings together dozens of short, hands-on workshops across a variety of disciplines, from crafting to engineering to gardening, all taught by local, passionate instructors with years of experience in their craft" 

I will be there to take classes myself as well as teach. 

It never ceases to amaze me where inspiration transpires! 

********

A sweater shield for my Tea Bottle! 

A Banana Republic sleeve finds a new life on a Gift Box

Holiday Gift Wrap: Creatively Sustainable

Join me in supporting the Community Programs 

@ Ruth's Table in San Francisco

Saturday March 12, 2015

1:00-3:00pm 

Register Here

http://www.ruthstable.org/

"Art is for everybody. I like to include people who haven't yet developed their creative side—people yearning to let their creativity out. I like designing projects that make people feel safe, not afraid to get

involved." —Ruth Asawa

I still recall with fond memory years ago sitting around the table with Ruth Asawa making holiday ornaments with paper.  She had a way of making any art experience warm and welcoming and despite her being a world renowned artist, never making anyone feel incapable of creating or making.  I, like many others, owe my place in the creative world to her who allowed us the comfortable space to be creative in our own way, unafraid to be adventurous and daring with our hands and heart.

Ruth’s Table creates a place for people of every age and experience to enrich their lives with art.

Succulent/Packaging Workshop @Oracle

"Creative Collaboration is Awesome"

Alicia Silverstone 

I read somewhere that the best collaborations create something bigger than the sum of what each person can create on their own.  My recent experience helping and working together with my friend Jodi of Flourish to put on a Succulent Workshop for the Oracle Women's Leadership Team spoke to this very concept.   She taught how to beautifully compose a succulent arrangement and I followed up on her suggestion with a demonstration on how to creatively package the succulent plant utilizing simple, accessible materials.  Participants commented that a valuable take away and additional bonus was to learn the skill of making your own DIY succulent as gifts.  It was a great idea. Gauging by the enthusiastic, warm response we received by the 50 women who attended (with more on the waiting list!),  the collaboration was worthwhile and created a richer and more meaningful experience for everyone as a whole, not to mention it was so incredibly enjoyable!

"I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed."

Steve Lacy 

Succulent Making and Packaging Workshop

The opportunity to teach and share the value of honoring what you create and what you give through gift wrapping (simply, artfully and resourcefully) brings me joy.  
The most meaningful moments of the evening was the feedback received
of how the workshop ignited a creative spark, brought people together
and amplified the importance of "making" and  intentional gifting to the forefront. 

Nice to meet the women of OWL
Oracle's Women Leadership Team

Special thanks to Win Chang (center)
Organizer Extraordinaire
Cloud Accelerator Director and Oracle Women's Leadership Community Leader
(A serendipitous meeting indeed to learn you are the sister in law of my good friend Tracy!) 

Gift Wrap for HEATH Ceramics

INVITATION TO GIFT WRAP 

for Heath Ceramics Summer Collection 

Simple, elegant and timeless handcrafted quality - its what makes me a fan of this artisan stoneware company since my long ago days in Berkeley.  It was of no surprise to learn of their minimal waste philosophy when it came to wrapping and packaging.  They recognize, however,  the consumer desire to have something presented artistically especially when something of this quality is being given as a gift.  My challenge was to construct a gift wrapping concept utilizing materials sold in the store.

Wrapping with tea and kitchen towels, napkins, table runners and table accessories 

Love this tea towel designed together with House Industries
sold at Heath 

The Gift Wrap as an Additional Present 

Wrapping Concepts on their way to the Heath Retail Stores
http://www.heathceramics.com/

San Francisco
02900 18th Street, San Francisco, CA  94110
Ferry Building
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111 
Los Angeles
7525 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Hope this inspires ideas to
utilize everyday materials to wrap creatively.
Thank you Heath for the opportunity to collaborate!

Gratitude and Empowering Youth

100 Japanese High School students from the disaster affected areas of Tohoku Japan came again this year to the University of CA, Berkeley for an intensive summer program on global leadership and community planning, service and engagement.  It's my now fourth year involvement as an Instructor and this year Program Manager for Y-PLAN (award winning educational strategy to engage young people and schools in city planning and policy making) Softbank Tomodachi Leadership Program. The opportunity to teach is a blessing. The ability to foster confidence in students victimized by a natural disaster to become agents of change in their community is what keeps me continually inspired by Y-PLAN, ultimately transformational for both students and teachers.

GRATITUDE ART WORKSHOP 

Incorporating intention and art into the program offering for students is a personal joy and mission and this year I organized a Gratitude Art Workshop where reflections of gratitude were reflected in an "of the moment" 100 Thoughts of Gratitude Installation and hand made cards for host families.