Before I left for Saori Worcester, I finished a tee for Frida, who is in desperate need of summer clothes. I had to draw on an inner reserve of courage to take the scissors and cut! I measured her, cut a paper pattern out of newspaper, and prayed a lot! Thankfully, it fit!
In the second heat wave of the season, I made my way to Saori Worcester, praying my car would not overheat in the Berkshires. The drive was uneventful, and I actually arrived a little early. Mihoko suggested we get started right away.
I had brought all my weaving since my last class, and spent the next hour in a one-on-one show and tell. Mihoko provided her gentle feedback, suggesting different techniques, sewing and cutting tips, etc. She left all my samples out for the other students to look at when they arrived for the 6:30 class.
Throughout the rest of the week, the positive feedback from other students was very rewarding and encouraging, and will buoy me along until I return to the Worcester studio in early August.
As much fun and encouraging as the studio time was, the highlight of my trip was a visit to an inner city elementary school that has a partnership program with Saori Worcester. Mihoko's husband, Nat, asked me if I wanted to go and help teach a Saori class of 5th graders. I jumped at the chance, and 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, we were buzzed in through the locked and barred doors of the xxx School of Science & Technology.
It was explained to me the school had found some table looms in storage; then put out the word to other schools in the district to search their attics. The result produced 20 table looms in various degrees of unkeptness. Mihoko told me they spent a lot of time scrubbing and cleaning the looms to return them to working order. The art teacher was then trained in Saori techniques, and the program put in place.
The next 45 minutes were the fastest minutes of the day! The students filed in the classroom, and grabbed their table looms (two students per loom). Boxes of various yarns of different textures and colors were produced, and the students got down to work. I love the idea that the students were working in teams on their looms. The lesson for the day was two-color interlock. I went up to a bunch of boys and asked if they knew how to do the technique. They said no, so I demonstrated and asked if they wanted to give it a try. They were off, so I moved on to my next group. I praised their use of color and texture, the bits of treasure they had woven in. The girls giggled and laughed and at me, as 5th grade girls will do. But it didn't matter. I was having such a good time. We had to practically shout to hear one another, the sound level was so high!
Then one boy came up to me and asked if I would show him how to add feathers in his weaving. Sure! So we went over to his loom, he produced a handful of feathers, and I showed him how to tuck them in. Once I was assured he was okay, I left him to his own, and continued moving around, offering help where needed.
As the class came to an close, these "tough" inner city kids didn't want to put their looms away! They didn't want it to end! The teacher had to ask several times for the kids to clean up and put things away. There was another flurry of activity as the room was set in motion. But then, there was a tug on my arm. "Miss! Please come here!" It was the boy with the feathers. Before I left, he wanted to show me his weaving. I went across the room, where he turned around with his loom and just about shoved it in my face! He was beaming; grinning from ear to ear, so proud of his weaving and his feathers! I will never forget his face, his smile, and the greatest gift he gave me that day.
Inspired by the school kids, this was the weaving I did in the studio class.
When I returned home, the fabric wanted to be made into a vest; my first Saori wearable!
While in Worcester, Mihoko taught me how to do a two-color interlock in a warp. When I returned home, I gave it a try.
I think I will use this fun fabric for some evening bags / cosmetic cases.
I'm almost finished with Em's b'day bag, and hope to post pics soon. Just working out some technical details.
I did some cold process dyeing on my return from Worcester, before the poppies and bachelor buttons disappear.
Tia Sari returned from CR due to a knee injury, so Em and the girls came by for a visit. Did I mention Sundays are Georgie's favorite day? Oh, how I love my Little Shepherdess!
Wherever you go today, whatever you do; may you do it with all your heart.
Fleece,
Abu
Such a joyful post; I could almost SEE that beaming boy!
Posted by: Michelle McMillen | 06/13/2011 at 03:56 PM
Michelle,
Yes! The image of that boy in my memory will last a long time. Oh, how I wish I could have taken his picture! But you need all kinds of permissions these days, so my memory will just have to do.
Thanks for stopping by,
Abu
Posted by: Fleeceful Kingdom | 06/14/2011 at 07:10 AM
Such a beautiful post! The material, the outfit for Frida, the vest you made, the image of the boy, so proud of his accomplishment, wanting to share his joy and getting an "ataboy" in return...I still search for "ataboys" or atagirls!...isn't that silly, that we need that praise or validation from others? Anyway, once again I'm, "blown away" by what you're doing...I wish I lived closer!!! Thank you sooooooooooo much for sharing, your journey, your accomplishments, your struggles, and your joy, and the joy to teach someone...what a gift! and also I get to see thoses beautiful grand kids...hope Sare's doing better, keep us posted on the knee...love to all!
Posted by: bmor | 06/14/2011 at 10:23 AM