Kimono Coat

Nobu works at Loop of the Loom on Monday and Tuesday since I opened Loop of the Loom in NY. She's been creating many SAORI woven fabrics and tapestries. We'd been looking forward to see her SAORI clothes for long long time.
Finaly! OMG! She finished 3 pieces for SAORI-kai(deadline?)!
This kimono coat is one of them. Its' amazing!
*The model is Nobu's friend.

What we can do...

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the donation of cherry trees by Japan to New York. Ever since they were planted, New Yorkers have looked forward to blooming of the delicate, pink blossoms. They signify that the warm breeze of spring has breathed life into the city after yet another long, cold winter.
My heart aches to think of the horrible tragedies and daily suffering of the people who survived the Great Tohoku Disaster last year. A weaver by trade, I pondered upon what I could do to help through weaving. I believe that items woven with a free and joyful heart have the power to give people freedom and joy. My plan is to send a tapestry of cherry trees adorned with blossoms woven by several hundred people of all ages, from young children to people with a mature life view.

SAORI hand-weaving originated in Japan and encourages weavers to explore themselves and their world using a framework that allows a high degree of freedom and creativity. Loop of the Loom is the only SAORI hand-weaving studio in New York. This time, I am participating in an event held at the American Museum of Natural History to mark the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees to New York to be held March 14th-17th. Loop of the Loom will have four looms on location and will create cherry blossoms from the fabric woven by workshop participants.

This project will continue after the event at the American Museum of Natural History, and supporters plan to hold it on-site at Loop of the Loom as well as to expand it to other locations such as schools, public spaces, and offices. The flowers will be woven by participants in 2 inch square pieces on portable looms provided by Loop of the Loom using beautiful pale pink cotton yarn dyed with Japanese cherry trees. Weaving takes approximately five minutes, and the finished fabric will be removed from the loom, gathered the warp yarn, and shape into a flower. The flowers made by the participants will be tied onto a long piece of fabric woven to look like a cherry tree, and we hope to create the image of a tree in full bloom. I plan to send the collectively woven cherry trees to a hospital in the Tohoku area (either Ishinomaki, Miyako, or Fukushima), with the hope that people waiting for treatment of mind or body will find them therapeutic.



We are looking for donors for this project.

Financial donations
1.Funds for yarn to weave fabric to look like trees onto which cherry blossoms will be attached
2.Funds to cover the cost of labor to thread the warp onto looms.
3.Funds for sending woven cherry trees to Japan by airmail

Other donations
1. Volunteers to weave fabric (no experience necessary)
2. Provision of venues to hold project (schools, offices, event spaces, and so on)


We would love to work with you on this project and would appreciate any help you can provide. Supporters of this project are increasing, but we still need help. Please consider helping to bring the hope of spring to the Tohoku area in order to thank Japan for blessing our city of New York with beautiful cherry blossoms every spring.

For more information or to donate/volunteer, please contact us!

Yukako Satone
Mari Nakano

本年2012年は、日本からニューヨークに贈られた桜の木が植樹されて100年にあたります。それ以来、毎年、長く寒い冬の終わりとともに、美しく可憐な桜の花々が街のあちらこちらで咲き始め、新しい息吹の季節である春の訪れをニューヨーカーに告げてくれます。
昨年、東北大震災によって起こった幾重もの災いや日々の苦悩は我々には計りがたいもので心痛の思いです。手織りを業いとする私は、手織りでなにかできないか考えました。型にとらわれず思いのままに心をこめて織ったものは、きっと被災された方々に織り手の祈りが伝わると思います。子供から大人まで多くの人が織る桜の花木をニューヨークから届けたいと思います。
私は自分自身が手織りを始めたのが、2002年。911での精神的なショックから立ち直るきっかけになったのが「さをり手織り」です。何もやる気が出なかったときに、同じような精神状態の友達と手織りをすることで、とても楽しい時間を共有し、手織りを経験した人みんなが、色や手触りを楽しみ、笑顔で喜んでいました。それを機に、さをり手織り教室を開きました。私の主宰する手織りスタジオLoop of the Loomは、日本発祥の自由な新しい手織り「さをり」を楽しめるニューヨーク唯一のスタジオです。スタジオがオープンしてから7年間、私は多くのボランティア活動をしてきました。このたび、ニューヨークのアメリカ自然史博物館で植樹100年を記念した桜イベントが3月14日から17日まで開催され、Loop of the Loomは4台の織り機を館内に設置し、参加者が織った布で桜の花を作るプロジェクトを実施します。
このプロジェクトは、桜イベント終了後も継続し、賛同者は、Loop of the Loomもしくは、別の場所(学校、パブリックスペース、オフィススペース等)でも実施する計画です。作製方法は、Loop of the Loomが用意したポータブル織り機と経糸に、日本の桜の木で染められた美しい天然染めの綿糸を使い、５cm四方の布を参加者各自に織っていただきます。織りに掛かる時間は5分ほどです。織り機から切り離し、経糸を絞り、花の形状を作ります。それを桜の木に見立てた別の長い布に結びつけ、一人一人が作った桜の花で満開を目指します。何本か出来たさをり織りの桜の木はニューヨークから、4月に被災地の病院に送り、心身の治療に来られる方が待合室で過ごす時間に美しい布を目にすることで少しでも癒しになればと思います。

このプロジェクトに当たって、ドナーを募っています！
経済的ドネーション
１．桜の花を取り付ける木に見立てた布を織るための糸代
２．経糸を通すための準備費用
３．日本へ仕上がった桜の花の布を送る航空便の費用
その他のドネーション
４．布を織る作業に参加して下さる方　(経験不要）
５．プロジェクトの開催場所の提供　(学校、会社、イベント会場など）

ぜひ、このユニークな桜の花のプロジェクトにご参加下さい。現在このプロジェクトに賛同する方が増えていますが、実施するためにはまだ少しばかりの援助を必要としています。
100年経った今、遠く離れたニューヨークから桜の花のご恩返し。
毎年春が来ると日本の桜はニューヨークを明るく彩ってくれています。こんどは私達から東北の皆さんに、希望の春が早く訪れますよう祈りをこめて送ります。どうか、手織りの桜の花に織り込められた一つの願いが叶いますようご協力下さい。


さとねゆかこ (SAORI Hand Weaver/手織り教室Loop of the Loom代表)
中野まり（Project Coordinator)
contact@LoopoftheLoom.com
212-722-2686

After the trial class....

I wonder how people enojoy their SAORI woven piece at home. Here is a heartwarming letter I just received. Thank you, Elseline.


Dear Yukako

Over the Holiday Season I finally managed to finish the piece that I made in October in your beautiful studio and I thought I would share it will you.

I told my husband that it made me think of deep oceans and he carved two manta rays for me to use on it. One of my gifts over the season was a shawl pin that looks all tentacled so I added it too. Thank you for an awesome day. I have very fond memories of my time doing this. It hangs in my dining room where I see it every day.

Happy New Year to you and all your lovely staff. May your work grow from strength to strength.
Kind regards
Elseline

Happy New Year 2012!

Today I opened the studio for the first business day of 2012.
I'm so happy to be here and open the door for welcoming people into Loop of the Loom.
Mari came back from her vacation in Japan and helped me to clean the studio.
The studio is refresh now! Then we received the big packages from SAORI Japan. These boxes contained a SAORI wooden loom model "Kasasagi". This will be delivered to the division of Child Life of the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian as a gift from Japan. Our team has been very excited to receive this loom for children in the hospital.

I received another package from Mihoko of SAORI Worcester. This mail is much smaller. Still a lot of meaningful items were enclosed in the envelope.
The below is the announcement to SAORI weavers from SAORI Worcester.
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Hope all of you a very wonderful holidays.
As you may know after last 3/11/2011 many people who associates SAORI in Japan has been supporting SAORI friends who were effected by Tsunami. There are many people who had been suffering from the event. Some SAORI studios re-opened in summer or fall after the disaster. Now there are volunteer instructors who bring looms to shelters to give other victims to have opportunities to weave/relax.

Non-profit organization SAORI Hiroba in Osaka,Japan had organized projects to support Tsunami victims. The name of this project is "Omoi no Katachi". It means a form of "thinking of you" by my translation. They have been asking all SAORI weavers to donate scarves to raise fund or give to people who need them in the area where it gets snow a lot in winter. When I was at SAORI Hiroba last summer, I got the name tags of this projects to distribute to SAORI weavers in US and Canada. At last I am asking you to participate this project in any way you can.

I will send the project name tags to you as long as another paper tag which you can write your name and a message. Just one tag is enough but if you can make 2 , that would be wonderful. A group work is also appreciated.
It doesn't matter it's wool or cotton or rayon or any materials. You are donating your time, and labor with your loving, caring and thoughtful energy.

There is no due date. SAORI Hiroba emphasize this project have to run a long way. Remembering them is so important and if you can send your "form of thinking of them", that would be wonderful. At SAORI Hiroba when they have enough scarves they would distribute through a SAORI studio in Sendai or they would sell them at their gift shops/gallery and send the fund to people who are in struggling situation.

I apologize that I haven't reported more details about how the victims are doing specially SAORI friends. As long as I know there were no death in SAORI weavers' circle. But there were few studios which were damaged terribly by Tsunami. At this point some of them reopened the studio, some are on the process.

Thank you for your kind thoughts to Japan in advance. I hope our forms of thinking of them convey our friendship and encourage people who lost families, houses, jobs, health and many other things.
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If you'd like to be a part of this project, please drop or send your woven scarves to Loop of the Loom. I will mail the scarves all together to SAORI Hiroba in Osaka.

SAORI Volunteer College in Japan

SAORI Japan introduces Ana as a student of SAORI Volunteer College in their blog. I hope you can read Japanese, otherwise use online translator.

Click>> Diary from SAORI Headquarter

From Ana in Japan

Hope that everything is going well in the studio and that the Japan Society event goes well. Please let me know how it goes.

Yesterday Petch (Thailand), Eiji sensei and I went to SAORI no Mori, it was a wonderful experience. Misao Jo is frail and rests a lot in her special bed close to all studios. She seems to be "half here, half somewhere else" as it is only natural for someone of her age and sensibility. When she is present she is very present! She held our hands and squeezed them and hugged us, we had a beautiful moment.

Misao Jo wove for us at her spot with a view to the trees outside. We talked for a little bit and then I gave her my gift. She was curious about the textures of the portuguese traditional weaving from the north I offered her. She kept on rubbing her fingers on the designs.

At some point we were walking through the studio and she saw some ribbons on the floor and bent down to get them! ...the staff played with her and said that she does not have to do it... but we can see this is her determined way, still! I could feel her spirit and when she was holding my hand and our eyes met, it was very powerful.

Everyone in the studio was wonderful. We had a great time with Jo Toshiharu that showed us designs and we saw his special group of weavers (they have been weaving together for over 20 years!) at work. Wonderful pieces.

So much to tell! The big event is tomorrow and we saw the rehearsals of Amoeba last night at the studio, it moved me.

Off to the studio. Please send my regards to all in NYC.

A smile, Ana :>

Photo courtesy of SAORI no mori

NYS Sheep and Wool Festival 2011

Last weekend Loop of the Loom participated once more in the fun energy of the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival at Duchess County, NY.
Our booth was a very unique and not same as other. Bright, vivid colors caught the eye of many visitors and we introduced the SAORI.
Also we had many surprises of old, new and current students visiting our stand. Thank you for stopping by!






Animals, Artisans, Materials, Colours, Creativity and many like minded visitors have contributed to a lively event. The full cycle, from the land to many finished products, is represented. All processes honored and shared, it is quite a treat. Sheep and Woll Festival is a gathering that tells us about how all is connected and makes one -literally- feel part of the web, the web of life.

Looping along, Weaving we go!

Rainbows of projects

The After School Classes are starting to surprise all with the first projects materializing.
Zoe wove a rainbow; Heather and Shannan made sure their belts were long enough so that they can wear them as they grow; Sophie felted a delicate winter fairy and Maria popped by the studio to make sure we saw how her dog looks with the brand new dog leash she wove for it. SURPRISE!


Looping along, Weaving we go!

Call for Fabric! Weaving Action ... in action!

It is that transitional time of the year when we prepare for the winter and the celebrations it holds.

Loop of the Loom has collaborated with the "Carter Burden Center for Aging" in last holiday season and we are ready to do it again!
We feel it is fundamental to take the SAORI spirit of giving and receiving in meaningful ways to the community around us. The SAORI Weaving community participates with hand woven and crafted gifts that are included on a gift bag offered to these house bound senior citizens.

Last year we made hanging holders that were greatly appreciated. This year we are asking for your Weaving Action contributions of woven fabric for this purpose or for your leftover pieces of fabric to assemble another original SAORI creation.

Carol, an assiduous contributor to our Weaving Action seasonal community giving, an artist and a thoughtful weaver is ahead of the game! Last month Carol brought us a bag with two long colorful strips of cloth for the purpose! THANK YOU CAROL!
This is a part of her message to Yukako. "I know what you mean about the love in the xmas weavings. I did most of the weaving during the storm (Hurricane Irene) and the power outage and I kept thinking of the people I was weaving for, thinking how terrible to be alone during a time like that, especially if they're elderly and disabled."

Let us know if you would like to participate. Looping along, Weaving we go!

New York SAORI-Kai, October 2011

Loop of the Loom weavers gathered this Sunday to share work and inspiration.
Through beautiful and sensitive photographs of Yukako's trip to Senegal and Mali, she shared with all the Weaving in Action SAORI project at a foster home, Daara de Malika, in Senegal. We got acquainted with the incredible work achieved with youth finding an outlet for their creativity through SAORI weaving in such a short period of time. Yukako facilitated the creation of what seems to be an enduring project. The uniqueness of the youth's work as SAORI artists has already made it to a beautiful catalog from the Daara de Malika.
Yukako also shared with all weaving tools, traditions, detailed images of the processes and many stories from West African weaving with particular emphasis on her Indigo dying experience in Mali.



Following the inspiration from West African weaving ways, came the works of the Loop of the Loom students. It was fantastic to witness the diversity of pieces and the versatility of the simplicity of SAORI weaving warped and weft in such intricate, beautiful ways. Wabi-sabi was all over the room as we all shared and marveled at each others work. We even had the serendipitous visit of one of our young weavers who modeled one of the wee dresses presented!



A challenge that takes the SAORI weaving deeper and reaching wider to a weaving community of committed sharing through art, action and unique beauty.




Looping along, Weaving we go!