Wow, I don’t know what to say! I have been shortlisted as a Finalist for the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2012 in the Education Entrepreneur category! Previous winners include maverick greetings card site FunkyPigeon.com and British retail giant Sainsbury’s.
On the second floor of the gorgeous tea house Iyemon Salon on Sanjo Dori, tucked away behind the Sohya Tas kimono fabric products store, is a gallery of kimono design. It is always deserted and you can soak up the intricacies of stunning kimono designs up close. ‘Kimono’ literally means ‘something to wear’ in Japanese, but this style of dress is far from just something to wear – it is a display of tradition, beauty and story.
A few weeks back I shared a peek into my time at Kawashima Textile School. The school was set up by Kawashima, one of the most respected textile companies in Japan. For decades Kawashima has been entrusted with creating some of the country’s most precious fabrics, including the interior of the Emperor’s train carriage. As a student of the school I was lucky to be given a peek behind the doors of the factory, including the secret room where they make drapes for some of country’s most important shrines.
Tucked away down a quiet street in the trendy Tokyo district of Shimokitazawa is a shop that might just take your breath away. Its rough concrete walls and wire shelves sit alongside old wooden furniture and quirky lampshades, all playing host to the beautiful products offered by fog linen. Carefully curated to offer delight at every turn, the natural colours of the linen – shaped into clothing, bags, children’s shoes, napkins and all sorts of other goods, are calming and enticing.
Trade Shows come in all shapes and sizes, and cover every industry you can imagine. What is your dream show? I always thought mine would be a stationery trade show, where you can see what is on the horizon, meet suppliers directly, get ideas and inspiration and generally spend hours walking around a massive hall of gorgeous stationery. And I was not disappointed when I visite ISOT 2012 as research for The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. It was huge, exciting and eye-opening.
If you like the sound of a city centre closed to traffic, ancient wooden festival floats lit up with hundreds of traditional lanterns, street stalls selling fried noodles and other delicious offerings, and tens of thousands of people strolling in beautiful summer kimonos, then you want to take yourself to Kyoto for the Gion Matsuri. Here are a few pictures from a hot hot night here!
Today’s shared story comes from Rachelle Panagarry who lives in the UK with her husband and children, teaches full time, creates art and loves life.
Some people might say that from the outside appearance, I’m already doing what I love, but those who really know me can see that I’m actually just beginning to do it. I know this might not really make too much sense but let me explain.
I’m currently working full time as a school teacher in a school that is full of fun and challenges and no two days are ever the same. What’s more, I LOVE that place and I feel in a very honored position to have a part in educating the children that come into my care.
BUT
My true love, in fact what I now believe to be my true life as well as love, is my art.
After taking a break from teaching due to illness, and having much needed breathing space, I have rediscovered what I knew to be true all along. I am an artist. Yes, I said it. I AM an artist. This is my true calling, I know it and feel it and the desire to be creative grows stronger every day.
For so many years now, I have watched and admired other artists from the sidelines. I’d read about them, collect artwork, view websites and wonder ‘what if’ I’d pursued my art rather than teaching. Well due to what could have been a real negative situation, but actually turned out to be the best, the illness (heart related) has given me that push to go do it for myself. If I’ve learned one thing this last twelve months, it’s that life is short so GRAB it and DO WHAT YOU LOVE.
I realized that if I want to be taken seriously, then I had to take my art seriously myself. I started to blog, tentatively at first, and put my artwork ‘out there’ for the whole world to see. I wasn’t really prepared for the response that I got. Like many creative folk, I too suffer from the ‘my art’s not good enough syndrome’, so it was a real shock when the response was positive. But even better was an email in my inbox asking if I’d like to have my art included in a book to be published by Suzi Blu. I think I actually screamed out loud when I read the message. Of course I said yes, and this year it was published. A dream come true for me, but better than that, it gave me the confidence to really believe in myself and to go after what I want. I want to do what I love, and what I love is making art.
Things are starting to go from strength to strength and I can feel a bright future ahead of me now, something that I didn’t see before I was ill. It’s so exciting… I can’t wait for this creative journey ahead, I just know I’m going to LOVE it.
[Images courtesy of Rachelle Panagarry.]
Find out more about Rachelle on her website.
Today I am thrilled to share this interview with Japanese contemporary lighting designer Ai Kawauchi. I met Ai when fellow lighting designer Hannah Nunn came out to Kyoto to visit recently. Ai is featured in Hannah’s upcoming book ‘Illuminate‘ which showcases contemporary craft lighting from around the world. Ai’s work is unique, fascinating and other-worldly – here is a peek into her world.
Image by Hannah Nunn
