Handicrafts

In Japan, where I live, hydrangeas are beautiful from mid-May to early July, which corresponds to the rainy season. Our global mom, Yasuko, made lovely hydrangeas from origami paper. Look at the photos!

Look at these baskets! Our global mom, Yasuko, made them by hand. Aren’t they lovely?

What lovely earrings and broaches! The colors, brown and ivory white, generate a feeling of natural texture. Not only earrings and broaches but necklaces are also available. Can you guess what they are made of?

What lovely mushrooms! They are keychains. The other day, our global mom, Yasuko, received them from her Japanese friend, Akemi. How perfect for an autumn gift!

Look! Three wine bottles are dressed up. All are lovely! I bought the one on the left in Liberia, the middle one in Cambodia, and the bag on the right in the Philippines. All three are hand-made by local women.

In Rome, where I live now, it is getting warmer and warmer day by day. I feel that spring is just around the corner. The other day, I bought several lovely scarves which would go well with my spring clothes. Look at the photo! The pink flowers and small hearts are creating a spring atmosphere.

Washi is Japanese hand-made paper. It is made from ‘kozo’ (paper mulberry). One of my Japanese friends launched a washi-making event with her friends. They make washi in winter. The other day, I visited the women’s group in a mountainous area of western Tokyo. Let me show how washi is made from kozo.

Look at this bag! It has a “beary” unique design in vivid colors. When my mom goes out with this bag, most of the women whom she meets say, “What a lovely bag! Where did you buy it?”

Christmas is approaching. During this period, my friends, brothers, and sisters show up here and there in town to celebrate Christmas. Some of them play the part of Santa Claus. The other day, my mom found this Santa Bear at the reception of a hotel in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Look at this Bear! What do you think it is made of?