Open Studio 1:

Circles, and the blanket stitch.

Hi there, thank you for dropping by and following along. I blinked and September happened, I can’t believe it’s already October. Let’s not blink this month away too.

This post is to announce I’m adding a new “series” of sorts to this newsletter/ blog, I like to think of it as an open studio. A place you can drop by, say hi, see a little more behind the scenes of my work. Some might call this series “tutorials”. I like to think of it as an invitation to my new virtual studio. Let’s imagine the lighting is very good, there is comfortable furniture, and snacks. There is probably some kind of jazz music playing in the background, there is a cat sleeping in a sunbeam.

Why Substack for tutorials?

Are my reels on Instagram a little frenetic? Yes, yes they are. I make reels because the hungry Instagram algorithm beast finds them particularly tasty. I try not to complain about Instagram and its algorithm. It’s mostly a free service and it has allowed me to make wonderful connections, but I’m not immune to it either. I make reels to get attention, not to teach or explain my process.

Here is quieter, slower space where I can work here and there, and you can see a slower process, with explanations if you’re curious. I don’t typically do tutorials or hold workshops, because I would simply rather be doing my work. But the techniques behind my work aren’t a secret; I don’t mean to be secretive. I just prefer working to teaching.

This open studio series has been inspired by a phenomenon I experience pretty regularly: travelers visit Tokyo and generously ask me if they can visit my studio. It’s very kind to be thought of as a “real artist” who might have a public space where I can share myself and my work, but that isn’t the case. (Studios cost money, and Tokyo is expensive! Maybe one day!). I always explain that while I do not have a studio, if my schedule is open, we can just meet for coffee and hangout. If the traveler wants me to bring some of my work or asks for a one on one lesson, I say that if they buy me a coffee, sure of course.

I don’t want to charge people for a masterclass, or a zoom lesson. That feels too formal to me, and zoom does not appeal to me. I’m not a blanket stitch sensei and I certainly didn’t invent it. I shy away from the monetization of knowledge, especially such a simple embroidery technique. Just buy me a coffee for my time, and I’m happy to share my process, techniques, and inspiration with you.

I have two coffee options:

A 5 dollar coffee: are you feeling fancy? Want to go to Blue Bottle or Starbucks? Want to pop in, see an explanation on the blanket stitch, and then duck out? Cheers! (This is the $5 a month tier on Substack. You can join or cancel anytime.)

A 3 dollar coffee: I’m pretty partial to the Lawson’s convenience store coffee. I like to keep things cheap and cheerful. If you’d like to save a bit of coin, pop in my studio whenever you like, see more of my Hibi Sanpo project, and generally be a patron of my work, then maybe the yearly subscription might be up your alley.

(By supporting my work, you will also be able to leave comments, and join my chat, where you can ask me questions, trouble shoot a technique, or share what you are working on. A place more personable than Instagram.)

If, and however you choose to support my work, I am always very grateful.

Open Studio 1:

For my first open studio, I would like to give a little more insight about why I like the blanket stitch so much, and some of the meaning and metaphor behind it that it holds for me. I would like to show you the supplies I like to use, and offer you three videos that breaks down my technique for you. I also want to show you a my real time process with you of a piece I worked on from start to finish, to see the technique in action and my thought process as I worked on the piece. Rarely does the finished piece turnout the way I had imagined it.

If this sounds like something interesting, or something that might help you in your own work or practice, then let’s go get a coffee.