Learn Traditional Japanese Fabric Art

For over 200 years, Japanese artisans have practiced delicately folding small squares of cloth to create elegant sculptures inspired by the beauty of nature. These sculptures created through the process known as “Tsumami zaiku” have adorned elaborate hair pieces that match kimonos and are still worn to annual festivals, coming of age celebrations and weddings.  The term “Tsumami” means to “pinch” and the process for making petals, flowers, birds, etc is similar to folding origami paper. 

Renee Johnson, local fiber artist, has spent years studying and practicing Tsumai zaiku and has even gone on to become a certified instructor from the International Tsumami Zaiku Association. As part of our fall programming highlighting the influence of traditional Japanese craft, Renee hopes to share this beautiful artform and help preserve the tradition in maybe an unexpected place, upstate NY! 

In this workshop you will learn how to create your own tsumami floral hairpiece using traditional paste and folding techniques with unique fabrics that have been used to create tsumami zaiku for centuries. With a little practice, these basic techniques can be used to create larger and more elaborate designs.

Date: Saturday, November 8

Time:  9am - 12pm

Location: Main Street Studio, 786 Charlton Road, Charlton NY 12019

Workshop costs:

Registration Cost: $54.00 non-members, $48.60 members (use member promo code at checkout!)

Materials Fee: $10.00 Paid at time of workshop (cash/venmo)

Total Costs: $64.00 non-members, $58.60 members

No previous experience necessary. 

More about Renee

Renee Johnson studied under Rei Furuya and achieved her teaching certificate from the International Tsumami Zaiku Association. She was born in Glenville, NY and resided in Rochester, NY for over 20 years. She has recently relocated back to Glenville, NY. 

Renee is always on the search for unique and beautiful textiles and notions to be used by crafters and seamstresses alike. Renee also hand dyes fabrics and sashiko threads using natural materials like indigo and black walnut.  Renee is also always up for collaborating and experimenting with anything we can think of to dye in the studio! If you are interested in mending, sewing or other traditional Japanese fabric/textile crafts, you can find her supplies online at RochesterTextile.com or stop by the studio and see what she is working on!