☆★☆★☆Shari Studio News: March / April 2011☆★☆★☆

I returned to my studio in Shari in late March to discover that it was still covered with lots of snow !
				I was fortunate to be able to dig my through the snow and ice to get inside.
I was happy that I had enough wood to make a cozy fire to keep me and Kasuri warm ! The daytime temperatures are now above freezing so the snow is melting away, so I am anxiously waiting for Spring to arrive.
Hokkaido was very similar to the weather I left behind in Boston. I have posted one picture of the late winter sunset outside of my Boston studio a few days before I left. Note that there was still some snow on the roof of the building nearby. I was working very hard to finish my most recent work and am happy to share some pictures. I finished piecing the top part of the quilt, so it's possible to see both sides before I finish the backing.
Boston Studio
The final picture is some cloth that I am studying for possible use in my next work. I am very busy with my preparations for my next exhibition in January of 2012. The final details have not been decided, so come back later for more details. I will be working hard to finish my work as it is a great honor to be selected for this exhibition in Tokyo.
Yes, all of these pictures were taken in 5 April 2011. The snow bank was taller than my mailbox, and my lilac bush was still covered with snow. Fortunately the daytime temperatures were above the freezing temperature, and we had several rain storms that helped wash away much of the snow. I was surprised at the damage to the lilac, so I had to cut away many broken branches, which you can see. But I am happy that there are many early Spring young shoots of new growth, so I am confident that the lilac will survive and perhaps be stronger than before! I have been working outside nearly every day to clean up from the Winter storms, and am pleased that the bottom pictures are only 20 days later than the first pictures on this page. The snow is now gone! And you can see that the early Spring is taking over and I'm ready to enjoy it and waiting for a beautiful Summer that will surely follow. Perhaps you can see the smoke coming from my chimney as I still need a morning fire to chase away the cold of the early Spring morning! But soon the leaves will begin to grow and the early flowers will bloom and Spring will be here!!
				I was made my new PC space.
				18 May..Now I am very happy to report that suddenly it become much warmer, and the beautiful cherry blossoms have burst open for me to enjoy just before I leave to return to my Boston studio on May 19. It was very satisfying to see all of the lovely blossoms and to stand nearby to enjoy the pleasant scent of so many blossoms! Now I can enjoy this memory while I am working in Boston.

If you would like to host an exhibition of my quilt, please contact me.