last day of July

It's going to be the last day in July tomorrow. I'm very busy these days. I have many things to tell you. This month is full of new events to me. I'll report to you little by little since I have to be ready for my 2nd pastel workshop tomorrow. Then the next day, I'm going to Hakone to stay there for one night. I'm very looking forward to seeing the fireworks from my Ryokan(Japanese-style inn) room! The fireworks will be displayed over this lake!



Lake Hakone



However, the weather is not good these days. The sudden and heavy rain damages some areas in Japan.

When we see the world, lots of bad news are heard like terrorism in Norway, bullet train accident in China and heavy rain in South Korea. Some were done by Human and some were done by Nature. Human beings are powerless in front of power of Nature. I wish everybody remember the fact and view things on a large scale.

I hope the weahter will be perfect soon!!

My first pastel workshop succeeded!

My first pastel workshop succeeded at my friend's salon on Jul. 9th.

I was ready and waited for my students' coming!

2 sets of new pastels for students! They are beautiful!!

These 4 ladies attended the class on this day. It may be special technique my pastel art school invented. Pastel are shaved into powder and they use fingers to paint.
Since our hands are connected to our heart, we can express what our heart desires. And it's good for art therapy too.

These are their first art works! This is very basic of  the pastel art which I learned. By just painting circles, they can face their own emotions and feelings and release them. They kept painting for 1 hour. If I didn't stop them, they never stopped, I think.
All are very beautiful. I repeat this is their first pastel painting in their life.

The title of the next painting is the hill of hope. They seemed to be more relaxing. They painted their hill with their favorite colors.

Their original and unique hills of hope in the world were completed. Very gentle color!

They were my first beautiful students! All were satisfied with their works of art.
While they were painting, they went back to the days when they were at kindergarten.
I was happy to see them happy!! But no photo of me this time since teacher looked tired...
But very happy about the great success of my first pastel workshop.

After I was home, I found this cute gift from my sister.

The letter says,
Congratulations!
For my sister,
Congratulations on debuting as a pastel teacher.
This is also your new way. You have lots of things.
Let's Enjoy!

I love my sister!!
She knows I was disappointed at the fact there were no tours since 311 and tried to find out the new way.

I took this photo in a different day. This is my lovely sister!




me and my little sister



I felt like I lost everything. But I didn't.
All what I can do is to walk on this way since there seems to be only one right now.
When the way is separated, I'll think at that time which way I'll choose.

My next workshop will be on Jul. 31st at my pottery school. Now 2 decided to join!
I'll wait for more people joining!!

Nadeshiko Japan!

Nadeshiko Japan, Japan's women's soccer team won the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011. They beat the USA team, 2-2(PK3-1) on the 18th. The game started around 3:00am. I was sleeping but today all the news were about the game. I could catch up with it.

Japan kept loosing the matches against USA 24 times. USA won the victory twice and rank at NO.1 in the world. Finally Japan beat them for the first time in the 25 matches and won the first victory in Asian countries.

We prayed for their victory but many thought it difficult. Therefore all of us are very happy!

Nadeshiko Japan is the team name. Nadeshiko is a flower name, a frilled pink carnation. Nadeshiko means pure love in  the language of flowers.



Nadeshiko


There is also a word, Yamato Nadeshiko. Japan was also called Yamato in ancient times. Yamato Nadeshiko means an ideal Japanese women who are neat and tidy.
If you like to know more, please check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_nadeshiko
In the link, it says Yamato Nadeshiko is used in the context of nostalgia, referring to Japanese women with "good old" traits, as they are increasingly rare.
I think after the idea which is men and women are equal were widespread, Yamato Nadeshiko may be an endangered species now. Women over 60 still keep these traits.

At least, we still love the word and our soccer team! I post YouTube of the highlight of the final game yesterday.