In 2020, like many of you, I was busy making face masks for my family, my neighbors, and essential workers. A friend of mine sent me boxes of muslin she wasn’t using anymore. I made and share lots of masks, and started to make jogakbo using the leftover from mask making. This ignited my very organic creative process. I start by putting small fragments together, piecing more and more together as I worked. Sometimes the piece grew as I planned, but other times, it grew as if it has its own intention. I just enjoyed the rhythm of stitching and left the result beyond my control. I appreciate the beauty that results from the long and slow process of stitching – a meditative act that creates an unexpected and spontaneous result. I had finished a small jogakbo and posted it on Instagram. And one day I got a request to make this style of work on a bigger scale. This is how my new work, HOPE series, was created.
My friend Yvette brings me a boxful of green plums from her garden every year. At first, I had no idea how to eat or cook this fragrant fruit. Unlike other stone fruits, green plum is hard to eat fresh from the tree. It has a sweet aroma but is very sour and tart. I bought a dozen pickling jars and bags of sugar. Then I made jars of plum syrup and plum wine. Here's how to make them. Wash green plums and towel dry. Sterilize jars in boiling water. Measure the same amount of plum and sugar in a jar. Cover jars with Hanji (Korean mulberry paper) to let air through, for 3 days. Fill the top of a jar with extra sugar to cover the plums. Close the jar with a lid and store it in a cool place for about one year (longer the better!) I just opened a jar that I made on 6/5/2021 and this golden liquid with a heavenly aroma is making my day full of joy! Adding a spoonful to a cup of hot water is one of many ideas to enjoy this.
My backyard dye project is still going on. I occasionally buy a bunch of overripe bananas from the store to feed my indigo vat.
The other day, I crushed and boiled the cochineal that I got from Ann a long time ago. Now I have a set of tiny cocktail napkins with whimsical colors. My next goal is to make a different color palette using rust. Stay tuned! Or send me some advice if you have experience in this subject!
