Saint Valentine's Basket Handcraft

St. Valentine’s Handcraft

On Thursday, February 5, a heart-shape basket making workshop for St. Valentine’s Day was organized at the Pasadena Public Library Hasting Branch. Despite the heavy weather, there were about 20 participants, families and siblings, who joined the workshop. Although their experience was an unusual activity for them, everyone enjoyed making their baskets!

Anime Los Angeles 5

The Oriental Fusion Handcraft had the opportunity to be part of “Anime Los Angeles (ALA)” which was held from 2nd to 4th of January. This was not just an anime fan event, but a mega-size event in which participants enjoyed forums and discussions, contests, bought merchandise, played games, made crafts, and shot photographs wearing a costume of one’s favorite anime character. 

Everything started from an invitation from Heide Nichols, the Program Division Chair of Anime Los Angeles. She called and said, “I saw the crafts that you organized at the Pasadena Public Library. Will you be interested in presenting your recycling activities to the participants who have a common interest in the Japanese culture and language through anime?” That was how we became part of the ALA. 

Bunch of left over postcards transformed into a cute little basket!

 Usually in the recycling craft workshops, milk cartons are used as the primary source of recycling. However, in this event, we were able to make possible the idea that was brought during the meeting with Heide. “I have a bunch of postcards that were used in the previous years… Would it be possible to recycle them?”

 

On the day of the event, staff from Reiyukai arrived at Hotel Marriot next to Los Angeles International Airport. Several thousand people gathered for the event . The main hall was already full of people wearing costumes creating a very animated atmosphere. Reiyukai America staff were a little bit nervous because of several factors. 1) First time to be in such a big event. 2) First attempt to introduce post card recycling and 3) there were so many people! Nevertheless, thanks to the great support and kindness given by the ALA personnel, staff from Reiyukai America could set up and organize their workshop smoothly. And no wonder. This ALA clearly differentiates from other anime events by emphasizing “fun for family.” If a child purchases a ticket, a parent can participate in the event for free. There were forums titled “Anime for Beginners and Parents” and many more. There were great and passionate attempts to encourage the participants to use anime as a media for family fun and not for a small group of maniacs or just a hobby for a kid.

In such a great atmosphere, many participants enjoyed to recycle postcards into a little useful basket. Everyone enjoyed the process of making it and they left the workshop room with a great smile of satisfaction on their faces!

December Events 12.20.08

The recycle craft presentation that Reiyukai America had a chance to present in July was popular among the librarians and library users. This was how we were able to receive an invitation from the Pasadena Public Library to organize a "Holiday Handcraft Workshop." Even before the official starting time, five siblings arrived and started to make the craft. Soon after that, a father and a son, a mother and a daughter, and a group of friends arrived, which almost panicked the instructors. However, believe it or not, it was the five siblings who finished already by this time and came to the rescue. They showed excellent team work in teaching carefully how to make the box to the persons who arrived later. They did a great job in teaching without the instructor’s assistance! The instructors were very amazed that the teens learned the important points to make the box even prettier so quickly. The assigned two hours flew by while the participants interacted with each other, or made  their second box. 

Our presentation in July was the cause for this month's event and for another event in January which Reiyukai America got invited to participate in. And in February, there will be another presentation in a Pasadena library. The Dec 20th event indicates that the seeds sown in July are leading us to a better result-- expanding our circle of friendship.

December Events 12.08.08

Currently, there are three different workshops going on in the Pasadena area: Pasadena, Arcadia, and South Pasadena. "Well, if we are part of the recycling craft workshop in the same area, why don't we gather together sometime?" This was the initial idea to organize the special event where the members of the handcraft gathered at South Pasadena to make Santa boots. Some members also invited their family members and friends. As a result, the workshop was more energetic with conversations like, "Mom, you got that part wrong!" or "I will make some more for my friends in my house." Many of the participants' native language was not English; you could hear Chinese and Japanese languages everywhere to better understand the craft. This event became literally a place of "Fusion." 

Recycling Craft Presentation at the South Pasadena Moon Festival

The Oriental Fusion Handcraft had the opportunity to participate in the South Pasadena Moon Festival on Sept 27th, where we set up a booth so that everyone could experience the handcraft. Immediately after the gate opened at 2pm, many people swamped the booth. There were even people in a waiting line while observing the others making the craft. Many of the participants have agreed with the them of the handcraft: "Let's do something good for the society while having fun!" It was certainly good news for us to see that there were many people interested in participating in our activity in the future!