Artists in Residence and other artistic pursuits

Mihoko Wakabayashi,  native of Japan, has been working on SAORI Weaving  for nearly 20 years.  SAORI is an improvisational style of weaving started in   Japan, Mikoho’s SAORI studio in Worcester, MA is the first official studio in   US, she has been teaching all ages and variety of abilities since 2000.      Mihoko will share a Japanese art everyday including SAORI weaving,  Japanese Paper Dyeing and Origami. These art are suitable for all ages,  children to elderly. They are simple but beautiful and interesting. Participants  will make something that they can take home with them.    SAORI Weaving is a moving meditation. There are no mistakes. Anyone can   weave on ready-made warp. With SAORI weaving you can make a small tapestry or a bracelet to take home in half an hour. Dyed paper will be great for wrapping gifts and make cards. Campers may also  learn the basic origami or possibly graduate to something more…

Meet Gail and Abbey Santner Searsport Shores Artists in Residence for the week of June 26 through July 2 Hello Searsport Shores Campers and Fans!  My name is Gail and my  daughter Abigail and I will be offering Book Arts activities relying on the  beautiful local scenery for inspiration and a few materials.  I have been  making folded and stitched books since 2009 and love the flow of  creativity that comes with working with others.  For me, the content of a book is critically important although I admit to having a collection of empty-paged books.   One time I made a book using old New York postcards to recreate my parents’  visit to the Big Apple as they would have written about it to friends and family. Another book I am proud of is my tiny “Six Word Stories” book that family members have contributed to capturing events and feelings in a few significant words.    Gardening in my yard and as a volunteer can take over my life in the  summer.  I have perennial gardens that I am perennially fussing over and a  vegetable garden that I try to make unattractive to deer.  Success is usually  “next year.”  I love the sense of promise that comes from planting seeds in  the springtime; the reality of pests eating my plants brings me down to  earth in the summer.  But when bees, butterflies, moths, and even a  dragonfly or two find my yard, I have a sense of accomplishment….just  like when I finish making a book .   Join us as in making various kinds of folded and stitched books as well as creating…

I’ve been making the most of my Gemini personality lately…depending on the moment I’ve been completely introverted or the cocktail party queen…its the freedom of Winter in Maine. Reservations have been coming in steadily so I’m able to enjoy the discipline of computer communications each morning but later in the day comes social time…either social…

Needle Felting Fun with Owls Somewhere along the path, wool popped into my world and all of a sudden I couldn’t get enough of it!   I love to work with wool, as it is very tactile and it immediately creates a calming feeling for me,  I’m sure it will for you too.  I do both…

Mihoko Wakabayashi, native of Japan has been working on SAORI Weaving for nearly 20 years which is an improvisational style of weaving started in Japan. Her SAORI studio in Worcester, MA is the first official studio in US and she has been teaching all ages and variety of abilities since 2000. She visited Searsport Shores…