Japan May 2010
One of my stops this trip was to meet Bryan Whitehead. Bryan is living every fiber artists dream.
He had been living in Japan for the past 25 years in a very old traditional Japanese farmhouse.
Pictured here in his shop in the Fujino town center, Bryan demonstrates backstrap weaving.

Bryan raises his own indigo and prepares the leaves in the traditional Japanese method of fermentation. He maintains an indigo dyebath at both the shop and house.
Of special note, he raises his own silkworms, then reels, dyes and weaves the silk.
Dyeing includes the indigo as well as other natural dyeing vegetation.


Please visit his website: www.japanesetextileworkshops.blogspot.com/