Join us for a rare workshop with paper and book artist Velma Bolyard in conjunction with Linda Marshall of Washi Arts. Learn to spin and weave handmade Japanese washi into paper cloth using Velma’s unique techniques.

North Country Shifu will introduce you to a version of shifu making. You'll learn how to mark, cut, and prepare handmade Japanese papers for spinning, and spin it into thread (kami-ito), and to fabricate a simple ‘stump’ loom. Using the loom and a long needle you'll weave your kami-ito into shifu (paper textile). You will try your hand at stitching with kami-ito on lovely Japanese papers and you'll have the opportunity to color your papers with a variety of mark-making techniques prior to spinning. Velma will be teaching an atlas book structure that she’s re-worked to house your shifu and other workshop samples, which features dyed paper fold-out pages and a wrap around accordion spine cover.

This workshop will also include demonstrations of different types of Japanese papers and techniques for treating and decorating them, including dyeing, marking, printing with dyes and inks and local flora. There will be many side trails to explore as we deepen our shifu experience.

Workshop Date: May 2024

Hours: 10:00am — 4:00pm each day

Workshop Location: Washi Arts, Blaine, Washington

To register: North Country Shifu (Paper Cloth) with Velma Bolyard | May 31 — June 02 2024