gion matsuri

Was doing a little cleaning yesterday and came across this furoshiki that I think we received from a friend of the Gion Matsuri.

The Gion Matsuri is a festival that occurs during the month of July in Kyoto.

I remember the first (and last) time we saw the Gion Matsuri.

It was 2001, our first year in Japan.

I was not used to the summer temps and it was so hot and humid that I got heatstroke...

Not to say that I am anywhere near "used to" the summer temps here.

Anyway, I will gladly watch the parade from my tv (with a/c), but if you are brave enough though, I'm sure it would be something worth checking out...here's the schedule.

furoku

Oh my gosh, the weather went from comfortable to totally miserably hot and humid. The sun feels like a broiler.

I don't know why I even put make-up on my face, it just starts to drip off as soon as I go outside (sometimes even before I go out).

When I go to the supermarket, I am just dripping with perspiration. They say this weather should only last this week.

I hope so.

Anyway, also with the new issue of "Elle a Table" was a furoku (freebie), a furoshiki with handles.

This furoshiki is 70 cm x 70 cm.

Perfect if you are bringing something over to a pot luck or even out to a picnic.

I hope to use it the next time I go on a picnic, probably when the weather gets cooler though.

furoshiki

After seeing La Fuji Mama's post about furoshiki. I had commented and she asked me to post about my Coach furoshiki. (I got the Coach furoshiki when I purchased a fashion magazine here.)

I then went through all my furoshiki....I didn't realize it but I do have somewhat of a collection.

A bunny chirimen (crepe) furoshiki (46 cm x 46 cm).

And the Gion matsuri cotton furoshiki (100 cm x 100 cm).

A Laura Ashley cotton handkerchief that turned into a furoshiki (56 cm x 56 cm).

Sbilla (which I think is a Japanese brand) cotton furoshiki (48 cm x 48 cm).

Cotton tea towel that turned into a furoshiki (48 cm x 48 cm).

And the polyester Coach furoshiki (70 cm x 70 cm). This one is a bit stiff, guess it will take some time to soften.

Here are some ways to use furoshiki from the magazine article--as a means to carry wine, cake, flowers or as a bag.

This site offers techniques on how to tie furoshiki for various objects.

I use the 100 cm x 100 cm furoshiki mainly to carry dishes to pot luck, and the smaller furoshiki to carry bento and mugs to picnics.

If you want to help the environment, want to stop using plastic bags but don't know how to sew, this is a great way to carry groceries and gifts because any squarish piece of fabric can turn into a furoshiki. Also, if you use a nice piece of fabric you could use the furoshiki as gift wrapping and give it away along with the gift inside.

Be creative and do your part to help the environment.