Fun with Furoshiki Cloth

If you are looking for eco-friendly ways to wrap presents, carry your lunch or tote your purchases, check out furoshiki cloths.This is a creative and fun way to carry a wide variety of objects.

Furoshiki: the Japanese wrapping cloth

Furoshiki wrapping cloth has been around since the Nara Period (circa 710 AD). Back then, it was used for carrying valuables.

I first discovered it after watching, you've guessed it, anime. The Japanese students in various anime wrap their bento lunches with this Japanese wrapping cloth.

Furoshiki cloth can be used to wrap presents, carry groceries or your wallet. This photo shows the multitude of ways that this wrapping technique can be used:

Furoshiki Wrapping Technique

This is the first video I ever watched on Japanese gift wrapping: 

In Eco Wrapping Samurai's video, he shows a skeptical crowd how to make bags to carry groceries, plants and even his gear at the end of the day:

This last video that I found was filmed at Kakefuda Kyoto Shop:

Where to buy Furoshiki

If you are lucky enough to have a Japanese store where you live, you can find furoshiki cloths there. The rest of us, however, must look online.

The following is a list of North American stores that I know sell them:

• Amazon

• Daiso Canada

• J-List

• Shirokiya

This is a short list. If you know of any other stores that sell furoshiki cloths, please share.

One of these days, I will make my own. I just didn't have time to make any cloth to wrap Christmas presents. There's always next year!

Funny Pet Videos: A Dog Carousel

When Maestro saw this, he started to bark and whine. He's jealous of this dog on a carousel:

Meatball is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. His human grandpa made him this dog carousel. What a lucky dog!

My Winter Break 2013 Reading List

Christmas Break. Now, that my final concert review for 2013 has been put to bed and playing at Christmas services has been completed, I can breathe a sigh of relief and relax for a few days.

Aside from spending time with family and friends, I do hope to make a dent in my book reading list. I’d love to add more, but I think I’ll just start with these.

Here is my musician’s Christmas reading list with links to my affiliates:

• The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green (with W. Timothy Gallwey)

• Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, 3rd edition by Peter Block

• Consulting Fees: A Guide For Independent Consultants (Consultant Journal Guides) by Andrea Coutu

• Higgledy Piggledy Jazz by Elena V. Cobb

• blue riverby Elena Cobb

• Complete Works for Solo Keyboard by Jean-Philippe Rameau

• Collected Studies for Piano, op. 100, 105, 109by J.F. Burgmüller

The nice thing about adding a bunch of music scores to my reading list is that I can practice my sight-reading. I can also leisurely pick a couple of pieces to work on for 2014.

I am not sure if I am going to get through all of the books. If I can get through half of them over the Christmas Break, I’ll be happy. I can always save the rest of my musician’s reading list for my Reading Week.

Petcam Video: Canuck Winters from the Dog's POV

Now that Maestro's canine arthritis and I.V.D.D. appears to be stabilizing, he has started to use his Mr. Petcam a bit more. We have some friends and family who have never seen snow before, so he happily puts up with the Petcam to show off Canadian winter. I think it's mainly because he likes the attention he gets when wearing it:

This is Maestro's first Winter 2013 video with his petcam. It was taken on Friday, December 13, 2013:

One friend from Australia is completely fascinated by how crunchy the snow sounds when we walk on it.

This is a video in which Maestro shows off a typical day of errands. If you can stomach the motion, he shows his pre-acupuncture arthritic gait (listen for the uneven rhythm). Towards the end, he shows off his post-treatment gait, which is a bit more fluid:

Maestro had barely a limp (if at all) after his treatment. Last week, Dr. Mark from the Bridlewood Vet Clinic said that the arthritic pain is under control and that now, we are just managing the stiffness with his canine acupuncture, angelica-mastic medication and his laser therapy. A nice Christmas present for the guy.

Brr! It was cold that day (-18 degrees Celsius). Not as cold as it was earlier this month. With the petcam, the snow looks more intimidating from a small dog's POV.

Christmas 2013 Greetings and Musical Faves

It seems that everyone I have spoken to has had a busy 2013. It is my wish that you all have a wonderful Christmas. May you enjoy some quiet time and some quality time with your family and friends.

As a musician and music teacher, I find it a huge blessing that there are so many arrangements and interpretations to classic Christmas music. Here are five of my favourite Christmas songs. Perhaps, some of these versions are new to you. Enjoy!

"Cry of the Poor" and "What Child is This?" performed by The Notre Dame Group:

Jackie Evancho sings "Silent Night":

Amy Grant’s "Breath of Mary":

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" performed by The Piano Guys

Carol of the Bells performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. May 2014 bring you good health, happiness and abundance.