Maedeup Anyone

It's been a while since I've posted any of my maedeup projects. I finally conquered the maewha maedeup. It's one of my favorites but it has a lot of steps. My maedeup teacher is so patient with me. I made this bookmark which also incorporated a chilbo (Korean enameling) piece.

One of the reasons I wanted to learn chilbo was that it compliments my maedeup. I can make a chilbo pendant and then make it into a necklace using maedeup. Korean cording is so inexpensive which makes it a a great option in these scary economic times.

Free Giveaway!!! Enter for Your Chance to Win a Maedeup Bracelet

With all the bad news in the world these days, I decided it was time for some good news!!! I am giving away this maedeup bracelet handmade by myself. It is 7 3/4" long end to end and is made using Korean cording. The heart is silver plated and 3/4" - 1" in size. I will ship anywhere in the world.

All you need to do is a leave a comment in this post. You may enter only once. The drawing will be on Saturday (Feb. 28th) morning, Korean time. Good luck!

Constantly Crafting

Tis the season to be crafting, fa la la la la la la la la. I have been busy making Christmas gifts along with continuing my weekly maedeup and chilbo classes. I have been thinking about continuing the chilbo whenever our stay in Korea is over. I do have a kiln thanks to lampwork beadmaking but I have a feeling that the enamels can get quite pricey.

When I started making glass beads, I spent a small fortune on supplies and ended up leaving it all when we moved to Korea. I'm not sure I will light the torch once we return. It's hard to think that far ahead.


I made this compact last week in chilbo and the teacher wrote my name in Korean.


In maedeup, I am perfecting the knots and also learning more complicated and traditional ways to do the knots. I can't tell you how good if feels to make these knots and create a piece of jewelry.

The big news is that I have a U.S. company that is selling the actual Korean maedeup cording that I used. Although my book won't be out until September, I am going to have a couple of tutorials on their site in January so you can learn a maedeup and start making your own jewelry. The company is The Satin Cord Store.

My Maedeup Book!

My Korean maedeup book is scheduled to be out in August, 2009. You can preorder it at Amazon. I was also honored to have the Queen of Crafts, Carol Duvall write the foreword for the book. It includes 10 maedeup knots with detailed instructions along with 30 jewelry projects.

This book would have never been possible without my move to South Korea and the good friends I have made here. This book will introduce the world to the talent of South Korea. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for its release.

My Etsy Shop is Open

I have been able to make a few maedeup (Korean knotting) necklaces and earrings to start my Etsy shop. The findings (pendants) used in the jewelry were purchased here in South Korea. It is so much fun to take a pendant to my wall of cording and decide what color cording to use. I am also busy making Christmas presents.

Found A Maedeup Shop in Seoul

I've been concerned about locating a maedeup cording supplier for a long time. The maedeup owner where I had been taking lesson had given me the run around for over a year. Hellena to the rescue! She found a maedeup shop in Seoul and we went for a visit. That is Hellena in the doorway.



There it is! I would have never found it on my own.



This is the owner adding up my bill. He's been in business for over forty years. I was shocked to see what he used to add up my bill. Hellena said that it is commonly used with the older Koreans.


A closer view of the "calculator." Hellena told me what it was called but I forgot. She double checked his addition using a standard calculator that he also had and his total was correct. He tried to show me how it worked but it still looked like a toy I had when I was a kid.



Some view of the shop. Maedeup heaven! There was cording everywhere!






They also have classes and offered to help me if I needed it. I'm going to continue to take private lessons with my teacher.

It is definitely Fall here in South Korea. The burning of the fields has begun so the days are hazy and it is harder to breathe. The big trend is "going green" even here in Korea but I wonder if the farmers will ever stop this practice. They feel that it is best for the soil.

Up to Nothing

With hubby out of town, I've been working a lot of my maedeup (Korean knotting). The maedeup test is a few weeks away and I'm on the fence whether I will take it or not. I was told originally and many times that this was a government regulated test and I would be the first foreigner to ever take the test. The test is comprised of making a complicated maedeup piece. You have two hours to finish it halfway and are watched by three judges which are my teacher, the owner of the shop and her husband. It costs 350,000won ($350US) and they only accept cash. I was surprised at this because I've always paid for my classes with my debit card. Even if you don't pass the first time, you only have to pay once. But with our future in Korea uncertain, there is a possibility we will be back in the States when the next test comes which is in January 2009.

A month ago I had the opportunity to meet a maedeup master who was appointed by the Korean government. Only the government can issue you the title of master. I forgot to talk about my visit with her so I will do that soon. As we were talking, I mentioned that I was going to take the certification test for maedeup. She gave me a puzzled looked and asked me what I was talking about. I thought it was strange I needed to explain it to a maedeup master but I did. She told me that there was no such government certification.

I was shocked and felt totally betrayed. My Korean girlfriend talked to my teacher about it and found out that the certification was a community certification. The shop owner wants me to take the test because it will be good for her business having "certified" a foreigner. After talking it over with my husband, teacher and girlfriends, I had, at this point, decided to take the test.

I have also become pretty upset with the "private lessons" I am attending. It is fine when the owner isn't in the shop which is rare because when she is there, my teacher has no time to help or teach me. The owner keeps her constantly busy even to the point where they left for over an hour once leaving me in the shop alone. I spend three hours in the shop and average about 1/2 hour of my teacher's time. I had more time with her when I was taking class with 30 other students. I feel like I paid a lot of money for nothing. My teacher feels really bad about this but there is little she can do. I only have two more classes left which is good because I am fed up.

Hannah (my Korean girlfriend) stayed overnight the other night and she saw how stressed I've been. We talked a lot about it and how much time I've been spending on getting ready for the test. I've been averaging about 12 hour days on maedeup for the last two weeks. She is taking a quilting class at the same shop and is going to talk to the owner on Monday and lay it all out on the line. I told Hannah at this point in time, I don't think I will take the test. The cash payment is really shady to me and I don't feel like handing the owner 350,00won. Let's see what happens after Monday.

Maedeup Post

I completed this purse babble in class a few weeks ago. It features seosski maedeup and is one of the hardest maedeup to learn according to my teacher and myself. I find the most difficult part of maedeup is not the knot creation but tightening. This is true is the case of the seosski maedeup.



Last week I learned how to make the maehwa (plum blossom) maedeup. It has become one of my favorites. My teacher has been increasing the homework so I find myself pulling it out of my purse if I'm lucky to get a seat early on the subway. My subway ride to maedeup class is about thirty minutes.

This last week I found a seat next to a couple of halmuhnees (Korean word for grandmother). I took out my homework and began to work. As they watched me, they remarked to each other and shook their heads at me. Finally, one tapped me on the shoulder and spoke some Korean. I told her that it was called maedeup. They both nodded their heads in agreement as they continued to watch. I soon had most of the subway passengers watching me work.

In my fractured Korean, I asked if they were grandmothers. They both nodded as one held up five fingers and the other seven. I pointed to myself and said, "halmuhnee." Neither would believe me. One of the things I'm trying to learn is "The Three Little Bears" which is a Korean song so I started with the main chorus and they were surprised I knew so much. One sang along and helped me with the parts I was fuzzy on as the other grandmother shook her head embarrassed that her friend was singing this children's song. All too soon their subway stop came and off they went with big smiles on their faces. I continued onto my stop with a smile and another great memory to add to my growing list.

Special Home Visit

On Sunday, my Korean girlfriends along with my maedeup teacher came over for a maedeup afternoon. My teacher is in the middle. We had so much fun and learned so much. Hellena had told my teacher that I would be cooking a great American dinner which had I known I would have. So instead we ordered chicken and pizza.


Hellena was watching our teacher intently.


Hannah never misses an opportunity to flash me the peace sign. It is a common thing for Koreans to do when posing for pictures.


Curt (hubby) hung out with us too mostly watching television. But he was never very far away when food was around. My teacher told the girls she had been waiting for an invitation to our apartment while I had thought it would put her on the spot to ask. I'm so glad she came down! We are definitely going to do it again. Whoever heard of a teacher that makes house calls.

Maedeup Update

This is my latest maedeup. My teacher had me put a pin back on it to wear as a pin or as a purse accessory. I'm too afraid it would fall off and I would lose it so I opted for making it a wall decoration. You should see the walls in my apartment. Everywhere you look from the moment you walk in the door is maedeup.

A funny thing happened last week when I arrived for class. My teacher and the maedeup shop owner were t having a discussion at the table where I sit. I took my regular spot at the opposite end of where they were sitting and began working. The shop owner then proceeded to carry on her conversation with my teacher in hushed Korean whispers. We were the only three in the entire shop and on a good day, I can understand about 10% of a Korean conversation.

I think they were discussing ideas for new classes. What's the big secret? I was just shaking my head chuckling to myself at how absurd the whole situation was. My teacher had to lean way over the table just to hear what the shop owner was saying.

I don't have class this week since it is vacation week at the maedeup shop. My Korean girlfriends plus my maedeup teacher are coming over for the day on Sunday. I feel SO honored that my maedeup teacher wants to visit me. We are going to do some maedeup and I'm sure we'll be eating something. I also need to start thinking about the maedeup test in September.

Maedeup - No More Group Classes

I had Curt (hubby) take a picture of my last group maedeup class. Our teacher had three levels of class going on at the same time. She is the one in black. I don't know how she does it but she did a fantastic job. The girls in my class will be taking the certification test in a week. I would be taking it too but with writing a book, I don't have any extra time to practice. I'll be taking the test in September when the book in finished and I can really practice. I'm still taking private lessons on Wednesdays.

I did finally finish our last maedeup. This one took a long time to complete. It turned out really well and shows me how far I have come.

Today I had yoga and on the way home I saw one of those elderly cart ladies. They are carting lots of cardboard and other recyclables. It is a steady incline to walk when I walk the final few blocks to home and that's where I encountered her. I generally look and walk by feeling sad that they have to work so hard at their age. Today for some reason I just couldn't pass her by. She was stopped in the street taking up part of a lane and I walked up to her and lifted the cart. It was heavier than I thought. I walked with her for a couple of blocks when she wanted to stop and adjust her load. It was also where my apartment building was located so we parted ways. During the entire time, she kept repeating, "kamsamnida, kamsamnida..." which is thank you in Korean. I knew she didn't understand but I told her that she shouldn't have to work so hard.

There have been so many protests here due to the Korean feelings towards resuming importing U.S. beef. I also had a few personal experiences recently with angry older Korean men. I've been yelled at and even spit at for just walking down the sidewalk. It's disheartening and saddens me so maybe that had something to do with what I did today.

I hope at least the woman I helped today will remember the American that helped her with fond memories like I will remember her. I felt so good when I got home that I vowed to do it again when I happen to encounter them and my arms are not full of groceries.

Maedeup

Another maedeup piece is finished as you can see above. Class is over in a couple of weeks. The teacher wanted to know what I wanted to do next because most students take the certification test which completes the program. I told her that I want to continue with classes as long as I'm in Korea. It is an opportunity that will end when our stay here in Korea ends. She was baffled by that answer and continued to ask my girlfriend what I wanted to learn. I kept repeating that I wanted to perfect my knots and to learn whatever she wished to teach me. We never did resolve what that was.



This is a necklace I had to make for homework.

On another note, I was at the grocery store a few days ago when my arm was grabbed by a Korean man. It has been months since this has happened to me so I expected to see an older Korean man or woman. I was surprised to find that it was young Korean man who looked like he was in his early 30's. He asked, "Are you an English teacher?" I replied, "No," He asked, "Do you want to be?" I replied "annio" which is no in Korea. End of conversation. I've never been approached for jobs like I have been here in South Korea.

Maedeup This Week

Hey, I am definitely seeing improvement in my maedeup. This is what we did in class last week. It is a really fun craft to do and I'm enjoying it immensely. This is all in preparation for the certification test.

I just had to let you see what my cleaning lady looked like so I took this picture of her waiting for me to buzz her in.

I also have a weird thing I've noticed in yoga class. Before and after class we go into a small room (more like a closet) and change in and out of our yoga uniforms. We all wear a t-shirt under our yoga tops and I've noticed that all the women wear their bras outside of their t-shirt. I'm the only one who wears mine under the t-shirt. I also noticed (not that I look a whole lot) that the bras are really fancy with lots of lace and ribbon flowers. The uniform top completely covers the t-shirt.

I've never taken yoga before so I don't know if this is a yoga thing or a Korean thing. I can't imagine American women doing this but maybe it's the "yoga" way to wear a bra. I haven't asked my Korean girlfriends about it but they think I've already had enough strange Korean experiences.

Maedeup - The Latest

I finished up this knot which is a combination of many maedeups. It was fun to do but pretty time consuming.



This was the teacher's example of what we were to do in class. Working in the thinner diameter cording is so difficult.



This is what we were to make and it took the entire five hours for me to complete it. Pretty cool.

A fellow student had a baby a few months ago and she stopped in to say hello to our class. I kept asking where the baby was and my Korean girlfriends thought I was hilarious. Apparently, in Korea, a baby is not allowed outside except for doctor appointments until they are 100 days old. I wanted to see the baby!

I also found out some interesting customs that made me wish I had my babies in Korea. After birth, the mother's bones are so weak and loose that she is not even allowed to hold the baby. My girlfriends told me that the joints of a Korean woman actually separate and become very loose. Usually your mother or mother-in-law stays with you for three months until you recover your strength. All you have to worry about is feeding the baby (if you choose to breastfeed) and the baby is brought to you and gaining your strength back. No housework, no cooking, no cleaning, no nothing. You have to eat seaweed soup every day which will also help you to recover.

If you haven't a family member to take care of you during this time, the government provides live in help to provide this service.

Korean women also cannot carry a baby on their hip like we Americans do. I need to get a picture of this but Korean women carry their children on the small of their backs. It looks painful to me and I've seen a few times where I thought the child was going to fall out. They are tie with a blanket or store bought baby back carrier.

The Final Frontier in Maedeup

This final session of maedeup is preparing us for the test. We are taking all the knots we have learned, perfecting them and incorporating them into larger, more complex knots like these three knots. The one above we did started in class on Saturday and I finished it today.



I still have a long way to go until my knots are perfect but my teacher is thrilled that I've stuck with it and she is very proud of me.



This was the knot we did the first week of class.

I had a pretty uneventful ride into Seoul (not that I'm complaining) until the subway. Across from where I was sitting was a lone seat. At the next stop, a husband and wife entered the subway car. The wife immediately went for the empty seat only to be shoved out of the way by her husband. He took the seat and she stood in front of him without saying a word. I don't know what her expression was at that point, they were directly in front of me. After about 5 stops, the seat next to him opened up and she promptly sat down. I was then in clear view of the venomous looks directed at her husband. After another 4 stops, he got up and took her arm and they left the subway car.

I was so outraged for her and I'm glad that for once I kept my mouth shut and stayed out of it. If it were me ,I would have exited the next subway stop and left him on his own. Lucky for me, my husband would never treat me in that manner.

Intermediate Maedeup Classes End

For our last class, we were to make a belt incorporating maedeup knots we have learned. I chose to cheat and make a necklace. I was pretty proud at how it turned out. The silver Chinese script pendant is from Nina Designs. My teacher was very proud of the job I did on the necklace.



We also had to finish this project using the male butterfly maedeup.


This was a new maedeup we learned which is called strawberry maedeup. I have had so much fun taking these classes. The advanced class incorporates many of the knots we have learned into much larger maedeups.

The Maedeup Museum in Seoul

Last Saturday before maedeup class we decided to check out the Maedeup Museum in Seoul. It is very near Insadong which is the arty, crafty part of Seoul. We found this street that still had the old Korean homes, most of which have been torn down to make way for the high rises.



The museum was up this street.



Even the roofs are a work of art.



Oh, here it is. It's a good thing my friend Hellena called to get exact directions.

Lots of eye candy. I told Curt (hubby), "Take of picture of this. Did you get a picture of this?" This was after Hellena made sure it was okay to take pictures.

The items on this tray were for sale.

We just couldn't get enough of this museum. It was only one small room but there was a lot of maedeup packed into it. We were so surprised at how many of the knots we recognized and also were able to do.

These were the shop clerks. I don't know how they can sit on the floor for so long.

The vase is covered in maedeup.

Hannah, Hellena and me in front of the maedeup museum.

Curt and I in front of the maedeup museum. He even enjoyed it. At least, he said so and seemed to be almost as giddy as we were.

But then it was time to get to class and I'll show you tomorrow what we had to work on in class.