When Donna Fuji isn’t at ‘Ele‘ele school working five days a week in her new position as student service coordinator, you can find her poised before her sewing machine making furoshiki to sell at the craft fairs. Her furoshiki are
When Donna Fuji isn’t at ‘Ele‘ele school working five days a week in her new position as student service coordinator, you can find her poised before her sewing machine making furoshiki to sell at the craft fairs. Her furoshiki are colorful fabric casserole carriers.
“In Japan they’d use a big scarf that’s called a furoshiki,” said Fuji. “They tie the two corners together to carry their gift of food to a friend.”
Donna’s American version of this Japanese tradition is a large colorful square of fabric. “At two ends I have a handle,” she said. “On the other two corners are ‘D’ rings.”
To use, just place a dish in the center and fold the corners of the square toward the center to loop the handles through the rings.
“I made it a lot larger so you can fit two 9-by-13 inch cake pans,” she said.
Fuji will be selling her furoshiki from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Kaua‘i Handworks craft fair in Wilcox School cafeteria.
Kaua‘i Handworks is an all juried craft fair that is in its 26th year. “This is my fourth year,” said Fuji.
She’ll also have her cookbook for sale. “I made a cookbook for each of my kids when they left for college,” she said.
Fuji is reprinting the first one, which was the most popular edition.
Fuji first saw furoshiki when she received one as a gift from her husband’s auntie. “She gave me a custard pie in it,” said Fuji. “So I started to make them for teachers at Institute Days.”
Fuji is known mostly on the Westside as a third-grade teacher. “I’ve been at ‘Ele‘ele School for 24 years,” she said. “I started the craft fair there and began making crafts just so there’d be someone at a booth.”
This festive carrier is a colorful alternative to the random plastic bag you might use to schlepp a dish to potluck and it’s easier to transport. “You can carry your casserole in one hand,” said Fuji.
By running your hand through the fabric strap, the furoshiki snugs around the pan securely.
