With all the craziness of packing, painting, a family wedding, kids getting out of school, etc., I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by all the other things that needed to get done and ended up ignoring things like, oh, my shop and this blog. Whoops. I logged on this morning to check a few orders…
Category: sashiko
Book reviews: Sashiko books in English part II
Continued from yesterday’s post, here are four more excellent sashiko books in English. Once again, these are listed by publication date. Quick summary statements are underlined. Click on the title links to purchase. Japanese Country Quilting: Sashiko patterns and projects for beginners by Karen Kim Matsunaga. Kodansha, 1990. 96 pages. An excellent all-in-one sashiko reference,…
Book reviews: Sashiko books in English part I
I’m going to take this in stages as there are so many books to choose from! Some of the more recent books that I will review tomorrow include those by Sylvia and Kitty Pippen, authors and textile artists who are comfortable taking sashiko and developing it into more than just the typical white-thread-on-indigo look that…
Book reviews: Japanese sashiko craft books
Japanese craft books, you gotta love ’em. The bright, clear photos presented in an easy to understand step by step format and abundant diagrams. Never mind if you can’t read Japanese, the visuals alone will get you through the process. Also known as “mooks,” a hybrid of magazine and book, these tend to be smallish…
News, promotions, and pretty things
First, the Pretty Things: You know how I’m always asking for you readers to send me photos of items you make with the fabrics from my shop? It’s because I sincerely enjoy seeing what you make! Like it? I do. Kaz of Kaz Style is a talented stitcher from Japan, now living in Atlanta, Georgia….
Engi mon zukushi indigo has arrived
What’s that, you say? Remember the indigo I polled about last week? It’s here. And boy, was I surprised when I pulled it from the package. This is not quite what I expected, but I sure do like it! Engi mon zukushi translates roughly to a collection of small treasures. What I had at first…
yep, more sashiko
I got this little beauty in the mail a few days ago from someone who has been incredibly patient and understanding with me over the past year. I count my blessings every day for the people who put up with me, even the ones I only know through the internet. It’s a pillow made from…
Upcoming events
Northern California Bay Area stitchers, mark your calendars for March 1, 2010. I will be leading a textile talk and trunk show for the Valley Stitchers and Fiber Arts Guild in Pleasant Hill, CA, to be followed by a hands-on sashiko class. I will provide more details closer to the date. If you are not…
Olympus sashiko kits in motion part 2
Continuing on with the Olympus sashiko kit project from earlier this month, here are some updated pictures. So far I have completed the sashiko portion of the project. I still have plenty of thread left over! Next I will hem the edges to give it a more finished look. By following the pre-printed lines, my…
Sashiko books are now in!
I’ve just listed two new sashiko books direct from Japan, Sashiko no Hon and Sashiko no Hana Fukin. These are great little books to have on hand if you are just starting out with sashiko or want some colorful inspriation. They are full of color photos showing finished projects and how-to instructions. These are both…
At last! New sashiko items in stock
I’m trying not to crash both of my computers right now with photo uploads and listing new items, but all the new sashiko thread colors, kits and books should be up in the Etsy shop within the next 36 hours. If you’ve never tried sashiko, now is a great time! The sashiko items I carry…
Japanese Fishermen’s Coats from Awaji Island
Japanese Fishermen’s Coats from Awaji Island (Fowler Museum Textile Series 5) arrived on my doorstep this morning, just in time for a leisurely read over tea and breakfast. And what an enjoyable read it was! This slim volume starts off with an historical essay by Luke Roberts, Fishing Villages in Northern Awaji, about the life…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 