Yummy new yukata fabrics have landed, with more on the way. I just can’t help myself when it comes to getting more. Unlike the larger Kona Bay and Alexander Henry cotton bolts I have on the shelf, yukata cottons take up so little space, which leads me to figure I can fit in a few…
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Focus on Indigo part II, shibori and yogi
Following the vest theme of the previous post, here is a fabulous example of indigo shibori from Honeychurch Antiques of Seattle, Washington. This piece features shibori done in orinui and shirokage (white shadow) styles. The white bands would have been bound and reserved during the dye process, making this a rather labor intensive textile. Dyeing…
Because it’s still winter here
I’ve been drooling over scarves on Etsy recently. It’s still chilly enough here in the San Francisco area that I could happily wear one, so I’m sharing my appreciation of fine neck wear with you today. Enjoy! Fine merino wool warmly knitted in Massachusetts, USA. Flirtatious felted wool from Russia with love. Delicate as a…
Sashiko updates
First the bad news: Due to a falling Dollar and rising Yen, my wholesale supplier has raised prices on most sashiko items. This means that with my next restock, I’ll have to raise prices, too. Now the good news: I’m keeping my prices low until new items come in. Stock up now to get your…
The Old Girl, part III
“How the dickens do you thread this thing?” That was our first challenge after establishing that yes indeed, she ran just fine. A search on the Singer site provided a free pdf download of the instructions we needed for our vintage 15- (“fifteen straight”) machine, and with a bit of tinkering, we sorted it out….
The Old Girl, part II
It took a bit of wrangling, but we managed to slide her into the back seat of my car and take her home. She looks like a portable Featherweight, but she is most definitely attached to that table with its spindly legs. Once in the house, I gave her a good look. I checked the…
The Old Girl, part I
She’s a gem, my old girl. My son and I found this beauty one afternoon while driving through our Central Oregon neighborhood looking for garage sales. I was seeking a small table for the kitchen telephone. Spotting a likely subject in a yard three blocks from our house, we stopped to take a look. Lo…
New fabrics are in!
I am so excited. Thirty years ago I was a reluctant tag-along when my mother dragged me to fabric shops. I’d dash around the stands of bolts until she told me to stop, then sit in a quiet corner and fall asleep until it was time to go. These days, however, it’s a whole different…
Sashiko supplies are in!
I am busy restocking the Etsy shop right now with all the sashiko goodies that arrived today. Needles and thimbles, an array of thread colors, the ever popular black bunny sampler (among others), plus a new book! If you missed the Cyber Monday sale and would like to stock up on sashiko items this week,…
I Heart Japan!
Well, you knew that already. Seriously though, the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch magazine features Japanese textiles, crafts and textile artists here in the US, including me! The kurotomesode kimono on the article’s title page is even one of mine, currently available in my Etsy shop. How’s that for a shameless plug?
feeling the chill
Autumn is upon us here in Northern California, with fog greeting me at the door every morning as I head out for the paper. I’m currently in a scarf-making phase right now, which means new purses aren’t far behind… The sashiko project is still in process and will be updated here within the next day…
Olympus sashiko kits in motion
Many of you have requested I do a tutorial with the Olympus sashiko kits I carry in my shop, so a month ago I picked one out, chose some thread and picked out a needle… then things fell apart in my life and it was relegated to the I’ll-get-to-it-later pile. Last night as I was…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 