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…

Book reviews: ancient textile construction

Every morning after the dog has been fed and the kids shuttled off to school, I sit down at the kitchen table with a plate of last night’s leftovers, a pot of tea and a book or two. On occasion this leads to a loss of appetite, especially when dye techniques that involve dung or…

on the bookshelf

Thank you for all the orders rolling in! There may be a small delay while we’re still waiting for the paint to dry, but things are moving forward and items are being packed and getting ready to head out very soon. New items will be listed as soon as I have my studio and photo…

New in the shop

I will be listing new items throughout the day, including the latest shipment of sashiko supplies. Yes, that means the thread prices will be going up (needles, thimbles and kits remain the same price), but not until I get to them. Right now I’m focused on getting other things listed first, so there is still…

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,…

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…

Paper thoughts

Wow! I got a call yesterday from a reader of Altered Couture magazine. Apparently one of my brilliant customers, Shirley Goff, had an article published within that involved some of my fabrics used in her Basho Coat project. I can’t wait to see it! I will be ordering copies of the magazine to sell in…

This is why I’m here.

After several weeks of moaning and whining about not being able to find my library of reference books in the dark cavern of my storage unit, I finally dragged myself there and dug through to the very bottom box in the very farthest corner. I kid you not, it was the least accessible place I…

Some thoughts on being green

A loved one recently sent me a link to an essay written by a weatherman who essentially states that global warming is a scam perpetrated by Al Gore. While I prefer to err on the side of caution and support the idea of global warming (I tell the older generation “get back to me in…

Damp, dreary, and still waiting for spring.

Honestly, I’m wearing a coat as I’m sitting at the computer today. How ridiculous is that? This is June, after all, but we’ve only had four hot days so far this year. Damn this crazy high desert climate. Maybe it’s time to move again? I’ve lived in Central Oregon since 2002, which is longer than…

Naturally caffeinated

I must admit, I was a frantic mess last week. Now that I’m hours away from the Long Journey South (there’s a song reference for fellow Clandestine fans), I’m finding a mellow yet alert and clear-minded awareness of everything going on around me. Maybe it’s all the Shoyeido incense I’ve been packing (and inhaling in…