final fitting and a nice surprise

Betsy is a department store mannequin, not a dressmaker’s dummie. She may be old but she still has a lovely figure. The apron fits her just a little differently than it does my more mature figure.

The finishing fabric is linen from Maiwa that I indigo dyed.

real folks need a hankie sometimes so I added a pocket. It is lined with the cutout fabric pieces from the arm shaping.  I plan to add some stitching.

 I lined the bib part with fabric from my very extensive fabric stash.

now I have a stars and stripes apron.

if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day the mailman brought me a lovely surprise.

I loved the snowman stamp on this the hottest day of our late summer.

Aimee Lee and I have been sharing info regarding the use of kon’nyaku. She is using it as a sizing on handmade paper. I wasn’t much help as my only experience had been in food products and it definitely isn’t one of my favorite Japanese foods. 

 

kon’nyaku is a gelatinous paste made from the root of the devil’s tongue plant.  Considered an ideal food for dieters (I’d have to be desperate!) it is high in calcium and is alkaline, an interesting fact for papermakers and dyers.  

these samples are so inspiring, thank you Aimee. I am going to try kon’nyaku on some woven shifu.