a metaphor for life

my stitching has taken possession of me

working on the idea that this will become a kesa

I think of it as a meditation shawl

the kesa is a part of a Buddhist priest’s robes

designed originally to represent rice paddies and stitched from rags

worn like a shawl over one shoulder

they have a long history, have become museum pieces

and long ago left the rags behind for exquisite silk brocades

the fabrics I will use are cotton and linen – from the stash

some handwoven but mainly dyed and/or stitched

returning to the original idea of humility in rags, patches and scraps

of course there are some rather rigid rules regarding the making of kesa

I’m afraid I’ll be breaking a few

but – I’ve worked out the measurements from an old formula – the distance from my elbow to the tip of my middle finger

all the stitching is hand done

with no knots – knots tie one to this earthly  plane

seven panels 27.5 cm X 112 cm (10.75 in. X 44 in.)

an old piece of e-gasuri (picture kasuri) bought at the market in Kyoto in 1987 used as the center piece

stitching together pieces collected over time, reminders of people, events  and places

will make this piece very special indeed.