designing ways
for me, one of the more difficult parts of tapestry weaving
is – “what to weave?”
like many art forms you need to start with an image
this new work is easy
I’ve been obsessed with kimono for more than 35 years
these hand painted images are from a kimono seller’s sample book
in 1987, while a student at Kawashima Textile School, two of us found this book in a junk store
we laid the pages out on the tables in the school dining room
and took turns choosing them – we each have 24 one of a kind kimono pictures
(click on the picture to see the detail)
putting together ideas, including the boro sample woven as a wrist band
the weather was so nice last week I took the loom outside to get started
and now I will happily weave a small boro kimono
meanwhile I have been tagging weaving for the guild show and sale
it is the same weekend as my studio tour so I’m going to be busy
You nailed it
Intelligent and insightful read. Thank you for posting.
Excellent piece of writing. Thank you and respect.
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Allison – thank you, I just keep working at it one day at a time.
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It looks absolutely wonderful to have the loom outside. After the long winter, I’m looking forward to some outdoor activities very soon.
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Sheryl – it is wonderful, I just want to be outside all day.
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Ooooh–how lucky you were to find that book–and the book was lucky, too, to have been found by you! I love your idea for the tapestry–it’s so you!
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Kerry – I have 2 of kimono paintings framed, weaving a likeness seems rather obvious.
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I love seeing the design emerge! Wondering if I might reserve a tea towel or two?
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Suzanne – I tried sending you several emails and pictures but i guess you didn’t receive them. The tea towels are still available but the may sell during the studio tour – let me know what you want. 🙂
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I just tried sending you an email. I’m case it doesn’t work, I’d like to order two tea towels if there’s still time. 🐴
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Suzanne – received your email, I’ll try replying. Otherwise I’ll send 2 tea towels, is 1 red and 1 green o.k.?
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I did get the email! And sent you another one. One each would be perfect!
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Suzanne – emailed 2 pictures, have set aside a red and green just in case.
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I did get the email! And sent you another one. One each would be perfect!
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Lovely idea, and what a treasure those pages are. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that a kimono was constructed from a single amazing – and quite narrow – length.
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Kate – that’s because traditional looms could only weave narrow widths. The narrow widths meant there wasn’t any waste of very precious materials/fabric.
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