I've been on a piecing binge. Cutting my kimono silks apart and sewing them back together in new ways. For example, this one started with a simple grid made with rectangles of deep rich colors. By the way, please excuse the odd perspective. I photographed these on my...
My piecing process is rarely the same. I'll gather up some fabrics and lay out what looks good together. Sometimes I'll map out a design, most times I start sewing scraps together and follow the process to see where it goes. For the jacket below, I had the fabrics...
Mottainai means 'waste nothing.' It's another way to say, 'waste not want not' or 'reuse, recycle and repurpose.' For me It means to save and honor even the smallest leftover kimono silk scraps. Throw away my scraps? Nope. I keep most all of them for other projects....
I'm back home from Baltimore, all alterations finished and shipped back to their new owners. I'm ready to start new projects, but before I do, I wanted to show off a few jackets that I sold at the show. These were finished just before, then packed, unpacked, displayed...
This coming Friday, February 20th! It's the first day for the American Craft Council's Baltimore Craft Show. I'm finishing up a few last pieces, then packing them up and flying from Portland, across the country to Baltimore, Maryland. A few examples of the recently...
It's total focus on new work as I get ready for the Baltimore Craft Show. It's only a few weeks away! I've been juggling lots of new projects, pieced, appliquéd and beaded. Below, a new jacket, here in mid-piecing. And this view, closer to becoming an actual jacket....
Because Japanese kimonos are built out of rectangular pieces of fabric, there is very little waste. Western clothes, however, are odd shapes, curves and diagonal lines. That means there are piles of leftover scraps. Unless they are very tiny, I keep them. They are way...
How about something new for the coming holiday season? Or even better, for a wedding that takes place during the holiday season? This one started with a gorgeous kimono in red and white with green and gold accents. It's decorated with a design of 'noshi' ribbons...
I'm in the middle of two new coats. The best part? Enough time to really dig in and take my time. Before I left on my trip, I laid out my schedule so I would have the luxury to spend time working on new pieces. Which turned out to be a very good idea! I've been deep...
