A last look at a few of the pieces I brought to the Smithsonian and the American Craft Made shows.
Like this jacket, a shorter version of the coat we used for the ‘Pink’ video. This fabric came from a very long sleeved, formal kimono. Those traditional kimonos are like western ball gowns. They’re perfect for a special occasion, but maybe not so good for daily life. Fantastic when you want to wear a dramatic and beautiful piece of clothing.
My good fortune, when it’s time to retire it as a wearable kimono, the long sleeves make for a lot more fabric. Plenty for a long coat and a jacket.
The front.
The back.
Enough for a coat, a jacket and some leftover scraps for a few scarves. ‘Mottainai,’ waste nothing!
Can you see, in the picture below, the pieces of the same fabric? The grey leaf like shapes? And part of a green flower towards the center top. At the bottom, a sliver of dark mahogany petals.
The last bits of this gorgeous fabric, this scarf, ‘Blush Ume,’ is still available, check it out here.
A shawl collar coat, this one called ‘Streams.’ Sewn from two gorgeous kimono silks, two different versions of a flowing water design.
Appliquéd small squares, laid out as though they were tumbling through the water.
The squares were cut from the same kimono silk I used for the facing and the under the collar. A gorgeous deep, deep teal/green silk scattered with little odd shapes and dots.
Lastly, a beaded, so very cool, woven scribble design in a pretty pale pink color.
I used black beads to toughen it up and give it a bit of attitude.
Onward! I’ll finish up some special orders, then start the process all over again.
This is what I do; make stuff, show it, send it off. It’s a pretty good life!
