Rikyu's grey

 



Today's weaving.

For Obi-belt.
This is a collab projetct with an outstanding artist of Sashiko, Japanese traditional embroidery.

Yarns are dyed by Japanese Chaff Flower( Inokozychi ).

We call this color Rikyu-Nezu, Rikyu's grey.
As you know Rikyu (1522 -1591) is a the founder of Japanese Tea Ceremony.

They used to name to evoke Rikyu's aesthetic sense.

Rice Harvesting

The week of the equinox is over today.
Now we have rice harvesting season.

I have a tiny rice paddy in the back yard.
I will use these to make decorations for the New Year.

Life of Things

Nikaido Bunny project is a kind of re & up-cycle activity.
Even today, somewhere in the world there are those who don't have enough clothes due to poverty, war and else.
On the other hand, a large quantities of clothes in mint condition are abandoned.

Mottainai.

I began to call for second hand damaged clothes, old buttons, yarns, beads and so on. And I keep on making these bunnies with them as symbols to think about life of things.

The gate is open

Spider Lily.
Here Japan, it's unfortunately known as ominous flower. Because it's blooming during the week of autumnal equinox and besides poisonous. So we Japanese never send spider lilies as birthday present or other celebrations.

Notwithstanding, spider lilies have unique attractiveness.
I can't help feeling that spider lilies must be gate keepers between this world and the other.

100 days have gone

I held the last natural dyeing WS this summer.

The dye stuff was Crape Myrtle.
It's excellent stuff to get purplish black.

We Japanese call crape myrtle 100-Day-Blooming.
Just like the name, they keep on blooming more than three months even though in such a sever summer.
But the blossoms seem to be finally over, they bear fruits.
It's a sign of autumn coming.

100 days have gone

I held the last natural dyeing WS this summer.

The dye stuff was Crape Myrtle.
It's excellent stuff to get purplish black.

We Japanese call crape myrtle 100-Day-Blooming.
Just like the name, they keep on blooming more than three months even though in such a sever summer.
But the blossoms seem to be finally over, they bear fruits.
It's a sign of autumn coming.

The Last Indigo Tie Dye Workshop

Indigo season is about to be over.
This will be probably last indigo dyeing class this year.My indigo pot seemed to bring the last full power. At last, every participant could get various transparent blue.

The most enjoyable thing when I have a class is that I can hear interesting stories, information or jokes from participants.

Chatting with handwork is the happiest time♡