Simple, humble, yet somehow wonderful.....

the frugal Japanese make things out of discarded, worn indigo cloth. These are called boro, and were often used as futon covers.

Portland Oregon Japanese Gardens has recently hosted a show about these, called "Mottainai: fabric of Life." This blog post from Willy Wonka Quilts has wonderful photos of the show....and there is a catalog available from the gardens. [ NOTE:"mottainai"="waste nothing"]

Artist Melanie Testa is leading a group working on "boro" clothing, here! it is fun to watch her progress or join in if you have interesting fabric bits in your stash, an old garment which could use updating, and feel happy doing hand stitching....

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Last February, I worked on something similar...raw edges and hand stitches with a bird included. It is a wall piece, not clothing, though!

A package!

It's from Japan, ordered from KimonoBoy website.

Besides the indigo pieces we have a lovely origami type packing slip and a packet of lovely green tea! Delightful!

The indigo is from old Japanese textiles, cleaned and ready to re-purpose. It is already cut into 8 " squares. Most are solids in various shades and textures. Linen or cotton or hemp or a blend. It is hard to know. Real treasures to me!

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Our guild's quilt show is coming up. I am loaning this quilt for a booth displaying "scrapbook" quilts.

I made it month-by-month in the year 2000. It is a real look at who and where we were then!

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We are making progress with the Mixed Medium collage class I am taking. Today we started using our machines and stitching on the canvases. Fun! [Soon, I will post more in my Arty Collage blog--see sidebar]

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More art in process....pencil sketches of daffodils. and some more now in ink, waiting to be painted with watercolor..whew! So much to do!!!

I have never been to Japan, but I am so sorry about the horrible time they are having now.
They seem to be a people with much inner strength and resolve. I think they have a philosophy of accepting things as they are......and seeing the inner beauty.

Very difficult at the moment!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(of course I romanticize)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whenever I think of Japan, I think of their unique art and aesthetic sense. For generations they utilized indigo fabrics in their every day life. Now these are being collected and some are for sale on-line. [Just Google "Japanese indigo fabric"]

This is an antique boro, a futon cover which has been mended many times. [Wonderfully "wabi-sabi"!] Rather like our patchwork quilts, especially those from Gees Bend, Alabama.

Below is a stack of vintage indigo pieces. I have ordered these, for backgrounds in primitive applique and stitchery and possibly for wonderful pillows and a table runner.

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This iron skillet holds a delicious meal! The recipe is for Apricot Glazed Chicken Thighs from "Delicious Living" magazine and website.