Japanese indigo scrap art with scrap timber frame

 Title is "Pray -Ojizo-san" made with Japanese indigo scrap textile.

 As a part or scrap timber project, I asked my friend, Daryl O'Brien to frame the picture with scrap timber.
Finally, the picture turn out looks like a little shrine!

I made a few Japanese indigo scrap arts, "Freedom - escape from moon", "24 hours guard - Kakashi" All goes to the following mixed Exhibition at Hanasho, West End.

The exhibition is organised by Hanasho. There are many talented artists who love West End. The works are also unique painting, jewelry, softy, pottery.... The artist night is on 1st Dec from 6:30 - 8:30. Please pop in!

I am still enjoying to make kimono bag too..

Sashiko or stich? Final - Japanese indigo scrap work

 In the last article, I felt the work was completed. During the waiting time for framing, I was thinking...The title of work "昭和SHOWA era, JAPAN". So, I started thinking about my life in SHOWA.
Added Atom, Doraemon, Kakashi(Scare crow), it's too much things in a patched work.

 But, that's a part of Showa. The work will be able to see at Hanasho from 1st Dec. Hope you can  enjoy it!

Sashiko or stitch? - Handling of needle with Japanese indigo scrap -

 Here is the pictures which I have just made "the Japanese indigo's collection" .
Do you know how sashiko's stitch is different with normal stitch. It's not thread. Sashiko needs to sew one by one stitch.

 The following is just stitched. Hope you can see deference with the above pictures. It's much flat.

 The following picture is my favourite textiles collection. I enjoyed making kimono bags with these textiles for last 6 years.

Now all only scraps. S I made with my memories.
Indigo Kasuri, Chijimi, hand dyed indigo's cotton. All so nice!
I know it's silly to frame it. But I will!

Daruma made of vintage kimono - Make a wish for 2012!

Here is the daruma made by vintage girls kimono, lining silk, and black kimono jacket(Haori) and some stitches. The daruma's wish must be..."Wanna have hands and legs!"

Maybe you know this creature??. When you set up your some goal for new year, put one eye with black ink, when the goal is achieved, one more eye will be filled in by you.

Make your wish for 2012 and write down your wish on the blank space, and make your effort....The another eye ball will be filled in at the end of year 2012. This time, it will go well!

Japanese indigo - small recycled textile art

The picture is made of vintage kimono, especially Japanese indigo colour's KASURI, Ai-zome(Japanese indigo with hand dye)...at Showa era.

Title is "24hours guard - KAKASHI"

I don't have the embroidery sewing machine. So simply zig-zag and hand stitch.I have just enjoyed "indigo's world", but my daughter said too dark and prefer daytime background which I made another one.

The work will go to Hanasho's mixed artist exhibition on Dec.

Vintage kimono bag Scrap project final 2011 - Part2

 About Part2, I enjoy the see through kimono pattern from top surface of scrap textile as below.

 The following bag is Shibori and modern scrap harmony. The interesting thing is the same teq as Sashiko on the modern textile and very matching!

The Green bag is also used a few western scraps. That makes vintage sash new, doesn't it??

 The following are SCRAP textiles, I actually enjoy Scrap with Part1(last article) more!

Vintage kimono bag SCRAP project final 2011 - Part1 East meets West!

The pictures bag is 2way(long strap or handle), also one of scrap project "Harmony of scraps" for Cherish, Artisan(Craft Queensland). Actually not sure if they take this work. Because I used also used jeans for upcycling textile. Taken time, but so fun for picking and thinking layout of scraps!

The following 2 pictures are the same bag, just front and back, Japanese and ????.

 The lace is working with Indigo, The same is Jeans and lace combination.
Maybe, the Japanese indigo textile is originally for working shirts in old days.

Kimono bag - where can I buy Kaz's kimono bag?

 Since I closed down my shop, people asked me where I can buy your kimono bag. Especially this month, people asked more...maybe for Christmas shopping starting!

Artisan(Craft Queensland) have been looking after my kimono works for a long. And I supplied to Hanasho, West End, which is a beautiful handmade art and craft, also flowers.
The both of them are supporters for artisan, aren't they?

However, the busy people has not much time to go shopping to other suburb.
So, I have just supplied a couple of more shops!

Bleeding heart, City : The one of my customer recommend a place, it's not a commercial based gift shop. the purpose of organisation is "Fundraising" for many organisations ....The shop is attached to Cafe & Gallery. Honestly The shop is not sophisticated, but some good community space "OASIS"  as same as the outlooking, Queenslander timber house in the City!!!

Four Heart, Paddington ; The shop is located in Paddington Central, a tiny shop, but Debbie's collection is wide range from kid's toy, gift, clothing, etc. I have known her since I opened my tiny shop. She is so nice lady such as my big sister.

At last, pin on white walls, Graceville ; The owner, Louise was my customer and her collection of items are so unique and also she appreciate one-off, handmade designer's works. She is talented and also trade interior decor & design.

The last 2 shop are not ethnic taste and very western style shop. But I hope their customers also enjoying Japanese tradition through my works.

I am a handmade kimono bag maker, so I am sorry I can not supply much.

Online shopping; I will try to supply new kimono bag works to Aya greentea website at the end of Oct 2011.

Kimono bag - 3 ways bag!! how much do you carry your stuff today???

Maybe already you might imagine how 3ways style is.

Please have a look the followings. Is your guess right?

The sash is as same as the last article. The pattern is weaved, so very tough material. Good for a big bag.

Amazing vintage sash and Tomesode - kimono purse & bags

When unpicked vintage sashes, I Generally knows from end of textile about where made such as Nishi-jin weaving(西陣織）This sash  case was unusual. The weaving style name was on the end of textile, On the opposite side of end, I saw 謹製Sincerely making 竹近右 person's name such as the above picture. It must be at least Meiji era.

The following purse were made with the above vintage kimono sash.

Can you see how different the outcomes!

Of course, a tiny thing makes more different with the same textile! Have a look the next picture!

The combination between textiles and colours. Simply enjoy with vintage kimono textiles

The following are patched works with same vintage kimono called TOMESODE(Lady's formal kimono).

A feature of TOMESODE is "do not have a repeating pattern". 

TOMESODE has all different pattern on a whole kimono, part by part(actually bottom part of kimono).

It looks like a picture which show a Japanese traditional landscape with celebration symbols four seasons plants and birds(crane, peacock!).

I used textile up side down. blossom and bamboo leaves, weave on the textile patched with SHIBORI(tied dye)

The last kimono bag which was made with Tomesode patched was a customised bag. The kimono had a Lot's of stains and textile self was so thin silk.But beautifully upcycling! Thanks Kristine!

Vintage kimono purse & kimono bags - are you ready for party season?!

Christmas is still ....long way


But it's time to be ready for parties and gift!!That's my feeling since I started making vintage kimono bags.

Here Australia, purses are very popular for party occasion.

However, I also like a small bag made of vintage kimono.

This girl's kimono is not old.  must be so strike in party!

I like this vintage shibori(tied dye) with small tied style bag.

it looks like very Japanese tradition, isn't it!

This celebration sash is 20's. Without borders, looks too old for party bag.

Adding a few whitey sash, now it's a party bag!

Spring has come! field mustard 菜の花

A tiny small natural beauty - NANO-HANA called "field mustard?!" the flower is a part of radish leaves. It's matching with Japanese small vase, isn't it!

It's very deference between a bunch of flowers such as roses. Even if it's weed's flower, still makes a small beauty world.

Since Japan week was finished, I have got cold(Unusual!)...Heavy coughing makes me very down..

Today, very warm day, so I start making bags.

The warm weather is better for textiles, especially interfacing work.

Scrap timber project - An idea from Hakone yosegi-saiku

As an experiment of the scrap project, I made a multi-purpose timber stall with timber scrap with Daryl O'Brien. There are the variety of species, colour's timber as garbages at a joinery shop.

When I saw the mountain of timber scrap, I remembered the two techniques of Japanese traditional wooden work. "Hakone yosegi-zaiku" with  dovetail joint technique.

As soon as the first work done, I have been using for a couple of months as a Japanese tea table with my daughter, side table for TV remote controller, a stall for adult etc. It's small stall, but pretty heavy and very stable for any purpose of use. The first idea was "no more throw to Bin!", so we can use as a shelf for kid's, table, side table, stall further more....

From now, we will start next challenge....

Japan week: MOCHI Performance and Tasting on 28th Aug, this Sunday!

In Brisbane, Japanese week is coming up!

This Sunday, "Mochi" sticky rice cooking performance and tasting will be held at the Japanese Garden, Mt Coot-tha Botanic Garden, Brisbane. The Japanese club of Brisbane presents this event!

The timetable is as below;
1st time: 10:45-(about 20mins)  performance and tasting
2nd time: 11:15-(about 20mins)  performance and tasting

3rd time: 11:45-(about 20mins)  performance and tasting

Draw as a kid! - Anybody can be an artist in PC graphic world!

Taking pictures and a bit edit in PC, so now it's like a graphic  art work, isn't it!

Anybody could make art works on your wall!!

Actually, I took a picture, The picture was edited by my daughter.

The scrap textilles on kimono bag2 - upcycled as a modern style!

The artist night of Kizuna Fundraising Art Exhibition to Help Japan was successfully held last night!
I was a volunteer's cashier, so not much chance to talk with visitors. However, I felt very much that all visitors love Japan and support us!

The pictures are my new works which I told in the last article. Kizuna(means Bond) exhibition gave me new world "Bond between Kimono and Western textiles. Of course, I am focusing "RECYCLE" and "SCRAP" So, I got many small scraps such as 5-10cm.

 I like the "see through"! The base of textile is Vintage kimono sash. But the bag revived very new and modern, didn't it!

I also like "classy" kimono bag too!