Sources of Inspiration

[Carol-Anne]

I have put links to embroideries that I with unusal or interesting techniques in the comments section in the past.  I thought that I would start a discussion so that they can be kept together in future.

[Carol-Anne]

This fukusa is the piece that I wanted to share with you today.

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/188755/

 

What particularly caught my interest is the woven design on the leading edge of their wings and the outline on the same edge.

 

[Carol-Anne]

OK, there is no embroidery on this one, it is definitely woven but, wow, it is stunning. But what I can't understand is why that beauty and incredicle skill in hidden away on the inside!

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/182322/

 

(Previously posted in comments area)

 

 

[jennifer rosemary blackmore]

Thanks for the link to view the pictures.  Fabulous cranes and the eye detail is so unusual.  Wonder how it was embroidered?  Anyone got suggestions?

[Carol-Anne]

I really liked the cord on this obi.

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/179102/

 

(Previously posted in comments area)

[Carol-Anne]

The shading on this carp is interesting.  I think that the stitches have been painted to create the shading.

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/188756/

[Carol-Anne]

Again, lots of amazing embroidery on this fukusa.

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/188762/

 

The faces are lovely but the hair is amazing.  I also like the chequer board effect in the bottom left hand corner and really like the woven effect on the robes of the man above the urn.  There is not a really clear shot of it, so I can't quite work out how it is stitched.

[Jane]

I've been looking at those cranes.  I think the technique for the leading edge of the wings is a variation on woven effect but done with a mixture of flat and twisted thread.

One of my embroidery friends has one of these antique fukusa, the eye on that one is glass, but it's difficult to know how it's fastened underneath.

jane

jennifer rosemary blackmore said:

Thanks for the link to view the pictures.  Fabulous cranes and the eye detail is so unusual.  Wonder how it was embroidered?  Anyone got suggestions?

[Jane]

Hmm, I'm not sure about this technique either.  I thought the green robes were done in the same way as the turtle on my hourisain fukusa, lots of very fine katayori, but I'm not so sure now I've looked at this again.  As for the white section, again that may be a variation on a woven effect.  I'll have a look in my books and see if I can find anything which looks similar.

Maybe, if we are lucky, it will have been bought by a certain person and her dog and we'll get to see it in real life!!

 

jane

Carol-Anne said:

Again, lots of amazing embroidery on this fukusa.

 

http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/188762/

 

The faces are lovely but the hair is amazing.  I also like the chequer board effect in the bottom left hand corner and really like the woven effect on the robes of the man above the urn.  There is not a really clear shot of it, so I can't quite work out how it is stitched.

[Jane]

This is a link to one of my flickr sets, this is where I store photos of pieces which have inspired me.

 

jane

[Jane]

How about this obi as a piece of inspiration. 

 

 

The picture was sent to my by Sheila Cliffe and you can find more on her facebok page. She's a very nice English lady who live is Japan and is a qualified kimono dresser.   If anyone is going to the Textile Societies Antique Textile Fair in Manchester on 6th March she'll be there with lots of interesting kimono for sale (Japanese embroidery UK will there there as well)

[Jane]

 

Shizuka Kusano

[Carol-Anne]

I love the noh mask on this obi from Ichiroya.

 

Take a look at the close up of the mask.  How do you think that it has been stitched?  Long and short stitch?  I think that it is padded and threads have been couched on the contour lines to define them.

 

The also find the flowers (pompoms?) fascinating.  Again I think they are padded.  They seem to be a form of bax padding but on the round.

 

The fan is beautiful but I really like the colour blending on the cord and that gorgous tassel.