potd - Katazome

Just putting  this beautiful ginko leaf fabric in the shop. Early 20th century katazome (stencil resist) indigo cotton.

potd - Yukata Cotton

Full bolts (approx 11m) of cotton for men's yukata (summer cotton kimono). These are unused but date from the 1960's or 70's.

potd - Old Books

We always have old Japanese books and paper packs (from  books that are falling apart). These are textbooks, scripts, business records etc and many date from over 100 years ago. Most are printed, some are handwritten and all are on handmade paper.  Customers are using the paper  in various projects from cards to 'shifu' (paper fabric) which is a traditional textile woven with strips of paper including old printed book pages like this.

 

 

 

 

potd - Old Japanese Cotton

Just tidying up rolls of old (mid - late last century) cotton.

Potd - Sewing Books

I've just put out some more Japanese sewing books (in translation). Lovely patterns and you can't go wrong with titles like 'Sweet Dress Book' and 'I am Cute Dresses'.

potd - Ebi

Antique e-gasuri  (picture ikat) with ebi (prawn) design...

potd - Hotei Netsuke

This is a very simple, well-worn  old bone netsuke that looks like it's had a long and useful life.  He doesn't have the fine carving of some of our other netsuke  but I think that's part of his  charm. The figure is Hotei  (lit. 'cloth bag' ) who was originally a deity from Chinese folklore and is one of the Japanese seven lucky gods. He always carries a large sack and is the god of abundance and good health.  He is signed 'Ikko'.

potd - Shop Colours

A little colour to brighten up such a grey rainy day here...

potd - Hanga

We always have a small selection of hanga woodblock prints. These  two panels are from a triptych depicting kabuki actors by Toyohara Kunichika ( 1835 - 1900).  Click on to enlarge.