Inspiration: Chiso's Fabulious Kimonos

When Yozaemon Chikiriya established his garment business, Chiso, in Kyoto, his primary customers were monks who required fine clerical vestments. That was 1555. More than four centuries later, the company’s intricately cut robes are coveted as luxury garments, and Chiso—having persevered through shrinking economies, shifting trends, wars, and more—has found itself among the last of Japan’s bespoke kimono houses. Still run by descendants of the Chikiriya clan, it has managed to survive as a powerhouse while honoring tradition and avoiding fast-fashion business models that prioritize volume and profits over quality.

 

So painstaking is Chiso’s process that the company makes only around 25 kimonos per year. A typical garment takes three months to produce, and special commissions can require more than a year to realize. Each kimono calls for specialized techniques including dyeing, steaming, rinsing, and stitching. Chiso employs more than 600 artisans, some of whom are among the last trained in their methods. “We are lucky,” says Haruyo Naka, a Chiso representative. “If you want to make luxury kimonos, you need the materials, the craftsmen. Not many like us are left.”

 

 Check out the article here

 

 

 

Maybe I need to think about an Embellished Quilt?

Fun blanket stitching

Wondering how to add that special touch to your latest quilt? Here are some ideas:

If your project needs a little pop, try adding some embroidery stitches. Well placed stitches can bring out a detail or create movement.

 

 

Way too many beads

 Beads are my favorite way to add a little color, catch the light, or create dimension. If a project is looking particularly flat, add beads. Just remember to add enough to make them look purposeful.  This is a great way to play!

 

Purple Piping and too much fun!

Give your project some dimension and zing by framing with piping. Piping is a great way to add a thin line of color.

 

Remembering my one of my favorite parts of Italy -

The Cinque Terre: Çinque Tære, meaning "Five Lands" is a coastal area in the northwest of Italy.

Many walking trails run throughout the park, and are named according to the SVA numbering system, however it is common to hear trails referred to by their previous numbers, causing confusion to visitors. The most popular is known as the Sentiero Azzurro ("Azure Trail"), used to connect the five villages. Due to the unstable environment, landslides frequently cause portions of the trails to be closed

The Cinque Terre area is a popular tourist destination. Over the centuries, people have built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Ligurian Sea. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages as cars can reach them from the outside only via narrow and precarious mountain roads with great difficulty.

Access to Cinque Terre by car is limited. A road to Vernazza is very narrow and ends a
kilometer before the town. It’s easy to get their by train.

The most popular path between the five villages is known as the Sentiero Azzurro ("Azure Trail). Due to the unstable environment, landslides frequently cause portions of the trails to be closed.

What Do You DO with 100 Nine Patches Made for a Friendship Quilt???

 Add borders to all of them to allow to trim them all to the same size. I did find it interesting that some people who didn't make nine patches. I couldn't figure out what to do...finally realized the only way to make them make sense was to add more.

Seeing Stars

Nine Patches? More???

A nine patch is one of the most basic quilting blocks. At it's most basic, it is nine different squares of fabric sewn together to form a larger square. Patterns can be created with the 9 patch. And oh so fun to set!

 

 

Looking at Quilts

 Turns out that looking at my quilts is fun! I'll look at some more. This time I want to share similar quilts. I do love my nine patches!

I'm Trying Hard to be Inspired

Blue Bayou

 I usually don't have much trouble being inspired but this pandemic is a real downer. The trick that usually works is travel. But who's been anywhere? Certainly not me! I can't believe its been over a year since I've been on an airplane!!

So I'll try the next best thing, looking at quilts. Rather than going to Pintrest, I'll look at my own.

Here are a series of blue quilts.

Electric Tulip

For the Love of Color