The universe really does pay attention

For the longest time, rattling around in the back of my mind has been the thought that I'd love to get my hands on some pieces of old kimono. Every once in a while the thought bubbles up to the front of my mind - I see an ad in Fiberarts Magazine, and I start Googling "antique kimono" and the next thing I know, it's 3 a.m. and once again I've stayed up way too late without really accomplishing anything.

Recently, it seemed like so many of my favorite fiber blogs were showcasing wonderful projects using kimono scraps. I yearned! I pined! I coveted! Then I remembered, my cousin Holly was, at that very moment, in Japan! I sent a quick e-mail asking her to please do some scavenging for me. Alas, it was the day she was leaving to return home. The photo on the left is of Holly and me, on Halloween, circa 1955. Aren't we adorable?

By this time the thought of kimono scraps just wouldn't leave my mind. The universe must have heard, and whispered in my bloggy friend Mary's ear. Out of the blue, I received an e-mail from her asking for my snail mail so she could send me a bundle of antique kimono scraps. [Insert the Twilight Zone theme song here.]

Mary is a very generous person, as you can see from the photo on the right. She sent me a wonderful collection of kimono pieces. Just absolutely delicious. I could sew them all together and have a spectacular piece! I almost hate to cut into them - they are so precious. But Mary insists they were sent to be used. And they are irresistible - I have already used some to make a cuff, not finished yet but the photo on the left shows the work in progress.

Mary also included a darling little stuffed heart, made from an old quilt. I love it, and I have turned it into an award avatar which I hereby present to some of the many online artists who, knowingly or not, have given me great inspiration and support as I stitch away in my home studio:
  • Mary Stanley - Art Spirit - Mary, who gifted me with all those wonderful kimono scraps, makes the most wonderful, whimsical hooked items of all kinds. Today's post shows some sweet hooked pins to wear and also shows a new book, Felt, Fabric and Fiber Jewelry by Sherri Haab, which features Mary and her charming hooked flowers.
  • Beate Knappe - Mixed Media Art - Beate has a great deal of fun mixing fiber with her inner child, and the results are always a treat. Her blog is in both German and English; she also offers online classes.
  • Dijanne Cevaal - Musings of a Textile Itinerant - Here you'll find experiements in textile making, sewing, dyeing, and so on; with a little bit of travelogue thrown in for good measure. Dijanne also has a book, Seventy Two Ways Not To Stipple or Meander, which is for sale at her blog.
  • Deb - Whiffs, Glimmers & Left Oeuvres - Fabulous fiber doings and a sense of humor that makes my day. Deb has been very generous with her bloggy support of me and what I do.
This award is given with no strings attached; I just want you to know I appreciate you. :-)

Janet Bolton's Charming Textile Pictures


Old Linen, by Janet Bolton

Janet Bolton's work is magical for me. I am thrilled that I have received her latest book, Janet Bolton's Textile Pictures. It is yummy. It's about how she got started, what is her process, how did she find her voice, and so on - all accompanied by wonderful pictures of her work. It is in both English and French, with some of the English translations being amusing, in a most charming way. For example: "Janet Bolton, the internationally renewn british artist reveals you precious moments of her life and secrets of her fabulous textile pictures making of." I hasten to add that most of the English is impeccable. :)

Got lace?


One of the benefits of moving my studio - I'm rediscovering lots of goodies that I'd put away until "later" - I guess later is now. Is that like there's no time like the present? Or, one of my favorites, there's no present like time.