From Japan ...

An excellent read, with beautiful photographs, and an amazing video to engage your interest in textiles, quilting arts and the wonders of Japan (thank you Miriam for both links), as we spend more time indoors as the days draw in ...

 

Zumo Museum of Quilt Art

An Okan Arts blog post by guest blogger Alice Gordenkerabout. Izumi Museum of Quilt Art, including beautiful photos. 

  

My work takes me to wonderful off-the-beaten-path locations in Japan, which is how I first came to visit Japan’s only museum dedicated to quilting ...’

How was it made? Japanese hikihaku obi

A video from the V & A archives (what treasures are there!), on the ancient and disappearing weaving art of making heirloom obi (kimono sashes) with gold, silver, mother of pearl and lapis threads. 

  

Nishijin-ori textiles are known for their exquisite detail, and have been made in the Nishijin area of Kyoto, Japan for over 1,200 years. Follow the intricate process involved in creating obi (the sash worn with traditional Japanese clothing), using a specialised technique called hikihaku – weaving with precious metallic thread. 

From the making of the thread itself, to the weaving on the loom, watch as three obi are made in the workshops of Kondaya Genbei – one from silver foil, one from mother of pearl, and one from the semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli ...