I included several panels of Sashiko hand stitching, plus charms, coins, even a pair of chopsticks. I had been collecting oriental fabrics, and had many to choose from. All the background fabrics were from a panel of upholstery fabric, with grays, beige and white.
The kimono was from a pattern, made separately. I did another kimono and put it on a painted canvas for a smaller piece.
I recently had to come up with an idea for a piece to enter into the Fiber Artists of Oklahoma 2015 exhibit, and I was inspired by my oriental fabrics, and a piece done by my friend and fellow artist, Marilyn Seibring. She had done a piece with three panels hanging from a drapery rod, and it focused on her walks on the beach, with pieces of beach glass, rocks, etc. I decided to try something similar, using my oriental fabrics. Here is the finished piece, titled "Messages from the Orient II"
The exhibit is a juried one, so I won't know if I am accepted until sometime in May, but I am pleased with the way the piece turned out. Here's hoping it gets accepted! Now that my studio is up and running, I will be blogging more often, as I now have my fabrics and ephemera to play with again!
