WABI SABI Stitchery and the Importance of Imperfection

In April 2015 we taught a class at FSC: "WABI SABI Stitchery and the Importance of Imperfection.  20 students. I learned more than the students! Wabi Sabi is so hard to explain. It is really a philosophy from Japan of Simplicity which cherishes imperfection. We used the ancient concepts of Japanese BORO patchwork and SASHIKO stitching to free our creative hands and minds.


The room at the left is the china cabinet of my Wabi Sabi friends who live in the woods of New Hampshire and make maple syrup and maple sugar.  Every piece of glassware or china in their kitchen is from estate sales, handed down, found in thrift shops, recycled, maybe chipped a little, used a lot.  It feels so good to be there and to eat at their table.

These little pouches were made by a woman in France with Boro patching and Sashiko stitchery and came to me all sewn up in that wonderful fabric wrapper with a little felt bow and hand lettered tag.  We all loved these babies.

POLKADOT MONKEY's OILCLOTH March 2014

Two feet of snow outside
Monkey is thinking about
SUMMER on the patio.

VINTAGE BLACKS for PILLOWS

 

The 20" black barkcloth pillows I had listed on etsy are sold.

Here are some more wonderful vintage drapery blacks.

Enough of each for at least two pillows, and there is enough

of some of these fabrics for more than just two.

 

Let me know if you want further descriptions of any of the fabrics and close-ups. These are not all "barkcloth" but are all pre 1950.  Monkey loves black.
My etsy site:     www.etsy.com/shop/polkadotmonkey

My email:     nellapearson4@gmail.com

 

MONKEY IS GETTING READY FOR FALL SHOWS

Big Feather Cushions Made from Vintage
Handwork and Barkcloth Drapery Fabrics
 

Laminated Cotton and Oilcloth City Bags

 

Stockings Made from Very Old Kitchen
Tablecloths and Antique Handmade Lace
 

 
Baby's
First
Stocking.
Vintage
Linens
and Old
Laces.
Antique
Pearl
Buttons.

Dream Pillows Made from Vintage Linens
Washable Cases with Removable Lavender
Inserts - for Sweet Dreams and Relaxation.
 

Little Vintage Damask Lavenders Using Old
Hankies and Very Old Buttons.

Silks and Hankies Filled with Lavender



Balsam Fir Filled Little Sachet Pillows
With Appliqued Pages from Children's
Linen and Muslin Nursery Books.

FALL IN MONKEYLAND

Time to cut
back the out
of control
honeysuckle.

The white
hydrangea
turns color
in the fall.

Pineapple
sage better
hurry and
open before
the freeze.

Figs need to
be packed in
straw, wrapped
and put to bed.

Raised beds
are empty.
Garlic buds
are planted
to mature
next summer.