One day during my visit to Tokyo in January, Molly and I were shopping in Harajuku when two women rushed by us in conversation. As they passed, I caught sight of a bag one was carrying and stopped dead in my tracks. "Did you see that?!!" I asked Molly, whose eyes and mouth were as wide as mine. "Go ask her about it!" she replied and in that moment, as we turned, the women disappeared in a crowd down the steps of a subway entrance. Augh!!
Later that same afternoon, browsing new books at the Aoyama Bookstore, I came across a photo of bags similar to that of the elusive woman. The book was an overview of handcrafts profiles and because this photo was the only one of interest, I didn't buy it. (In fact, it was this book I was re-shelving when I ran into Jennifer!) But I did memorize a website address from it.
As I'm writing this post now, I went to snatch a link from the website to show you these fabulous bags and it seems it no longer exists. However, I did some poking around, somehow found the page and, because I don't know how much longer this link will work, urge you to go look at these now! I'll wait...cue the Jeopardy music. AREN'T THEY WONDERFUL???! They suggest so many quilt ideas...so graphic!
ISBN978-4-579-11116-9
For the rest of the visit, I had my eyes open for more of this stitchwork, a sort of colorful, folky interpretation of sashiko, which I tend to think of as traditionally white on blue. I may be wrong on this though; it never really caught my interest before. The day before I left Japan, I came across this book, written by Junko Maeda in 2006. I'm not sure of the exact translation of the name of the book, but it's something like Working/stitching on Cloth Everyday. (Help here, Japanese readers?)
Anyhow, I love this book! There are lots of great example shots of this style of handwork, although the pages do have a sheen that prevents good photos.
These few will, however, give you an idea of the contents.
At the end of the text, there are several pages of diagrams of a variety of stitch patterns used throughout the book's examples.
Aside from some goofy clothing shots (I'll spare you), I love this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in handstitching, especially big stitch quilting, which we're seeing so much more of lately. If you're adventurous, here's the link to it on Amazon JP.
Once you have your eyes opened to something new like this, it all of a sudden seems to be everywhere. I found this photo on Flickr, in Luana Rubin's set from her recent trip to Japan. She's the owner of eQuilter and it looks like she took a group to the Tokyo show.
You might think I'm doing a book report because I have nothing else to share but you would be wrong!! I've been sewing up a storm the last week...old projects and new ones. More on all that soon. By the way, I've been using the Color Catchers and I am sold on them!! If you didn't read the comments on the Reds and Purples post, you might find them of interest. Several bits of good info regarding color transfer of wet fabric. Ok, that's it for today...have to go prep my Olympics' handwork for the evening.
Oh, one more tidbit. The Tokyo bags? They retail for around $300.
Ohh thank you for the link to the photos of those bags! My fingers are itching to give that a try!!!!!
Posted by: Miriam | February 24, 2010 at 10:06 PM
"sewing up a storm"... such a tease! as usual! :)
Posted by: carolyn | February 24, 2010 at 11:05 PM
These quilts are just smashing! Thanks so for sharing.
Posted by: molly | February 24, 2010 at 11:35 PM
i have this book and love it. glad you're enjoying it too. i was smitten with the cafe apron and tried to make one, only to realize i wasn't the same size as the woman in the picture.. hehe.
btw, a friend just sent me the link to your blog raving about how much i would love it. of course she wasn't surprised to know I followed you already. small world, huh?
Posted by: jessica | February 24, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Such a lovely ab ook, I have just ordered it with another form the amazon jp site!
Thanks for the inspiring posts.
Posted by: Carolyn Forster | February 25, 2010 at 04:25 AM
Dear Jan,
The book by Junko Maeda is "Days with stitching(connecting)on cloth(fabric)" , literal translation. So, you are right.
Chizuko from Tokyo
Posted by: Chizuko | February 25, 2010 at 05:08 AM
I'm in love.
oh my oh my.
Thanks Jan, beautiful things as usual.
Posted by: monica | February 25, 2010 at 05:27 AM
Wow! is all I can say.
I have seen something similar from India. My husband came back from a trip there and brought me some pretty nice fabric. The last thing he pulled from the suitcase was a most beautiful hand stitched bag. I was amazed when he said that he hadn't bought it - it was the bag given to all delegates to keep their papers, made in a local craft workshop.
Susan
Posted by: Susan Wakeford | February 25, 2010 at 05:34 AM
All right. Add a stitched bag to the list of things to do. Immediately. :-) A really inspiring post, Jan! Reminds me of the luscious stitching going on over at TheSillyBooDilly on her work quilt series. Amazing. I'm lazy and have only been trying to add a bit of hand stitching to machine quilted pieces. Clearly I need to step it up so I can have a beautiful bag. Neat!
Posted by: amy | February 25, 2010 at 07:03 AM
Thank you Chizuko from Tokyo! I actually mulled that title over with my half-Japanese boyfriend for a long time and we couldn't come up with anything that sounded normal.
Mum, can't wait for my color catchers arrival!
Posted by: molly | February 25, 2010 at 07:25 AM
Deep breath----
LOVE THOSE BAGS. As in, I would fork over the dough. They are special. They are inspiring. They are not going to be coming soon to Anthropologie (although I could be wrong about that).
I have to start doing some of this big stitch stuff (which you started me on the last time you came back from Japan). It's like boro, but with nice new fabric! I also like the apparent lack of batting. Would be so nice for a tablecloth, and solve the age-old (in my mind) problem of how to back a pieced tablecloth without either making it look like a quilt is on the table, or having raw edges to deal with.
Posted by: Kay | February 25, 2010 at 07:38 AM
You need one of those bags Jan! Make one, you can do it. I love that type of stitching on anything. Can't wait for your next post now you've teased us by saying how much you've been doing.
Posted by: Janet | February 25, 2010 at 07:54 AM
The bags ARE great and could be idea springboards. Thanks very much--I've never done this sort of stitching either but have been casting around for ideas for an ongoing project and just may incorporate (AKA STEAL) some of this look.
Posted by: KathieB | February 25, 2010 at 08:27 AM
beautiful pics. I think I'll enjoy them here as I am NOT adventurous. I'm surprised that there isn't someone who grabs the best articles and books from Japan to make them available in english. there's always such beautiful work.
Posted by: Lazy Gal Tonya R | February 25, 2010 at 08:42 AM
Oooh, lots of inspiration! I loved the little slippers in the link you provided too. Soooo, what fun sashiko project to you have up your sleeve?
Posted by: Thimbleanna | February 25, 2010 at 08:49 AM
wow I am in awe love those bags and Yes I too have been intrigued with utility stitching the past few months.
I think I also like the look of the great pearle cottons that are around.
I need to make a quilt just to quilt it with them and with the Utility stitch!
I wish I could find that book here in the USA makes me nervous buying from a website I can't read
LOL
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | February 25, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Thanks for the link to the photos of the bags, i don't worry about how much they cost, because as always when I see something great like that I think "Oh, I could make that!" Ha ha yeah, in my spare time! but I am printing out the pix from the link, and will watch for the book. more reasons to plan my trip to Japan next year.
Posted by: Pam Cope | February 25, 2010 at 09:27 AM
Oh! I love that stitching! The texture is just amazing. I tried to do it on a doll quilt a while back. I was inspired by a photo Jen had taken of a quilt at the quilt show...
http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/2008/02/new-doll-quilt.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/movinghands/2208172386/in/set-72157603763186583/
I'd love to have the time to try something like that out on a large scale.
Posted by: hillary | February 25, 2010 at 02:02 PM
VERY cool bags!
Posted by: Mariko | February 25, 2010 at 06:01 PM
ACK!
I LOVE those bags!!!
$300?
Not happening.
Gorgeous.
Posted by: blackbird | February 25, 2010 at 09:06 PM
I love this book and bought it last fall at our local kinokuniya bookstore. It has been my inspiration to help use up some of the sashiko thread sitting in my sewing basket.
Thank you for the link to the bags ... beautiful!
Posted by: lydia | February 26, 2010 at 12:41 AM
here is another link in case you don't know this blog
http://susanbriscoe.blogspot.com/2010/02/abergavenny-near-andover-and-near.html
enjoy!
Posted by: lydia | February 26, 2010 at 01:46 AM
Thank you for waiting while I had a look ;-) Those bags are wonderful! And I also see lots of ideas for quilts in them. I have been looking at BooDilly's quilts lately http://www.flickr.com/photos/boodilly/sets/72157622662604613/ and felt fired up enough to want to start something similar, and this adds fuel to the fire...
Posted by: mathea | February 26, 2010 at 04:25 AM
The bags are wonderful. thanks for the links.
Posted by: Lucette | February 27, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Jan,
You are endlessly inspiring! I actually went on the Japanese Amazon and ordered up the book! It is one of the craziest things I have ever done...the cost of the book is one half the cost of the shipping! Being crazy but creative isn't such a bad thing---it can be great fun! Must say we are never bored!
Posted by: Jill Holmes | March 05, 2010 at 10:26 PM