I am not a huge fan of Anime, most of it is ‘too out there’ but I have to share a recent discovery with you. I have discovered a series on Netflix streaming video – a current (2014) season of Anime shorts based on the Manga series ‘Mushi-shi’. I have a DVD of the original series that I bought because of this new season I discovered and I
Mushishi Cover Art
love it too but the artwork in the newest series is simply exquisite, a term I would find it hard to apply to most Anime.
Each image is like a Japanese landscape print and the stories are not your average Anime action adventure. A ‘Mushi’ is a spirit, an ethereal creature that lives on the fringe of the natural world that can possess a person and disrupt their life in unusual ways. A ‘Mushi-shi’ is a sort of exorcist/healer who has the knowledge and skill to heal the afflicted person with medicines he carries with him on his travels. In some ways this series is reminiscent of the Zatoichi series about the blind masseur who is also an expert swordsman but where Zatoichi is a (rather violent) Samurai action series, Mushi-shi is serene and meditative in the presentation of the stories.
At some point, the DVD of this new season should become available (I hope) but in the meantime, those of you who have Netflix streaming might enjoy watching this most unusual offering in the Anime style.
You can read a review of this new series on IMDB; they give it an 8.8 (out of a possible 10) rating .
As usual, I should have posted this sooner but I am trying to get better about this – honest!
A couple of weeks ago, I taught several classes at the NW Quilting Expo (it’s over for this year but be sure to check back with them next year). Among the classes I taught was one of creating fantasy butterflies by collaging them from fussy-cut prints. I have seen this method carried out to incredible detail by a number of high profile quilters and fiber artists but this project was fairly simple and a nice introduction to working with fabric prints in an easy improvisational way.
This quilt is formatted in the style of traditional Japanese Art scrolls.
My initial sample is shown below at the right followed by examples of the butterflies created by my students. Their butterflies are not complete but have been fused to Teflon pressing sheets for later use in a project. In some cases, the butterflies themselves are not quite finished, some are missing their eyelashes but you can see the clever variations they came up with.
In a couple of weeks I will be in Tillamook again teaching at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center. This time I will give a class on Sashiko – Japanese hand stitching that is a cross between embroidery and quilting. Like quilting, it is a running stitch often stitched through one or more layers of fabric but the stitches are larger and rendered in thicker thread. The prominent stitches coupled with the lack of batting between the layers, place it closer to the realm of embroidery.
Sashiko is considered a rustic ‘folk art’ as opposed to the elegant Japanese silk embroidery that might grace a precious Kimono or silk panel. As a folk art , Indigo fabric with white or off-white thread is traditional. Indigo is easily grown in many climates and is a common natural dye making it accessible and affordable to all. Sometimes you might see a natural color fabric with Indigo thread though these days anything goes and Sashiko thread and fabrics come in many colors.
Sashiko fabric, typically made of cotton (sometimes a blend of cotton and linen), is a looser and coarser weave than domestic quilting cottons making it easier to stitch with the large needles and threads used in the stitchery. You will not usually find it in regular quilt or fabric stores. Two good sources are: One World Fabrics and Shibori Dragon. One World Fabrics is online only (though local to Portland) while Shibori Dragon sells online but also has a retail store up near Tacoma WA. You will also find an assortment of Sashiko thread and needles at both shops.
Of course, you can stitch Sashiko on any fabric that you can get the needle and thread through hence my samples shown below of Japanese Yarn Dye fabrics. I have also stitched on Linen and denim (though denim is hard to pull the needle through) as well as a variety of domestic cotton fabrics. The thread can also be substituted if you cannot find authentic Sashiko thread. I find Floche (made by DMC) is a very acceptable substitute but I have also used linen thread, wool thread and even Pearl Cotton. Pearl cotton is rejected by many ‘purists’ as it has a distinctly visible twist. Susan Briscoe (author of a number of books on Sashiko) advises against using it. Speaking of Susan Briscoe, of the numerous books she has written on the subject of Japanese quilting my favorite is The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook. It lives up to its name as being the ultimate book on that topic.
The Sashiko class is scheduled for Tuesday October 20 from 10-4 at the Latimer Textile Center. The following day (Wednesday) I will be teaching a Thread Painting class there as well, but more on that in a future post.
This panel is based on the concept of Noren (short curtains hung in doorways in Japan), The fabric is antique Japanese Indigo 14" wide and has bamboo segments hung along bottom edge as wind chimes.
A pieced sampler of Komon (clan crest) designs
A contemporary approach to Sashiko. The title - Naruto Maelstrom refers to the Naruto River in Japan that features awe inspiring whirlpools
Sashiko is often used to decorate utilitarian objects such as this drawstring pouch
Hexagon sampler featuring a variety of traditional Sashiko patterns and Komon
Circle Umi (plum blossom) motif stitched onto Taupe Yarn-dye fabric
Sashiko coaster decorated with a Flax Flower design
Circle motif of Take (bamboo) stitched on Taupe Yarn-dye fabric
Sashiko coaster featuring a Komon design
Circle Motif - Matsu (pine tree) stitched on Taupe Yarn-dye fabric
