Diverse Materials

Second Place Winner

Entrant: Susan Basch

MATERIALS – Antique kimono silk fabric, cotton fabric, sterling silver, mother of pearl, coral beads, seed beads, metallic thread, silk thread, cotton thread

COMMENTS – This pouch pays tribute to the Japanese tradition of fine craftsmanship and art of gift giving. The gift pouch was constructed using silk fabric from a vintage kimono I purchased at the Kyoto flea market during our Japan Adventure Tour. I added cotton fabric as a complimentary detail and lining. It was further embellished with mother of pearl, coral & sterling silver. The sampler braids represent the tradition of school exercises when stitch samplers were part of female education during the 18th & 19th centuries. The sampler includes 19 different braids. 15 were made on the marudai, 3 on the kakudai, and 1 on the square plate.