...this is how i feel when i look at Boro From pinterest: found on indulgy.com Boro is a Japanese word meaning “tattered rags” a term commonly used to describe textiles that have been mended, patched, repaired over and over to keep them in use. Such things that are lovingly used much longer than the normally expected life cycle. How beautiful is that? Just the names of Fabrics such as shibori, katazome and kasuri are a joy to say. Found on Pinterest: from cityzenart.blogspot.com This is a piece (hem) of an old Edwardian sheet. I removed the lace from the edges and stitched it with random plain running stitch (Sashiko) I'm loving the effect, it will be added to some future works i have planned. I started this piece a few days ago, some old french matress ticking kindly given to me by Mark at The Old Stores Antiques in Montgomery. I've used old cottons unwound from old wooden reels. There were some tears in the the fabric so i patched and stitched them. This piece will tell a story when finished, it's size and shape was planned to fit around some old larger wooden reels i recently found. At the moment i'm building up layers of stitching and patches from my endless stash of old fabrics! Boro wrapped around the wooden reels. I'll be adding papers from old ledgers and receipts (perhaps i can find some textile or farming receipts) as i go along. This is a piece i've already shown here. It's progressing slowly, lots more stitching has been added Sashiko is a specific type of Japanese utilitarian embroidery stitching used to increase the strength and durability of everyday garments and textiles and it's what i've attempted to use in these projects. I was thrilled to find these supplies at the Quilt Museum in York last weekend Japanese cotton and Sashiko threads - for another project My 'very limited' studies in Boro and Sashiko also got me interested in Wabi-Sabi This piece of Japanese pottery has been broken and pieced back together, the cracks filled with Gold. The Japanese believe that when something has suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful. I think i agree, it's how i see the Boro, even more beautiful for it's mending. I have some amazing projects planned for the near future using Boro and Wabi Sabi, i feel stories and histories coming on! This is one of my favourite blogs for Boro images: http://woky-shoten.cocolog-nifty.com/ "If you look closely at a tree you'll notice it's knots and dead branches, just like our bodies. What we learn is that beauty and imperfection go together wonderfully". - Matthew Fox XOXO