Journey To The Golden Fleece

Finished at long last, the first of a few, Carnage (2014).

WIP

WORK WORK WORK~

(name: “Ab Ovo”

technique: tapestry)

Hi tumblrinos! I am ever-absent from here these days and yet again I’m going to show you why. This is, as I’ve said before, my grad project and it’s eating away at my life.

The tapestry is coming along pretty well! Part of it has already been scrolled down - both the part shown in the previous photoset, and the part you can see in the photo above as well, since these aren’t the newest photos (I prefer to weave some substantial part every time before I post anything on here : ). As of today, it reaches 190 cm in the highest points and around 140 in the lowest. The remainder of the blueprint I have yet to utilize is 130 cm. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but my speed is growing! I’m pretty confident in my ability to finish this on time.

These intricate and extraordinarily beautiful embroidered silk balls are a form of Japanese folk art called Temari, which means “hand ball” in Japanese. These particular temari are even more impressive because they were handmade by a 92-year-old grandmother in Japan.

"Although she only learned this elaborate skill in her sixties, she has since created nearly 500 unique designs that have been photographed by her granddaughter NanaAkua. Impressive does not even begin to describe this feat of dexterity, imagination and keen eyesight. The difficult process of becoming a recognized temari craftsman in Japan is tedious and requires specific training and testing. This grandmother must certainly be one motivated and talented woman. And if that was not enough to garner your complete admiration, she now volunteers every week teaching others how to make their own temari.”

Temari have been made in Japan since the 7th century and are still highly valued and cherished as gifts symbolizing deep friendship and loyalty. They are traditionally given to children by their parents on New Year’s Day. Mothers place a small piece of paper with a secret goodwill wish for her child inside the tightly-wrapped ball. Alternately, some temari are made as noisemakers by placing rice grains or bells in the center.