#mindfulstitching

One of my little hobby projects this year has been to make this little book of memories. Twelve months ago I lost my Mum to Cancer and the pages in this book are made from bits and pieces from her sewing box, from hand made cards, handkerchiefs or bits that remind me of her. Hand sewing has been a great help with the grieving process and all the crap that life throws at you while dealing with the loss of a loved one. #memories #memorybook #mindfulstitching #mindfulness #embroidery #clothbook #sewingbyhand #slowstitching #slowstitch #zoknitandsew https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6ANf1s5K2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The picture says it all really. New year, new start, let's get going :) For anyone interested in joining the course I am building, you can find the link for Patreon in my bio. I am going to be teaching slow stitch textile sculpture, so you can expect a gentle pace, minimal equipment, and nothing too complicated. Patience, and a love for process art, are essential requirements ❤️ Xx #slowstich #artcourse #sewingcourse #animalart #slowstitching #mindfulstitching #craftcourse #learntosew #learnonline #trysomethingnew #learntogrow #artonpatreon #artfeedsthesoul #visualarts #britishart #wiltshireart #learntosculpt #textileart #fiberart #fibreart #visualarts #salisburyartscene #britishatist #doglover #animalartist #sculptureartist #dogart #animalart #artoninstagram #craftersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm4LV3woYhv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My father often Sashiko stitched Heart Sutra. His back while stitching remained vividly in my memory - a needle on the Indigo fabric, a white smoke from a cigarette, and each character from Sutra. ☆ Sashiko existed in the ordinary. The ordinary has their “ordinary” stories, each region, each family, and each individual. We don’t understand how valuable the “ordinary” is until we actually lose it. So, I keep sharing, the Sashiko is a form of ordinary stitching in the Japanese culture. ☆ - - - ☆ 般若心経を見ると、父親の刺し子を思い出します。煙草の白煙で包まれた父親の机と、それほど必要のない判子の山と、何回目かわからない刺しかけの布と。命日の10月16日は、般若心経と正信偈と共に、亡き父親に思いを馳せようと思います。 ☆ それまでの当たり前が、当たり前ではなくなった日です。逆に言えば、それまで不可能だと思っていたことが、可能になった日でもあります。今の僕の幸せな日々を見て、親父はなんて言うのかな……なんて。きっと照れて、何も言わないんだろうけれど。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #HeartSutra #MindfulStitching #SlowStitch #Animism #Spirit #Ordinary #Anniversary #InVisibleMeniding #Mending #日本の日常 #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子 https://www.instagram.com/p/CGXwlJ-pFlH/?igshid=1vwjp1jmz7xf9

The Japanese are quite familiar with the concept of Animism. We believe that a “thing” has each spirit in it. So does the fabric. One of the significance of Sashiko/Boro is feeling the spirit, I believe. It is not only celebrating the beauty as Art. ☆ We all have to adjust the “new normal”. I am a big fan of “touches” and I always bring my collection to the in-person workshop/talks so the people can “feel” what I am talking about. Many told me they feel something “they cannot verbalize”. How about over the Internet…? I thought it was impossible to share - I may be wrong. Once I share enough stories, the “feeling” may be delivered over the photos & videos. Once I get more free time, I would like to walk through my collection with many stories. （The article about “Animism in Japan & Sashiko” can be found on @UpcycleStitches website - link available from our profile as well.) ☆ - - - ☆ 不思議な話なのですが、刺し子を英語で紹介すればするほど、外国での生活が長くなればなるほど、日本が好きで好きでたまらなくなります。もっと勉強したくなるし、もっと知りたくなるんです。 ☆ 刺し子は数百年前、日本人の「日常」だったと思っています。この「日常」が何を表すかというと、「当たり前の中に存在した信仰（信念）」です。「もったいない」という言葉ひとつとっても、環境保護（リサイクル）の言葉として（英語圏では）使われることもあるのですが、もっと日常に即した、仏教の要素が沢山詰まった言葉だと思うのです。日本人にも周知されていない日本の日常。これを調べていくことはとても大切なことだなと。その線上にきっと刺し子もあると思うので。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #RunningStitch #Handstitching #Sewing #MindfulStitching #SlowStitch #Animism #Spirit #Ordinary #Boro #JapaneseBoro #襤褸 #日本の日常 #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子 https://www.instagram.com/p/CAXs9xfp_tM/?igshid=lsamba80mfpd

It is “almost” impossible to make the “(authentic) Boro” we can see in the vintage market / textile museum. The Boros are the result of ultimate repetition of Sashiko & using it, over hundreds of years. However, regardless of its possibility, we can always “try” to respect how they had to stitch & appreciate the wisdom they left for us. We make “(Future) Boro” with Sashiko as the Japanese 400 years ago probably did. Stitching the “swatches that couldn’t be Boro” is one of the factors that defines us as Sashiko artisans. We are stitchers, not a dealer. We have an ability to recreate - and as you know - to mend. ☆ There are quite many Boro dealers, and I respect most of them. However, there are not that many stitchers who can mend Boro to keep the form of Boro. It requires a lot of “Japaneseness” including Wabi-Sabi, and that cannot be described by words. Learning “what Boro is” and “Japaneseness” will help the existing stitchers so much, and that is exactly what I am doing to support those “artisans” who can contribute to the future of the tradition. ☆ - - - ☆ 刺し子が上手な人は沢山います。ただ、「襤褸を作れる（直せる）」という刺し手さんは、あまりいない気がします。襤褸を作れる作家さんの共通点は、「布と語る」能力を持っていること。布と語れない刺し手の方は、襤褸らしいパッチワークは作れても、刺した後に残る作品に襤褸の雰囲気は感じられません。 ☆ 「侘び寂び」を「不完全の美」”だけ”と勘違いする英語圏の中で、その侘び寂びを上手に表現する為には、この「物（場所）に宿る何かとの会話」がとても重要なんだろうなと思っています。「不完全だから美しい」とする西洋の理解は、侘び寂びの本質からはやっぱりずれていて、「不完全（に至るまでの何かとの対話を通して）、即ち美しい」とする日本的な美を、なんとか刺し子を通して紹介したいなぁと。文章だと難しく思うかもですが、めちゃ簡単な話です。「言葉では紡ぎきれない」ことを紹介していて、多くの日本人の方は、すでに会得している美意識なのでね。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #NaturalDye #SashikoThread #MindfulStitching #SlowStitch #Animism #Spirit #Ordinary #Boro #JapaneseBoro #VisibleMending #Mending #襤褸 #日本の日常 #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQz_aNpOeO/?igshid=1aq56zm8xvfs0

In order to fully describe the culture of Sashiko, proper understanding of how Japanese culture has developed is essential. What is the proper understanding, then? Well, many people spend their whole life studying it, so it isn’t easy to describe on SNS in one post. Please keep learning, as I keep sharing while learning. ☆ There are, of course, reasons for my frustration toward the word “Freedom (of interpretation)”. It is crucial to understand the concept of “Mura (Village Community)”, which may be categorized as “collectivism”. In extreme terms, the freedom (as an individual) did not “exist” in the ordinary of Japanese peasant life. There are many other stories around this extreme, and I come to understand that “Sashiko” is one form of individualism in the extreme collectivism. However, someone’s saying, “It is free to interpret a word, and whatever is fine” is too shallow to accept. If they don’t use the word “Sashiko”, then I have no problem. When they use the word “Sashiko”, I hope they “try” to respect the culture behind the word. Ah, I have so much to share. ☆ - - - ☆ 幼少期から刺し子に触れ合う（触れ合わざる）環境にいると、「刺し子ってなんだろう？」と考える時間は、どうしても増えます。特に”期待”と”強制”が加わると、否定から入るので、一層考えます。僕が刺し子について語るのは、そういう昔の、「一見刺し子とは関係のない読書量」からきています。 ☆ 「難しい話をしたくない」ので、できるだけ例えを使って話をするのですが、時々（頻繁に）失敗して、「こいつは何を話しているんだ？」となります（笑）。でも、きっと、語り続けることで僕自身の気持ちの整理をつけているんだろうなと。「刺し子は村社会の中の個人のあり方」と昔難しく考えたことを、3年間の配信を通して、刺し子は日本人にとっての「お味噌汁」であり、レジャーとしての「登山」だ……という感じで纏められています。本来はとてもシンプルな刺し子。わかりやすく語れるような知識と頭の回転を身に着けたいものです。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #learnSashiko #Mura #VillageCommunity #Collectivism #Invidisualism #TexitleArt #JapaneseArt #SashikoStitching #TraditionalSashiko #MindfulStitching  #刺し子 #日本の刺し子  https://www.instagram.com/p/CBtAwpGBrnR/?igshid=144388ws7c7pi

Doubt what is normal. Don’t trust what we know. ☆ This is the phrase I always tell myself. My justice can be completely wrong in another culture. Until 2013, my justice was everything to me. I pushed through my “Correct” no matter what others say. Once I made myself “justified”, then it was okay to do “whatever”. My wife changed me, and I am very thankful for it. ☆ We often feel that “It is not in my dictionary”. However, we have to understand that there may be another dictionary, and some dictionaries may say something different especially in another language, in another culture. Therefore, I carefully choose words, and try to write in English because I respect the country where I am living now. ☆ The same concept goes to a fabric mask and Sashiko. We all want to have the correct answer. However, the truth often is not as simple as asking “Alexa” for the population of Japan. Many people ask me what is “Correct” in Sashiko. Yes, I do have my own “Correct” in Sashiko, and I can tell you that. However, it is the same as pushing my dictionary to others. So, I share the stories. I encourage people to do Sashiko as we do. One day, they will find their own “Correct” in Sashiko. I have seen so many students (now, my friends) who found their own Sashiko. Once you find your own Sashiko, then the Sashiko “as a Japanese culture” will be passed down regardless of our voice. Therefore, I say, first respect the origin, then improvise as you wish. ☆ - - - ☆ 上記英語で書いたものとは話がずれるのですが、僕はもう7年近く日本に帰っていません。日本にいた頃も基本的には田舎に引きこもっていたので、「日本文化」を肌で感じられる環境にいたのは12年も前の話です。僕が書く「日本文化」の多くは、本で得た知識と昔蓄えた「おばあちゃんの知恵袋」的なものなのです。日本文化が日本国内で失われつつあるのは本当に悲しいことで、日本の国外に出た人間だからこそできることもあるのかもしれないと活動をしています。日本って、本当、素晴らしいんです。その国に根付く文化も、やっぱり素晴らしい（変な所も沢山あるけれど）。「日本の刺し子とは何か」。堅苦しくなるものではなく、今ある英語圏での刺し子とは少し違う日本の刺し子を、広めていけたら良いなと思っています。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #learnSashiko #SashikoWorkshop #SashikoClass #TexitleArt #JapaneseArt #SashikoStitching #TraditionalSashiko #RhythmicalStitching #MindfulStitching #刺し子 #日本の刺し子 https://www.instagram.com/p/B-wv1brJYKt/?igshid=1ezj1xjkbyl6n

(This description is an omitted version of my core message. Please read mindfully). Why do I hassle this much to share the “Japanese Culture” in Sashiko? It is because some free interpretations of “Sashiko/Boro” (which I do not like) do not carry the concept of Animism (Philosophy of Eight million gods). ☆ I understand the culture as “The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices”. All of the Sashiko artisans I had spent time with naturally follow Animism. Therefore, a discussion of “if Sashiko is a practice in spiritualism” is invalid from the beginning - because it is a part of the original form. That is another reason I keep saying Sashiko is MORE than the technique. ☆ In fact, the natural belief in Animism applies to many other things in Japan. If you like something Japanese for no specific reasons, this may be the topic you may want to dig into. Animism is so natural for us (the Japanese) to even realize it is unique outside of our ordinary. Here is an example. Keiko’s creation is very soothing & attractive. I truly believe it is because of her belief in Animism. She talks to the thread, fabric, and stitches as if there is a family member in it. It may look a bit “schizophrenic” because she just talks to the “materials” without any humans around for hours every day. I naturally do the same (because she is my mother and she raised me…). If you have touched her creation, you probably know what I mean here. ☆ I am NOT saying non-Japanese shouldn’t make money with Sashiko/Boro. I just want to protect Sashiko - something I cannot even explain well with words - I haven’t shared even 1% of what I would like to share. ☆ - - - ☆ 最近（？）英語での長文ばかりですみません。日本語でも書きたいことは多々あるのですが、どうも英語を優先してしまう……。日本語でアカウント分けようかなと思ったりしてますが……どうしたらいいのかな〜。今回の英語は、「恵子さん、糸とか布に語りかけるのよ」っていう話です。この一言に説明がいらないのが、日本の良いところだよなぁ。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #Indigo #NaturalDye #SashikoThread #MindfulStitching #SlowStitch #Animism #Spirit #Ordinary #Boro #JapaneseBoro #襤褸 #日本の日常 #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子 https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYSbxhJSVk/?igshid=qa0u0zefsgvx