At Ease has a long, easy shape that suits the chrysanthemum pattern beautifully. I made it from beautifully faded antique Japanese indigo katazome fabric, and on one side I added a hand-sewn plaid zanshi patch made from cloth woven from leftover threads.

Back to Work uses vintage French chore clothing in faded moleskin, and what stayed with me was the amount of original mending still present in the fabric. I added a couple of repairs where the cloth needed support, keeping everything on the surface sewn by hand.

Beneath came together from many Japanese boro fragments, including a long noragi jacket from the 1800s that I deconstructed. I peeled back layers on several of the pieces to see what was underneath. I was especially excited when I found the fabric with the three faces. I had never come across a print like that before. It was a nice surprise.

Between Clouds is made from antique Japanese katazome indigo-dyed cotton dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s. On both sides, I paired repeating cranes and clouds with sumi ink-dyed fabric, and added sashiko-style embellishment of my own.

Block Party has a very distinctive graphic appeal. I made it from antique Japanese katazome fabric with an indigo-dyed cube pattern that holds its own immediately.

Boom Again is a pillow I made from antique Japanese katazome fabric with an indigo-dyed phoenix and peonies pattern in orange and grey. I wanted to let that pattern carry the piece.

Blue Moon has a floral pattern that feels very settled and direct. I made it from antique Japanese katazome fabric dyed in indigo, and I kept the focus on that surface.

Check the Script uses one of my favorite Japanese textiles I’ve collected over the years. It’s an antique indigo katazome with a very rare checkered pattern, and I still think about the precision it would have taken to apply paste to every one of those white checks.

Checked is made from antique Japanese katazome cotton naturally dyed with indigo and carrying a very rare checkered pattern. I’ve always found that pattern especially striking.

Checkered Past is a pillow I made from antique Japanese katazome fabric with an indigo-dyed checkerboard pattern. I wanted to let that pattern hold the focus here.

Checkered Patch is built around one of my favorite Japanese textiles I’ve collected over the years. The fabric is an antique indigo katazome with a very rare checkered pattern, and I’m still in awe of the precision it would have taken to apply paste to every one of those white checks.