Class number 2

Last week we had a four lovely days holding our 2nd full phase class in Japanese embroidery at the Crofters Hotel in Garstang near Preston. A great time was had by all.
This time three more advanced stitching friends joined us which was really useful for the students working on their phase 1.

Beginners and advanced students were able to compare notes and experiences and were able to support and encourage each other. Big thanks to Carol-Anne, Sue, and Ruth who very happily gave of their time and experiences. Big thanks as well to Denise, our tutor, who supports us all with endless patience (and who brings along lots of goodies to tempt us with!)

Our little group of Japanese embroiderers in the NW is growing slowly but surely. We had one new student starting her phase 1 piece, Bouquet from the Heart of Japan, while the rest were continuing work on their first phase, we also had two brand new students who joined us for the taster class on Saturday and Sunday.

We've confirmed class dates with the hotel for April and October next year - details over on the Gallery. See you there?

Tachibana

In front of the Shishinden in the old Imperial Palace in Kyoto there are two trees. The tree on the left (east) was originally was a plum but a cherry replaced this when the Shishinden was rebuilt in 960 following a fire. The tree on the right (west) is a tachibana, an ornamental orange. The tale of how the tachibana got its name is in the Kojiki, the oldest history book of Japan.

Long ago, Emperor Suinin heard tell of a tree whose seed was rumoured to bring immortality and eternal youth when eaten. On hearing this story the Emperor sent one of his men, Tachima-mori, to Tokoyo where the tree was said to grow. It took Tachima-mori ten years and one month to locate the tree and return with the fruit, by which time Emperor Suinin had died. When Tachima-mori learnt of the Emperor’s demise he was so overcome with grief and remorse that he cried everyday until his own death. In tribute to Tachima-mori the fruit was named tachimana. Over time the name became corrupted to tachibana.

As well as being associated with longevity, tachibana is thought to bring luck. It is one of the myriad of 'treasures'.


As with sakura, tachibana have been breed to improve their flowers rather than their fruit which is inedible. Like other citrus trees the tachibana bears flowers and fruit simultaneously.

In all the examples I have seen, the fruit is depicted with either 3 or 5 leaves.

Taisho period (1912-1925), shibori dyed haori - courtesy of Ichiroya

A common treatment of larger motifs is to fill them with patterns and/or other motifs. On this obi, the clouds within the oranges are stitched in a variety of patterns; even the butterfly’s wings are stitched in an elaborate version of basket weave.

Black Shusu Obi - courtesy of Ichiroya

The crest on this uchishik is appliquéd with the outlines and details emphasised by couched gold thread.

Vintage Uchishiki - courtesy of Ichiroya