kinu ito wa or i'm in total denial

Those kangies mean kinu ito or silk thread.And instead of studying for the term test that's happening on Friday i have been making this kanji composite. Well at least i'm working on the kanjies so to speak and my saudade of weaving is being dealt with by conjuring the term 3 times.

neki desu

Tags: life in general, japanophilia

some times you are the windshield, sometimes you are the bug

But when you lose you get the funk, the blues, the down.I have yet to meet someone who deals with rejection in a mature effective way. Submitting artwork to be reviewed by jurors can be one of the stressful events in adult life. The other day I came across this piece of writing. Not only is it well written but it also gives sage advice. Although he is referring to writing what he says is applicable to all the arts.
By the way the image here was generated with Fractal Explorer-Landscape I made it after getting one of those rejection letters last year.

neki desu

Tags: day to day, fractals

kuri to shiitake no gohan

Now that it's chestnut time this Japanese recipe is a regular in my house. I have adapted it a bit and added some extra punch.

For 2:
1 cup rice
4-5 chestnuts
6-7 fresh shiitake mushrooms
nori
sesame seeds
soy sauce

Pare the tip of the chestnuts and slash the flat part in the center. Boil until done but not too soft. Peel both outer and inner skin when cool trying to keep them whole.
Saute the shiitake for 1 min in butter.
Add the rice and sautee for half a minute.Add vegetable stock and boil until the water has almost evaporated. Add the chestnuts and continue cooking until all water has evaporated. Stir lightly,add a very small knob of butter and cover. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
Serve with a sprinke of sesame seeds, cut slivers of nori and a dash of soy sauce
Itadakkimasu!

"Convivium" tip.
If you take the opportunity and boil a whole bunch of chestnuts you can use the remaining liquid to dye silk yarns previously mordanted in alum! Lovely pink beiges.

neki desu

Tags: food and wine, japanophilia, dyeing

a what if moment

I was finishing a piece instead of studying kangies for the testo on Monday and musing.Then a what if moment happened. What if i scan a fabric and print the texture as background and then work on top of that? Will it be too busy? Will it unify the work and the series?So putting the hooped fabric down I raced to the scanner. Printed the results on silk organza and also some recycled jacquard silk. Love the results on the jacq silk.
Meanwhile back to discipline and control so i could finish the first organza print. Small fabric circles were added and then embroidered on the printed background which had been previously painted with water color crayons.The whole idea is being developed further as it is the cause of great excitement!

neki desu

Tags: digital printing, embroidery, surface design