the art of tool making

always admired the japanese for having created aseparate craft of tool making.their tools are simple,efficient and meet their needs. those brushes each one with specific use. i mean you can paint backgrounds with other brushes but nothing beats the hikizome brush for  evenly covering backgrounds.

 same with shinshi. i've been buying them on every trip, but as the eu custom regulations have  changed lately i don't forsee lots of shopping since i box the purchases and send them surface mail.last time i din't have to pay any taxes but got hit with nice brokerage fees.this year i dont think even tea will escape being taxed.

as a result i've started creating my shinshi.these are the first pair, quite luxurious bcse i'm using some of my black bamboo stems. (* ^ ω ^)  notice one of them has the pin cap out will have to hack its use meaning making the hole first.have solved the issue for  the future  by using the glue gun to fill the hole if too big.

let's see how i make progress with this latest folly.

neki desu 

 

mokume

out from the vat one  20 min dip, two10 mins and couldnt wait more. 

opened. kind of cool as i cut the stitching work by folding the cloth in half. nothing beats like having good instructions, the boutrop-ellis book is a gem.  feel confident to try dyeing  silk skeins over the weekend so that i can start weaving the warp on the dobby.

neki desu 

 

dippity doo

this a test piece.  10 grams of indigo in a small vat about 8 liters as a try out.the cotton was given 2 short dips about 10 mins each.

this is cotton ,two 20 min dips . the color is darker as you can see. 

i am going to experiment dipping the tests cotton in a weak iron solution.

the purists will chase me out of the country    ¯\ ( ツ ) /¯  not that it really matters. i just find it verging the  hilarious.

 the test fat quarters are going to be further worked on.stay tuned .

neki desu