Wearable Art
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This lilac and green jacket has a pieced band collar. A theme of angles runs throughout. There are little triangles on the front placket and the center back over the pleat. The pieced back yoke are all angles. The lilac raw silk base fabric of the jacket has been prewashed and became nubby in the process. The use of bright green as the contrast tone has been inspired by a remnant of Japanese cotton shibori (from Kasuri Dyeworks) used in the center angle on the back of the jacket. The supporting fabrics are Japanese cotton yukata, rayon and hand-dyed coordinating cottons, and a Balinese-style batik. The lilac cuff fabric is a wonderful crinkled rayon. A large wooden button painted in green and lilac with a Kanji character stamped on it accents the angled patch pocket trim. Mother-of-pearl buttons in lilac complete the look.
This lilac and green jacket has a pieced band collar. A theme of angles runs throughout. There are little triangles on the front placket and the center back over the pleat. The pieced back yoke are all angles. The lilac raw silk base fabric of the jacket has been prewashed and became nubby in the process. The use of bright green as the contrast tone has been inspired by a remnant of Japanese cotton shibori (from Kasuri Dyeworks) used in the center angle on the back of the jacket. The supporting fabrics are Japanese cotton yukata, rayon and hand-dyed coordinating cottons, and a Balinese-style batik. The lilac cuff fabric is a wonderful crinkled rayon. A large wooden button painted in green and lilac with a Kanji character stamped on it accents the angled patch pocket trim. Mother-of-pearl buttons in lilac complete the look.
This jacket has a collar piece that has been enlarged on one side to create an asymmetric look. The front of this design has been pieced to accommodate angled pockets trimmed in a hand-dyed cotton. A remnant of Japanese cotton shibori and a glass "sunflower" button (made by jeweler Lori Lochner of Ft. Edward, NY) are the focal points of this garment. The base fabric is very fine shot-weave linen that appears to shimmer. Panels of shibori have been cut into pennant shapes and then appliqued onto a piece of linen which has been incorporated into the back. What is left of the shibori has been applied to one pocket and the other used for a cuff. Leftover hand-dyed cottons have been used as binding and a collar facing. No waste here of precious, handmade textiles!
This jacket has a collar piece that has been enlarged on one side to create an asymmetric look. The front of this design has been pieced to accommodate angled pockets trimmed in a hand-dyed cotton. A remnant of Japanese cotton shibori and a glass "sunflower" button (made by jeweler Lori Lochner of Ft. Edward, NY) are the focal points of this garment. The base fabric is very fine shot-weave linen that appears to shimmer. Panels of shibori have been cut into pennant shapes and then appliqued onto a piece of linen which has been incorporated into the back. What is left of the shibori has been applied to one pocket and the other used for a cuff. Leftover hand-dyed cottons have been used as binding and a collar facing. No waste here of precious, handmade textiles!
Handloomed cottons from SE Asia (courtesy of Mekong River Textiles) are the inspiration for this interpretation of the Sewing Workshop’s Era Jacket. Notice the angled pocket that has been added then adorned with a vintage ivory toned button. The deep red, etched buttons are horn but reminiscent of Asian carved cinnabar. They coordinate with the red lotus flowers printed on the dusty green fabric.
Handloomed cottons from SE Asia (courtesy of Mekong River Textiles) are the inspiration for this interpretation of the Sewing Workshop’s Era Jacket. Notice the angled pocket that has been added then adorned with a vintage ivory toned button. The deep red, etched buttons are horn but reminiscent of Asian carved cinnabar. They coordinate with the red lotus flowers printed on the dusty green fabric.
This Joplin Jacket created from the Sewing Workshop pattern has been constructed from two Japanese wool/nylon blend kimono fabrics. The red/black undulating "tatewaku" pattern is so intriguing. Notice the play of the horizontal and vertical "lines" on the shoulder areas. The back seam is made simply by turning the selvedges out and topstitching them down. Kimono fabrics are only 14-15 inches wide and often have lovely selvedges. The black fabric has random "mist" motifs woven into it. A floating pocket has been used on the front. A placket with vintage buttons in black and red replaces the front seam. The buttons are set up in groupings of two rather than being evenly spaced down the front. The buttonholes are made in red and zigzagged over in black. The detailing in black and red is repeated in the topstitching which is done with red on black fabric and black stitching on the predominantly red tatewaku patterned fabric.
This Joplin Jacket created from the Sewing Workshop pattern has been constructed from two Japanese wool/nylon blend kimono fabrics. The red/black undulating "tatewaku" pattern is so intriguing. Notice the play of the horizontal and vertical "lines" on the shoulder areas. The back seam is made simply by turning the selvedges out and topstitching them down. Kimono fabrics are only 14-15 inches wide and often have lovely selvedges. The black fabric has random "mist" motifs woven into it. A floating pocket has been used on the front. A placket with vintage buttons in black and red replaces the front seam. The buttons are set up in groupings of two rather than being evenly spaced down the front. The buttonholes are made in red and zigzagged over in black. The detailing in black and red is repeated in the topstitching which is done with red on black fabric and black stitching on the predominantly red tatewaku patterned fabric.
A taupe base fabric of a cotton/lycra blend serves as the backdrop for pieces of black and beige Japanese shibori, one in silk, the other in cotton. Red and black flat piping made from raw silk and rayon pieces add zing to the otherwise subdued palette of this jacket. There is a "surprise" in the one red piece of silk in the collar lining. The back of the collar and trim at the hem of each sleeve has been created using a simple satin stitch!
A taupe base fabric of a cotton/lycra blend serves as the backdrop for pieces of black and beige Japanese shibori, one in silk, the other in cotton. Red and black flat piping made from raw silk and rayon pieces add zing to the otherwise subdued palette of this jacket. There is a "surprise" in the one red piece of silk in the collar lining. The back of the collar and trim at the hem of each sleeve has been created using a simple satin stitch!
This 3/4-length jacket is made of red and black Japanese cotton with the slimming effects of a black linen/lycra blend fabric used for panels, back, and collar. The abstract design of this red/black textured fabric resembles calligraphic Japanese sumi-e brush work. The topstitching details and horn buttons add the accent color of silvery gray to this otherwise 2-toned garment.
This Zona Jacket has been made from separate gray and black wool blend crepe fabrics. The front panel is a remnant of Japanese textured cotton yukata with a shibori stream and dragonfly pattern stenciled onto it. The vintage spherical black buttons are carved with spirals and reminiscent of dragonfly eyes. Scraps of yukata and black and white cotton shibori have been used to bind the sleeve hems.
Japanese silk kimono pieces are showcased in this cropped top. The silk with the undulating dots used in the shoulder/back yoke piece is silk shibori that has been steamed so that the tied pattern is made more apparent. There are 3 color-coordinated silks in this garment, each with a distinctive texture. The deep blue vertical band down the center of the back yoke is a silk tube that has been knotted then applied to the surface and conceals a center back seam. 
Japanese silk kimono pieces are showcased in this cropped top. The silk with the undulating dots used in the shoulder/back yoke piece is silk shibori that has been steamed so that the tied pattern is made more apparent. There are 3 color-coordinated silks in this garment, each with a distinctive texture. The deep blue vertical band down the center of the back yoke is a silk tube that has been knotted then applied to the surface and conceals a center back seam.