November 8, 2010

Family Time and BORO Cloth

We had DGD and DIL with us this last week so not much blog visiting lately. Our DS and his family lives 8 hours drive away from us so we don't get to see them too often except on Skype. It was lovely to spend time with them. We went to the beach on Saturday which was a very nice day out together. Too cold for a swim but not too cold to dip your toes in the water. One day I took them to my favorite place, yes you guess right, Ziguzagu! It's never too early to introduce DGD to fabric!
I have finally completed the Sashiko motive on my BORO cloth. It looks great on the worn piece of indigo fabric. It's so satisfying giving a new life to an old cloth.  
An indigo piece I got from Glennis D0lce  is now stitched. A lot of stitching for a small piece but I really enjoyed it and it lifted the whole cloth so much with those tiny stitches. 
The moon is shining on BORO cloth! I decided to use blue and white threads on this piece. It's a lopsided moon because that was how it turned out in the dye bath.  
This is how my BORO cloth looks with more stitching on it. I just love working on this cloth. There is no quarter inch to worry about! What I love best is the freedom of stitches I can create as I move from one patch to the next. The true BORO cloth only has straight stitching, but that is no fun when you can just do curves and circles so I decided to do the latter. 
DIL and I had a few stitching sessions together in the evening after DGD went to bed. DIL got herself  some vintage kimono pieces at Ziguzagu to make her very own BORO cloth. She only found the green, red and white and the gray piece. The rest of her pieces were from my box and the indigo piece was from the indigo dyeing we did together one day. She wants this piece for her bedroom wall.
I have been dyeing using Procion dye powder in indigo shade. The purple/blue ones had been over dyed. It is silk thread and I wasn't happy with the dyeing the first time so I dipped it in indigo dye and I'm now happy with it. The white ball on the right is linen that I got from Camberwell market on Sunday and the dark tan spool is also linen. All of them are best for hand stitching on BORO cloth. 
Original BORO cloth hanging at Ziguzagu. It was a duvet cover. Very well used and loved. Lots of torn pieces and stitching. I forgot to see how old it is, but it cost $285. I didn't get it, but from what I have seen on the internet, $285 is a bargain.  
Some photos to share. DGD at Ziguzagu and the beach. She might be too small for some displays, but she had a ball getting into remnants tubs. She checked out indigo fabric and I think she likes them best, surprise surprise. The day at the beach was a treasure. Mr NJN takes the opportunity to have a cat nap!



18 comments:

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Evening Nat!!! What a great week you must've had...and look at your little Darling walking on that beach...What fun working on that cloth...It won't be long till you see them all again...Have a great week, Dzintra♥x

Nedra said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time with family. I know how special it is to get together when they live so far away.
Beutiful stitching and dying projects.

deanna7trees said...

well, I'll try again. first post didn't take.
looks like your dgd has taken to the cloth. I am in love with your boro cloth. such beautiful stitching and great placement of the fabrics. after seeing your indigo dyed pieces and thread, I think that I must try it sometime soon.

Needled Mom said...

What fun to have such delightful houseguests!! Looks like you really enjoyed yourselves.

The BORO cloths are amazing as is your gorgeous stitching. The indigo thread looks luscious.

Little Lady Patchwork said...

I think that you have a future quitler/fabric lover on your hands! She is so cute.

XOXO,
Stefanie

Terry said...

Well Yaya you had a great week which means so did everybody else.
DGD has really grown and knows the good things in life. Sand and stitching Yahoo.

The Boro is lookin good. Like alll the dyed threads. So much string from the market Good find.

O'Quilts said...

I just love this!! Moon shining on your Boro cloth. I could look at it forever. Great job.

Bev C said...

Hello Nat,

So glad to hear you had a great time with family. That is important. Love the stitching on your Boro Cloth especially the bird one.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Jacky said...

Your boro cloth is WONDERFUL Nat...lovely to see more of it and I love all of the stitching. so beautiful. especially love those moons. I must get back to ziguzagu and get some more backing fabric so I can lay mine out.

Lucky you having your DIL and Grand daughter staying with you. I love the piece your DIL started. I hope she enjoys many hours of stitching and catches the ' boro bug'. Looks like she may already have the 'ziguzagu bug'.

Jacky xox

kaiteM said...

Lovely boro of yours, i'm impressed... i like the variety of curves and sashiko and different patterns. great work Nat. k.

Anonymous said...

what a lovely piece natima
and a lovely dg!!

Highland Monkey's said...

It's never to young to get them interested in crafts! Loving the colours.

Karen said...

Lovely post Nat. Love the stitching on the Boro, love the Boro!!!

ria vogelzang said...

I just love the pictures of your family, Nat!! ;0)
And the sashiko-quilting on your BORO-quilt is great! Especially the little bird..... ;)
(I love birds....!)
Great to hear you inspire your DIL so much!!
Big hug, Ria.
Enjoy your weekend!

Micki said...

I love the BOro quilt! Your stitching on it is beauitful!
Micki

ParisMaddy said...

Great family visit ---so wonderful that you made it to your special place, too.

Your Moon shining on Boro cloth is coming along nicely. I'm working on a similar piece. It's very satisfying, isn't it, Nat?

Béa said...

Very beautiful stitching & dying projects, I love !

Kim said...

Your always up to something interesting.....love the results of the dying.
I love the looks of the Boro pieces....they're just so inviting, I want to touch them.

Happy Sewing

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