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After a lot of reading someone’s story & conversation within myself, I now ask only one thing to avoid Cultural Appropriation (C/A) in Sashiko – it is “acknowledgement”. Please do not ignore the stories & people behind the words. I hope it isn’t too much to ask… Otherwise, a culture in the ordinary can be easily wiped out by choices of someone with power.
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My approach to C/A is a bit unique. In general, I assume that C/A becomes an issue when “Copying” and “Profit” are taken due to the power balance. When I decided to speak up about C/A in Sashiko, I questioned myself about “What hurt the most (emotionally)”. The answer was “lack of acknowledgement”. I encourage you to copy what we do in Sashiko. I don’t mind someone selling “Sashiko” to make money. In a C/A with a bigger established culture (such as Kimono), copying & profiting can be an issue based on who is involved. However, for me, with Sashiko, the issue is “NOT even there yet”, because Sashiko has been “ordinary” to many Japanese people. The foundation of Sashiko exists within the Japanese mindset instead of “established foundation” like the other Japanese traditional cultures. As a result, the “lack of acknowledgement” can wipe away many things.
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Copying as a loss of competitive edge. Someone’s profit as my opportunity loss. Yes, those are scary when it comes to our “future”, but I would rather you copy what we do as Sashiko & make money than someone intentionally ignoring the voice resulting in being Sashiko changed to something else completely. When I see a lack of acknowledgement (indifference) Sashiko, I feel like the whole life has been considered “valueless”. I know it is NOT, but pain from “lack of acknowledgement” can result in denying someone’s whole life. Be mindful, acknowledge it, and then enjoy Sashiko as you wish.
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「インターネットでの関係が地縁になる」。刺し子をしながら一緒に過ごした時間の中で頂いた言葉です。移動もコミュニケーションも地域から出ることが難しかった時代に培われた文化も現在では場所も手段もあまり関係なく「繋がる」ことができます。では地縁そのものがなくなるかというとそうではなく、縁は存在しコミュニティとなります。だから刺し子を一緒にする方々との時間が大切で、配信だったり運針会だったりと刺し子を通してのご縁を頂く場所を大切にしたいと思っています。「縁」という言葉は英語に訳すことが難しい日本語です。存在するけど言葉にするのが難しい。でもその縁こそが刺し子の本質だったりします。昔は無理だと思っていたことが形になっています。本当に有り難く、そして嬉しいのです。
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On the Internet, we can find some photos of “stitching (or similar)” saying “Sashiko (Boro) inspired”. They made me wonder what they are “inspired” by (from). Today, I am reading a well-written, and very important article about the word “inspired” written by a Japanese person I respect, and I am learning how to articulate the dull pain in my chest.
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The source of inspiration may be the specific “Pattern” such as Asanoha or Shippou. However, there are no such a thing as Sashiko pattern. They are geometric patterns we often use in Sashiko. They may be inspired by the (superficial) comfortable message of Sashiko translated (modified) by someone who think they know enough – like Sashiko as the way to recycle fabric in SDGs. It is true that we reuse materials a lot, but Sashiko is NOT the word for “Visible Mending”. When I share these stories, some accuse me saying, “You always complain with denial saying ○○ is NOT ●●. You need to explain when you deny it”. Well… I am explaining everything here through sharing my stories. Sashiko has been my life. How can I explain everything in one sentense to someone who does not try to learn the cultural perspective of the practice? Sashiko and our stories do not exist to satisfy someone’s Instant Gratification, or even worse, self‐assertiveness and profit.
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I am still learning English so that I can speak up in this big trend. Or, without English, the voice from Japanese people may be buried in its history. I make myself available to share my own stories every Thursday at 9 pm EST on Youtube (Search the channel “Sashiko Story”). Do not use the word “inspired” as the excuse for the Instant Gratification. I am happy that what we can do inspires you, so please keep learning. Please keep sharing the stories where you are inspired by (from).
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少し思うことがあり、デニムへの刺し子を再開しました。麻の葉は「100mの麻の葉企画」で目一杯（飽きる程）なので、もう一つの楽ちんな柄の七宝で刺し子をしています。他の柄は、刺し子というよりは準備するのが面倒なんすよね（笑）。ここ数ヶ月で運針会を数回開催する中で、「楽しく刺し子をする」という刺し子配信の原点みたいなものを思い出すことができました。今のスタイルが悪いって言ってるんじゃなく、それは絶対に必要なのだけど、英語での本気感を日本語に持ち込む必要はないなぁと。というわけで、明日の配信は久々にデニムに刺し子をしながらの配信予定です。何か私ができるお話し等でリクエストがあればコメント下さい！（なぜ裏面から刺し子をするのかについては触れる予定です）。
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Continued from yesterday’s post. The popular words, Wabi-Sabi, Zen, Ikigai… are indeed well related to the Sashiko we practice. However, they are often an “outcome (by-product)” of the practice itself – not a goal to achieve. I find accounts & information sources to try to promote their Sashiko/Boro (products/service) as “how to easily get it”. It isn’t really the whole picture of Sashiko.
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Well, I wonder if they really understand what “Wabi-Sabi”, “Zen” and “Ikigai” are to begin with. How do they define these words without proper learning? If you know anyone who can define the words, ask them where they learned from – it is probably either a book written by non-Japanese, or someone with non-sufficient learning. If you get a name of someone who can define what these words are in both Japanese and English, please introduce him/her to me. I would like to ask him/her to teach me. I have been looking for “that” person for my entire life. Many masters I have met taught me: “Stop thinking intellectually. Empty yourself & feel it”. It applies to Sashiko as well.
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Foreign words are often useful because they bring uniqueness to what they do. “Hand-stitching to be mindful” is what it is, but they add “Sashiko” or “Zen” to enhance their value – which unfortunately involves both filtering the culture & deceiving the students (as result). If you would like to get instant gratification & superficial mindfulness with Japanese words, the packaged “Sashiko” may be a good choice – however, please understand that your choice may (can) endanger the cultural practice itself. I have been looking for the “definition” of these for the past 30 years by reading books & talking to seniors. I cannot promise I can give you “the answers” by following this account, but I am sharing everything I learned for far – which illustrate the frame of what they are.
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昨日投稿した写真。私の刺し子ではなく、親父の刺し子です。煙草を吸いながら猫背で般若心境を刺す親父が、私の会社員時代の鮮明な思い出です。気が向いたらお金もないのに「飲みに行くぞ」と。決まって私は「アホか。お金もないしまだ俺は働いてるだろ」と見下すように答えてました。当時はなんて最低な人生だろうと思っていましたが、今思うと、あの親父があったからこそ今の言葉があるんだろうと思っています。少し感傷に浸りながら、日本語でも文章を書こうと思っています。久々に。親父がよく変になっていた長期連休の間に。
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Ikigai, Umami, Kotatsu, Kakeibo… There are so many Japanese words “translated (transformed, interpreted, or sometimes even twisted)” into the English Community. Sashiko and Boro aren’t as popular as the others, but they are already establishing their own meaning – unfortunately & sadly. Wabi-Sabi, Zen, Mottainai… these are popular words often combined with Sashiko to “market” their products to get more attention. There is nothing wrong with playing with the words, but the words themselves do not describe the whole picture. When someone starts teaching the “insufficient” concepts with catchy words, the students start believing what they are learning is the “truth” in their foreign culture. That’s the danger – and often – violence over the language.
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Almost all authors on Sashiko & Boro in English are (white) Western people. I wonder about many “whys”, but one of the reasons is the English language as a privilege. In cross-cultural discussion, a person needs to learn English to defend their own culture. I don’t think any of those authors can discuss (or share ideas & wisdom) about Sashiko and Boro with us in Japanese, yet they consider themselves as Sashiko (& Boro) masters? I really hope the world will realize the craziness. I am putting all of my life into Sashiko. Therefore, I learn English so hard, to defend my own identity. Please be mindful of whom you are learning from. That’s the only way to balance this craziness. (When you enjoy Sashiko for yourself, don’t worry about it. I exist for you to enjoy more without worrying about the language. If you were to teach it, be serious – otherwise it can be quite disrespectful).
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前回の配信で「本音で話してスッキリした」とお伝えしました。基本的にこれまでも本音だったのですが、空気は読める人間なので、嘘は付かずとも本音とは言えども「言わなくて良いことは言わない」ようにしてきました。少しずつ配信でもそのフィルターを外していくかもしれません。すると、過激な発言だけ切り取られてしまう可能性も出てきます。配信や投稿で「あれ？なんか嫌だな。」と思ったらDMでもコメントでも良いので突っ込んで下さい。ほぼほぼ100%言葉足らずと文脈ミスです。4年間の配信をずーっと聞いてくれている人は深く考えてくれるとは思うのですが、それを当てにして思いを綴るのもまずいのでね。変だなと思ったら挽回する（説明する）チャンスを頂けたら幸いです。
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Earth-Day. My daughter brought me a short essay about what she can do for the earth. From the time of “consuming” the resources, we are now living in the society of “sharing it” with Earth – or thanks to Earth. I hope that Sashiko can contribute to this responsibility as human: with cultural sustainability as well.
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I spend my time in yard-working and house-chores as much as I can. Some advise me that I should focus on “Sashiko Business” when the demand is so high. Yes, outsourcing the chores would be a wise choice when I focus on “money”. However, since what I would like to pass down is as many stories as possible about “Sashiko”, these times working in the ordinary with using my own hands are quite important. This year, I could plow the soil in very nice weather on Earth-Day – appreciating good soil with these good helpers (warms).
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The key to sustainability, for me, is to understand the “line” instead of “dots”. We can focus on each dot, but we also need to understand that the dot may be a part of a line. The line is the foundation of a circle – which can be a circuration of sustainable days. Sashiko is like that, too. There were people for many years, then we are here, and there will be a future for Sashiko. Please keep learning – as Sashiko is not the marketing term for some superficial (instant) gratification.
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晴れたアースデー。畑を耕しました。刺し子を伝えるようになってから一層、家事だったり庭仕事だったりという「当たり前」を大切に思うようになりました。刺し子が冬の仕事だったのは、冬の厳しい寒さという理由もありますが、同時に「夏は畑仕事で針持ってる場合でねえ」状態だったようにも思います。それは今でも続いていたり。
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昨日の配信、有意義なものになりました。ありがとうございます。とても難しい題材なので誤解を招いてしまうこともあるかと思いますが、丁寧に語り続けられたらと思っています。刺し子について語ること。様々な思いはあると思いますが、私個人の気持ちとしては「どんどん語って欲しい」と思っています。何が正解かとか定義とか考えず、語るだけの思いがあるなら聞いてみたい。語る場所がないのであれば作ります。勿論、内に秘めて刺し子をされるのも素敵です。どんな本から学んだのか。どの動画で何を感じたのか。ここでご縁を頂いている皆様は、大切な大切な「刺し子の点」です。どの「線」に属するか、はたまた属さないのかとかはわかりませんが、でも、私の役割の一つが、その点を繋げて線にすることだと思っています。配信はどうしても一方的な会話になりますが、希望があれば語る場も喜んで作ります。そのお話が日本人の刺し子の大切な大切なピースなので。
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#Sashiko #EarthDay #Sustainability #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子

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We live in a society with many choices. The freedom of choice illustrates our wealth, and appreciating individual value is quite beautiful. We can have choices today thanks to many people who struggled to acquire The Choices. Therefore, it is important to respect the unknown “Seniors” who are the foundation of what we enjoy now. We are here at present to create the future. Both “Now” and “Future” are somewhat an accumulation of all the past. “Traditional” doesn’t mean just “old” – it is an accumulation of their stories. We cannot define or judge which “tradition” is better or worse. There is one history as a fact, but there are so many stories around the history. Sashiko is one of those.
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One stitch by One Stitch. All hand-stitched. We choose to hand-stitch. We enjoy hand-stitching. I share Sashiko Stories here in English, but there are millions of unknown stories from unknown Japanese people who practice(d) Sashiko. I am here to pick up as many stories as possible. If we were to focus on sustainability & recycle, let’s try to bring up their stories to the stage to learn more, too. A choice comes with responsibility, and I am here because of my choice & its responsibility.
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本日の配信も素敵な時間をありがとうございました。「刺し子はアートか？なぜ私は刺し子をアートとは見ていないのか」を掘り下げながら、気がつけばガッツリ90分以上話をしておりました。結論は出ていませんし、逆に出すつもりもないのだろうと思っています。刺し子はアートになりうるし、無理に二元論で（YesかNoで）結論を出す必要はないんだろうと思っています。針を持った日本人がいて、その日本人には針を持つ理由があって、喜怒哀楽と一緒に作られる様々な物語が日本文化を彩っている中で、刺し子にも日本文化から派生した、あるいは一部となるような「仕事」があったんだろうと思います。手仕事。日本的な考え方も含めて、日本が誇れるものの一つだろうと思っています。
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One of the biggest pleasures in teaching is to see my students becoming so comfortable in Sashiko stitching. I consider them my friends who share the same interest rather than students. Well, with that much achievement in a short period of time, I believe I can prove a lot of my messages here.
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Anyone can do Sashiko the same way as we do. All they need to learn is the “Core & Essence” of the Sashiko – which unfortunately are not translated into English yet. (I don’t think it can be translated in plain text… one has to have our individual attention and/or keep watching the videos / reading stories). Of course, anyone can do Sashiko without learning from us. Don’t get me wrong. Our Sashiko isn’t the “goal” – it is just the beginning of their Sashiko.
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“Skill” isn’t difficult in Sashiko. The point is whether one can spend thousands of hours stitching. It is all hand-stitching. It takes time. They are people behind the practice, and they (we) have to make our ends meet. So, that’s what makes us unique. “Learning Skill & Technique” became very easy thanks to the Internet & Youtube. I can fix (temporarily) the drain by searching for videos. So are “Sashiko”. Don’t focus on Still too much. Copy our skills. Then, please keep looking for what I really mean by sharing so many stories here, and on Youtube, today at 9 pm EST Thursday night Live Streaming.
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金曜日。日本時間の今日の夜も配信予定です。21時半開始予定です。さて、便利な世の中になりました。基本的にお金を払う修理サービスが当てにならないアメリカでは、自分で直しちゃうのが一般的です。今日もバスタブの排水溝を直してました（笑）。素人仕事ではあるのですが、Youtubeとか動画とか、一定時間勉強するとある程度のことはできてしまいます。勿論、やっちゃいけないこと（例えばガス周りとか）もあるのですが、大体のことは簡単に無料で学べる世の中になりました。凄いことです。そして、それは刺し子も一緒です。技術は簡単に学べます。ではどこで一線を引かれるかというと、それは「センス」であり、またセンスを追求できるだけの「狂気」です。私含めて刺してる本人は狂気と思っていない、でも客観的に見ると狂気としか思えない1000時間をもする刺し子の量です。どれだけ早く刺し子できても手作業ですからね。でも、1000時間苦しんだかというと違うんです。気がついたら…。しかも1000時間終わって満足じゃない。多分そこから普通にもう1000時間行けてしまう。書いてると狂気ですね（笑）そんな刺し子をしながら、お話をしながら、また皆様と一緒の時間を過ごせること、楽しみにしております！Youtubeは「刺し子物語」で検索ください。
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I try to keep my goal as “simple” as possible. It is to pass down the Sashiko we have been practicing with decent change, with as little filtration as possible. The reason I have business (@upcyclestitches) is more primitive: I just want to support my mother, who is an extra-ordinary Sashiko “artist”. This journey started to support her so that she can pay her bills without working part-time in a restaurant (thanks to many support, she can only focus on Sashiko.)
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The motivation to keep sharing the Sashiko Story here is also very simple. This account is a series of notes to my daughter, who isn’t ready to understand the difference of culture. I may not be there when she needs to learn one of her origins. I hope the people here will be able to pass something to her. I am happy that these notes can be helpful for those who are in the similar situation as my daughter would be.
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Since my goal & motivation is simple and primitive, I can put my ego aside. I used to be quite egoist. “Ego” is quite important to be successful in this society. However, I put myself in the second priority, and therefore I don’t mind sharing everything in public saying “Copy it instead of repaint it”, with the hope that I can make my ends meet by support from those who can afford.
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Sashiko & Boro has become (been becoming) something different from what I know in Non-Japanese Language. Change happens in Culture, and I accept it. I just want the change to be more mindful & respectful. I understand the simplification & filteration if we were to “revive” the practice from history. However, if there is a possibility, don’t you want to protect someone who can make this kind of piece in today’s era? I do, and I exist for that.
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先日のコメントで「技術継承者」というお言葉を頂きました。とても有難いと思う反面、正直な気持ちでは、あまり自分のことを技術継承者とは認識していません。刺し子は日常の営みだったもので、各家庭＆地域に存在したものです。「お味噌汁の出汁の取り方の技術継承者」が不思議な感覚がするのと同様な気持ちになります。勿論、出汁の取り方が貴重になった時には継承者となるのですが。頑張る動機はとても単純です。それは私が天才だと思っている母親の作品をできるだけこの世に出して欲しいと思っているからです。それにはお金も人の手も必要です。このような作品を作れる人が近くにいる。やっぱり支え続けたいと思うのです。
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It is Thursday, and I will have a Sashiko Live Streaming at 9 pm EST on Youtube Channel [Sashiko Story]. The more I talk to Japanese Sashiko artisan, the more I feel the need to communicate the stories that haven’t been shared. We (as Japanese) do not realize how “unique” our expectation is – in both Good & Bad ways.
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It is absolutely important to have the “good design” or “even stitches” in Sashiko. However, the design and even stitches are more like the “outcome” rather than process. Therefore, when one only focuses on the result, it can lose the significance of Japanese Sashiko. You wonder: Then what is the significance of Sashiko you are talking about? My Sashiko Stories are the answer to that. It is impossible to offer the answer in one paragraph – so I want you to think while listening to our voices.
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Please, please keep learning what Sashiko can be for you. Sashiko isn’t the marketing term, or useful word, for someone who wants to get attention. It is more than that, and I am here to share what “more” can be.
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先日も少し触れたのですが、刺し子の本質は「祈り」だと思っています。祈りには様々な形があって、一方通行の祈りもあれば、相互関係の対話のような祈りもあります。両方ともとても大切で、日本人の営みとしての刺し子の中の核となる部分、あるいは「核となっていた部分」だと思います。西洋にも「祈り」の概念や週間はありますし、Prayという単語も存在するのですが、唯一神が存在する一神教が一般的な西洋では、祈りとは「懇願」に近い感覚だと理解しています。「神様に許しを嘆願する」のが、一神教の祈りの原点なような気がします（間違ってたらごめんなさい）。
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刺し子における祈りは「懇願」とは少し違います。どちらかというと、「感謝」に近い。何か目的を持つ祈りというよりは、既に起こったことに対する感謝（あるいは懺悔）の気持ちの反芻が刺し子での私がイメージする祈りです。だから、感情を「ミュート」もするし「増幅させる」こともあります（ここは敢えて主語を指定しないので、行間を読んでみてください）。
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そんなことを思いながら手を動かしお話をするのが「刺し子配信」毎週日本時間の金曜日のお昼に英語版を、夜に日本語版をお送りしています。面倒だなぁと私自身が思うことも話すのですが、少し不思議な（あるいはしっくりくる）刺し子のお話を聞きにYoutubeのチャンネル[刺し子物語]に遊びに来て頂ければ幸いです。今回も柄を決めていない自由刺し子の続きです。テーマだけは決めていて、「ネガティブスペース」です。日本語にするのがちょいと難しいので、これも配信でご紹介しながら進めますね。
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The society we live encourages us to not to think. In order to stay above the deluge of information, we need to keep “following” instead of thinking, as if we need to keep swimming or the trend will wipe us away. In reality, we don’t need that much information especially when our goal is to just live (In order to be successful, learning how to swim in the deluge of information can be essential). It may be a type of delusion to make us believe we think while encouraging us to just follow.
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In this account, I want you to “think”. The moments of “thinking” will navigate you to my core messages: “Imagine”, “Acknowledge”, and hopefully, “Care”. Instead of following “someone’s answer”, I want you to imagine what it would be like, especially if you are doing something outside of your ordinary.
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“Inspired” is a beautiful & convenient word, but also very dangerous. It sometimes excuses us from thinking. In SNS (mainly FB), there are so many” Sashiko/Boro inspired” photos. I wonder what they are inspired by/from – because their understanding (sources of inspiration) are already interpretations of someone non-Japanese – outcome of insufficient translation, or worse: filtration. If one is willing to learn, they do not have to worry about using the words. In contrast, using “inspired” will not exempt anyone from thinking/learning about words. “Inspired” isn’t the magic word: in fact, it may be a word encouraging the possible painful change in culture, it pushes the word walking by itself. What are you inspired by/from?
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背負っているものが軽い分、どんな状況になっても「恵子さんが好きなようにしたら良いと思うよ」という、当初の「母親の想う刺し子を形にさせてあげたい」という気持ちを大切にしています。初志貫徹。すると言語での説明が苦手な恵子さんは、「まず形に」します。本来であれば理由や動機、もっと言うと見込み等も確認するべきなのですが、そこは吹っ飛ばして好きなように。時々（と言うか毎回）なんでだろう…と不思議に思う事もあるのですが、時間が経って結果だけ見てみると、その半年くらい前に恵子さんが見ていた風景が見えてきたりします。2021年に作った印刷布。なんであの柄だったんだろう？と疑問も無きにしも非ずだったのですが、このジャケットが頭にあったのね…と言うお話です。恵子さん、どこまで行くかなぁ（遠い目）。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子

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