Oh No! Not Another Brother

I have a few details to still to stitch, but effectively only one butterfly remains - my youngest brother. Of all the butterflies, this was the most difficult for me to design and I have had no flash of inspiration like I did with The Optimist’s Suit. I have to admit that I do not know this brother terribly well.

I was six when youngest was born. I understood that Mummy had a baby in her tummy - a new brother or sister. I already had two brothers - an older one and a younger one - I didn’t need any more brothers. I wanted a baby sister and I was very disappointed when I got a third brother. Throughout my childhood, I don’t think I ever quite forgave him for being a boy. My big brother was so cool and clever. My middle brother was great, we played together all the time - we were the gang of two but my youngest brother was just annoying. It’s not surprising I don’t know much about him, when we were children I tried to avoid him as much as possible, as a young woman I was too busy with my own life and see what was happening in his. Of course I know about things he has done and things that have happened to him but I realise that I have never really got to know him and that is a great shame because somewhere along the line the most stupid and annoying little brother in the world grew up to be a thoughtful, caring and intelligent man.

I haven’t committed any designs to paper; I have an idea in my head and I am just going let it evolve. During the lectures Tamura-san reminded use of the three pillars of Nuido: rationality, sensitivity and spirituality. Working on Flutterbys, I have come to understand these three pillars like never before. I have given much thought to the design (sensitivity) and concentrated on doing the best stitching I can (rationality). In a comment on The Butterfly with No Name, Jane mentioned Master Saito's saying "the hands are the exit of the spirit" this is the spirituality of Nuido. Working on each of the butterflies I have thought deeply about the person represented and the love I feel for them is woven into every stitch.

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

There is a more detailed explanation of Nuido on the JEC website, here.

Happy Stitching