© Shizuka Kusano/Carol-Anne Conway
The Flower Circle was also stitched by several others and the completed pieces were displayed together in the same room as the recent exhibition of Kusano-san’s work in Ferndown. Since I began learning Japanese embroidery in 2005, the stitchers of those other versions have become some of my dearest friends. We have spent many pleasant hours together; stitching, chatting, pawing over books and the internet, and admiring each other’s work.
© Shizuka Kusano/Carol-Anne Conway
When I returned home with my Flower Circle, it occurred to me that the Flower Circle reminds me of the friends I have made through Japanese embroidery. Although unique and individual, like the flowers themselves we all have one thing in common – our love of Japanese embroidery. Within the circle one flower might be closer to some than others, and some even overlap. Our group is like that, because of proximity or other interests, one person might be more closely associated with another but sometimes more, or all, of us are able to come together. And sometimes life might mean we do not have as much time for Japanese embroidery and our friends as we might like and we fade into the background like my purple flower. But a circle is an amazing thing. It is eternal with no beginning and no end. And made of the right stuff a circle is very hard to break, put under pressure and it may bend and distort but it remains intact.
© Shizuka Kusano/Carol-Anne Conway
I have decided to rename my Flower Circle "A Circle of Friends".
Happy Stitching
4 comments:
It sounds like this lovely piece has had a lot of meaning for you. Time flies when we do the things we enjoy :-)
Which just goes to show that there is so much more to embroidery than needles and thread!
What a great idea, I'll put that title on mine when it's on display at Event City. Thank you my friend :-)
What a delightful thought! Thanks for sharing your work on this piece.
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