Vintage Kimono Clutch...Kinou no Yume..Dreams of Yesterday

This clutch was made with fabric taken from a vintage Kimono. This fabric is over 70 years old and the colors are as vibrant as ever. In keeping with the very traditional floral images, I've embellished the fabric with hand sewn stitches using silken rayon thread while quilting through the layers of batting and underfabric. I lined it with yellow silk dupioni and machine quilted with two colors of rayon thread. Between the outside layer and the lining, I've included a strip of very stiff stabilizer and insulated it with more batting. This way the clutch can "sit up" on it's bottom surface. I just love this fabric and clutch.

Fellow Kimonophile, Cheryl Imperatore, is editing her book and getting ready for reprint "Kimono...Vanishing Tradition...Japanese Textiles of the 20th Century". I'll keep you posted about the book.

"Haute Handbags" by Stampington

Haute Handbags is my favorite magazine and it's like Christmas twice a year when they're published. Well...better twice a year than just once a year. What's even more fun? Submitting a project! I've submitted something for the next issue and I have my fingers crossed. This is the submission page for all their magazines.

When you submit proposals for their magazines, be sure to take photos:  1) of the complete project without a distracting background   2) of close ups to show the texture   3) with good lighting to get the true colors   3) and offer some information about your project (especially the inspiration). You never know if you'll be selected.

The photo to the right is a close up slice of my project. I just love the color, the jacquard weave in the silk, and the fact that this fabric is from a vintage Kimono that is over 50 years old. When I design with old Kimono...I always wonder what stories they could tell...