Wowsers. It's been quite some time since words. Be kind.
It's a little odd to tell you about blossoms and blooms before officially introducing the Canberra winter (aka The Beast). Blossom seems an irrepressible sign of spring rather than this cold grey season that we are very firmly in. Perhaps that's why I can't stop myself from sharing their beauty, spotted en route to uni this week. They're so flamboyant and fragile and hopeful... all at the same time.
The Berra clearly loves its deciduous trees in autumn - with spectacular displays of red and yellow all around town. But the rewards of those exotic plantings are evident again in late winter and spring as the prunus sparks into bloom. It's a huge genus of about 430 species, incorporating stone fruit, almond, bird cherry and cherry laurel. (What did we do before Wikipedia?) Many are decorative rather than edible, and the example captured above will most likely go on to form small plum-like fruit that would not be fun to eat.
In a lovely show of synchronicity, a special delivery arrived the very afternoon of the prunus photography. Jane and Nikki sent me a birthday pressie of vintage buttons and a length of Japanese fabric from CIBI in, you guessed it, a blossom pattern.
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It's a little odd to tell you about blossoms and blooms before officially introducing the Canberra winter (aka The Beast). Blossom seems an irrepressible sign of spring rather than this cold grey season that we are very firmly in. Perhaps that's why I can't stop myself from sharing their beauty, spotted en route to uni this week. They're so flamboyant and fragile and hopeful... all at the same time.
The Berra clearly loves its deciduous trees in autumn - with spectacular displays of red and yellow all around town. But the rewards of those exotic plantings are evident again in late winter and spring as the prunus sparks into bloom. It's a huge genus of about 430 species, incorporating stone fruit, almond, bird cherry and cherry laurel. (What did we do before Wikipedia?) Many are decorative rather than edible, and the example captured above will most likely go on to form small plum-like fruit that would not be fun to eat.
In a lovely show of synchronicity, a special delivery arrived the very afternoon of the prunus photography. Jane and Nikki sent me a birthday pressie of vintage buttons and a length of Japanese fabric from CIBI in, you guessed it, a blossom pattern.
The rich world of tenugui
The Japanese textile form of the tenugui has a rich and textured history that weaves together art and commercial uses. Still handcrafted by artisans in Tokyo shitamachi (old downtown), its versatility and affordability ensure it continues to evolve in exciting new ways even today.
Everyday art - versatile and practical. Tenugui are used for a multitude of purposes, from hand towel to headwear, bandage to business card, place mat to wall hanging. As every tenugui is handmade, each is unique. Their individual appeal grows with repeated use and washing, as the cloth softens and the dyes take on a well-used patina - natural qualities that we love here at CIBI.
Everyday art - versatile and practical. Tenugui are used for a multitude of purposes, from hand towel to headwear, bandage to business card, place mat to wall hanging. As every tenugui is handmade, each is unique. Their individual appeal grows with repeated use and washing, as the cloth softens and the dyes take on a well-used patina - natural qualities that we love here at CIBI.
This beautiful surprise made me think of another example of birthday blossom. The tattoo design that Adi undertook for my 30th birthday. Five whole years ago. Eeeek. I never got up the guts for the inking, which is perhaps a blessing in disguise given the explosion of swallow designs into the design world in the years that followed. But I am still in love with welcome swallows, swallow symbolism and Adi's preliminary sketches.
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