Classes available*:

Phase I -Sho Chikubai - the design above

Phase II - III - Sensu - Fan

Phase IV - Butterflies

Phase V - Wedding Shell Box

Phase VI - Sake Box

Phase VII - Pansies

Phase VIII - Crane with Reeds

Phase IX - Michinaga

Phase X - Kusudama - Flower Ball will be taught at the

Japanese Embroidery Center, Atlanta, GA.

* These classes are recommended to be taken in order to insure the development of the student’s confidence and proficiency. Students coming from other teachers are welcome and there are other choices have come available.

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE EMBROIDERY

            This is embroidery with silk and metal threads on silk foundation fabric. There are forty-six basic techniques employed and the basic elements are flat silk (no twist in the thread) and metal threads that are usually sewn to the silk foundation fabric with silk thread. The flat silk is used as it comes from the reel or is twisted by the embroiderer to suit the particular design motif.

            Traditional Japanese Embroidery has a long history, 1600 years; having evolved from Chinese embroidery by way of Korea, to Japan. Master Iwao Saito formed the embroidery school, Kurenai Kai that teaches the students to become professional embroiderers. Some of the students leave the school after the five years training to embroider on their own and some remain at the school as professionals working on the commissions received at the yearly exhibition. Master Saito died in 1989 but through his son, Shinsaku Saito, and son-in-law, Shuji Tamura, the design and teaching of Japanese Embroidery continues.

            Mr. Tamura brought the embroidery to the United States in 1982. Through friendship with needle artists Shay Pendray and Elsa Cose, he taught for the Embroiderers' Guild of America and started private seminars during his biannual trips from Japan. I was invited to attend Mr. Tamura's seminars by Ms. Pendray in 1984. It was during the seminar in March of '88 that Mr. Tamura asked if I would be interested in: first, coming to Japan to be instructed by the Master and; second, to teach afterward in the United States. Since that time, I have been actively involved in the teaching of Traditional Japanese Embroidery.