benceagi - Japanese pillow

wendywombat · Post by **wendywombat** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:11 am

Just been through your Gallery. Very impressive work! I love all the Hungarian pieces.

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:26 pm

That is really coming alomg very nice. I like the colors and can't wait for more.

nosnin · Post by **nosnin** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:57 pm

Very nice! I too can't wait to see what it looks like finished. I LOVE anything Japanese.

sammy_v · Post by **sammy_v** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:43 pm

Looks great can wait to see it come to life so to speek.

agi · Post by **agi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:05 pm

Hello, I am here to explain...

I haven't done much of the pillow lately. I have undertaken a difficult task and have to go on with it.

In Hungary there is a traditional ceremony in schools, when school leavers say goodbye - the last day before their final exams. It is a custom to give them a little bag (haversack - this was in the dictionary, I haven't seen this word before) with some cookies and a penny in it. Like in the folk tales when the youngest son went to see the world with one little bag on his shoulders and cookies baked in the ashes...
Now, these days these bags are bought, the year and/or the name of the class or school machine embroidered on them. It's quite a business, and not much taste is shown.
Since I have been class mistress of a bunch of great kids for five years, and this is our last year, I decided to make their little bags myself. So they will have the traditional bag but it will be something special from me.
I chose a small celtic pattern, a knot - I found a freebie I liked, then I had to redesing it for a smaller size, and have celtic letters for the name of the class and the year. I wanted to put on their initials, but decided to do it when I have all of them ready, and still have enough time for it.

Now, there are 26 kids in my class... and the headmaster and his assistants should get one as a memory. That makes 29.
I started in October, but what with Christmas and other projects I only have 13 bags ready at the moment. The farewell party is on the 30th of April.
So I decided, I have to put everything aside until I finish them. There is still some sewing and cording to be done after I finish stiching.

And of course, there were all the side-tracks, like blackwork and double-sided cross stitch that I had to try at once when I read about them on the forum

So, this is the reason why I am not getting anywhere with the pillow.
Will post some pics soon. Tomorrow, hopefully.

mags · Post by **mags** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:09 pm

29

Oh wow what a lovely thing to do ! Look forward to seeing pics - when you've got the time that is

Jilly · Post by **Jilly** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:12 pm

That is fascinating, a wonderful tradition

that is still a lot of bags to go, best of luck

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:25 pm

That is a wonderful tradition and a very special gift from you. These students will treasure it for years to come.

agi · Post by **agi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:48 pm

All right, I took photos, let me try to post them.
This is the pillow:

Some parts are still missing, e.g. mount Fuji in the background, and the frame is not ready.

agi · Post by **agi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:53 pm

And this is the bag I have stitched 13 times, and have to stitch some 16 more... but interestingly I don't find it boring. Not yet, at least.

agi · Post by **agi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:58 pm

And finally, some other things I have been doing, that kept me off track...

But actually I enjoy doing many different things at the same time. They have to stay UFO-s for a while now, because of the bags, but who cares?

A Michael Powell freebie - I felt I had to try if I can stitch his patterns - I am going to buy a big one for the summer. I simply loved doing it, although I had some problems with the colours. (Not a very good picture, sorry.)

And a Hungarian folk art pattern. This was made with variegated thread. I am going to make a pillow of similar blocks, all with a different colour... Or different shades of the same few colours.

Jilly · Post by **Jilly** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:08 pm

The pillow is looking fantastic!.
The design for the bags is simple but really effective, I like that a lot.
Michael Powell designs are super, I would love to do one one day

I love the colors and design on the folk art pattern, you have some lovely work Agi

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:33 pm

I love the pillow! So pretty.
The bags though are something that will mean such alot to your class and wont it be such a special thing to have.
It's a lovely thing to do for them.

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:22 am

The pillow is really looking great what a wonderful pattern. The varigated design is really nice also. I have never done a Michael Powell but they are very interesting.

Your pillow reminds me of the plate set that my brother bought for me in Japan when he was stationed there a few years back. Here are a couple pictures of the plates.

mags · Post by **mags** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:02 am

Hi Agi

Love the pillow - that is going to look beautiful, and the bags are wonderful - I am sure they will all love them.

I too hope to do a Michael Powell one day - I have several freebies 'waiting in the wings'

And the folk art pattern is great too.

You have been very busy

Nice plates Rose !

wendywombat · Post by **wendywombat** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:17 am

I've just started a Micheal Powell 'freebie' It's good fun! Just girding the loins for my next BIG project! G'daughter wants the 'cut thru igloo to go with her brothers rocket!

sammy_v · Post by **sammy_v** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:41 am

U have been working hard and there all wonderful and it really shows to.

agi · Post by **agi** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:00 am

Well, it is not actually about my Japanese pillow but about the other HUGE project. Last night I started the 26th little bag for my students. (I found a word somewhere for such things: "haversack" - does this mean anything to you? I have never heard it before.)
I have 26 students in my class, so this could be the last... but I may stitch 2-3 more for the director - usually each class gives one to the school - and my class is certainly one to be remembered. One for a colleague who helped me a lot with them, and one for myself - for the final day, when we walk through the school together... my husband says it would look odd if I didn't have one...
So I am almost ready - will be ready next week! And then back to the pillow, and all the beautiful things waiting for me!!!!!

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:28 am

Only just found your Flickr photo album -- what lovely projects you've got! I love the simple geometric ones, and the pagoda is going to be great!

By the way, about inserting pictures from Flickr, don't know whether you've found a convenient way yet but this one works for me and is quite quick:

Open the picture in Flickr
Right click on it and choose 'Copy image location' (in Mozilla Firefox; in IE you may have to choose Options and then select and copy the location)
Go to the forum and put in the image tags
Paste the image location between the image tags

That's for putting the image straight into the post. Hope this helps!

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:38 am

What a lovely idea, those bags, and you are such a caring teacher to think of doing this for your students! Good luck and may you not be bored one single stitch

!

Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

benceagi - Japanese pillow

Re: benceagi - Japanese pillow

Re: benceagi - Japanese pillow

Re: benceagi - Japanese pillow