Instructor: Jody Alexander
Workshop Date: May 6, 2017
Workshop Location: 1890 Bryant Street, San Francisco
Workshop Time: 10am - 4pm

Description: Boro is a word used to describe Japanese textiles that have been pieced, patched, repaired and passed down from generation to generation. Boro textiles are utilitarian objects that are rich and sumptuous and that, although old in age, possess a contemporary aesthetic. In this workshop we will make mini cloth sampler books that contain this Boro aesthetic. Students will learn stitching, patching and mending techniques that are specific to Boro and create small sampler books incorporating personal ephemera such as cloth swatches, book pages, paper ephemera and even photographs. The finished product will be a Japanese Side Sewn book that can serve as a reference for future mending projects as well as inspiration for your next art masterpiece. This workshop is appropriate for beginners wanting to learn stitching or experienced artists and makers wanting to incorporate a new aesthetic into their work.

Basic materials will be provided but students are encouraged to bring fabric, thread and paper ephemera that will make their book personal and unique to them. We will be working fairly small (hand stitching is a slow process and we want to finish!) so very small scraps will work well for patching and the book page size will be your choice of 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 if you would like to bring cloth or paper for the pages (the instructor will bring some basic fabric for pages).

Bring a variety of materials that will allow for different options. Also bring: fabric scissors, paper scissors, pins, needles in a variety of sizes, and pencil. If you have them bring: awl, cutting mat.