Noren are beautiful, functional curtains traditionally used outside business premises in Kyoto to show that they are open, and also to provide a simple divider between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’. In yesterday’s post I shared a glimpse into the special 1-1 workshop I had with kimono designer Miura-san, who taught me how to make my very own noren for Do What You Love.
Today I want to share the finishing touches – which were added with the help of an artisan who makes her living adding the gold and silver flourishes to hand made silk kimonos (see above), from her attic studio at the top of her narrow wooden Kyoto house. It was a true privilege to see inside this cottage industry, and be shown the ropes by a veteran of 50+ years.
Firstly I was shown how to create a stencil of my design using sticky back plastic…
… then we added a kind of glue and carefully laid the silver leaf in place.
This was hoovered off…
and left my design, precisely outlined in silver. The long strip of linen was then cut into the original three panels which were sewn together and looped at the top to allow the curtain to hang from bamboo.
And here is the final result! The two birds flying towards the moon represent possibility, support and freedom.
In the bottom right hand corner the letters ‘DWYL’ are written in the style of a Japanese hanko-seal.
It is my very own handmade noren from Kyoto and I love it!
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