A line from Norwegian vocalist Silje Nergaard's 2001 song, "Japanese Blue," is what came to mind when I finished piecing the first of two asymmetrical hexagons: "My life is such, it needs a touch, of Japanese Blue." Bits and pieces remind me how much indigo blue predominates in Japan and how much I treasure my experiences there, including an indigo dye workshop with a Japanese master in a traditional mountain village.

27” W x 29” H
Japanese and hand-dyed cottons, hand-dyed and other silks, including shibori; beads. Machine-pieced and -appliquéd, layered, stitched. Mounted on a bamboo hanger.

A Touch Of Japanese Blue I (detail)

21.5” W x 24” H
Japanese and other cottons, hand-dyed linen, cotton, and silk. Machine-pieced and -appliquéd, layered, stitched. Mounted on bamboo hanger.

A Touch Of Japanese Blue II (detail)

19.5” W x 25.5” H
Japanese cottons, hand-dyed cotton and silk, other silk and cotton; beads. Machine-pieced and -appliquéd, layered, stitched. Mounted on bamboo hanger.

A Touch Of Japanese Blue III (detail)

12” W x 16” H
Japanese and other cottons; hand-dyed linen, cotton, and silk, including shibori; beads. Machine-pieced, layered, and stitched. Mounted on linen over stretched canvas.

16” W x 12” H
Japanese and other cottons; hand-dyed linen, cotton, and silk, including shibori; beads. Machine-pieced, layered, and stitched. Mounted on linen over stretched canvas.

A Touch Of Japanese Blue V (detail)

12” W x 16” H
Japanese and other cottons; hand-dyed linen and silk,including shibori; beads. Machine-pieced, layered, and stitched. Mounted on linen over stretched canvas.

A Touch Of Japanese VI (detail)

7” W x 10” H
Japanese and other cottons; hand-dyed linen, cotton, and silk; beads. Machine pieced, layered, and stitched. Mounted on wood display easel.

6.5” W x 9.25” H
Japanese and other cottons; hand-dyed linen, cotton, and silk; machine pieced and quilted; beads. Mounted on wood display easel.