World Shibori Network Foundation

Treasures I Took Home

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Introduction:

 The last day of the World Shibori Network Foundation tour had me packing to fly  home to San Francisco with just a few treasures. I had promised myself that I wasn’t going to buy things this trip. I am proud of myself!

The first thing I couldn’t resist was this jar of liquid graphite—who could resist such a  tiny, interesting thing as that? I’m sure I’ll use it someday when I paint again.

The engineer’s plan for the museum with the drips. It is in the Day 9 post HERE   
I’m really enjoying it now and remembering the museum that I loved. I won’t keep  this very long.

A close up of the engineer’s plan for the drops in the Teshima Art Museum.

This calendar will remind me of the lovely gardens all year. I’ll put it outside my front door.

This is a real treasure. I went back to an antique shop looking for a collection of these tiny tea bags used in the Tea Ceremony. Alas, he only had this one left. These little bags were made of antique textiles to hold the small pot of green tea. I have been fascinated by them and made a few myself.

These are some of the tea bags I made out of cloth I dyed with natural dyes. The cords are traditionally tied in complicated ways so that if anyone stole the tea inside, they would never be able to retie the knot! I learned enough kumihimo to make the cords.

Another treasure from the antique store: this bag. I like the corners of the basket as much as the antique textile. It’s 9 inches tall.

My final purchase: a shirt from the Sou Sou shop in Kyoto. (pronounced so so). I knew I would want one and waited until almost the end of the trip until we got to the shop. I’ve gotten one every visit to Japan. When I got home, I counted and I have 7 shirts—all different!

The Sou Sou label I treasure. There is a shop in San Francisco and a global online shop that ships.

Japan Trip 2025 – Day 12 – Saving the Best for the End?? A Very Busy Day in Kyoto, Watch for Day 13

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We stayed one night in the oldest Japanese Inn (ryokan) in the country, the Hiiragiya. Here, our futons were made up for the night for a wonderful night’s sleep.

As is traditionally done whenever people are leaving, everyone outside and inside the bus waves and waves until out of sight.

The beautiful Silver Pavillion called Ginkakuji. However the name, it was never covered with silver leaf.

The 2-meter-high cone is called the “moon viewing” platform. It’s a symbol of Mt. Fuji and is meant to reflect moonlight. It and its garden are beside the Silver Pavilion.

The raked area beside the moon viewing cone represents the “Sea of Silver Sand.” Notice the mob of tourists on the right in the photo. They are going to go on a path up the hill supposedly to view beautiful gardens of moss and trees. However, when I went on that path on another trip it was solid with people and you could be run over if you stopped to take a look.

Lunch at a very special small restaurant with a “contemporary” chef included this dish with a delicious garnish of fried carrot tops!

We got up early the next day to beat the crowds, but we might have been the 4th tour bus to arrive! This is at the Ryoanji Temple, and people are contemplating this famous garden. I’d hoped to stay there a while but the crowds sort of spoiled the effect.

Notice the gorgeous mud wall. It’s as famous as the rock garden.