When I was in Japan this past month I came across a number of skeins of hand spun cotton yarn and I bought about 15 skeins thinking I could find them good homes.I’m not sure where this cotton was grown or spun, but it’s really beautiful as it is. Each skein is about 8 1/2″, 21.5 cm long x 2″, 5 cm in diameter and weighs about 2 0z. or 56.5 grams.

This round-shaped pillow is constructed from tiny pieces of a variety of naturally dyed and chemically dyed silks which have been pieced together in a spirited fashion, the piecing appearing almost like a rose.The pillow, nicely weighted with a filling of grain or grain husks, is from a Buddhist temple and it was used as a mount for a bowl-shaped brass bell.    Around the circumference of the pillow is a pictorial, appliqued design of lotuses in a pond.This is a really lovely thing, and those of you who have visited Buddhist temples in Japan no doubt have seen textiles made in a similar fashion: often altar covers are fashioned in the same spirit, and often with donated, luxurious silks.The pillow dates to Taisho 12 or approximately 1924, however this technique of piece constructed fabric has a centuries-old history.  The pillow measures  7″ tall by 12″ in diameter or 18 cm x 30.25 cm.

I love it.