kazuyo's small patchwork

this collection of smaller, bookshelf / coffee table patchwork is made out of vintage kimono fabric and entirely hand stitched by my seventy year old japanese mother. it has interfacing in the middle to add some structure, and it is double sided with small square patchwork on the reverse as well. the red and white is old kimono with a stiff interfacing in between. the floral one is a bit softer and larger, more suitable for a coffee table centre piece. 

my mother in law Kazuyo is a seventy year old japanese woman, who has lived in the same house for the last forty years. she has been doing patchwork like this for at least the last ten years, probably longer. her sewing history goes back to when she was born, and her mother's hobby was sewing kimono. she had a doll with a plethora of kimono that the women in her family had sewn, passed down to her from her cousins. she has shown me compassion, love, acceptance, and an unending amount of grace as her foreign daughter in law who speaks rude japanese at best. she sees my heart above all, and treats my children and i with respect. 

in the last few years during her retirement she has stopped sewing in order to take care of her husband and family, as well as taking on another part time job to help with expenses. i will be working wit her to sell / auction off her work regularly so as to support her, in her passion for textile arts, so i thank you all for your help in this project with me.