Best of Show – Japanese Embroidery (Beverly E. Booker Award)
1st Place, Non-Professional Japanese Embroidery
Judge’s Choice
The Exemplary Award

This design is from a collection of designs by the late Master Iwao Saito of Kurenai-Kai Embroidery School in Japan. Most of the collection is without instructions or color definitions, as was this design.

The principle section of the design is as Treasures—rain clouds, scrolls, and drums. These treasures are traditionally extremely important in everyday Japanese culture. The other sections are also traditional—geometrics, flowers, and fruits.

Stitch interpretation, color definition, and instruction provided by Shay Pendray with some stitch and color definition by myself. All stitches and thread (silk and metal) are traditional for Japanese embroidery.

I fell in love with this design the first instant I saw it. I wasn’t sure I was ready for it, but as soon as I finished my previous piece with Shay, I said I had to do this one!