First Place, Professional Japanese Embroidery; Judge’s Choice

Elsa Cose and I first brought Japanese Embroidery to the United States in the 1980’s. We held classes for the different Phases twice a year. From those classes extremely talented students were selected to travel to Japan and study with Master Sato.

The classes were held for four consecutive years. This was the final class and Sato-san designed a piece for each individual student. With the Master’s help, we developed the designs into extraordinary pieces that were then displayed as a group in the United States and they appear in one of his publications.

I have loved this piece because the flowers are clematis, but the master did not know that I loved this flower—he felt it. He had an extraordinary power of observation because we did not speak his language.

It was a privilege to learn from the Master.