International Embroidery Day and a Party

Today has been International Embroidery Day in Sweden, Queenie posted about it here:  http://queeniepatch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/30th-july-international-embroidery-day.html

So, in honour of IED I announce that I have finished my embroidered flower piece from the workshop at Country Roads Quilters and made it up into a table-topper.

 

Also, I am sharing a beautiful haori that my friend, Ros, received from Ichiroya last week.  It is covered in tiny French knots and is absolutely glorious.  Even the tacking is wonderful!

Today has also been Piglet's birthday.  Sam has his birthday in the depths of winter, not a lot of fun for parties in the garden and so today, Sam is exactly six and a half and we had a Teddy Bears' Picnic for Piglet!  A good time was had by all.

As Promised...

... here are pictures of what was in my parcel from Japan. Three silk haori, all with shibori dyeing. The turquoise one was listed as being "mis-dyed" and I suppose that's what the odd coloured patches are. I bought it thinking I could at least use most of the fabric but I love it as it is, the blotches are part of its story, and will keep it whole and wear it. 

I must get some better hangers for showing off my Japanese garments. Secondly, a lovely summery shade but with a chrysanthemum design.

Finally, a lovely black haori with shibori and a little goldwork embroidery. 

Several blogs I follow are showing off red at the moment, here are my contributions:

http://onesmallstitch.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/more-red/

http://blueandwhitetokyo.com/2014/05/30/and-something-red/

Parcel Two - Boro Delight

"This is a vintage noragi vest from Hokuriki district. It is made of beautiful sakiori fabric. Sakiori is a traditional Japanese technique of rag weaving.The rag strips are cut finely and woven into a tweed-like fabric. In olden times people in northern district were poor, and people used their fabrics repaired and repaired, and finally make the fabrics to sakiori fabrics, and made noragi, interior fabrics and obi from sakiori fabrics.
This piece has especially beautiful (well worn) sakiori pattern. Textile is very very thick. And in the back near the neck, sashiko stitches are done. Its white pattern is exceptionally beautiful. Please check the fantastic sakiori and sashiko details with more photos.
It has a tear in the right chest, but as a whole it is in very good condition.
For the connoisseurs."

Above are the details from the Ichiroya - Kimono Flea Market website where I saw this vest and, although I am no "connoisseur", I knew I had to have it.

It arrived in the post yesterday, 

along with an apron I took a liking to and a gift of a lovely piece of kimono silk. Ichiroya are great to deal with and the descriptions and photographs of items on the website mean you know what you are buying.

The vest combines so much of what I love about vintage Japanese textiles.  The woven "sakiori" 

fabric, the sashiko stitching, the indigo dye of course, the concept of "boro" and also wabi sabi.  Here are my thoughts, I would appreciate your views.

The vest is old, and fragile in places.  I want to wear it once in a while and I want it to continue to have a life, not just become a treasure I store away in my sewing room.  It has evolved over time and I think it can continue to do so.
Can I do some work on it without stripping it of its integrity?
There are two areas I would like to pay attention to, the tear in the right side of the front (shown in the first photograph) and the stitching down the sides.

I am thinking of patching the front using some vintage indigo fabric, hopefully patching from inside if it is possible.  I would then use a simple sashiko stitch to hold it all together.
I would like to extend the stitching up each side of the vest, using the same stitch and in a cream cotton sashiko thread.
I feel that doing these things would prevent further damage to the vest.
However, should one repair such a beautiful item?
I really would appreciate your opinions and suggestions.

Japanese-speakers out there.... what exactly is on my apron?  Ichiroya say it advertises fish sausages. Are these anything like fish fingers?  I love the zipped pocket detail on the apron which I didn't notice initially!