All Phases class is for experienced students who are working on new or ongoing projects classified at phase levels I-XX. The student’s embroidering skills are developed through formal instruction in new techniques as new phase pieces are begun. In addition, students are given guidance and support as they continue with ongoing phase work.
Four Seasons – Simplified Design
L6″ x W10″
Gold Nishijin 10″
The cornerstone of JEC’s class curriculum, there are a total of 36 All Phases class days per annum. Divided into two-or four-day sessions, tuition is $40.00 daily. Students close to Atlanta may wish to take advantage of a once-a-year tuition fee of $550.00 which allows students to attend as many class days as they like with no further tuition payments for one year.
Phase Designs
[justified_image_grid facebook_id=152900854808617 facebook_album=357142921051075]
| After learning all forty-six techniques in ten phases, students step up to a new stage and learn “sensibility.” From phase 11 through phase 14, we are not only learning the technique itself but also the color feeling of the four seasons. Yushoku is a stylized motif typical of Japanese embroidery. It means “people with knowledge/occupation.” The pattern was only used for the nobility.
The design, color, fabric and techniques used in Phase 11 are specially selected to express the typical Japanese summer feeling. The idea is to give one an impression of coolness at the same time one feels a bit of the heat of summer. The fabric, called Ro, has a line of holes in the weft valley, to allow the breeze to pass through. Summer is a time of vitality. The rice plant grows bigger leaves because of the intense heat and sunlight, it is similar to the younger days of human beings when they can develop their talents.” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/db_p1103- |
|||
| Delicate cherry blossoms, and the young-green bamboo, create a subtle spring- taste enhanced by the plum, camellia, and chrysanthemum flowers of early, mid and late season. The variety of plants demonstrates that spring is not just one month or one flower. In addition, the Imperial Family is called to mind by the carts in the background.
The rectangular shapes in the foreground are poem papers used for writing poetry in one’s best calligraphy. The beautiful patterns on the paper enhance the overall presentation of the poem. Spring is the time for planting rice, putting seed in the ground and forming sprouts and roots. In the same way, childhood is the time of formation for the person. After birth we start to be interested in the world and our ideas about the world and life begin to take shape. It is a time of energy and learning. |
The atmosphere of winter is elegant and gorgeous. It is a “golden age”. The colors have a hint of the fire that should be in the hearth. Yushoku winter uses patterns, which evoke the palace in ancient times. It is important to show rich, heavy stitching through superimposed layers.
One efforts should yield a good life in old age, just as the rice plant bears a rich harvest. Some leeway is allowed for individual needs. Designs for more advanced students continue to be added each year. In addition to the phase pieces, many practice designs and a small selection of especially challenging designs are available. These may be worked as students feel that their skill is suitable for the piece. Mr. Tamura also creates special designs to meet individual needs. ” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/db_phase1312.jpg” rel=”lightbox[nature]”> |
Among design motifs such as shippo, shokko, and sayagata patterns, which are the traditional designs created by human hands, only the kikko pattern can be seen in in lotus pods, honey combs, heads of tsukushi (field horsetail), and scouring rush, in the world of nature.
This design shows important stages in a person’s life. Starting from innocent babyhood, (battledore and a shuttlecock), the time for academic discipline, (books), burning our hearts with love as fragile as the cherry blossom, (letter), and next, marriage (shell box). You eventually strive for social success (treasures), encountering the enrichment of the life, (rice plant and a noisemaker), various events, living together until you have gray hairs, (takasago), a bloom and a bamboo rake representing lifetime spouse. All these life events are connected by Kikko pattern. The Tie of Life.” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/db_phase1411.jpg” rel=”lightbox[nature]”> |
 Phase 14 |
| What is a happy family? Happy does not mean that there are never have any troubles and that all family members are perfect.
Just as each member of the family has his or her own role, each crane in the design has their own color. In the left panel we find the daughter and young son. The daughter has some of the pink coloring of her mother. The baby next to her has young green in his feathers. On the far right panel, another, perhaps slightly rebellious child stands away from the rest of the family. His feathers show blue. The parents occupy the second panel, the center of the group. The father is white and gold while the mother has silver and pink. If there is trouble in the family, as long as the father and mother are close to each other, and help and love each other, they can work through the hard times together. Their mutual love creates a family, a happy family. |
At the completion of Phase X, students have had some experience with all of the techniques and with a variety of ground fabrics. In their continuing study they work on ro, metallic fabric, and other unusual fabrics. While the ideal is to continue to take these classes in sequence, some leeway is allowed for individual needs. Designs for more advanced students continue to be added each year. In addition to the phase pieces, many practice designs and a small selection of especially challenging designs are available. These may be worked as students feel that their skill is suitable for the piece. Mr. Tamura also creates special designs to meet individual needs. ” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/1603-Silent-Communication.jpg” rel=”lightbox[nature]”>  Phase 16 |
The ise shrimp wears a full suit of red armor and moves slowly and heavily, but powerfully across the sea floor. He looks like a venerable old man bent with age, but when something happens he can move swiftly and decisively. The shrimp is a product of the sea while the rice is a product of the land and the countryside. The fern is a symbol of prosperity. Taken together they are symbolic of the riches of Japan and signify congratulations.
The pine, bamboo and plum are the three friends of winter, which are tied together with gold and silver paper strings. The design as a whole signifies good fortune and congratulations, and may bring to mind good wishes for a New Year or some other happy event. |
At the spawning season
the itinerant couple work together. The female carp climbs and slithers, fighting her way up the waterfall. The male carp pushes her up with all his might and main through the turbulent current. |
| At the completion of Phase X, students have had some experience with all of the techniques and with a variety of ground fabrics. In their continuing study they work on ro, metallic fabric, and other unusual fabrics. While the ideal is to continue to take these classes in sequence, some leeway is allowed for individual needs. Designs for more advanced students continue to be added each year. In addition to the phase pieces, many practice designs and a small selection of especially challenging designs are available. These may be worked as students feel that their skill is suitable for the piece. Mr. Tamura also creates special designs to meet individual needs. ” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/db_p1902-ci8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[nature]”>  Phase 19 |
Japanese traditions reach back 1600 years. Each collage represents the character of different periods, such as Edo, Momoyama, Keicho, Heian, and Asuka Nara. Also, the design is taken from Ainu culture. Through the artistic license of embroidery, all these periods are united in one design. ” href=”https://japaneseembroidery.com/class/img/all_phases_class/db_p2003-1600-Year-Collage10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[nature]”>  Phase 20 |
Click here to add your own text