Found Palettes: Needle Books

Needle books are usually collected and displayed for their illustrated covers, which were created for advertising and promotion purposes. You can see examples of covers here.

For me, the attraction of these little folders has always been on the inside. That's where small patches of colored foils are pierced with groups of needles and usually a needle threader, for which I am deeply grateful. The colors range from jewel tones to pastels to metallics, and I think of the combination in each book as a unique found palette.

The old foils are usually graced with the magical spider-web embossing that calls to mind the translucent sheets inside an antique photo album or scrapbook.

Laying Needles to Rest

Broken and worn sewing needles will be lovingly and respectfully laid to rest in soft blocks of tofu throughout Japan today. Though hardly as popular as it once was, the annual ceremony known as Hari-kuyo (needle memorial service), dates back some 400 years. No sewing is done on this day, as all needle-workers (kimono-makers in particular), honor the soul and spirit of these important implements that served so well during their useful lives.

Photo by Michele Walker