Noshi

Noshi is a Japanese symbol of good wishes or good fortune. Traditionally noshi were dried strips of abalone tied in a bundle. Abalone was considered to be a symbol of longevity, and these little bundles were attached to gifts. Eventually the abalone was replaced by colorful strips of paper or patterned cloth. It has long been a favored design used in kimono design dating back to the 18th century.

This contemporary wholecloth piece was done on white tea-dyed cotton sateen using thread colors ranging from gray to taupe. Wool batting was used to accentuate the texture of the stitching.