Monday 26 February 2024

HINA ornaments 2024

Every year I celebrate the Dolls Festival, Hina Matsuri, by making a few new ornaments for my mobile of hanging dolls and ornaments.

For 2024 I made a lamp of the traditional design used for the display of the emperor and empress dolls.  

Furthermore, I made a duvet and duvet cover, also of a traditional design. 

These days it is common to have a plain fabric eiderdown quilt covered by a fancy printed duvet cover. In the past, however, most bolsters had a filling of cotton batting and a highly decorative cover stitched (quilted) on top. 

This bolster was then placed inside a white sheet with a 'window' (think window envelope) to show off the quilt. The white sheet could easily be washed whereas the quilt itself cost a fortune to have cleaned by a professional quilt cleaner.

I made the duvet because there is symbolism in bedding - it is a prayer for the baby girl to sleep well and grow up healthy. I made the pillow in 2011, please look at the tag HINA at the top of this blog for the other ornament I have made over the years.



There are now 92 ornaments on the mobile, which will be on display until March 3rd, the highlight of the Hina Festival.








7 comments:

Pamela said...

This is fantastic, and so beautifully Japanese!

Janie said...

I enjoy the time of the year when you celebrate the Dolls Festival
because I get to see your mobile of dolls and ornaments!
I like the bit of story/history that goes with your newest ornaments too.
Thanks for sharing Carin.

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

You are so creative and original. What an ongoing masterpiece you have going with your Hina mobile!

Rachel said...

My goodness, so many elements telling the story of the Festival in your life!

Angela said...

Such a cheerful mobile!

Toki said...

I'm not doing anything so I'm enjoying looking at you and Pamela’s Hinamatsuri decorations.
The newly made lanterns and Futon are cute.😆
The Futon is very ejaborately made. The cover of the Futon is traditional.

carorose said...

That mobile seems to get better with each passing year. What a treasure.