![[桜と松皮菱紋(まつかわびし）] Sakura and Matsukawabishi (Pine Bark Diamonds)](https://firerabbitstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_6090.jpg)
This intricate stencil features sakura flowers overlaid on a matsukawabishi, or pine bark diamond pattern, with a plaid background. I think this stencil was likely meant for katazome, and it would have produced a striking, beautiful motif that could have been dipped in indigo or colored in many different colors.
![[レース] Lace](https://firerabbitstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_6129.jpg)
This is an unusual stencil that features a pattern that looks like lace, but with a Japanese twist of hexagons and perhaps chrysanthemums.
It’s mended with thread, though I’m not sure how well a repair like that would work for katazome. It might only work for surizome.
![[獅子と牡丹] Shi Shi Lion and Peonies](https://firerabbitstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cropped-3.png)
Shi shi lions often guard temples and entrances. This one is depicted with peonies, a common pairing; a prestigious flower with a prestigious animal.
![[椿と撫子（ナデシコ）] Camellia and Nadeshiko](https://firerabbitstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cropped-2.png)
Camellia is a popular fall and early winter flower in Japanese motifs. This stencil features both camellia and frilled nadeshiko. Sometimes flowers from other seasons are added to motifs to make the garment multi-seasonal. Since nadeshiko blooms in the early spring, and camellia blooms in the later fall, a garment dyed with this motif would be fashionable for quite a long part of the year.
This stencil was used for surizome, and it either had a blue pigment or indigo used for its colorant. The blue is so bright I wonder if it was a mineral pigment instead of indigo, but I can’t be certain.