Welcome to the January 2017 Edition of KT

KOKESHI TRENDS
Kokeshi Trends Journal
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Sekiguchi Sansaku 12/15/2006 Soulportal Collection

Now Trending Featured Shops

Shops and Artist
Keep up to date with
some of the latest
03 Preiously Featured 26
or upcoming shop
Kokeshi Trends
reviews.

Gourmet Quilter
Susan-Claire Mayfield 28
Featured Artists Kokeshi Patterns
Hijiori Craftsmen
Suzuki Seiichi
04
Katagami Kokeshi
Reka Toth-Vasarhelyi 08
Meeting Kako...

Bonnie Bloom 18
NaLynne Clay

Planete Kokeshi
Patrick Pathenay 22

Happy Valentines
Day
NOW TRENDING
Kokeshi Party what a great theme party by Kara’s Book.
They thought of everything, from Kokeshi cake to
cookies and party favors, check out their post at http://
karaspartyideas.com/2015/09/kokeshi-doll-themed-
birthday-party.html

Kokeshi Cookies!
These little ones look too good to eat. Found at Etsy
shop One Cake A Day. Sold by the dozen and freshly
made to order. Check them out here

Urushi Lacquer-Coated Kokeshi are all the rave. We

happen to think they are quite beautiful too! Interested
in seeing more of them? Check out Jun’s Japanese Gifts
and Souvenirs where they are being sold.

Sanaribeauty.com is showcasing Valeria Attinelli

Kokeshi Inspired Fragrances the one pictured is
Sakura, Cherry Blossoms very Kawaii! They have
several other designs and fragrances check them out
here

If you like the artist works of Frida Kahlo. Some Frida

inspired Kokeshi have been designed by Becky Kemp
over at Sketchinc.com visit them here also MOMA
(Museum of Modern Art) here

3
 Soulportals Collection
4
HIJIORI (肘折)
SUZUKI SEIICHI
1944 ~
Master: Okuyama Kiyoharu
Production Years: 1968 - Current
Disciple: Suzuki Keijiro (Son)
The general consensus amongst Kokeshi
Scholars is that Hijiori Kokeshi have a foundation
based on Naruko and Tougatta Kokeshi. Taking
a close look at a Hijiori Kokeshi you could
see the similarities of its founders. The thick
torso is reminiscent of Naruko Kokeshi while
the head dressing (tegara lines) is strikingly,
fanciful, much like a Tougatta Kokeshi.
Writers Chizuko Takeuchi, Roberta Stephens
(Stephens, 1982), Shirley Funk (Funk, Winter
2003) and Jennifer McDowell (McDowell, 1997)
all make note that Hijiori Kokeshi have the least
number of craftsmen. There is two general ideas
about who founded Hijiori dolls. First it is believed
that Kakizaki Denzō a craftsmen who studied
Kokeshi making in Naruko in the 1870s founded
the dolls upon his return home. Another is that
Shûsuke Safa having lived in Tougatta moved
to the Hijiori Spa where he then developed the
style. Regardless of whom may have founded
the style the dolls have continued until today
where a handful of craftsmen still produce them.
The Kokeshi photo on the opposing page is
by Suzuki Seiichi who is the only craftsmen
now producing at Hijiori Hot Springs (Okura
Village, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture),
(Hashimoto, 2014) it is an Okuyama-san type.
The Shûsuke-san type is quite distinctive and
can easily be identified as a Hijiori Kokeshi. This
is because of the thick long black hair and bangs
framing the face, and pursed red lips that appear
Works Cited
Funk, S. (Winter 2003). Variations on a Theme. Ningyo Journal, 35.
Hashimoto. (2014, May 9). KokeshiWiki. Retrieved from KokeshiWiki: http://kokeshiwiki.com/?p=1505
McDowell, J. (1997). Kokeshi Continue and Created Traditions . Riverside, CA, USA.
Stephens, C. T. (1982). An Invitation to Kokeshi. Tsugaru Shobo.
om
ki.c
kesh
i Wi
to:Ko
Pho
as if something needed to be said. The double
eye lids with black pupils almost squinting as if
in thought. There are a variety of long noses but
most predominantly noticeable is the design with
nostrils, the combination of all these features
make this type of Kokeshi unequivocally Hijiori.
Whether you are a fan of Dento or Sosaku
Kokeshi your eyes will be drawn to Hijiori Kokeshi,
they command a presence with their interesting
facial expressions and variety of body décor. One
of my favorite body designs is the fringed pink
carnation (dianthus caryophyllus) a beautiful
flower whose
meanings include,
“I will never forget
you, and undying
love”. There are
also a variety of
chrysanthemums
as well. Some Hijiori
Kokeshi fancy,
what I like to call
accessories, -lathe
lines in their mid sections giving the appearance
of a belt or sash, the lines may vary in color
from purple to red to even a light blue. The
hair is sometimes dressed in a red, double, bow
tie (referred to as a dragon fly). To add a touch
of intrigue, shake a Hijiori Kokeshi and you may
find a strange sound. Yes, that’s right, some of
the dolls have had their heads filled with Azuki
Beans and to the delight of children and adults
alike when shaken they sound like a maraca!
5 5
 Suzuki-san also makes Kokeshi

soudo 7/21/2014 FC2 Blog

nesting dolls and a new group of
very kawaii dolls that are unlike his
traditional dolls but still remain true
to their Hijiori roots in traditional
design. These Kokeshi were featured
in Kokeshi Jidai V13, Hijiori Kokeshi.

So the next time you look at a Dento,

Hijiori Kokeshi think to yourself,
how rare they are due to the limited
number of craftsmen, and how strong
they are, continuing to survive in
an age where handmade, one of
a kind products are fading into a
new world of mass-produced items.

Shosuke style
Kokeshi by
Sato Kiku YOB 1911
Master Sato Minosuke
1/15/2010 CC Public Domain

CC by KokeshiWiki.com
Soulportal Collection

6
(CC0) Photo: KokeshiWiki.com

7
 Meeting, Kako, Blessed Child
Januaray 21, 2017
by MMolina
KT: Please tell us a little bit describes a method, used by relationship, and when they
about yourself, what you do and artists. It is created by applying had to go back to Japan (the
your shop Katagami Kokeshi. multiple paper stencils on each father was a guest professor
What does Katagami signify? other. This is a technique I in the University of Economics
have always used, even before in Budapest for a specified
RTV: I was born in 1975, making Kokeshi and I am still period, and it expired) they
in Budapest, Hungary. I’ve using this techniue for my work. initiated that after graduation
grown up and live here with I should go visit them and
my family, my husband and my KT: When did you discover you study in Japan. So that was the
two daughters. Although I look wanted to be an artist, and what beginning, but that time I did not
at myself as a European and inspired you to become one? have any certain plans with my
also look like a European, I feel attraction to Japanese culture.
like being half Japanese from RTV: I have never planned to be
the heart. My workshop is in an artist, it just came somehow… Later, at the age of 27, as I
Budapest, but because of the I was over a couple of exhibition was studying art education at
Kokeshi I go to Japan regularly. when I realized, that what I am the university, I got my first
Making Kokeshi became my doing is called art. I think about Monbusho scholarship for Kobe
profession, but in addition I do it as a gift of fate, and I can’t be University. I studied the methods
workshops and I also take part grateful enough for this. I have of teaching art, and I had the
in different kind of art projects. been interested in Japanese chance to get a closer look at
culture since my childhood. the Japanese way and pass it
Katagami Kokeshi is the brand When I was 10, we had Japanese on to art teachers in Hungary.
name for my work. Katagami neighbors and we spent a lot of Simultaneously I started to search
comes from Japan, and it time together. We had a close for my way of art. I got engaged
88
KATAGAMI KOKESHI
Reka Toth-Vasarhelyi
for a short time to interior
design -already using the
influence of Japan in my
work-, and while being in
Japan, I tried different
kinds of Japanese
arts. The greatest
inspiration I have is
from Jun Tsukawaki, a
sculptor, whose class
I attended. I started
experimenting with wood
for my sculptures, while
everyone else in the class
was using metal. The subjects
of my first individual exhibition
(“Hugging”), in 2004, were these
sculptures, in addition to my
paintings I made during my stay
in Kobe. But still, Kokeshi had not
come to my mind at that time.
KT: What areas of art did you
study?
RTV: I
have diplomas in different
kinds of art subjects, like
history of art, interior design
and textile design. However
my highest degree level is
for teaching applied arts. I
also studied in Japan, ikeba-
na, calligraphic painting and
Japanese screen printing.
Making Kokeshi, I studied
totally autodidact. I have
already made thousands
of Kokeshi when I first got
the chance to study from
the masters. After my first
participation on the Shiroishi
contest, I could get in contact
with some of them. I was very
lucky to visit dento and sosaku
workshops as well and get
guidance and advices from well-
known traditional masters.
KT: What other subject matter
do you also use to create your
art?
RTV: As a Hungarian I am
constantly thinking of adding
9
 some functionality beyond the
esthetics to the objects I create. I
never think of only static objects, I
always try to put playfulness, logic,
movement, etc. in them.
Regarding the ideological
background of my work, being
a Buddhist, I study Buddhist
philosophy and its presentation in
Japanese arts often; for example
the Shingon Pantheon. Otherwise,
I always ask for God’s help and
blessing for my work.
I am trying to combine Kokeshi
with old Japanese toys, amulets,
and am constantly in search for
objects, which can be formed as
Kokeshi. To be honest, I got to
the point that I see Kokeshi in
everything around me. Besides
the Japanese traditions, I also
tried to present other cultures.
Last spring I had an exhibition
in Budapest, in the Museum of
Asiatic Arts, for which I have made
Kokeshi dressed in South Eastern
Asian (from Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia) traditional costumes.
Earlier I also created a Hungarian
court, with dolls in typical
Hungarian folk clothes and their
traditional Hungarian animals.
KT: Looking at some of the
pictures of your artwork on your
Facebook Pages, it is quite notable
that you have wonderful detail in
your work. Each doll has the spirit
of Japanese Kokeshi, has anyone
ever told you that your Kokeshi
remind them of Kokeshi Master
Craftsmen such as Shido Shozan,
and Okamoto Usaburo would
you say some of your inspiration
comes from these grand master
craftsmen?
Genji Couple
RTV: Yes, I exquisitely admit, that
at the beginning I was studying
pictures of great masters’ works.
I tried to find the ones, that I like
the most and I can identify myself
10
with, I was searching for a way to
start. Later I found my own style,
and started to create my own
forms, but since the possibility of
variation is limited, there are some
forms I still use. And, of course,
anything I learn from the great
masters has an influence on my
art.
What caught me in Shido-san’s art
is his simplicity and on the other
hand I love the complexity of the
work of the Usaburo family. At this
point, I’d like to share a secret with
you.
KT: Please do, we love secrets!
Shhh…
RTV: Last time when I was
invited -as the first foreigner-
to Shibukawa, to the Sosaku
exhibition, I had the chance to visit
the “factory” of the Usaburo family
with Yuji Usaburo, who showed me
around there. We talked about the
possibility of the production of my
award winning dress up Kokeshi in
the near future in their factory. I
felt very honored because of their
recognition and interest in my
creation. I’m looking forward to
see my doll produced by them.
KT: Wow that is amazing! Thank
you for sharing this secret with
us, many congratulations; what a
great honor for you.
KT: Art is almost always about
sharing a message, what message
do you want to share through your
art?
RTV: Well, I would definitely like
to show to the Hungarians the
Japanese esthetics, the simplicity,
the purity, the “less is more”
principle of Japanese arts. The
other very important “message”
of my work is to show the role of
wood in our lives. I can see that
with the spread of plastic, the
honor and importance of wood is
decreasing. I wish I can show the
difference for example between a
plastic and a wooden toy. There is
so much more soul in the objects
made from wood. One can have
a special, real relationship with
them, unlike with a mass produced
things made of some artificially
made material. Kokeshi is very
good example of this. I myself
have many returning costumers,
and they always say, the minute
you get your first Kokeshi, you get
addicted, and want to collect as
many as possible.
The history of Kokeshi alone
would be enough to make them so
interesting. I spend a lot of time
studying the culture of Japanese
dolls since years, moreover, I
would like to create a book which
will extensively introduce more
than 240 kinds of Japanese dolls.
Each Japanese doll has a deeper
meaning, all of them mediate
something.
For me Kokeshi is a very grateful
thing to be involved with, be-
cause it is very easy to give each
and every piece a personality. It
depends on several things what
their exact message is, like their
clothes, or the person it represents
or even the look of their eyes can
express something. There are so
many variations, and that is what
I like the most about them. For
example, nowadays, I am making
the illustration for a book about a
medieval Japanese Buddhist story
with Kokeshi. In this case the aim
is to personalize the characters of
the story.
KT: It is amazing how Kokeshi can
grow into many ideas not only in
Japan but across the world they
are inspiring all kinds of artwork it
is very humbling to witness. Thank
you for so candidly sharing your
love for Kokeshi with us.
KT: I read in an interview you had
with Japánspecialista that you also
make Kokeshi Led Lamps! Can you
tell us a little bit more about your
tools, canvas, mediums and paints
“Wood gives soul
to the Kokeshi, and
the Kokeshi gives
life for the wood.”
that you use. What do you prefer
to work with?
RTV: As I mentioned earlier, I
always try to bring some function
in addition to the design, and since
Kokeshi and Japanese arts are very
popular subjects of design world-
wide (there is also an expression
for it: Japonism), it was kind of
obvious to make some one day.
People’s attraction to Japan and its
art encourages me to try to make
design objects sometimes. The
LED-lamp is made from pierced
fibreboard and plexiglass, cut with
laser machine, than painted and
lacquered. It can be hanged on the
wall and gives mood lightning.
About my tools: I bring most of
them from Japan, even the majori-
ty of my woods are from there, but
I tend to look for special woods
from all around the world. That
is why I always travel with suit-
cases of 60-70 kgs mostly filled
with wood. I have a motto: “Wood
gives soul to the kokeshi, and the
Kokeshi gives life for the wood.” I
think it is expressive.
KT: What memorable responses
have you had to your work, can
you give us an example?
RTV: The most memorable
reaction to my work came
from Jennifer McDowell, who
11
 is an American writing her
PhD about the sociological
background of Kokeshi. After
my participation and success
in the 2016 Shiroishi Contest,
she told me that my presence
was an anthropological
breakthrough in Japanese
culture, because I was able to
enter this traditionally closed
and male dominant community
as a European female.
Moreover, I got recognized and
honored with a very important
award.
12
Until that point I had not
realized the greatness of what
was happening to me. I only
faced the seriousness of this
when I attended the Award
Ceremony. After the ceremony
I was invited to the Shinto
Sanctuary of Kokeshi makers
where I received blessing form
the monk. It was more than
touching.
Another huge thing happened
to me this autumn. I met Aoki
Ryoka, a famous old Kokeshi
artist lady. I have learned so
many things from her, and she
gave me five of her unfinished
Kokeshi and took me in charge
of finishing them. This is a
real honor but at the same
time a great challenge and
responsibility as well.
KT: Which one of your cre-
ations is your favorite and why?
RTV: I never make Kokeshi
for myself, so my favorite is
always the one I am actually
working on. I am more into the
process of creation than the
finished object. The minute I
am finished with a doll, I start
to think about the next one to
be created.
KT: When and how did you first
become interested in Kokeshi?
RTV: When I was in Japan with
the Monbusho Schol-
arship, I used to go
to flea markets and
started to collect Jap-
anese dolls. One day
I bought one, which
was a house guarding
kind of dolls. These
dolls, if they get to
a new place, let the
bad spirits collected
and detained at their
formal place out. My
roommate in the dorm
was a Hungarian girl,
who came to Japan
much earlier then me, so she
was aware of this belief, and
she told me to get the doll out
of the room. I was not able to
throw it away, so I took it to the
television room and started to
research the background of this
and other traditional Japanese
dolls. Somehow I feel, that they
basically have positive energy
and make a good influence on
people.
After I came back to Hungary,
my first child was born and I
was at home with her. Inspired
by the studies about Japanese
dolls, I wrote a story book for
her and for the other Hungar-
ian children about a Kokeshi
doll (“The story of a magical
wooden doll”), in two languages
Japanese and Hungarian side
by side. I also made the illus-
tration for the book. It sold out
very quickly, and it sparked the
interest toward Kokeshi dolls.
At that time in Hungary there
was no Kokeshi available, and
my friends encouraged me to
make some, because it was in
demand thanks to the book.
In 2011, for a summer festival I
made eight pieces, which were
pretty rudimentary, but still they
were a success. Until Christmas
I made 190 pieces, and I could
sell all of them. I was really
surprised about this. In the next
one and a half years I made
1500 pieces of Kokeshi.
Then my second daughter was
born, so I had to take a break.
I had time to rethink
my conception about
making Kokeshi and
I decided that I only
want to make unique
dolls, not necessarily
for sale. Since then,
except for some
Shingata dolls, I only
make Kokeshi with
personalities. As the
purpose changed, I
changed my brand
name as well, from
Katagami Kokeshi
to Kako, which is a
Japanese female name and it
means “blessed child”. Referring
to the nature of my dolls. And
the essence of my profession
was articulated in my new
motto: “From Japanese Folk Art
to Contemporary Doll Art; from
Kokeshi to Kako.”
KT: Do you also collect Kokeshi
Dolls? If yes, who is your fa-
vorite Artist and what is your
favorite doll?
13
 RTV: Of course I do. I have
more than 300 Kokeshi. I have
dolls from several different
masters, but I do not have one
exact piece as a favorite. I can
say, that from each artist I have
one favorite, and Sosaku dolls
are closer to me, since it is the
type I also make.
KT: Any new Kokeshi Design,
surprises, planed for the new
year?
RTV: Oh, I always have too
many plans and visions. For
now I am preparing for the next
Shiroishi contest. I am invited to
both Shiroishi and Shibukawa.
I will also have a larger exhibi-
tion here in Hungary, and I am
in negotiations with a publisher
about the book, I mentioned
above, the “Big Japanese Doll
Guide” (this is just a working
title).
I am very honored to be a part
of your community and to have
the opportunity to appear in KT.
14
I would really love to open to
other parts of the world, be-
yond Hungary and Japan.
KT: KT Readers will never let
me live down not asking you
how they can purchase your
beautiful Kokeshi. Please tell us,
how can we purchase your dolls
and do you ship internationally?
RTV: Yes, of course. I do not
have a web shop, because most
of the times I fulfill custom
orders. But I always have a
number of finished Kokeshi for
sale you can find photos of on
my FB-page and website. If you
see a doll you like or you have
a special wish, do not hesitate
to contact me from anywhere
around the world!
KT: That is great! Kokeshi fans Reka Toth-Vasarhelyi
will be so very excited that you Website:
ship internationally and are
open to take special orders.
We will be looking forward to
seeing your work through-out
the year and hope to follow
up with you soon for another
edition of KokeshiTrends. It has
been KT’s pleasure and honor
to learn more about you and
the world of Kokeshi you create
from the land of Hungary.
Reka Toth-Vasarhelyi is the first
foreigner in the history of the
Kokeshi Shiroishi Contest to
win a prize. Her award wining
entry pictured on page 12 was
the wardrobe Kokeshi design.
We can certainly agree with the
judges at the Shiroishi Contest,
the design is astonishingly
beautiful and innovative. Below
is a photo of Reka receiving her
award. Congratulations on a
great honor!
Featured Artist:
http://www.tvreka.hu/,www.
kako.hu (Katagami Kokeshi)
Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/
katagamikokeshi/
Akita Samurai

15
 K ATA G A M

Vietnamese Kokeshi Family

16
I KOKESHI

17
 Artist Showcase
01/22/2017

Interview
Peg Doll Designer NaLynne Clay
Kokeshi Trends (KT) has been admiring Bonny Bloom Peg dolls
since we came across them in Instagram, to our delight they
accepted our invitation to be featured in KT. Kokeshi Trends
loves to introduce Kokeshi Inspired dolls and the artist that
create them we are thrilled to share with our readers the
following interview with Designer NaLynne Clay.

KT: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
NC: My name is NaLynne Clay, and I am a mom of three
children (soon to be four!) who works from my home studio. In
addition to being the artist behind Bonny Bloom wooden dolls,
I also design and illustrate children’s products for other clients.
My husband and children provide most of the inspiration
behind my work! My dear friend and business partner, Mame,
is the other half of Bonny Bloom, and she handles a lot of the
business so I can focus on the artwork.

KT: When did you discover you wanted to be an artist, and

what inspired you to become one?
NC: I am a lifelong vegetarian and lover of the natural world &
animals, and those things have led me down this path from a
young age. My father is a designer and my family in general has
always encouraged and supported my endeavors.

KT: What other subject matter do you also use to create your
art?
NC: I enjoy learning about natural history, so you will see
glimpses of that in creations such as the prehistoric nesting doll
set, pilgrim and Native American peg dolls, etc. I also find myself
inspired and challenged by the amazing artists, photographers
and sewists I’ve connected with through social media.

KT: I was looking at some of the pictures of your beautiful peg

dolls on your Instagram and Facebook Pages. You have such
wonderful detail in your work. When you create your dolls what
experience and emotion, do you envision your customer to
have?
NC: Above everything else, I want my customers to experience
the sheer delight children experience when they are lost in play.
I want their imaginations to run wild, and I want them to travel
to new and exciting places in their heads. I see my peg dolls
and other creations as props in the experience of wonder—and
often my own children have input into the designs!

KT: Art is almost always about conveying a message, what

message do you want your art to send?
18
BONNY BLOOM

19

Continued...
NC: I have wonderful memories and feelings of
nostalgia for childhood toys, so it delights me that I
may be a small part of creating wonderful memories
for children who play with our hand painted
heirlooms. The ultimate joy is in hoping that what
I’ve created may be saved, remembered, and passed
down generations.
KT: Do you give your characters names and
storylines?
NC: As of now, our wish for our customers is to use
their imaginations to come up with a name and
story for the creation they choose—this makes each
work of art their own.
KT: Tell us a little bit more about your tools, canvas,
and paints. What do you prefer to work with?
NC: The materials I have picked are all non-toxic: the
micron pens, the watercolor paints, and the mod-
podge sealer. That’s important to me since a lot of
our items find themselves in children’s hands.
KT: What memorable responses have you had to
your work, can you give us an example?
NC: Most of our customers come back for more and
it’s the best feeling in the world. One of my favorite
responses is from a grandmother who shared with
us that her autistic grandson has been behaving in
a more interactive way since he acquired some of
our peg dolls. Apparently, the dolls have been a hit
with him and have enriched his play and social life to
some extent. This was a thrill for us to hear.
KT: Which one of your creations is your favorite and
why?
NC:It is really hard to pick a favorite! I have been a
horseback rider since I was very young, so I have
always been enamored by horses. The horses and
unicorns might have an extra special place in my
heart for that reason.
KT: When and how did you first become interested
in Kokeshi?
NC: I have known about Kokeshi for a long time. I am
half Asian, so perhaps Kokeshi appreciation is coded
somewhere in my genes. But really, the appeal of
20
Artist Showcase
January 22, 2017
Kokeshi to me is that is created on a natural surface
of wood—a classic medium, and Kokeshi dolls are
equally palatable as art dolls to display or play with. I
love that they can appeal to both the young and the
young at heart.
KT: Do you also collect Kokeshi Dolls? If yes, who is
your favorite Artist and what is your favorite doll?
NC:To be perfectly honest, most of the Kokeshi dolls
I collect are from fellow makers on Instagram whose
designs appeal to my three young girls. We really
love work by @caddycreations, @pegandplum, and
@twigandfrolic.
KT: You sell your dolls through your Etsy Store
Bonny Bloom, tell us a little bit about the name of
your shop.
NC: Bonny Bloom is a small business run by my
former college roommate and me. Mame does all
the writing and promoting for us. We came up with
the name when we were articulating exactly what we
hoped for our creations to accomplish. We agreed
that we wanted what we made to help children grow
beautifully in some small way. So the word “Bonny”
is an old-fashioned word meaning ‘beautiful.” We like
that it is an old-fashioned word because the idea of
imaginative play is kind of a classic, old-fashioned
concept. The second word “Bloom” reflects our
hope for children to grow well.
KT: Do you take custom request, if yes, how long
would a custom request take?
NC: We have taken custom requests before, but we
are not doing so currently. They take a lot of time
to get exactly right, and I often find myself fretting
tremendously over whether I am going to be able
to deliver exactly what the requestor had hoped for
me to achieve.
KT: Finally, KT has an international audience, please
tell us which countries you can ship to.
NC: We can ship anywhere! We have had customers
from all over the globe, and we are thrilled to have
dolls travel as far as they can possibly go!
 Featured Artist Name:
NaLynne Clay

Store Name: Bonny Bloom

Home Base: Cincinnati, Ohio

Website: https://www.etsy.
com/shop/BonnyBloom

Facebook Fan page: https://

www.facebook.com/
hellobonnybloom

Writen by: M. Molina

http://www.jooliegreen.com
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 Artist Showcase
01/22/2017

Interview
A conversation with Patrick Pathenay
from Planete Kokeshi
by KT Contributor Laetitia Hébert

LH: Would you please tell us a little bit about
yourself, where you are located, and what
you do?
PP: I am a professional illustrator, I am
very fond of Japan since I was a child – and
I am especially fond of its traditional and
handcrafted aspect. I live in France, my
workshop is in Alsace (Eastern France).
LH: When did you discover you wanted to
be an artist, and was there something that
inspired you to become one ?
PP: Since I was a kid. I started with drawings,
comics and illustration.
LH: When and how did you first become
interested in Kokeshi, and what about them
inspired you to make your own ?
PP: I discovered kokeshi dolls about 10 years
ago, thanks to a Japanese friend who brought
back two dolls from her travels. It all began
then. I wanted to make different dolls than
what can already be found. So I started trying
different shapes, and I try to highlight the
natural wood.
LH: What is your crafting process ?
PP: I am not really trying to convey a
message, but on festivals, I try to share with
people my passion and the art of Kokeshi
dolls through demos and workshops.
LH: Have you had some special feedback on
your work, that you would like to share with
us?
PP: For me, the best feedback is chatting
with people on my stand, and the smile of
my customers after attending a workshop
with me! On festivals, kids and grown-ups
can experience Kokeshi painting and go back
home with their own Kokeshi doll.
LH: How your work is perceived in Japan?
PP: My work has not yet gone further than
French borders, but I hope that one day, it will
reach Japan.
LH: Do you collect Kokeshi dolls from other
artisans? Do you have a favorite artisan, or a
favorite doll?
PP: I do not have any special collection or
favorite artists, it mostly depends on my
whims, but I have a preference for Kokeshi
from the 1950s-1960s – I have a few.

PP: There are several steps in the making LH: How can we buy your kokeshi dolls? Do
process. I first research the doll type with you ship worldwide?
drawings, then I choose the wood, and I
make the shape using various woodworking PP: You can buy on my Facebook page – for
equipments. Then I finalize the doll by adding now, I only make these dolls as a hobbyist.
decorations and colors, always trying to keep
apparent the grain of the wood.

LH: What inspires you ?

PP: It depends on the doll I am looking to

create; the seasons, my environment, the
wood... Many things have an influence.

LH: Artists often strive to convey a message

through their work; what kind of message do
you want your creations to deliver ?

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Planete Kokeshi

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 Ask us how to get
your shop listed
here - Info@
Kokeshitrends.com

H O P S I S
S AR T

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STS
& MO
RE

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 Fun and Beautiful
Kokeshi Designs
Kokeshi Quilt

Feeling Chilly in
the breezy month
of February why
not cozy up with
Kokeshi!

28
 Gourmet Quilter
Susan-Claire Mayfield

Susan-Claire Mayfield has been quilting since

the 1970s and has been sewing since she was
a child. Encouraged by her mum before then.

When Susan was asked to teach at a local

quilting store she decided to prepare her
own patterns for the class. The designs and
patterns were popular and quilters asked for
more. As a result the pattern designing began.
Susan-Claire has many designs now and her
own studio in her home in the country, and
loves what she does. Some of her beautiful
Quilts caught our attention as they whimsically
showcased Kokeshi dolls!

If you are crafty and love to sew or just try to

create one of the showcased Kokeshi creations,
there are bags, banners and quilt patterns
available all featuring Kokeshi Dolls. Visit them
at GourmetQuilter.com

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 HAPPY
VALENTINES
DAY

KOKESHITRENDS.COM
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