The small joys hidden in everyday life gently change color with each passing season. There's a maker who meticulously captures such fleeting moments with thread and needle.
This is the embroidery artist "Aonoie."
The name comes from the color of her blue house, which serves as both her daily atelier and living space. Her desire to cherish the small joys found in everyday life became her artist name.
Aonoie's artwork motifs are not extraordinary. Wildflowers encountered on the roadside, small creatures that unexpectedly catch the eye, scenes at the dining table that soothe the heart, and foods that bring happiness. Each of these transforms into delicate embroidery, a memory of moments that make one feel, "Ah, how lovely." Each stitch embodies her gaze, filled with affection for daily life.
Her encounter with crafting began in junior high school, when she was introduced to knitting in a home economics club. Fascinated by the joy of working with her hands, she continued to learn various handicrafts on her own. Eventually, realizing that "making things" had the power to support people's hearts and bodies, her path led her to become an occupational therapist.
In the medical field, she spent her days encountering embroidery such as Sashiko and cross-stitch. The quiet act of threading needles and moving them helped to calm minds and aid in recovery... She truly experienced the gentle power of embroidery.
In 2021, she launched "Aonoie." Her works reached many people, primarily through online platforms and events. As she progressed to exhibiting in department stores, she gradually expanded the world of embroidery that closely accompanies everyday life.
Inspiration for her creations always comes from daily life. At the same time, the vibrant colors and combinations of different materials used by international embroidery artists, as well as the blurs and overlaps of watercolors and oil paintings, subtly support the depth of her expression.
The soft layers of embroidery thread, beads that faintly sparkle in the light, and three-dimensional stitches. While bringing out the charm of the materials themselves, these are crafted into accessories that subtly adorn an outfit, with the wish that the wearer's day might be just a little brighter.
Fresh vegetables and buttered toast that almost smells delicious.
Full-blooming cherry blossom trees that evoke the season, among others. Aonoie's embroideries show various expressions.
Each one is like a wonderful moment captured in a photograph.
The smallest joys found in everyday life.
Discovering them, picking them up, and giving them form.
This gentle endeavor seems to quietly embrace someone's daily life again today.
Click here for a list of Aonoie's available works.
