Loraine Stillman
"Handu Baggu"
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| (Photos by Cindy Kuo) |
As the grandmother of four, I was set to do “Grandma’s Purse.” During one of our group meetings, I had my “ahaa!” moment. Years ago, we lived in Japan for a year where a handbag is “handu baggu.” Recalling this, changed my direction. I was inspired to create a bag with hands. At first, I was going to make felted hands, but another ahaa moment occurred when I envisioned soft sculpture as the way to go. This was a new experience for me. I outlined hands onto pantyhose, stuffed and shaped them—hoping they would not run, it worked! Stitches and nail polish suggest wrinkles, knuckles, nails, etc. Different hues create a “we are all one” concept. The bag was created from a felted hat form that I had purchased in Guatemala. Lastly, a drawstring tie and a strap were added.
Voila: a “handu baggu!”