the beauty of wabi-sabi
“At its core, wabi-sabi rests on three simple ideas: things are flawed, things change, and things are never fully finished.”—What is wabi-sabi? Will this Japanese philosophy make me happy? -Trevor Mazzucchelli, Assoc. professor of clinical psychology, Curtin University; The Conversation, March 4, 2026.
I think a lot about wabi-sabi when I’m creating, sewing, and dyeing fabric. Having a tendency to lean toward perfection, it’s easy for me to feel that something is not quite finished unless I get it just right. But what is perfection, and does it really exist or is it a matter of perception?
Imperfection is okay. Imperfection is beautiful. I’ve come to see and love the beauty of the unexpected surprises, and I’ve found this to be especially true when working with organic dyes and nature’s organic ‘dyestuff.’ Although I usually come close, it’s difficult to precisely duplicate results with organic dyes every time. There are many factors which affect the outcome—the water used (tap water, hard or soft, natural minerals), fabric, temperature, and timing.
Recently I’ve been thinking of wabi-sabi and how it relates to social media. Instagram has created unrealistic and competitive expectation for perfection. This is dangerous for teens but is also painful for adults. Instagram was inspiring in its early years when artists and makers could post photos of their work (however imperfect the photos might have felt) without pressure or competition. Our feeds were pure and uncluttered by ads and Tik-Tok style videos.
Authenticity, purity, and minimalism is true perfection.
My crooked wabi-sabi tree
My crimson hawthorn was determined to grow crooked from its beginning over twenty years ago, even with a strong brace to straighten the trunk. I considered removing it many times over the years. But it blooms every spring, produces berries, and the American robins nest in it. Nothing is imperfect in nature.
Yellow denim Eurototes are back on the website
This bag is a favorite of mine to sew. The pattern was created by a British designer and the soft yellow distressed denim is a beautiful color and texture. Since I sold out of this yellow denim last year and had no source for more of the fabric, I didn’t expect to have any more available for 2026. But recently I located just enough fabric to create a few more yellow EuroTotes in time for summer. I love this classic handbag design, details and structure.
What I’m reading
An Unnecessary Woman
I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to re-read An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine An Unnecessary Woman - National Book Foundation, a fictional story of Aaliya, a single Lebanese woman who has spent most of her life translating international classics into Lebanese. Each new year she chooses another book to translate, yet she has never published a translation and instead puts them in storage, unopened. It’s a testament to the power of books to find purpose, resilience, and hope in life. An Unnecessary Woman was a finalist in the National Book Awards 2014.
Links:
An Unnecessary Woman - National Book Foundation
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