I married a bag lady!

And she has been busy making more bags using Ainu designs and embroidery.

These first two are made of wool and much bigger than the ones she usually makes.

These next four Yoko says are cases for sunglasses, but I reckon they could be used for regular glasses, cigarettes and lighter, cell phone, etc etc

These last two are made using material from old Obi's, the sash used with kimonos.

If anyone is interested in owning one of these and wants to know sizes and prices., email me and I will pass it on to Yoko

Some other Ainu-design bags of hers can be seen here, but they have all been sold already.

Ainu-design bags

These bags were designed and made by my good wife Yoko. She is a dab hand with a needle, and makes a lot of clothes, curtains etc.

A few years ago she took some classes on Ainu embroidery from a couple of Ainu sisters, Machiko Kato & Sanae Ogawa. The Ainu now live mostly on Hokkaido, and are descended from the Emishi, the original inhabitants of eastern Japan before being driven out by the invading Yamato. A couple of years ago the Japanese government finally admitted that the Ainu exist, and there has been a resurgence of interest among younger Ainu in their traditional culture and language.

Ainu design bears a striking similarity to celtic design sometimes.

Yoko has sold a lot of these bags, each one unique as she doesnt like to repeat a design.

If you are interested in knowing more, or in purchasing any of them, please contact me. They go for approx 50 USD.