Addendum to Rozashi -- Traditional Japanese Embroidery by Maggie Backman

This Rozashi article was written more than seventeen years ago when Maggie Backman began introducing the rare Japanese gauze embroidery to many enthusiastic needle artists. Her Rozashi teaching spanned the years 1980 to 1987. Teaching at regional and national embroidery guild seminars, for individual embroidery groups across the country and in Canada and England she was able to excite neat artist in the silk gauze embroidery technique. Maggie conducted the first embroidery tour to Japan in 1981 and organized several Rozashi group correspondence courses for EGA. Few people know that it was she that first introduced Kuranai Kai (Japanese Embroidery Institute) to this country.

Unfortunately, her company, Things Japanese, discontinued the importation of the rare Rozashi silk thread and Ro (the special Japanese silk gauze) in 1987. Due to the rising cost of the Japanese yen and the difficulty of obtaining larger quantities of the silks were the basic reasons for that decision to discontinue the importation. As Maggie continued to travel to Japan she found fewer educational opportunities being instituted for this rare embroidery by the Japanese themselves. She was unsuccessful in obtaining interest in the Rozashi by Kuranai Kai, who could have acted as a continuum for this rare embroidery art form.

Therefore, Things Japanese began connections with a large thread manufacturer in Japan who was eager to export a beautiful line of silk knitting yam and the Japanese TIRE line of silk thread to this country. Thus, diverting her company's focus to an easier to obtain product line. Maggie continues to import silk thread and silk ribbon from Japan and has been instrumental in developing a new instant set silk dye that she has successfully introduced to the textile community. She continues to travel to Japan and China as an active silk educator; writing, teaching and "spreading the word" about the magical properties of silk fibers.