Hobonichi Cover Makoto Matsubayashi: Silver Flowers (A6)
The Hobonichi Cover "iyo okumi: A Story About Me" in A6 format is a Techo cover made of grey cotton fabric with embroidered everyday motifs – horse, rabbit, girl, dove, squirrel and flowers. The surrounding border mimics white lace and is also executed in embroidery. Each piece is handmade, which leads to minimal differences from cover to cover – embroidery alignment and color tone may vary slightly.
Highlights
- Embroidered motifs by iyo okumi: Horse and rabbit face each other mirror-image like on a playing card, framed by girl, dove, squirrel and flowers – all figures embroidered directly onto the grey cotton fabric, with perceptible relief texture created by dense thread application.
- Lace-like embroidered border: Small wildflower clusters and leaves form the finish, executed as a white lace border – a characteristic design feature of iyo okumi's work that gives the cover a classical note.
- Butterfly Stopper Pen Holder: Two pen loops serve simultaneously as a closure: threading a pen through both loops keeps the cover closed. Suitable for pens up to 13.5 mm diameter – pens with non-slip grips may be harder to thread.
- Two lace-ribbon bookmarks: Silky-textile bookmarks that complement the overall cover design.
- Card slots: Interior pockets for cards and small items.
- Handmade: All Hobonichi covers are made by hand – pattern alignment and color tone may vary slightly from piece to piece. This makes each cover a unique item.
- 180° open-flat design: The cover lies flat due to its construction, which is pleasant for daily writing – the embroidery at the outer corners may lift slightly, which is a result of the manufacturing process.
Application & Tips
- Compatibility: Fits the Hobonichi Techo Original and Planner in A6 format. Not compatible with the Hobonichi Cover on Cover.
- Pen selection: The pen loops are designed for approximately 12–13.5 mm diameter and may be stiff initially. Pens with smooth shafts (round cross-sections without rubber coating) slide through the loops more easily.
- Care: Since the fabric is embroidered, careful handling with moisture is recommended. The cotton surface is more delicate than faux leather and should not be scrubbed.
- Color tone in everyday use: The muted grey appears differently warm depending on lighting – on screens it often appears warmer than in hand.
- Complementary items: iyo okumi also designs matching pencil boards, transparent stickers and memo pads in the same motif system – for a coordinated Techo setup.
For Embroidery and Techo Enthusiasts
iyo okumi works primarily with embroidery and colored pencils and exhibits mainly in exhibitions. The concept behind the cover name: embroidery demands time and intensive handwork – the thread that runs across the fabric embodies, according to okumi's own description, the flow of time and the attitude of the person embroidering. The cover was deliberately named so that it wraps around each wearer's own story. Those interested in textile surfaces in writing culture will find here an object that combines everyday use with handcrafted visual language.
Technical Data
| Model / Series: | iyo okumi: A Story About Me – A6 Cover |
| Format: | A6 (fits Hobonichi Techo Original / Planner) |
| Dimensions: | 165 × 244 × 3 mm (without pen loops) |
| Material: | Cotton with embroidery and lace-like embroidered border |
| Color: | Muted grey with white embroidered border |
| Pen loops: | 2 × Butterfly Stopper (up to 13.5 mm ⌀), also serves as closure |
| Bookmarks: | 2 × Lace ribbon |
| Manufacturing: | Handmade (minimal pattern and color variations per piece possible) |
| Origin: | Japan (Hobonichi) |
| Included: | 1 × Cover (without Techo book) |
