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 Many people are familiar with the dice game called Bunko (sometimes spelled Bunco), but at Legacy of Leesburg, there is a different type of activity called Bunka.
Bunka Shishu is an art form that originated in Japan, and it is best described as Japanese punch needle art embroidery. A Bunka picture resembles an oil painting, but, on closer inspection, it is actually a beautiful piece of stitchery. With the use of a specialized punch needle and rayon thread, pictures of scenes, ships, flowers, animals and oriental motifs are all available for the beginner, as well as the advanced student of the art. There are different levels of Bunka, and beginners usually start with a canvas that has a printed picture outline with numbered sections, much like the “paint-by-number” kits that are popular with beginning artists. After much practice, students in the art use kits that have picture outlines without numbers called Matsuhato kits, and the resulting pictures are some of the most beautiful works of art, with as much detail as any oil painting.
Legacy is fortunate to have two certified teachers in this technique, Jeanette Spaulding and Judy Sanok.
 
They received their certification by completing Bunka pictures of tigers, birds, ships and human faces. When the class was originally offered, within the first two weeks more than 22 residents had registered. Many of the members have started their “paintings” by using the beginner kit, which provides a detailed guide for stitching a picture on a stretched canvas. The club meets twice a week in the Legacy Craft Room, and each member is working on a different type of picture. On occasion, visitors to the Craft Room are surprised that the completed pictures are actually made of small threads rather than oil.
This is an example of one of the many activities that take place daily in a Pringle community. Residents have a variety of daily activities to fill their day; whether it is a physical sport, learning a new skill, or just an opportunity to get together with their fellow residents, there’s always something going on in a Pringle community.
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