Maple Leaves on Hemp Leaf

Pictures by The stencil cutters of Japan

Falling maple leaves drift over a hemp-leaf pattern, taken from a 19th-century Japanese katagami stencil used for dyeing cloth. In Japan a baby's tiny hands are called maple-leaf hands, and the fast-growing hemp leaf was a favourite pattern for babies' clothes, a wish to grow tall and strong. For welcoming a new little one.

Add four of your own photos and your own words; we print the card in the US and post it for you.

On the back

From the stencil cutters of Japan / Maple Leaves on Hemp Leaf / Katagami, a paper stencil for dyeing cloth, Japan, 1800s / Falling maple leaves over a hemp-leaf ground. A baby's little hands are called momiji no te, "maple-leaf hands", in Japan, and hemp leaf, which grows tall and fast, was a favourite pattern for babies' clothes. / Printed in one colour, as on the dyed cloth.

A card for

• New baby
• Pregnancy and baby shower