After attempting to maintain regular posts here, I found myself dealing once again with depression and managed to let it all slide. I’m told the mourning process often takes a year, but really that’s not much of an excuse for slacking off on my business.
Working in my mother’s old studio space is difficult psychologically because she was so firmly entrenched here. Photos, notes, sketches, books, projects, tons and tons of fabric including special pieces I’d given her for her birthday a year ago all pile up to an impenetrable mass that no one in our family wants to deal with. In the meantime I’m putting things in boxes to sort out later, replacing the emply shelves with neatly folded kimono, rows of Japanese books and magazines, and stock that has yet to be photographed and listed online.
Biiiiiiiiig sigh.
I will be wandering the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival this weekend with friends. If you’ll be there, drop me a line here and we can meet up and say hello. I’ll be sorting thorugh my kimono collection tonight to find a suitable kimono and obi to wear. It’s been a long time, but I’m looking forward to wearing my favorite “work uniform” again!
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 
The cherry blossom walk sounds wonderful and I hope it helps to lift your spirits. Sounds like things have really been stressful lately. Whenever I’m feeling really down, being in a garden really helps.
Thinking of you.
Mel, you are lovely as always. I’ll garden again as soon as this rain stops!
I hope you feel better soon. Wish I could make the cherry blossom festival, but I’m too far away. Sounds like the perfect place to relax and observe the pretty things this world has to offer. Karin
Thanks Karin!
I’ve just read through your blog after buying some sashiko supplies from your etsy shop. It has definitely inspired me to get to work!
I know how difficult it can be to see the things that someone has left behind. My great grandmother did not leave a will so the entire family had to go through everything she owned to see what people wanted and what should be given away. She had been living with my family at the time of her death and it was heartbreaking to see everything she loved alone. The way I dealt with it was thinking of someone else who would love it just as much as she did – I think this is a similar idea to your kimono and other recycled fabrics – they are things that people loved and cherished, but now they have a good home with you.
I’ll be sending good thoughts your way 🙂
Katie, thank you so much for your perspective. I really appreciate your words. 🙂
The worst part of organizing things is that it never seems to end. The best part is that you find all sorts of stuff that you forgot about!
That is most certainly true, Dr. Z.