Poking around YouTube today, I found these videos featuring sashiko. Each one is only a few minutes long, and helpful if you are just starting out, or want to see how others hold needle, thread and cloth. Despite finding very particular directions in every Japanese and English how-to book on sashiko, I’ve found that each…
Tsuzure Ori
I was warned years ago that if I started studying Japanese and didn’t have many opportunities to speak the language, I’d lose it. This has sadly come to pass. Taking a few steps away from my kimono-focused business over the past few months, the words have been gradually slipping away from me. Conversational Japanese went…
Where did the time go?!
Is it really June already? I’ve been avoiding this blog for a while. Nothing personal, just been busy working on two different businesses; KimonoMomo, and The Word Sniper, my writing/editing business. Letting go of KimonoMomo has been my intention for quite some time now, but it’s an ornery process, one that keeps dragging me back…
A Bear Hug for Japan
This caught my eye as we were featured in the same Etsy treasury today, and I wanted to share the love. A wonderfully kawaii (cute) bear for an important cause. He’s only $26, completely handmade by sleepyking, and all proceeds go to the American Red Cross for Japan. Hurry! He looks lonely. I bet he’d…
Kimono Aid for Japan
Thanks to the earthquake and ensuing crisis in Japan, KimonoMomo has been getting a lot of publicity. It’s not exactly what I had expected and makes me feel uneasy, but if I can use it to help others, I certainly will. While I would like to offer 100% of proceeds from my sales to help…
Kimono auctions to benefit Japan earthquake relief
Quick post to spread the word about Immortal Geisha’s eBay auctions to benefit earthquake relief in Japan. Beautiful vintage kimono and accessories are being offered and 100% of the proceeds will go to help those who need it most right now. Please take a look and place a bid on these gorgeous items.
Inside the modified yukata
Taking a closer look at our modified indigo shibori yukata, there are some interesting touches that signify this was very much a homemade or at least home-modified garment. The partial lining is from a tenugui, or cotton hand towel. It is very soft, and has been carefully tacked in such a way to give more…
Holiday Coupon!
Thank you, dear Etsy programmers and developers, for finally creating a coupon system that works. I’ll give you guys a big hug when I see you at the next Etsy meetup in San Francisco. Thank you, dear readers, for being such great customers over the years. I’m giving you my first ever Etsy coupon, so…
Kimono or yukata sleeves too short? Modify!
When this floral-patterned shibori yukata caught my eye, I just couldn’t say no. I’ve been collecting vintage clothes my whole life (starting with hand-me-down baby clothes when I was an infant) and as some of you vintage collectors know, there are items that have a marvelous vibe to them, as if the previous owner imparted…
Quick updates for the holiday season
So much to do! On a whim, I offered to host a craft show/open studio December 15th here at Huckleberry House, which means putting together a group of local crafters and setting up tables just about everywhere throughout my home, but I’m looking forward to it. The house is a 1950’s cottage on a tree-lined…
Meiji Ningyo Restoration, part VIII
Home at last. The little fellow arrived shortly after my previous post, but I had mixed feelings about his restoration and it’s taken some time for me to sort things out in my head to where I felt comfortable writing about it. If you’re just joining this series, click here to read part 1 and…
Meiji Ningyo Restoration, part VII
The little fellow is coming home! At long last, our boy is ready to fly! He is packed and double boxed. His kimonos are clean but the outer one is oh so fragile. The dyes and fabric were held together by years of dust. The black edging around the inner one has been replaced and…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 