Sorry for the lack of posts this week. The kids and I have been sloggling through the latest flu, but we’re on the mend. The Knit-One-One show is tomorrow and I’m off to sort through my stock and pick out some goodies to show. Back soon with more indigo…
Focus on Indigo part III, tsutsugaki kimono
I met Vicki Shiba of Mill Valley, CA last year during my first visit to the Arts of Pacific Asia Show in SF. She’s a soft spoken woman with a sharp intellect and a dazzling collection of antiques. She had several pieces worthy of mention in her booth, and I have chosen two that I…
Shop updates for late February 2010
I’m still sorting through photos and notes for the Focus on Indigo feature, but I’ve also been plowing through photos and descriptions for new items and listing them in my shop. The sections have changed a bit; all 14″ wide Japanese kimono and yukata fabrics are now in one place under “Japanese textiles” and what…
Focus on Indigo part II, shibori and yogi
Following the vest theme of the previous post, here is a fabulous example of indigo shibori from Honeychurch Antiques of Seattle, Washington. This piece features shibori done in orinui and shirokage (white shadow) styles. The white bands would have been bound and reserved during the dye process, making this a rather labor intensive textile. Dyeing…
Focus on Indigo part I, Samurai Vest
note: Clicking on any of the images here will give you a larger image so you can see the details more clearly. While I have always had a love for all things indigo, this was the first piece at the Arts of Pacific Asia Show in San Francisco this month that inspired me to reach…
Feeling a tad overwhelmed
After two weekends spent surrounded by the sort of beautiful textiles and antiques you’d expect to find in a museum or private collection and being able to not only photograph them, but actually touch them, I find myself with pages of handwritten notes and innumerable photographs to sort through (I stopped counting and just try…
Mark your crafty calendars…
I’ll be there! You should be there, too. Lots of goodies will be available, so stop on by.
New feature – Indigo
Starting next week I will be writing an ongoing feature about indigo, including vintage dyed textiles, indigo dye and supplies, and indigo’s use through history. To start, I will feature several galleries and dealers I’ve been meeting at the Arts of Pacific Asia and Tribal & Textile Arts Shows this February at Fort Mason in…
Awa Shijira-ori
Known for its distinctive crinkled, crepe-like texture, Awa Shijira-ori* is a cotton fabric ideal for making summertime yukata. The texture, similar to seersucker, does not stick to the skin in Japan’s hot, humid summers, and the openness of the weave allows for good airflow. Originating in the Tokushima Prefecture during the Meiji era (1868-1889), it…
New in the shop
I will be listing new items throughout the day, including the latest shipment of sashiko supplies. Yes, that means the thread prices will be going up (needles, thimbles and kits remain the same price), but not until I get to them. Right now I’m focused on getting other things listed first, so there is still…
KimonoMomo shop updates
I’ve been a terrible slacker. There are stacks of projects on my cutting table, finished scarves to be photographed, business cards to be designed and printed, taxes to be filed, orders to ship (packages went to Australia and Canada yesterday, Italy today), and piles of notes everywhere. A box of fabric tipped over this morning…
Because it’s still winter here
I’ve been drooling over scarves on Etsy recently. It’s still chilly enough here in the San Francisco area that I could happily wear one, so I’m sharing my appreciation of fine neck wear with you today. Enjoy! Fine merino wool warmly knitted in Massachusetts, USA. Flirtatious felted wool from Russia with love. Delicate as a…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 