My chaotic wanderings through creation and restoration.
Aside from direct stain removal advice, the number one thing that ends up in my inbox is some variant of this question: Do you have/why don't you have/can you link your videos/YouTube? And my answer is typically because I don't have a YouTube, I don't want to appear in front of a camera, and because … Continue reading Poll–Do You Want To Watch This Happen?
I quite frequently get emails asking for an opinion on what/how old a kimono is. Typically this is pretty straightforward, but a few times now, what they had was an antique kurotomesode that had seen some shit. For a quick explanation, a kurotomesode is the most formal dress for a married woman that is identifiable … Continue reading Post World War II Kimono Brutality: Kurotomesode Edition
Eighty-one years ago today, the United States government made the decision to order the immediate relocation and internment of all persons of Japanese origin, citizen or non. The victims of this order were given nearly no notice and told they could bring only what they could carry. They couldn't keep properties owned or pack their … Continue reading Day of Remembrance–Executive Order 9066
I think that one of the most exciting things that keeps me engaged with buying kimono domestically is the fact that, as I say frequently, it really is just chaos and anarchy out here. Nobody knows how old anything is; new products are listed as ancient and legit antiques are often called 60's to 80's. … Continue reading Antique Irotomesode & Whimsical Adventures Of Shopping In USA; Photography Edition
A Flock Of Doves In Flight Over Wild Waves And Majestic Gold And Silver Pine On Decadent Red Silk. On July the 24th, 2021 I posted this entry, after a bloody and violent bidding war for this kimono. For those joining this story here are the end, this is a piece that has been lost … Continue reading Restoration Complete: Great Grandma Akiye’s Furisode. “Great Big White Birds”
Your Regular Flavor Text Is In The Corner Having An Existential Crisis. This Kimono Is Chaos On Black Silk. As I lay here on the floor staring at the ceiling, filling my cheeks with air and letting it out in short squeekie puffs as though to pretend that I am a giant chipmunk because being … Continue reading Antique Kurotomesode–Parinirvana Of Sakyamuni
Were starting off the new year strong, my friends. I've made three recent purchases and all three of them have found a way to make my brain do somersaults. So buckle up, chucklefucks. You know, sometimes my favorite thing to do is drive myself completely no-turning-back-insane by buying things just because they look weird to … Continue reading What’s The Damage? The Ballad Of Stankizuri
Tonight We're Revisiting My Favorite Kimono While I Talk About The Actual Massive And Inconvenient Pain In The Ass Healing Is. As this year comes to a close, I'm sure we're all sitting around wondering how we did. Well, maybe some of us actually know. The state of the universe is, as always, chaos, and … Continue reading Taisho Kuromontsuki–Ume Dreams & Matsu Wishes
Cranes In Flight With Ancient Turtles Surfacing Under A Mighty Pine On Textured Black Silk. T'was the night before Christmas, all up in this bitch. And unsurprisingly, this bitch had an itch. With shochikubai, tsuru, and minogame; I pounced on this thing and screamed a mighty "GIMME." But the fuck, the shit, I was to … Continue reading Meiji Era Uchikake — Majesty With Minogame
Aaaaaand there ain't no party like a peacock party because the peacock party don't stop! You know what my favorite thing about this antique hikifurisode (a furisode meant to trail) is? The process of purchasing it was basically surrounded by enough misconceptions about kimono to fill a bingo card. Let's go over some of them. … Continue reading What’s The Damage? Fowl Play–Featuring A Conversation About Western Market Insanity
Silk & Bones 