My chaotic wanderings through creation and restoration.
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
A Waterfall Of Textures And Colors Interrupted By Figural Chrysanthemums. Yeah hi, you ever hate something so much you buy it? I don't usually, but this happened. It's worth noting that it wasn't expensive. I've spent more on fat kid night doordash than I spent on this kimono, but it literally found its way into … Continue reading Antique Sanpogi–I Bought This Out Of Spite
I wonder if to some it seems like this piece is taking a long time. To me, it feels like I'm clearing tasks pretty quickly. But I do take large breaks between the bits because my wrist occasionally threatens to leave. And since I don't need my own body parts sending me any ransom notes, … Continue reading Yet Another Update: “Great Big White Birds”
So. We left off last time with a delightful trip into respiratory distress lacquer thinner hell blue-grey shabby chic fuckery removing the shell from the upper portion of the tansu. For a quick recap, here: Cleared off the shit paint without managing to damage my teeth from all of the fucking clenching, restored the locks, … Continue reading Abused Antique Tansu Round Two: Electric Boogaloo
Typically when I am trying products for stain removals, I like to have tested them a lot. I want a metric fuck ton of data to be able to provide for a product before I even think about making a tutorial about it. I need to know how it behaves. What it's good at, what … Continue reading Tutorial: Vintage Kimono Stain Removal – Laundress Wash & Stain Bar Edition
Even though you'd think that after eleven months I'd have literally any sense of discipline, I bought this, got to work on it, and said nothing about it. I took a few pictures and gushed about it with friends, but I didn't mention it literally anywhere else that matters and there's actually a few reasons … Continue reading Already In Progress: Antique Gilded Tsuru Furisode
This blog entry is going to begin much the way the others do. I was creeping around on a shopping service, and I found a kimono I liked. In this case, I bought a beautiful antique green furisode (formal kimono for unmarried women with long swinging sleeves). Take a look: Pictured: This is the last … Continue reading Restoration In Progress–Work Cut Out For Me
Hanging Baskets Filled With Chrysanthemums And Adorned With Treasures On Blue Silk. I think that it is fair to say that all of my favorite kimono are oddballs. If there's something weird, unusual, or less than traditional about it, I'm all over it. The reason for this is actually rather simple: I'm fucking weird because … Continue reading Antique Kimono–Precious Little Details
I took a step back after every piece of hardware was fitted, everything was right, tight, and anything that was mobile was moving as it was supposed to be. Is there anything else? Did I miss something? Did a shitty paintbrush drop a hair in the varnish again? Did I accidentally scratch the surface again … Continue reading Taisho Era Kyodai–Restoration Complete
Warm Hued Black Silk Gauze Internally Painted With Drums And Weeping Willow. Did you see it? The sun! The goddamn sun was out today! And we edge ever closer to springtime here in the US Midwest. It's currently the proper mud season, but it's trying to be warm and so here I am, continuing my … Continue reading Antique Haori–Summer Music
Silk & Bones 