Restoration In Progress — Sho Chiku Bai & A Year In Review

So I started this blog on the 1st of January, 2021. And unless something bonkers happens that I just have to show you guys, this will be my last entry of the year. I started this just to do something that was completely self indulgent, and because I wanted for once in my life to … Continue reading Restoration In Progress — Sho Chiku Bai & A Year In Review

Restoration In Progress: Meiji Era Wedding Kimono

Right off the bat, you're seeing me be real iffy about labeling what kind of kimono this is. And there's a pretty good reason for that. I'll get to it. I promise. I didn't just empty all of my knowledge into a ditch somewhere. Sooooo. Let's get right to it. Look at this insanity. I'm … Continue reading Restoration In Progress: Meiji Era Wedding Kimono

Tutorial: Vintage Kimono Stain Removal — Gentle Detergent Edition

Some time ago, I wrote up this entry covering the vinegar stain removal method. I love the vinegar method because it's damn near harmless when employed correctly. But I hate the vinegar method because it can take forfuckingever. Which isn't to say that I'm not a patient person. The nice part about it taking forever … Continue reading Tutorial: Vintage Kimono Stain Removal — Gentle Detergent Edition

Already In Progress: Antique Gilded Tsuru Furisode

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

Antique Furisode–Candy Cranes

Majestic Cranes In Flight With Royal Carts And Candy Sweet Flowers On Soft Green Silk. Tonight on bad titles, if they can thaw Mariah Carey's ass out to have her howl about how she wants this sweet ass for Christmas starting on November the 1st, then I can make a really stupid seasonal candy pun … Continue reading Antique Furisode–Candy Cranes

Meiji Furisode–The Birb Flies At Midnight

Flocks Of Cranes In Flight Against Clouds Of Gold On Black Silk. You know I'm sitting over here with a digital pile of photos of my work to sort through and process for sharing, and then a literal pile of kimono that need to be finished and then photographed for completion. But I just received … Continue reading Meiji Furisode–The Birb Flies At Midnight

Update: Restoration In Progress– “Great Big White Birds”

Sometimes when I'm doing these things, I have to psych myself up a lot in order to talk about it, because I'm always defending myself to an imaginary person who thinks everything I do is partially insane. The problem is the imaginary person is not wrong. My famous last words will most certainly be: STAND … Continue reading Update: Restoration In Progress– “Great Big White Birds”

A Thing I Do–Pigment Replacement

A day or so ago--or it could have been two days, what even is time--I posted the following pictures to the Global Kimono community on Facebook, and oh boy did I get the questions. I'll start with telling you what you're looking at, if you aren't part of that community or didn't see it. This … Continue reading A Thing I Do–Pigment Replacement

Update: Restoration In Progress– “Great Big White Birds”

This one is close to my heart, so of course I've been driving myself the fuck insane working very hard on it. You'll remember this furisode that I stumbled on, and today I'd like to show you some of my progress. Stain removal has been very hit and miss with this one, so it's turned … Continue reading Update: Restoration In Progress– “Great Big White Birds”

Restoration In Progress–Work Cut Out For Me

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