Antique Nagoya Obi–Regal Ryukin

A Calm Fancy Goldfish On Cream Shear Silk With Silver Lacquered Threads So I bought an obi stand. It was a little bit of a mess when it came to me, as the lacquer finish had become a bit milky. As it has been explained to me, that happens when it's been exposed to a … Continue reading Antique Nagoya Obi–Regal Ryukin

Taisho Kuromontsuki-Living The Dream

Vibrant White And Red Plum Blossoms Intertwined With Golden Pine Sprigs On Black Silk. It's chilly for May, so it felt like a good day to show this one off. I'm kidding. I don't have a good excuse to show this one off. I don't need a good excuse to show this one off. In … Continue reading Taisho Kuromontsuki-Living The Dream

Taisho Era Houmongi-Sasa Sunset Fire

Flaming Red Silhouettes Of Bamboo Stalks And Leaves On Decadent Silk. This week has been kind of wet and miserable, so I've taken some time to start photographing some of my absolute favorite "full kimono" pieces in my collection; meaning pieces that aren't a jacket (haori, douchugi, michiyuki). I'd also like to point out that … Continue reading Taisho Era Houmongi-Sasa Sunset Fire

Taisho Era Kyodai–Restoration Complete

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

Restoration In Progress–Antique Small Tansu

I'm currently in a state of limbo with several projects where I'm either waiting for something to dry, waiting on materials, or it's just a big project and I'm spending a few hours a week on it and it'll be done when it's done. Fight me. But since I am not currently out of space, … Continue reading Restoration In Progress–Antique Small Tansu

Restoration in Progess–What Even Is This?

Can you just feel the confidence spewing from me in that title? Well, I'm honest if nothing else. What I do know about this thing is that it's big, it's amazing, it's beautiful, it needs repaired, and that I absolutely had to have it. What I don't know about it is...well, just what in the … Continue reading Restoration in Progess–What Even Is This?

Restoration In Progress–Taisho Era Kyodai

I started this journey looking for a haribako--a sewing box. You see, right now I'm using a tackle box, and it's fine I guess, but as my collection of silk threads, couching threads, needles, and other such repair items for my antique kimono repairs gets larger and larger, it's starting to be a massive pain … Continue reading Restoration In Progress–Taisho Era Kyodai

Tutorial–Patching A Hole

As I mentioned in my post about resizing haori, I was handed the opportunity to create another tutorial about patching a hole. Since that haori was decidedly sewn together by a...crazy person...originally, it led to some damage that I had to repair on the fabric as I removed the stitches. I'm not going to go … Continue reading Tutorial–Patching A Hole

Lazy Saturday Afternoon Restoration

Today I received this absolutely delightful wood temple model that was a bit dirty and in need of some gentle repairs. It came to me in a few pieces, but the pieces are whole, and the areas they separated are just where the glue has failed. Now, I realise I don't know a whole fuck … Continue reading Lazy Saturday Afternoon Restoration

Taisho Kuromontsuki–Dancing Koi

Vibrant Carp Jumping In Wild Waves On Black Sheer Woven Silk. Today is a little different, even though it's really not because I don't think I've actually had this blog long enough to have established any patterns. I'm working on a tutorial for resizing haori, and in the meantime I was posting pictures of my … Continue reading Taisho Kuromontsuki–Dancing Koi