My chaotic wanderings through creation and restoration.
Bright Maple Leaves On Soft Purple Silk. All snow no sun makes Becky go something something. It's still trying its hardest to be somewhere in the vicinity of spring here in Chicagoland, and so I continue showcasing my kimono jackets. I'm doing this between editing a few upcoming tutorials. Today, I have this delightfully soft … Continue reading Taisho Haori–Purple Maple
Bright Gold Medallions In Lacquer Threads On Deep Black Silk. It's trying very hard to be spring occasionally here in Chicagoland, USA, so it seems the perfect time to be showcasing the jackets of my kimono collection. Today, here's a beautiful douchugi from the early Showa Era. I have confirmation that this piece is from … Continue reading Antique Douchugi–Deco Gold
Vibrant Bamboo Leaves On Beautiful Teal Silk With Woven Gold Threads. Here's another piece that qualifies as a restoration that I never bothered to keep any records on. It's actually pretty safe to say that most of my older kimono qualify as that in one way or another. I usually have to clean something, remove … Continue reading Taisho Haori–Bamboo Explosion
I'm making lots of great progress on this piece, gifted to me for restoration by Nancy from Kyoto Kimono. As predicted, most of my work is sewing. I had to wait for awhile to get the proper weight and color for threads in to get started, but now that they're here, things are going very … Continue reading Update: Restoration In Progress–Castles And Dreams
I have been asked a few dozen times over the years by various individuals, usually in good faith, why my lily-white ass is so interested in kimono and such. It's usually people that don't know me very well that ask that question, because if they did then they know that I'm a goddamn artist and … Continue reading Restoration In Progress–The Elephant In The Obutsudan
Okay! I was pretty wishy-washy about even trying to explain this one, because it's not easy, it's not safe, and it takes a lot of practice. But! Interest was given, and as long as I'm VERY FUCKING CLEAR about what you're getting yourself into, surely there's no harm in showing you how it's done. I'm … Continue reading Tutorial–Removing Unmovable Stains From White Silk
-Deep inhale- AAAAAAAAAHHHH. Tonight I needed a distraction, so I finished the kinsai work on this piece. And let me tell you, as much as I've threatened to burn the house down with this project, I'm pretty goddamn pleased with myself right now. Here are some shots of the the restored kinsai work. Pictured: Not … Continue reading Update: Restoration In Progress–Velcro Dreams & Kinsai Wishes
Pictured: OHMIGOD OHMIGOD OHMIGOD OHMIGOD Or at least I think it's an uchikake. I'm actually not fully sure. I rarely get to handle uchikake this old to begin with, and this will be the first that I own if that's what it is. I know that older ones tend to be structurally different than the … Continue reading Restoration In Progress–Meiji Takarabune Uchikake
Soft Blue Green Crepe Silk With Blooming Spider Mums And Fans Over Flowing Water. This is a restoration that I totally failed to keep any tabs on whatsoever. I bought it, cleaned it, sewed a few panels back together, and then hung it up here to take pictures without so much as documenting a single … Continue reading Taisho Irotomesode–
Bright Red Silk With Blooming Spring Flowers And A Touch Of Gold. Sugar pop! Those were the words that flew out of my mouth with a cutesy little gasp when I first saw this piece. If you know me personally, and some of you do, then you know that my personal fashion aesthetic is...I don't … Continue reading Showa Haori–Sugar Pop!
Silk & Bones 