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
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
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
Majestic Mt. Fuji Overlooking A Misty And Watery Pine Grove On Smooth Black Silk. I definitely needed another one of these, right? Even if it didn't need anything in terms of restoration or repair, really? It's not that I collect things like furisode and uchikake (in short loose terms, wedding kimono) exclusively. It's that I … Continue reading Meiji Era Uchikake–Fujiyama Ukiyo-e Style
Today, for a little change in pace, I'm going to take you through my process for evaluating a kimono when I receive it. So the "where do I begin" is actually pretty literal--this is where I start every time I bring a new (LOL--new to me) item in. I've been asked this a few times, … Continue reading The Process–Where Do I Begin?
A Haughty Majestic Phoenix Entangled With Blooming Flowers On Black Silk. That's right, I'm calling it a birb. It's a word I use every day. I have parrots, after all. To be honest about this one, I bought it domestically in a bundle with a maru obi that I'll detail later. I wanted the obi, … Continue reading Taisho Kurotomesode–Sassy Birb
What In The Actual Hell Was The Artist Thinking These Things Will Give Me Nightmares On Black Silk. Who wants to watch me write up a blog on a kimono that I have literally no attachment to, was a little squicked--yes that's the technical term, shut up--out by, and cleaned up for display anyway? You … Continue reading Antique Kurotomesode–Eyeless Cranes
Vibrant Young Pine Growth With Gilded Fronds On Black Silk. This magnificent beast qualifies as one of my first restorations. Unfortunately, that also means I didn't think to take literally any progress pictures when I first started working on it. I also didn't bother to save any of the original seller photos, or take any … Continue reading Taisho Kurotomesode–Glowing Pines
Peaceful Willow Branches Over Running Water On Black Silk. Story time. A few days ago, I was clicking mindlessly through my usual kimono-buying haunts. You know, just seeing what's good, what's interesting, what's new, and perhaps what's mislabeled for my grubby little claws. I ran into this one with just a frontal picture. It also … Continue reading Antique Hikizuri–Willow & Water Wheel
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
Silk & Bones 