My chaotic wanderings through creation and restoration.
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
When I first set eyes on these, I realized that insanity is a spectrum, and that I'm leaning further and further towards the red end of that crazy rainbow every goddamn day. I'm okay with that, though. It's not boring. So what in the absolute fuck is a kasane, Becky? I'm glad you asked! Kasane, … Continue reading Restoration In Progress: Sho Chiku Bai Kasane
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”
I've been wanting to do an entry like this for awhile, actually, where I detail a list of my favorite komono (little bits and bops for wearing kimono, and not a misspelling). Each one of them seems a bit small and uneventful to have its own blog entry, but I'm a fucking goblin sitting on … Continue reading My Favorite Little Things
As you can see, even though I do a lot of restorations, I'm using the word preservation in this title. Well! Now seems like a good time to have this conversation, because I do make a distinction between the two, and it's a good question to ask: When do I decide that the goal is … Continue reading Preservation In Progress: Meiji Uchikake–Majestic Minogame
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
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”
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?
Sunset Orange Peony In Full Bloom On Smooth Patterned Lavender Silk. I had actually been stalking this one for awhile. I'm going to stick with the word stalking because anything gentler might not make me come off as slightly unhinged, and I wouldn't want to lie to you about what kind of person I am. … Continue reading Antique Kimono–Dusky Skies & Bright Blossoms
Wild Crashing Waves On Sheer Woven Deep Purple Silk. Today was hot and humid. I think it's been a pretty standard August here in Chicagoland so far, in spite of the weather being insane in other places. Although, sometimes the air quality isn't great because of the smoke blowing over us from both the West … Continue reading Antique Komon–Juicy Purple Waves
Silk & Bones 