My chaotic wanderings through creation and restoration.
Bright Camellia Blossoms And Long Bamboo Grasses On Delicately Woven Blue Silk. This qualifies as a restoration. This also qualifies as a recent restoration. But I did that thing that I do where I take a big healthy gulp of Big Dumb Idiot Juice and my whole brain just fucks off and I didn't really … Continue reading Antique Tsukesage–Tsubaki & Sasa
There is so much excitement and anxiety in my stomach for this piece. Getting my hands on this was some Grade A craziness. The odds of ever coming across it again were so small it it's stupid. Then it got weirder. The universe has presented to me a bizarre smoothie--an absolute puree of people's lives … Continue reading Restoration In Progress: “Great Big White Birds”
Misty Silhouettes Of Bamboo Leaves And Blood Red Dragonflies On Sheer Black Silk. I'm going to take a pretty big risk here. I'm going to open this giant, gaping hole in the center of my face, and I'm going to challenge the Old Gods at their game, and possibly summon their wrath to my back … Continue reading Taisho Komon–Bog Witch
Stylish Snow Crystal Rings With Regal Carts And Tranquil Watersides On Airy Cream Silk. Before I get started, I'd like to point out that one of my favorite parts of writing each entry is coming up with the little italicized flavor text up there. Because I always want to write it out in a somewhat … Continue reading Antique Maru Obi–Summer Snow
Every so often, I get a question or nine hundred about what certain terms that I use mean. Usually they're questions about the Japanese words, motifs, formalities, eras...you know, the hard stuff. But most recently, I've received a few emails and messages about what I mean when I comment on the condition of a kimono, … Continue reading Random Tidbit–Shattering
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
I purchased this kimono with the intention to do some things to it that might just fucking wreck it. As I've mentioned before in my restoration entries, I've got a few kimono items that I purchased exclusively to use as guinea pigs/lab rats for stain removal techniques. Those kimono are in dire need of replacing … Continue reading The New Lab Rat Maybe?
Vibrant Blooming Flowers And Colorful Peacocks On Black Silk. I bought this kimono just before the 5th year anniversary of my father's death. That's right, it's my fill the void kimono. I'm not really sure what kind of void I'm filling, though. That shit's complicated and weird, and that's not what we're here for. Why … Continue reading Antique Furisode–Peonies & Peafowl
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
Silk & Bones 