Friday, March 25, 2011
Tsumami Kanzashi!
Oh my my my my! Waiting for me in my post box was this lovely Daffodil Tsumami Kanzashi from Sakuradancer Kanzashi. I have been in love with this design since I saw it while browsing Etsy and was so happy to wear it today!
This is my first tsumami kanzashi purchase..and with all the wonderful things Sakuradancer's Shop has I am sure it will not be the last! The Kanzashi itself is very professional with clean lines and no stray strings. Please visit her store http://www.etsy.com/shop/sakuradancer?ref=pr_shop
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
spring projects:
kimono projects the spring/summer
1. Sew a cotton linen blend nagajuban with removable sleeves. Buying Juban can be a tad bit expensive..especially the bright and colorful ones, not to mention the fact that kimono sleeve lengths vary from type to type which means multiple jubans. Cotton will be washable and I can purchase some awesome vintage fabric peices for the sleeves..^_^
1.5- Sew cotton two piece Hadajuban set. Fabric Purchased!
2.Find a tansu subsitute- FOUND.
3. My wooden geta have bit the dust. Its not suprising as they were cheap as all get out in the first place. I need new hanao, new rubber bottoms..and with all that I think I am going to just re-do everything while I am at it.
4.. Practice..practice...practice...my kitsuke
5. Sew back together my 1940's yukata. I recently unpicked the whole kaboodle to see how yukata are made ( plus it needs some TLC and some washing). At least this way I can alter it to fit my tall self.
Wheew...a line up! I will be busy!
1. Sew a cotton linen blend nagajuban with removable sleeves. Buying Juban can be a tad bit expensive..especially the bright and colorful ones, not to mention the fact that kimono sleeve lengths vary from type to type which means multiple jubans. Cotton will be washable and I can purchase some awesome vintage fabric peices for the sleeves..^_^
1.5- Sew cotton two piece Hadajuban set. Fabric Purchased!
2.
3. My wooden geta have bit the dust. Its not suprising as they were cheap as all get out in the first place. I need new hanao, new rubber bottoms..and with all that I think I am going to just re-do everything while I am at it.
4.. Practice..practice...practice...my kitsuke
5. Sew back together my 1940's yukata. I recently unpicked the whole kaboodle to see how yukata are made ( plus it needs some TLC and some washing). At least this way I can alter it to fit my tall self.
Wheew...a line up! I will be busy!
Monday, March 21, 2011
almost done moving...
SO..
This moving process has taken a lot longer then I had hoped it would but at last we will finally be moved in this coming weekend.Our lack of combined furniture ( I gave most of mine away when I moved last before my trip to Japan) and our lack of time off of work has made this all a little bumpy.
I took my kimono collection over this past weekend. I can't wait to start wearing them again ^_^
This moving process has taken a lot longer then I had hoped it would but at last we will finally be moved in this coming weekend.Our lack of combined furniture ( I gave most of mine away when I moved last before my trip to Japan) and our lack of time off of work has made this all a little bumpy.
I took my kimono collection over this past weekend. I can't wait to start wearing them again ^_^
Thursday, March 17, 2011
okay..here we go.
Ever feel like you are on the cusp of something crazy...but in some wierd way its good? Well I am feeling that way right now.
I have decided..at the ripe age of 24 that I am going back to college to pursue my dream of creating textiles in the Japanese roketsu-zome tradition. It may be odd..( and hopefully not rude) that this terrible hellacious disaster in Japan makes me only want to be back in Japan more. I have had an awful feeling sitting in the back of my mind's stomach since it happened and I don't think it is going to go away any time soon.
I have always been at odds with college. I think I can sucessfully blame that on my highschool because from day one in eigth grade I had it shoved down my throat that I would essentially be nothing in life unless I went to a 4 year in-state university. I found it ridiculous to drop 25K+ on something I was not even sure about. But I realize now in order to even attempt going after this dream I need the teaching and most importantly the connections that colleges can give. I have found ( rather miraculously) a Fiber Arts program that focuses more on art than general education classes ( at most there is one gen ed class per semester) that is near my home town. My major is going to be Fiber Arts with a minor in Japanese Culture. I can't act like this is all going to work out and that I will finish my degree and suddenly be invited to Japan and design for the rest of my life, thats crazy and naive to think that. I already have a few nay-sayers with this..but I feel like this is something I just have to do. If anything if none of this works out I can open up a screen printing shop or work for one at least. Got to try at least though.
So..hold on ya'll..cause here I go.
I have decided..at the ripe age of 24 that I am going back to college to pursue my dream of creating textiles in the Japanese roketsu-zome tradition. It may be odd..( and hopefully not rude) that this terrible hellacious disaster in Japan makes me only want to be back in Japan more. I have had an awful feeling sitting in the back of my mind's stomach since it happened and I don't think it is going to go away any time soon.
I have always been at odds with college. I think I can sucessfully blame that on my highschool because from day one in eigth grade I had it shoved down my throat that I would essentially be nothing in life unless I went to a 4 year in-state university. I found it ridiculous to drop 25K+ on something I was not even sure about. But I realize now in order to even attempt going after this dream I need the teaching and most importantly the connections that colleges can give. I have found ( rather miraculously) a Fiber Arts program that focuses more on art than general education classes ( at most there is one gen ed class per semester) that is near my home town. My major is going to be Fiber Arts with a minor in Japanese Culture. I can't act like this is all going to work out and that I will finish my degree and suddenly be invited to Japan and design for the rest of my life, thats crazy and naive to think that. I already have a few nay-sayers with this..but I feel like this is something I just have to do. If anything if none of this works out I can open up a screen printing shop or work for one at least. Got to try at least though.
So..hold on ya'll..cause here I go.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Prayers and Thoughts To Japan on this terrible day.
I was awoken this morning with the news of an earthquake hitting Japan. I had to force myself to watch the news and when I did my heart hit the floor.
Watching coverage of the Sendai area I remembered seeing those same fields from my train window just a few months ago. My worry over the situation can not be compared to those who are in Japan right now, dealing with their lives being torn apart by this terrible dissaster.... all I can say is my heart and my prayers go out to those in Japan who have lost loved ones and that peace will come to their nation soon.
ganbatte mina san.
Watching coverage of the Sendai area I remembered seeing those same fields from my train window just a few months ago. My worry over the situation can not be compared to those who are in Japan right now, dealing with their lives being torn apart by this terrible dissaster.... all I can say is my heart and my prayers go out to those in Japan who have lost loved ones and that peace will come to their nation soon.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Moving....
So...after filing through a ton of psycho landlords..questionable apartments...and budgeting we ( Mr. Alex my boyfriend extroidonair) and I FINALLY found an apartment. It is a darling 2 bedroom in a 6 unit apartment building that was built in the 1920s. I am soooo excited! Plus..the landlord said I could take over all of the now empty and weed ridden flower beds. Japanese cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes here I come!
Since we are moving I am being very careful about furniture purchases. Both of us don't have very much to work with and I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to find a nice Tansu subsitute. I am planning to have a little corner layed out just for kimono and kitsuke practice ^_^.
Since we are moving I am being very careful about furniture purchases. Both of us don't have very much to work with and I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to find a nice Tansu subsitute. I am planning to have a little corner layed out just for kimono and kitsuke practice ^_^.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
obi thoughts
I have recently fallen in love with maru obi. I really did not think that they would be an option for me but now that I have done some research I think they would work really well with my figure. I also love the simple patterns that are available.
Nagoya obi look weird on me, and I am thinking it is because I have such a long waist and well...everything. The pre sewn section just looks funky.
Speaking of maru...I have never wanted to spend $180 on something that has a high chance of not being fixable, but this made me fall out-mah-chair. Blast you ichiroya!
Nagoya obi look weird on me, and I am thinking it is because I have such a long waist and well...everything. The pre sewn section just looks funky.
Speaking of maru...I have never wanted to spend $180 on something that has a high chance of not being fixable, but this made me fall out-mah-chair. Blast you ichiroya!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)