kofuji

Happy 2012 everyone!

2012-01-08T16:32:00.000+11:00

Yeah I know, bit late, we've already been in the new year for a week now but hey, it happens.

I really should aim to blog more this year... I did four or so posts last year? Bit shameful really.
I do have a lot to say today though, if that makes up for the long, long absences of last year...

Today I am sewing a chikara nuno/tsukeeri, instructions from Kimono de Cheap.
Yes they are different things, although closely related. I'm aiming to make it as a tsukeeri but because I'm sewing by hand today (yay *-*) its at the stage where its a chikara nuno. Not that that matters because I want to make enough chikara nuno for all my juban but that could take a while.

Continuing on with the sewing theme...
A while ago I bought a cheap ro tsukesage from Shinei on ebay with a big hole on the front panel, but me thinking I'm amazing decided to get it and just embroider something over the hole to cover it up.
Firstly I was thinking a dragonfly but suggestions came in from the IG forums of a sparrow/insects.
So I did a mock up of a sparrow! Personally I think its really cute, maybe not appropriate for the kimono but let me know what you think:

And here is how it sits on the kimono. Opinions?

Other kimono projects include trying to repair a sha kimono:

Another one from Shinei. along the sleeve/shoulder seams the fabric is tearing, on both sides. On one side next to the collar on the fabric is tearing vertically as well. Its very sad, but I did get a full refund on it so its not like a I'll be out of pocket for it.

Suggestions have been to use excess fabric in the sleeves to repair the tears. Rotate sleeve fabric so the tears become the bottom of the sleeve. Use interfacing on the fabric to stabilize it or lining it.

I'm leaning towards lining it, but how to fix the tears without it showing through?

How do I fix the big vertical tear near the collar?

Should I even bother with it? *sigh* I am wondering why I bought it. Yes I know I wrote about it before but really I already have one that is very similar...

Besides that little headache, the rest of my project list contains:

* sewing a ro kimono. I've only been putting it off for 18months now....

* painting up a mock pre-tied darari obi.

* dyeing and embroidering mock maiko han'eri

* putting chikara nuno on my juban.

* altering what kimono I can to fit me better.

I wonder if you see my problem, I start another project before I've finished the other ones I've started.

Plus keeping up with uploading my odori programmes and etc.

I also want to post some kitsuke photos of me but I want to explain something first.

I have been interested in kimono now for about four years (how it flies!) but really only wore kimono for the first year-ish so I'm terribly out of practice. (just too busy with work and other stuff)

So I am starting again when I feel like I should be better than what I am.

When I moved in July I didn't bring my kimono with me. I went home in October and brought back with me some yukata and summer related kimono. Mostly what I have here with me now I've bought in the past few months.

I've never worn yukata before this year. I mean I bought one years ago but never liked it so its very strange for me to go from formal-ish kimono with juban and padding and all that jazz to yukata and hanhaba obi... I feel like a total n00b.

So please excuse everything that is wrong, I'm still getting used to yukata plus I don't have any accessories/komono with me so it has been challenging...

So from the top:

Black yukata with sakura with bright yellow pre-tied obi. The yukata is so starchy, is that normal for yukata? My other ones aren't like it?

Then my wisteria yukata with butterflies! I like this one a lot more :) the obi is some summer weave obi that I bought off YJA a couple of months ago, I think its supposed to be a nagoya but isn't sewn down. I really like this obi, I think it will be alright to wear with a number of things, plus it was very easy to use. I tried to do a fan like thing with the tare(?) I forget what its called, the little tail of the obi that is supposed to go back through the taiko, but it got lost when I turned the obi around.

And lastly this is Hendrix, he wanted to wear a yukata too ;)

Odori programmes

2011-11-09T22:44:00.000+11:00

I've been working busily lately trying to get the bulk of my (very) large pile of odori programs scanned and uploaded and I feel I'm making a bit of a dent!
Here is my Flickr page if you want to check out the latest offerings.
Lately I've added some Kitano odori and Miyako odori and some other magazines/book with lovely photos. I do have many Kamogawa, Miyako and some other bits and pieces to share with you when they are ready.
However I've broken my scanner, again! They don't seem to last me very long *grrr*

In other news I've bought a summer kimono...
Wisteria I cannot resist it.
Summer fabrics are a weakness too...
Put them together with purple?
Sold!

I will need to alter it as well so I'm looking forward to experimenting with it a bit.

As I didn't bring my kimono collection when I moved, only yukata I've been practicing in those but the two new ones are so stiff with starch that I feel so funny wearing them!

Also I suck with using a hanhaba obi, or at least the pink one I bought.

I don't know if they are all that floppy but it does make things a bit difficult...

Back to basics

2011-09-06T21:12:00.000+10:00

For some reason when I first got into kimono I didn't start with (or even like) yukata.

Which seems silly looking back on it cuz that would be the best place to start in this hobby.
So I'm going back to basics :)

I bought a couple of yukata for the upcoming summer season and a kimono bra to help smooth things out ;)

So I got a pretty wisteria yukata because wisteria is my all time favourite flower and a bright and colourful yukata with sakura motif.

A pink hanhaba obi that hopefully matches both yukata. I can't wait to get them and try them on! I'd better start researching what musubi I can tie with a hanhaba obi as I've never used one; although I do have one that I bought with a kurotomesode in a lovely anitque fabric.
If you've got a favourite musubi for yukata I'd love to hear them :)

I usually don't use any binding for kimono, a boob tube usually does the trick for flattening everything out nicely, but I've put on a little weight lately so I think I may need a kimono bra now to help smooth it all out, really hoping it will help, no matter how unattractive it looks.
So they should get here in a few weeks from Noppin, can't wait to dig in and try out my new goodies :)

Hi all!

2011-08-23T20:48:00.007+10:00

I am alive.

Because I don't post here a lot following me on Flickr will show the most recent activity... Most of the time that is...

So far this year I...

Moved out of home.

Changed job (and therefore how much moola I make so I cut back a bit on spending)

Found a lovely man, subsequently moved in with him :)

Kimono wise I haven't been doing much. Truthfully I've only done kitsuke once this year and I hadn't done it in so long that I basically forgot what I was doing!

I forgot my erishin, korin belt and how to tie an otaiko!

I'm now seriously considering going thru my collection and just making a few ensembles for occasions and keeping a few lovely pieces and selling/trading/giving away the rest.

If/when I decide what I'm doing I'll post it up here as well as my other haunts :Flickr, Immortal Geisha and Tsuruko Maiko.

So i haven't bought many kimono this year, I did buy a ro maiko hikizuri with grass motif and a beautiful darari obi tho, most notably.

I also bought a biyosugata but I haven't used it yet. I've been meaning to get one for ages tho.

I also bought some kanzashi:

Firstly a lovely uchiwa set for a maiko:

And a large spider kiku:

I'd like to collect all the different maiko kanzashi but that will probably take a while.

Of course I have still been collecting odori programmes and postcards and other things I thought would be of interest to viewers, which are on my Flickr so check them out if you want.

I still have many, many odori to scan in but as I moved state about a month ago I haven't had a chance to go home and get them all.

Hopefully I can do that soon when I go back in a month or so and possibly even a spring kitsuke!

Well... best not expect too much on that subject tho...

I don't think I have much more to say just now, but my love for kimono has been rekindled :)

Odori programmes and a new maiko hiki!!!

2010-09-20T21:28:00.004+10:00

Hey peeps,
sorry I haven't updated in ages.
So firstly links to odori programmes on Flickr:
1982 Miyako odori

1952 Kamogawa odori
1999 Kyo odori
2000 Kyo odori
2001 Kyo odori
There will be more odori programmes up in a while but my scanner is dying on me, its taking like 3 minutes to scan one page!!!
And my goodie bag came in the post today, so I got my new maiko han'eri and a new maiko hiki!!! I also got another kimono that needs sewing up so will post pics of that when its all done up
So new maiko hiki:You can see the discolouration and where the sleeve tucks used to be so I took a chance on buying it cuz it was just labeled as a "furisode" so luckily it paid out!

maiko photo

2010-09-08T22:03:00.003+10:00

Hi,
I'm just using this space to host a photo so I can link it in IG :)
I don't own the photo and I have lost the original source of the photo.
If its yours or you know where its from please let me know :)

Yay, goodies!

2010-09-08T21:33:00.004+10:00

Sorry I haven't posted in ages!
I won a couple of kimono but I'm waiting till they get here before taking photos and showing them off, I hope it will surprise you ;) I took a risk buying them and hope it pays off :s

I'm finally scanning and uploading some stuff, the reason why its taking so long is because my scanner must be dying because its taking forever to scan something!!!
But I have 2002 maiko portraits from the kyoto hanamachi book that are worth checking out.
I've also got some lovely photos of Katsuno as a maiko.
And today I've uploaded a 1962 Miyako odori programme!

And coming up in the next few days/weeks are:
1982 Miyako odori.
1952 Kamogawa odori
1999-2008 Kyo odori.
So heaps coming up so keep tuned!

Hi peeps.

2010-08-29T21:07:00.003+10:00

I don't have anything for you just yet but soon, I promise :)Also that came in my bundle from Crescent Shop was the 2002 edition of the Kyoto Hanamachi book.The reason why I didn't mention it before was cuz I wasn't entirely sure that it was the 2002 edition cuz all the photos and info are the same, its just the maiko portraits that have changed and I didn't know that until I got my little hands on it.

I also snagged a lovely maiko han'eri the other day:That's about all I have to share at the moment...

I'm back!

2010-08-17T19:52:00.006+10:00

I went on a short holiday, but before that I've been crazy arse busy at work -_-

Not that I really have anything new for you just yet but.... my latest wins are:
11 Kyo (Miyagawa-cho) odori programmes from 1999 to 2009 XD
I'm so stoked to get that, and for so cheap too! I was expecting to pay about $100 or so, cuz I was working on the basis that each programme would cost $10.
In my experience of collecting odori programmes the cheapest way is to buy them in bulk, or even if the auction is for 2 programmes, just works out cheaper.
That and Miyako odori programmes probably fetch the highest and most competitive market. Kamogawa are probably the 2nd most sought after programmes.
Kyo, Kitano and Gion odori will be chased but not as hard and far as the other two.
I was bidding on a... I don't remember the date but it was when Mineko was a maiko so 60's sometime I guess, and that ended up selling for well over $100, just for one!
I know, I know, quality over quantity.
But I figure another one is gonna come up in some point in time.Like a few months ago I lost a 1963 Miyako odori but another one came up for auction a week or so ago and I got it then!
So it'll all work out in the end :)
I've also just won a 1952 Kamogawa odori programme that I missed out on a few months ago but I've still managed to get my hands on a copy :)
I think that's about all...
I'm getting my things sent from Crescent Shop so I might have something new up in about a fortnight :)

Miyako odori updates :)

2010-08-04T21:27:00.003+10:00

I forgot to add the 1996 miyako odori that I put on Flickr a few days ago...
So here it is...

I also got some booklet thing with one of my 1950's era miyako odori so I scanned all the pics of maiko and geiko so check it out here

I uploaded the 2007 miyako odori today:
And here it is

Looks like I'm not going to get those other odori progammes I was hoping to buy, they are a bit out of my budget :(

Its been a while.

2010-08-03T23:02:00.003+10:00

Been a bit quiet lately in terms of kimono and odori programmes and just been super busy at work.

I do have some postcards and the 2007 Miyako odori ready to post tomorrow.

I've also just won 11 kyo odori (miyagawa-cho) programmes from 1999 to 2009.
I'm very excited to get those cuz miyagawa-cho is my fav hanamachi and I'm excited to see who is in the Hanafusa okiya. So there will be Kikuno and Kikutsuru in their junior years, also there was a geiko Kikuryu and I wonder if they had any maiko that must've quit and we don't know about them.

I'm also bidding on some older odori programmes but mightn't get them... We'll see...

So this is just a just update on what will be coming in the next few weeks.
After the 2007 miyako odori and a few postcards there'll be a few weeks break until I have anything new but there'll be plently when I am back :)

Nihongami books, hiki arrvied and another mystery miyako odori.

2010-07-23T21:54:00.003+10:00

So I've been watching this nihongami book on YJA since the start of the year:Originally it was listed at 12000 Yen, but I managed to snag it for less than half!

The other nihongami book I bought a while ago is:
Not quite sure what this one contains, but I'm always excited to expand my book collection.

Of course this is the most amazing book regarding the maiko ensemble, including a step-by-step guide on the hairstyles, applying make-up, getting dressed and a comprehensive photo guide on accessories.
Admittedly it is a bit expensive, it is on ebay and occasionally is on YJA for a slightly cheaper price. I would recommend buying this if you can find it in your budget, or maybe make it a few birthday+christmas presents from the family XD.

Anyone know when Katsuno from Gion Kobu was a maiko?
I've just purchased a miyako odori that has her as a maiko but didn't have a date on it.
I know she's a geiko in my 1990 miyako odori so it must be some time in the 80's.
She is a stunning geiko tho,I'm hoping that there are plenty of photos of her in her maiko time in the odori programme!

In other exciting news I received my new maiko hiki in the post today!!!
Neither of the photos of it actually capture the colour of it properly.
All the camera batteries are flat atm, but I'll charge them up and try to capture teh colour right.
It is honestly a stunning piece!

I love how the maple leaves fade from green, to pale yellow and the bright orange ones.
The maple leaves and kiku on the skirt are huge!
Then there are tiny details on the skirt as well.
I'll try to get some more detailed photos cuz you can't see what designs are on the skirt in the photos.
I don't suppose anyone's seen a photo or a postcard or a maiko wearing it?
Even a faiko (someone dressing as a maiko from a henshin studio) would be cool.
The seller said they bought it 4 or 5 years ago so I don't expect to find a photo of Mamechiho wearing it XD

I've also tried out my gel nail kit on my toes.
I got a black base and my left foot and red design and my right foot has yellow design.
I went crazy buying rhinestones, fimo fruits and sparkly things!
I'll try to get a photo of them up too, I'm reasonably happy with them.
I like them cuz they're fun :)

I also started my floristry course this week!
That was really good, I've got a (what I think) is a really great teacher, lots of experience, passionate and enthusiastic about it and its contagious!

In the next few days I should have up the Miyako odori for 1996 and 2007 and some little booklet thing about Kyoto from the 50's. *shrugs* I scanned the photos of the maiko and geiko I thought were interesting to look at

Miyako odori- 1951, 1956, 1958

2010-07-20T22:10:00.006+10:00

Wow, I've almost got the whole 50's era of the Miyako odori.
Hmmm, perhaps not...
The only other era that I have that is almost complete would be the 90's (for miyako and kamogawa)
I forgot to post these when I first uploaded them to Flickr but here they are now:
1951:
1956:
1958:

It might be a few more days before I get anything else up.
I've got some postcards, a booklet thing which I don't really know what it is but it has pretty pictures, miyako odori 1996 and 2007.

Vintage maiko postcards.

2010-07-15T22:54:00.006+10:00

I figured out the correct date for the mystery Aki no Kamogawa odori and fixed the miyako odori dates that I was unsure about, all good now :)

Today's goodies are vintage maiko postcards:

Here

And here

Up next I have heaps of Miyako odori: 1951, 1956, 1958, 1996, 2007.

Aki no Kamogawa odori and new maiko hikizuri!

2010-07-14T20:09:00.006+10:00

This is my mystery Aki no Kamogawa odori.

I think it is sometime in the 50's and must be after 1952 because '52 was the first Aki no Kamogawa.
Any idea?
See the set here!

I was also lucky enough to purchase this maiko hikizuri today:

Meh you say?
Well you might know it better as this hiki:

Just different seller photos from different angles and someone used the flash on the camera... which explains the colour difference.
But same kimono :)
I'm very happy to get it. I've seen this photo floating around the net for years and have always admired it so I'm very proud to have it in my collection :)

66th Kamogawa odori-1949

2010-07-13T18:31:00.008+10:00

Well I think its from 1949, its definitely the 66th Kamo odori.

See the set here
You can name the maiko and geiko if you want because they didn't have the English written name.
This is in poor condition, the cover have come completely off and the seem is in bad nick. Poor thing.

Up next is an unidentified Aki no Kamogawa odori.
No idea.
Then postcards and then I've got some Miyako odori to put up.

I also need to get some red dye for my maiko han'eri project.
I received the white han'eri the other day, two seem to be chirimen fabric and the other three seem to be shibori fabric... I wonder how dying and embroidery will go on the shibori ones?
I'll let you know how that turns out...

Oh, and Jonathan got eliminated from Masterchef :'( He was my favourite.

166th Kamogawa odori-2003

2010-07-12T22:05:00.004+10:00

see the set here on Fickr

I'll be uploading more in the next few days, but I'm not sure what years they will be.
With the kamo odori they seemed to have stopped producing two programmes in 1999 (according to my calculations).
I have a 66th Kamo odori.
First kamo odori was in 1871.
I don't know when they started producing two programmes a year.
So assuming they did one a year that would make the 66th from 1937...
If its 66th kamo odori is the 23rd odori in the Showa period that makes it in 1949...
So I'm gonna call the 66th Kamo of the year 1949.
So perhaps what I think is the 109th/1952 kamo odori isn't actually the correct year...
Make sense to anyone?

I have a Aki no Kamogawa that I honestly I know idea when it is, I can recognize the kanji for Showa period and the numbers 6 and 11.
I have a Miyako odori from 1958 coming up soon!
I didn't know when it was from but I've just learned to look at what year of the emperor it is. That doesn't sound right. Showa 32 is 1958. Makes so much sense to me now!
And postcards as well are on their way.

how about that-it's Thursday again!

2010-07-08T18:06:00.003+10:00

I've been busy at work and being sick :( plus I didn't have anything new to share so that's why I've been quiet so far.

I should *hopefully* be receiving my package from Crescent Shop tomorrow!!!
Which will include some postcards and a few what I suspect are odori programmes and some books, odori dvds and my white han'eri so I can get started on doing my own maiko han'eri.

Anyone want maiko okobo?

I've also ordered some acrylic powders to play with for my gel nails and I found a few nail blogs that are giving me heaps of inspiration to get started :)

Nothing else exciting to say, but I'll have stuff up in the next few days if my package is at the post office!!!

Its Thursday.

2010-07-01T21:01:00.009+10:00

I lack creativity when it comes to making up titles unless I've got something specific to mention.

I did manage to snag one of Yamatoku's hakama+ko-furisode sets:

I got one where the furisode didn't just have the design on the shoulders because that looks so obviously for hakama for me, so this furi is a komon pattern so I can get more use out of it, I think I might wear this one to the Sakura Matsuri with this obi:

Opinions?
I'll keep an eye out for other obi that might work too.

I won 1 out of 3 of those things I was bidding on the other night, I don't really even know what they are but the translation said "Miyako practice"...?

Just another surprise for me :)
The other two things were a 1933 Miyako odori, in real patriotic spirit and the other was... Nope I don't know something about Gion Kobu and maiko lists?
Whoops, I forgot to list things on ebay this week but I'll try and get some stuff up next week.
I'm happy with the slow progress of selling of kimono, I need to clear some space -_-
I should be listing geta in a few weeks so stay tuned if you're interested.

I've also enrolled in a floristry course which should be interesting and I'm excited to get some Ikebana books because I don't know anything about ikebana but I enjoy bonsai so I imagine I'd like ikebana too

New wins

2010-06-28T20:27:00.007+10:00

So I've won what I think are some old odori programmes, but because I can't actually read Japanese I might not get what I'm expecting.
I can recognise kanji but just because it has the kanji for miyako odori in the title doesn't mean its a programme, it could be anything else just related to the miyako odori.
So what I have here are, according to the translation, odori programmes from the 1940's era, Miyako and Kamogawa...
Pics...
Miyako:

Kamogawa:

Also got a 1996 and 2007 Miyako odori programme:

Bidding on some other stuff too... But they finish at about 1.30 in the morning and I choose sleep so it'll be a nice or disappointing surprise when I get up later in the morning.

I haven't received anything from customs yet so I'm hoping that my hiki has slipped thru the cracks and I won't get taxed for it.
Just for reference sake my package was listed at 90,000 yen which is about $1150 AUD, perhaps I just got lucky :)

And after these auctions finish tonight I can't wait to get my things shipped from Crescent Shop! I'm bored without having something to scan and upload on Flickr...I've got heaps of odori programmes, some postcards and odori dvds that'll keep me occupied for a while.
Also will be some white han'eri that will be my test-dummies for trying to re-create my own maiko han'eri.

So expect lots of goodies in a fortnight or so!

Just because.

2010-06-24T18:55:00.005+10:00

Firstly, boys. Boy, singular actually. Stupid, mean, awful. Dickhead.
It's been an eventful day.
Damn my nature of assuming the best of people.

In other news...
I uploaded some more vintage maiko postcards on Flickr the other day but forgot to put them here: So here is one set . And here are some other, random postcards.

I mentioned before about wearing hakama to the sakura matsuri and I don't think its appropriate, however I still want to buy a ko-furisode and hakama set that Yamatoku have up atm.
I've got a few that I like so I need to narrow it down to one set, and I spose a backup set if I don't get the first one.

Political news:
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd resigned today and Australia has its first female prime minister.
Poor Kevvy, just watching the news and its sad.
I don't really give a ** about politics but I want my leader to have a good personality and I think Ruddy is funny.
I hope Julia does well.

I'm also bidding on some more odori programmes... I hope I get them, make today worthwhile.

If I'm busy doing something I can't mope about that boy, so my next project is trying to make my own maiko han'eri. What design do you think I should do?
I think a fan one would be an easy one to start with...
Here's a thread on TM about maiko han'eri, there's a thread for each district
Just for inspiration.
i'll get my sketch pad out...

Its Wednesday.

2010-06-23T23:18:00.004+10:00

Ok, so I did sell some more kimono this week, yay!
Again to another Aussie person, which is great :)
I sold the bamboo komon, Black sakura komon and that cute blue komon with flowers... I'll actually be a bit sad to see the blue one go, was a bit fond of it, but not enough to keep so I hope someone else enjoys it.

I'm not much of a girly-girl, nor am I a tom-boy... So it's a bit of a surprise that I've recently started liking nail art. Awesome. So I've bought a cheap gel nail kit off ebay and plan to practice on my toes.
Toes you say? Why not, oh I don't know, your fingernails?
I work in hospitality so pretty nails is a no-no.
So I'm *hopefully* gonna have funky as toes.
I'll let you know how that goes...

I bought a Kamogawa odori today. The 166th and the listing says that is the year 2003.
So my question is did they stop doing two (spring and autumn) dances?
I'm pretty sure they still do both but it sounds like they stopped producing the autumn odori programme?
That's just my speculation, so if you do actually know I'd love to know :)

Hiki arrives and another win.

2010-06-22T12:52:00.008+10:00

My waterlily hiki arrived yesterday!
She's beautiful and with only a few, light marks of make-up around the wrists and a few yuzen blotches but she's in great condition.
A little card also came with it but I can't read it so I wonder if you know what it says:

There is also a tag o the hiki, can anyone read that too?
Seen here in my Flickr stream

Sorry for the bad photos... But you should be able to see the writing clear-ish-ly. Hopefully...
I haven't received anything from customs about paying an importation tax yet... Hopefully I don't get one but it should come in the mail in a week or so I'd imagine.

I also did actually win that mystery Miyako odori from the other day.
Because i was using JAC and last time I used them the bidding ID was JAC*something* I expected it to be the same again but it was kon*something* this time so I got all confused, but I won it!
How bout that... It surprised me greatly cuz I honestly didn't think I got it... Anyway...

Yamatoku has heaps of ko-fursode on ebay atm.
I honestly don't know anything about wearing hakama but they totally rock my socks especially when they are worn with riding boots, Meiji era school girl is a great look.
So in the back of my head I've been starting to put together this years Sakura Matsuri festival outfit, first off it was this pale green houmongi in all shibori, then there was this purple all shibori furisode and now I'm thinking could I wear hakama and ko-furisode?
Last year there were some girls in hakama doing... forgive my ignorance but martial arts doesn't float my boat so I don't pay any attention.
I really only know of girls wearing hakama for graduation and for performances of whatever description so is it ok to just wear anything? Is the a Time, Place, Occasion rule for wearing hakama?
I'll go and see what info I can find, not that they were many people there last year wearing kimono, mostly yukata and people in hakama doing... kendo? Something...
The Sakura Matsuri festival is located in Cowra, NSW and I plan on going this year as well so if you're in NSW, somewhere near by its a great day and I might see you there :)

Movies and what's new.

2010-06-20T19:42:00.003+10:00

Went to the movies last night and saw Prince of Persia last night.
I honestly wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I did.
Usually action movies aren't my thing, but I like knife throwing rather than bullets so it suited me fine.
What I really want to see is Get him to the Greek. Looks funny as.
I also really want to see Toy Story 3...
Which is funny in itself because about a year or two ago I didn't like any of these main-stream, pop culture, dumb movies, I stuck mainly towards quirky, international films.
Speaking of quirky international films I have seen a few more lately.
Nathalie...
I've seen this a few times, not by design tho, it just seems to be on.
I can't say its the best film I've ever seen, good example of the realities of love, not always black and white.
4months, 3 weeks and 2 days
Hmmm, not that exciting...
7 virgins
I only saw the beginning half of this...
A friend of mine
This was one of the Daniel Bruhl movies that I mentioned before.Good movie.
Black book
I quite like this.
Curse of the golden flower
One of my favourite movies.
Eight miles high
Interesting.
Ferpect crime
I think I've seen it.....
Four stars
I really liked this one, it was funny and a fun film.
I served the King of England
Aww, poor guy, always trying to hard to be a part of a group that he'll never get into.

Enough of that...
I didn't win any of my shibori kimono.
Again I'm bidding on a Miyako odori programme, undated again... Just to make things easy for me...
But because another Crescent Shop member has bid on it I can't bid on it using Crescent Shop, so when that happens I use Japan Auction Center and it hasn't registered my bid yet... What? How does that happen?
I'm not happy. I've only used JAC once before and I didn't have any trouble with it and that was for my sha maiko hiki so there was more money than the odori programme.
Why hasn't it gone thru? My bid is more than what the auction is at now, I don't understand why its not working...
I'll stop my whinging now...

Damn my crappy small-town post office not being open on Saturdays...
I was tracking my water lily hiki thru the post and it said it'd reached my post office on Friday, so Friday after work I rush down the street to get it... Alas... It hadn't been put in my box so I'm eagerly waiting for tomorrow so I can check my post office box after work... Yay!

I don't have anything else to say...

Its wet today.

2010-06-17T10:51:00.005+10:00

So I'm staying inside in front of the fire.

I went to Zumba again yesterday and nothing hurts today, yay!
They were talking about doing two classes a night but we wouldn't be able to make both classes, we can barley make the one!
There's just a bit of traveling involved.
Ok, picture my town in the center, then off to the left (an hour away) is orange.On the right side of my town is Cowra (30mins and where the classes are) my friend works in Orange, finishes at 4.30, has got to drive home, change and do other little jobs before she can leave so we're lucky if we get there on 6 (usually a bit after)
So when the instructure said they'd do two classes we were hoping for a 6pm and a 7pm class, just to make things easier, instead they made it a 5pm and 6pm classes -_-
Not happy Jan.

Whats else...
Searching YJA and I found this cute little kanzashi, I don't know if its trying to represent a real flower or what.
It actually reminds me of the time I tried to make a fuchsia kanzashi

Oh my Gosh!!!
I love this website ikuokaya! That link will take you to the kanzashi page.
They do have heaps of other stuff and that's probably where I'll buy a maiko obijime and obiage from.
But, kanzashi, these are available for the month of June:

They are all amazing.
Last month for May they had an amazing pink wisteria up... for $540USD... Which would've easily been almost $700AUD once you convert the currency and add the international postage *cries*
They also have these cute pinwheel kanzashi towards the bottom of the page, I'd really like to get them too, I think they'd be really cute to wear with yafuku as well as kimono.
Next month they should *hopefully* have pampass grass up!!!
Here's an example of pampass grass kanzashi for maiko
I bet they'd cost an arm and a leg too. *le sigh*
I think I'll ask Crescent shop for a quote on the maiko kanzashi for this month, they should get back to me in a few days.

Nope, they got back to me today, which is really fast.
Anyway, those cute little umbrellas are 13400 Yen and those flowers are 10500Yen and you can choose a colour if you'd like.
I didn't get a quote for the combs tho, but the red maiko comb looks easy enough to re-create.
Looks like the comb is covered with red chirimen fabric (?) then wrapped with silver thread and the tsumami petals and fan are just placed on top. Easy.
I even have a comb I could try it on... It was originally covered with tsumami petals but they were really old,dirty and one side looked like the tsmami had been shaved off so I pulled everything off it months ago, intent on re-doing the whole thing but I go out of my kanzashi kick so it never happened.

Kimono and obi for sale, again.

2010-06-16T16:01:00.003+10:00

Ume haori

Bamboo komon

Black sakura komon

Blue komon

Brown kiku obi

Navy nagoya obi

Purple swirl obi

Yeah, some familiar things.
I've got a few more things in the "I don't like these anymore pile" then its into the "too dirty to wear, best for crafts" pile then possibly into the "I can't decide whether I like these anymore" pile, that's gonna be tricky.

Maiko postcards from 2009

2010-06-15T22:10:00.004+10:00

This set of postcards are from the 2009 Kyo odori programme of the Miyagawacho district, which is my favourite.

So here is the set of postcards
And here is the 2009 Kyo odori

It's really nice to see the colour version of the maiko photos.

In other, terribly exciting news:
I sold the kurotomesode and 2 piece yukata obi from last week's ebay listing, yay!
I think they're going to a good home in Melbourne :) and its nice to know there's some more people in Australia that wear kimono, spreading the love!

I made a caramel slice topped with chocolate today because I had the-most-amazing caramel slice a few weeks ago and have been addicted to them ever since.
I wasn't too happy with the one I made, the base didn't work, the caramel didn't taste right and didn't set and the chocolate topping was too thick :(
Oh well...

Details.

2010-06-13T23:09:00.001+10:00

Now that I actually own a real maiko han'eri I'm going to give embroidering my own a shot.
I've just bought some white han eri off YJA to try with.
Honestly seems simple enough.
On closer inspection the gold thread seems to be flat gold paper.
I don't know what it is.
I bought some gold thread stuff from Ryu months ago, can't remember what they called it but it's nice and shiny and should do the job fine.

I tried to get some detailed photos on Flickr with measurements if anyone else wants to give it a try too.

I've finally taken the plunge and will get my water lily hikizuri shipped from Crescent Shop.
I've been putting it off for a few weeks because with Australian customs/importing place if the value of the item is over $1000 then you get charged a fee or tax or whatever they want to call it.
My co-worker got me some info about it, because he buys guitar off YJA and they sometimes cost over a grand he guesses the fee will be about $250 so I let it at Crescent shop for a few weeks to put aside money for that.
I can't wait to get it!
Hopefully it should be here in about 2 weeks if it doesn't get caught up in customs

Zumba and bidding opponent on YJA.

2010-06-09T23:01:00.002+10:00

Myself and two of my friends went to our first Zumba dance class in the neighbouring town.
Oh my Gosh... my calf muscles don't thank me.
Perhaps it was just the style of the teacher but the workout was really only on the legs, not much work was done on the core or upper body.
Then again I haven't done any physical exercise since high school... so I'll be going back next week and hopefully in a few weeks I won't ache so much.

I swear everytime I bid on an odori programme on YJA I come up against this one person.
Here's my list on how I feel about this:
a) Pissed off cuz I really wanted that one!
b) thankful that clearly they go to a collector ( i hope)
c) wanting some way to contact this person so I can say I want X odori programme so let me have it, please (highly unlikely)
*sigh*
I bring this up because right now I'm bidding on some odori programmes and this person is also bidding...
They are two Miyako odori. They don't have dates tho.
The one I got cheap (cheapish) look like it may be 60's?
The other one looks similar to a 40's one I missed out on a few months ago but that's only a hunch.
Grrr. The other person just outbidded me on the-what-i-think-is-from-the-40's programme, and without a date I'm going to let it go.
There's an awesome all shibori furisode on ebay atm and apart from hikizuri I haven't bought any kimono or obi in months.
I'm hoping to spoil myself with an all shibori some time this year.
I haven't bought any normal, wearable kimono and want to get my wearing kimono wardrobe in good quality.

Anyway, back to the odori programmes:
Whenever I lose an auction I make sure to save the photo of the cover of the programme, I'm thinking, with permission of some people, trying to compile a list of District, year, and the cover photo of each programme so if someone comes across an auction that doesn't have the programme dating ( like i have above) they might be able to track the year.
Just an idea, plus it'd be interesting looking at how the cover art evolves over the years.

Anyway, I must be off to bed or I'll be very cranky tomorrow.

Maiko ro han'eri

2010-06-08T21:34:00.005+10:00

So that pretty little decorative collar that maiko wear under their kimono are rare and expensive... but I was lucky enough to get my hands on one, used but I'm not complaining.
Ro is a summer fabric, my favourite fabric for kimono in fact, I just love the feeling and the coolness of it.
So this should go pretty well with my sha maiko hikizuri.
Disappointing that the week I bought my water lily hikizuri a ro maiko darari obi was listed on ebay, but I couldn't buy both items.
So here is my pretty collar and some close up photos, apologies for my crappy photography skillz.

What I found dissappointing about this was the gold flecks through the red- I thought they were woven into the fabric, but hopefully you should see in the photos the gold flecks are just sewn on. If I'd known that I would've embroidered my own ages ago.
I expected the Karyūkai to be extremely lavish and want the best, no offense or anything but just embroidering the gold flecks seems lazy, I honestly would've thought weaving the gold thread through the red fabric would be more extravagant.

If you would like to buy a new maiko han'eri or obiage or obijime then please check out this site.
Next on my list are darari obi, obijime and obiage.

More kimono for sale.

2010-06-07T13:30:00.006+10:00

Dark green fukuro obi:

Here

Green/red michiyuki:

Here

2 piece yukata obi:

Here

Kurotomesode with pine:

Here

A long movie list.

2010-06-01T21:18:00.003+10:00

I racked my brain, coincidentally remembered and went thru cupboards to look at recorded tapes to get some more movies that i've seen to add to my major list.
Here we go:
Time out
Nice little French film.
Blue Gate Crossing.
A Chinese film about the difficulties of knowing your sexualitly when still at High School.
The Weakness of the Bolshevik
It doesn't have a happy ending.
Hana and Alice.
Hmm, was a long time ago I watched this...
The Kite.
Again, a long time ago. I did like this one tho.
Borderline.
About a young woman dealing with her personality disorder.
Shadowless sword.
Yeah, liked that one.
One missed call.
A little Japanese horror for you folks outs there...
I don't do horror BTW...
To specify, I don't like blood and gore, I don't really like the supernatural stuff cuz I think a ghost will get me when I sleep, so if the movies involves those two things I call it horror.
13 Tzameti
This is not a happy movie.
Filmed in black and white if I remember right, its grim but I found it amazing.
He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not
I do seem to enjoy dark movies.
This one is about a mentally ill girl who forms an obsession over this guy.
Very clever film and stars the beautiful Audrey Tautou.
Crónicas
Meh.
Dragon Tiger Gate
Can't remember it honestly. Kung-fu.
Shadows of Time
Bittersweet ending. Think Slumdog millionaire but without the happy ending for everyone.
Nobody knows.
I balled my eyes out.
Only reading about it on Wiki now, I didn't realise it was based on a true story.
That's horrible.
The King.
A fantastic example why people should track their family tree.
Reprise
Anoter mentally troubled movie. I didn't get the ending. I don't knwo if something got lost in translation or what...
The eye
Horror...
Italian for Beginners
Sweet movie.
Dear Frankie.
Lovely movie, heart warming and all that jazz.
Manual of Love.
Sweet.
One last dance.
Great moive. Go and see it.
Who is an assassin's easiest and hardest target? Themselves. Beautiful.
One stays, the other leaves.
The grass is always greener on the other side kinda movie. I liked it.
Special escort.
Lol! Such a funny movie. Go and see it.
You bet your life.
I think i only watched the first half... or I just can't remember the ending...

Right, that's all I got for the moment.

selling kimono, plants and dvds!

2010-05-31T16:18:00.003+10:00

*plug*

If it just so happens that you were browsing my kimono collection on Flickr ...
My flickr page ...
and thought "wow, I'd like to own that one" maybe you can.
I'm going to sell off some kimono, obi, vintage maiko postcards, odori programmes and etc in the next few weeks so please check it out.

All items end on the 7th of June.

Check out my things for sale here

In other news:
I was out in my little garden today.
Those wisteria seedlings that I mention at the start of this blog and going quite well now. I did lose a few but have still got about 10 left.
All my deciduous trees are starting to lose their yellow leaves.
My chrysanthemums (kiku) are starting to flower. They were a bit late actually, usually they flower in early May for Mother's day but all the chrysanthemum plants were late to flower this season.
My Ginkgo has lost all its leaves but they are fresh, news ones at the base of the tree... which is odd.
My crepe myrtle has a flush of new growth on it too.
*Just to note, I'm in the Southern Hemisphere so its late Autumn, first day of Winter tomorrow!*
So that's why its odd for my plants to be having new shoots...

I've bought some dvds lately.
What I think is the 2007 Kyo odori?
The seller just said "its 2 or 3 years old". I'm not concerned either way, my favourite Geiko Kikutsuru-san would be around, and that's really why i bought it.

I also bought the dvd of last years Miyako-No-Nigiwai!
As noted in my post abut Maiko hikizuri my latest hikizuri was worn by a maiko when dancing at this performance so I bought it for that reason.
I hope she's on the dvd wearing my kimono!

New additions.

2010-05-27T17:34:00.002+10:00

My niece was born on Monday the 24th.
Little Pepper. I'm going to call her Peppermint tho. Much nicer in my opinion.
She looks so much like her father.
I went down to spend a few days with them and I'll get another week off work in a month or so, to give my sis enough time to get used to it all.

The night before i was supposed to leave to visit them ( and get up early to drive -_-) I watched a car racing movie.
Honestly I quite like racing movies. I like Top Gear (UK and Aus versions) I can't tell you anything about cars but I enjoy it all the same.
Initial D was the movie.

My maiko hikizuri.

2010-05-24T13:53:00.009+10:00

A maiko is an apprentice Geisha ( or Geiko which is the Kyoto dialect) from Kyoto and are frequently featured on tourism adverts.
Maiko wear long sleeved kimono called "furisode" that trail on the ground like the higher class women would wear back in the day called "hikizuri" or "susohiki" basically dragging hem.

Here is my collection of maiko hikizuri.
My first one that I purchased is one that is from the 1930's or Early Showa era.
It is black with 5 crests which makes it formal, it has designs of matsu (pine) and tsuru (crane) and was probably worn for new years celebrations. It is a winter piece.
I have found photos of this particular kimono being used at a maiko henshin studio (i.e. a place where you can dress up as a maiko,geiko,oiran,samurai, shichi-go-san etc)
The fact that its so old and has been used quite a lot explains why the fabric is in such fragile condition.

My 2nd hikizuri is meant for less formal engagements, it has an all over pattern (komon) and features abstract butterflies and grass motifs. This would be a transitional piece going between lined spring kimono to summer kimono. This hikizuri is "hitoe" or unlined.

My 3rd one is a summer piece made from "sha" fabric, which is an open weave to help cool the wearer down.
This would be a semi-formal piece.
The body is a pale blue featuring "hagi" or bush clover motif in purple, pampass grass in orange and yellow and its very difficult to see in the photos but tiny little wisteria bunches.
The idea with maiko and geiko hikizuri is that they are bold from afar but have fine details that you appreciate when you are closer to them.

And my new baby that I won a couple of weeks ago is a stunning, drool-worthy piece!!!
I found that maiko Fukuhina-san wore this kimono for last years Miyako no nigiwai performance (all geiko districts come together to perform dances each year under this name) so i was stoked to find it actually being worn by a real maiko!!!
The body is an amazing deep purple with blue and light purple hydrangea motifs on the shoulders.
The sleeves and hem are a pale blue with an amazing water lily motif.
I haven't received it in the post yet but i can't wait!

Julie and Julia

2010-05-10T21:29:00.002+10:00

So i watched this the other day.
Clearly its got me inspired to start this whole blogging thing again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_and_Julia
As someone who works in the hospitality industry it was great to watch from that aspect (technical) and but also very entertaining to watch as a no brainer.
I understood how obsessive Julia was about it, I get incredibly obsessive about my kimono sometimes and my wisteria!!!
It was good, funny, you should see it if you haven't already.

Originally what i wanted to do with this blog was to have a list of all the foreign films I've watched for personal reference.
I haven't been doing a very good job of this so I'll chuck some movies that i can remember up.

C.R.A.Z.Y.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.R.A.Z.Y.
Wikipedia does a better summary than I do.
I quite liked this one, i found all the relationships working together/against each other interesting to watch.

Goodbye Lenin!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Bye,_Lenin!
This is a great movie!
Many, many years ago I saw a single scene from this movie and it stuck with me for the next 3 or so years it took for me to actually see this movie in whole.
It was the scene where he meets his half siblings and they ask why he calls the cosmonauts... or some thing along those lines and he's so awkward around those kids.
I have non-purposefully seen a few of Daniel Bruhl's movies and I generally like them.

Love in thoughts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_in_Thoughts
Is another of his. Bit dark this one, so if you prefer lighter movies this probably isn't for you.Great 20's fashion in it too.

A friend of mine:
Tho wikipedia doesn't have a page for that one yet and it was a while ago that i saw it.
Two friends, one (Bruhl) who must be a white collar worker of some description goes "undercover" and meets this guy (whoever the other guy is, sorry I don't know!) who works as a.. i dunno... keeping rich guys cars in storage while they're away overseas, and then they go joy-riding.
Then Bruhl's character falls for his friend's girlfriend and then i can't remember the ending...
All i can really remember from the movie is his friend has a car that goes as fast backwards as it can go forwards.

Inglourious Bastards:
Eeek. Did not like this. Re-wrote history, was gruesome and just wasn't good.
The secondary plot of Bruhl's character falling for a Jewish girl masquerading as a French girl and trying to woo her was a much better plot line.
I found the "3 whiskeys" the English and German way an interesting thing. Its one of those cultural things that you probably wouldn't find in a book, its just something known.
Like how in Harry Potter those that are born into magical familys' just know things (like the legend of the hallows) and the muggleborns have to learn those things but they aren't in books.

Julietta:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248123/
I know this doesn't get the best rap, no, the plot isn't great but i still like it.

Run Lola Run:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_lola_run
I watched this in art class for the different array of camera angles.
I liked the "what-ifs" "what could've beens" and etc that it showed.

I watched a good martial arts one the other week too... Just can't remember the name...
I love on kung fu movies where they'll put the English voices on the people and the lips look funny, i LOL about it all the time.

Kimono arrived!

2009-09-11T22:23:00.004+10:00

So my wisteria kimono arrived and its the beautiful purple! i know it looks blue in the photos bellow but really its a deep, rich purple.
I think i'll see if i can let the sleeves out and make them longer cuz there seems to be excess fabric sewn in.
I think i'll do a demo dressing next week, I've got this crimson ro obi with cream, gold and blue coloured maple leaves so paired together it should be a very strong, vibrant outfit! ( or so i hope)
I also got a 60's inspired shift dress in bold sky blue and deep purple, don't know if i really like it or what, maybe when i tan up a bit.
I've got some chilli seeds growing at the moment, they're doing really well.
My wisteria seedlings got potted up outside last week, before i got sick and spent a few days in bed.
so all shoud be good by next week i hope

Kimono fun! or will be when they arrive in the mail

2009-08-30T22:30:00.005+10:00

So the cherry blossom festival season is almost here!
now i just need something to wear, so being a little obsessed with wisteria it was my first choice.
i wasn't gonna get into the politics of wearing sakura themed kimono to the festival not to mention i don't really like sakura as a motif anyway, so cliche.

so i bought a wisteria kimono, stylized wisteria mind you.

and cuz they were on ebay i bought a few more sets of kitsuke items, can never have enough of these things you know.

i was really keen to get these cuz it looks like a summer obi-ita, eri-shin, a lower back padding which i need (i don't generally use padding but i think this'll be a great improvment) that obi tying device and that obi clip thing (have no idea of their proper names tho)
so i'm looking forward to dressing with my new gadgets, hopefully it'l make the process a lot better!

Panna Cotta

2009-08-26T13:44:00.003+10:00

So I'm doing a traineeship in hospitality right?
so, this is my first panna cotta- its orange with a choc sauce, so jaffa flavours.
I was worried about the liquid to gelatine ratio but all went good, so easy for such a lovely dessert!
And the choc sauce has a texture a bit like choc mousse.

Blogging virgin

2009-08-25T21:10:00.003+10:00

Exactly as the title states, this is my first time, go gently on me.

Should i be random? why not.
I swear i literally just pulled a muscle in my shoulder, right then! while waiting for my slow internet to do something, takes about 5mins a page. Slight exaggeration. God i love spell check, makes the world as easier place, except when its on the mobile, then it causes some headaches for me- i can't spell for shit.

so besides randomness this'll be about my kimono, my love for growing plants and things i make. i guess there'll be the odd movie review cuz i like to watch SBS movies. Whatever your perception on that is, I'll guess its the standard "SBS are porn movies" well, slightly. Most involve sex in some form, but then again, so do Hollywood films.

That being said there's a movie on right now! called the "manual of love" its good, check it out at some point.

So, here's what i did today:
i sanded she-oak seeds and made beads out of them, they have this bee-hive type pattern on them when sanded down.
I either need to sand them more finely or use wood wax on them cuz their a but rough, but i'm happy enough.

And my wisteria seeds! these are about 2 weeks old (i think, don't really remember)
my plan for these are the grow them for a year then next year try my hand at grafting using these as rootstocks. Now i've never done any grafting before so it'll be interesting. But a friend gave me a bag of wisteria pods so i have plently to practice on!
I'm also thinking of trying the technique where seedlings are straped/molded together over a frame to fuse together. don't know the technical term bit that's the dumbed-down version.
and no, i don't care if it won't flower for 20yrs cuz i have bought grafted wisteria and have tried hardwood cuttings all thru this winter and hoping some will strike so i will not be short of wisteria, quite the opposite hopefully!