Happy 2012 everyone!

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

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

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!

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!!!

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

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!

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!