Odori program covers project

Now this is something I've wanted to do for years now!
And I finally did!
It's probably not the most polished, pretty version that could be made but I'm happy enough with it.

So basically what I've done (mind you at this stage its only what is in my personal collection, I will be contacting some other collectors to see if they would like to contribute later) is made a chart of each Odori cover for the 5 Kyoto districts.

So if you come across an odori program for sale but it doesn't have a date listed then, provided myself or one of the other contributors has it, you'll be able to look it up, recognize the cover art and now you'll know its 1963 Kamogawa ( for example)

I had the split each district up into 50 year blocks.
So Miyako and Kamogawa odori will have 1910-1950, 1950-2000 and 2000 to present.
The other three districts will just have 1950-2000 and 2000 to present.

Oh, and Kamogawa was so much fun in the 1950-2000 block... You know, because they had both a spring and an autumn dance...........

Anyway.
Sorry I can't add the photos because they are too large so I've just linked them to my Flickr account.

Miyako:
1910-1950
1950-2000
2000 to Present

Kamogawa;
1910-1950
1950-2000
2000 to Present

Kyo:
1950-2000
2000 to Present

Gion:
1950-2000
2000 to Present

Kitano:
1950-2000
2000 to Present

I know a bunch of links doesn't look that exciting but have a look if you're curious, it is actually pretty interesting.

Kitano Odori uploads and Kimono Remake #1

I've recently uploaded Kitano Odori from 1982-1989 on my Flickr.
In those Kitano are some of the maiko hikizuri that were recently up for auction on YJA a few weeks ago, just as a point of interest to anyone, I found them interesting because on the TM forums members had found those hiki being worn by Ume- maiko however in the Odori Programmes they are worn by Katsu- maiko so either they had two name lines or what, I don't know but it adds an extra dimension into the mystery.

Another project I've been looking at is turning kimono into dresses, skirts, coats etc and there's a great thread on IG forums about it Here.
As much as I love kimono sometimes its just not practicable to wear them so I really liked this idea for everyday wearing.

So here's what I came up with:

A very simple skirt, I was practising shirring so that's why the rest of it is basic. It turned out ok, but its not tight enough around my waist though, so I don't know if I need to change the thread tension or whether I should've used only three panel rather than four. Or used five panels but gather them a lot more so it flows more.
Either way, its ok but not great. I wasn't going to wear it outside the house anyway because the fabric is badly stained by grease it looks like. I tried washing the fabric before I sewed it up but I couldn't get rid of all the stains.

Here's the original kimono:

Sooo....that's what I did today.
I used one body panel, cut into four equal part, so I still have some fabric left to work with.
Thoughts?

Etsy listings- Odori programs

So its been about a week since I opened the Etsy shop and its going rather well I think.
I was worried that because it isn't as popular as eBay that it would take a while to sell things but I've already sold a couple of things so I think its all good :)

Today I listed all the pre-1993 odori programs for sale to my Etsy Shop, that just leaves the 2008 and 1994 Miyako odori not on Etsy but is still available through my Flickr.

Miyako Odori:

Left coloumn:
Miyako 1986 $16.50 Good condition, cover has some general wear and creases but still very good.
Miyako 1971 $42.50 Fragile conditon, spine is coming apart, cover has some marks.
Miyako 1992 $16.50 Small marks on covers, spine in good condition.
Miyako 1931 $47.50 Fragile condition, spine coming apart, inside pages have age spots and colour.

Right hand coloumn:
Miyako 1983 $16.50 Good condition, cover has creases and general wear.
Miyako 2008 $16.50 Good condition, cover does and some creases and general wear.
Miyako 1994 $16.50 Small scuffs on covers, otherwise good.
Miyako 1933 $47.50 Fragile condition, spine coming apart, inside pages have age spots and coloured.

Kyo 1951 $37.50 fragile condition. Spine is fraying, small marks and age spots on covers.

Kitano 1992 $16.50 Small marks on covers but otherwise good condition.

Top row:
Kamogawa 1966
Kamogawa 1987
Kamogawa 1986

Second row:
Kamogawa 1988
Kamogawa 1986
Kamogawa 1958

All Kamogawa odori are $16.50 in good condition, cover has general wear and creases.

I will be adding more kimono and obi soon, as well as more maiko/geiko photo books :)

Kanzashi and Odori programmes for sale.

I'm in the process of having a very hard look at my entire kimono collection and selling the majority of them...

And all the other bits and pieces I've collected over the years, I've been a bit slack and haven't uploaded photos of everything to Flickr but I am now...

Today I've got odori programmes and kanzashi for sale on my Flickr, if they don't sell in a few months I'll list them on eBay

Here's my Flickr folder with things for sale

Wedding kanzashi I think $8

Pair of plastic kanzashi with flowers.

Has some slight scratches, please see photos.

Good condition otherwise.

$15 for the pair.

Pair of kanzashi with diamonties.
Made of fabric coated in plastic.
$10

Pair of red and black kanzashi.
Good condition, plastic.
$10.

Pair of kanzashi.
Good condition, plastic.
One is tortoise shell like with painted flowers, other is glittery.
$15.

Pair of kanzashi made of plastic.
Good condition, $15.

Pair of kanzashi made of plastic.
Good condition, $15.

Miyako Odori:

Left coloumn:
Miyako 1986 $15 Good condition, cover has some general wear and creases but still very good.
Miyako 1971 $40 Fragile conditon, spine is coming apart, cover has some marks.
Miyako 1992 $15 Small marks on covers, spine in good condition.
Miyako 1931 $45 Fragile condition, spine coming apart, inside pages have age spots and colour.

Right hand coloumn:
Miyako 1983 $15 Good condition, cover has creases and general wear.
Miyako 2008 $15 Good condition, cover does and some creases and general wear.
Miyako 1994 $15 Small scuffs on covers, otherwise good.
Miyako 1933 $45 Fragile condition, spine coming apart, inside pages have age spots and coloured.

Kyo, Kitano odori and Kabuki:

Clockwise:

Kyo 1951 $35 fragile condition. Spine is fraying, small marks and age spots on covers.

Kaomise Kabuki 1961 $5 good condition, cover has general wear and creases.

Kitano 1992 $15 Small marks on covers but otherwise good condition.

Kamogawa odori:

Top row:
Kamogawa 1966
Kamogawa 1987
Kamogawa 1986

Second row:
Kamogawa 1988
Kamogawa 1986
Kamogawa 1958

All Kamogawa odori are $15 in good condition, cover has general wear and creases.

Please contact me via this blog, on my Flickr page, on the Immortal Geisha or Tsuruko Maiko forums if you are interested in anything, thankyou!

Scans and Biyosugata!

Trying to knuckle down and scan more goodies in!

I finally grew enough balls to scan my 1913 Miyako odori, I've been putting it off for best part of half a year but its done now!

Have also done 1926 Miyako and 1929 Kamogawa and some lovely old (Taisho) and vinatge (60's) postcards.

I've got a 1964 (I think) Miyako and three 1950's Kyo odori to scan and edit then share with everyone!

A couple of weeks ago I picked up about half of my kimono collection Yay!!!

Its also Immortal Geisha's 10th year anniversary this year and I've been wanting to dress in my IG coloured kimono with my new lotus obi to celebrate:

I thought I'd try using my Biyosugata out just to tie a normal taiko..... Well it sucked! I haven't used a Biyo before so I guess it was going to be difficult the first time anyway but I just couldn't get the hang of it!

I went and read the IG thread of how to use a Biyosugata and think I picked up a few hints, I'll hopefully try again in a few days with pictures... Maybe...

I also am going to take new photos of all my kimono stuffs, I started with my maiko hikizuri with pine and crane design:

See more photos here

I haven't really shared any of my recent purchases lately but I do have a few, most excitedly I won three massive lots of odori programs a few weeks ago:

WOOHOO! It'll be a couple of months probably before I scan/uploads these but I just wanted to share :)