Defining styles: Arabesque

I had one of those slap-upside-the-head moments a few days ago while reading through a magazine on mid-century architecture. Looking at a page of beautiful gardens, there was an ornament described as being “Arabesque” and resembling something distinctly Arabic in design. Entirely logical, you might say, but to me, “Arabesque” has always meant either a [...]

Read Full Post »

October news

The weather is cooler, leaves are starting to turn, and I’m still catching up with all the photos I have to edit of new stock, vintage fabrics, and more kimono than you could shake a stick at (but why would you?). To keep things moving as we turn towards Autumn–and Halloween!–I’m offering free shipping on [...]

Read Full Post »

News, promotions, and pretty things

First, the Pretty Things: You know how I’m always asking for you readers to send me photos of items you make with the fabrics from my shop? It’s because I sincerely enjoy seeing what you make! Like it? I do. Kaz of Kaz Style is a talented stitcher from Japan, now living in Atlanta, Georgia. [...]

Read Full Post »

And the verdict is…

Cut, by a vote of 7 to 3. Thanks all for participating in the mini poll! The winner of the fabric pack is Lauren of ABC Rags. Congratulations, Lauren, let me know where you’d like me to send your fabrics and they will be on their way post haste. It’s been a year or so [...]

Read Full Post »

short informal poll

Just curious… before I take my seam ripper to these two silk meisen kimono, do you think I ought to keep them intact, or cut up to sell in pieces? They have been sitting on the shelf just a little too long for my liking and I’d like to move them, one way or another. [...]

Read Full Post »

Challenged

Earlier today a friend challenged me to stock a specific number of items in my shop by 2 a.m. (it’s after midnight as I write this). Occasionally I get stuck in a rut and crawl into a corner with a book and a pot of tea, getting absolutely nothing done for days on end. This [...]

Read Full Post »

Bundles are back

The ever-popular kimono scrap fabric bundles are back in in the shop. My stash practically exploded and spilled out across the studio floor over the weekend, prompting me to take notice of all the bits and pieces I’ve been collecting for years and not passing on to wily crafters like yourself. Last time I put [...]

Read Full Post »

Kimono fabric packs now in store

Finally! After all the sorting, ironing, bundling, photographing and editing (not to mention endless mugs of tea), I’m listing those long-promised kimono fabric bundles in the Etsy shop. I’ve started with a Baker’s Dozen, thirteen pieces of vintage kimono silk fabric that would be great for crafting, collage, scrapbooking, doll making and other projects. More [...]

Read Full Post »

Electric bubblegum meisen, revisited

It took about 1.5-2 hours to take it all apart, but fortunately it was all hand-stitched and that always helps. Any kimono-type garments that have been machine stitched at some point are a nightmare to dismantle. Kimono are typically hand sewn of course, but from time to time I come across a vintage piece that [...]

Read Full Post »

More meisen!

I post nice things about meisen, and this is what I get: more meisen! Here’s a group of 4 nice florals, some of which will be for sale on ebay this week. You can find my listings at KimonoMomo on ebay. This next little piece is going to be an interesting challenge: It’s in somewhat [...]

Read Full Post »