Some Kitsuke

I forgot I even had this set. I love the obi, which was a gift from Ikeda-san.

Young Girl's Furisode

My friend Emma came over to my house to help me practice kitsuke. It's been about three years since I did a girl's furisode and I had a total FAIL. Emma didn't seem to mind, but now I feel like I need to get out the practice mannequin and obi and try again.

I also am missing part of my kit and have no idea where it got off to.

Flickr Set!

Kitsuke Practice

Fifteen minutes from now, my friend Emma is coming over.

It's been several years since I dressed a young girl in Furisode and I screwed up by not practicing at all prior to today.

I also think I'm missing a part to the accessories set, but at this point, it's more about hanging out with Emma

and getting the gist of it then getting it spot-on.

I'll post pictures later.

Yukata

My friend Amber, wearing a yukata set put together by me. She dressed herself and did pretty well for someone with no yukata experience!

Hisashiburi! (It's Been A Long Time)

IMG_5645
Originally uploaded by JLTP

Well,

After more than a year, I unpacked the kimono and had me some kitsuke practice. It took 17 minutes start-to-finish. My Odaiko for my obi looked a little big, but other than that, I was suprised how well I did! My best time is 9 minutes for a kimono of this type of styling.

The kimono is pre-WWII, possibly end of Taisho, with a four-seasons motif featuring books, ume, pheasants and water designs. The pretty grey obi has a tonal Ivy motif and is modern, perhaps 10 - 15 years old. The nagajuban, my "hidden stylishness" is vintage from the late 60's and features a red and white wave pattern with gold flecks scattered across it. The haneri is modern and made of jinken (rayon) with embrodery and gold accents. The obiage and obijime are also modern. I've got on white tabi, but no shoes, since I'm standing on a tatami mat.

Repatriation

Hi!

My job in Japan ended and as of this post, I've been back on the East Coast of the US of A for a week. I was going to close down this blog, but I've decided to leave it (barely) active, in case I have a few things here and there to post about kimono-related stuff here in the US.

It is simultaneously good and awful to be back.

December Kimono

December Kimono
Originally uploaded by bakagaijiin

Red and Green and sort of tacky but it got the attention of the American buyers.