Process

I think the question I get asked most about my work at markets after "Where do you get your fabric?", is "Don't you hate cutting up the kimonos?".  I mostly get a surprised reaction when I answer, "Actually, no."

You see, when I buy the kimonos I use in my jewellery, mostly at the temple markets in Japan, I choose pieces that can no longer be worn.  They may be marked from age, be torn or have holes in areas or sometimes, especially with the children's kimonos, a soya sauce stain down the front.  I love to imagine a little girl, all dressed up in her finery, so proud of how pretty she looks, after going to the shrine with her family to pray for a promising future, relishing a delicious traditional meal in her honour.  I love to think of the sense of celebration that has imbued the clothing and stayed in there, along with the flaw.

I'm then sometimes asked if it is culturally insensitive to cut up the traditional dress.  Again, my answer is "no".  With the Japanese belief of "mottainai" it's considered wasteful for things to just sit in cupboards and no longer be used.  "Kimono Remake" is very popular in Japan and bookshops there are filled with shelves upon shelves of publications giving craft ideas of bags, clothing, shoes, artwork and pieces for the home to make with old kimonos.

But still, I'm always trying to find ways of reducing any waste, to use as much of the kimono as I can in my work.  This is part of the process I've been doing today.

The pieces of kimono fabric below had a gorgeous metallic print on an off-white background.  While it's hard to see in the photo, the fabric had quite a patina and so was not so suitable to use as is.  I first painted the fabric and then rubbed until the silver design was visible again.

While really pretty and bright, the design was still too large to translate into my usual size pendants.  So I then stencil printed over the top.  I love the idea of stencil printing onto kimono fabric, as this is how much of this kimono would have printed originally.  I feel like I'm still honouring the craftsmen who first worked on this fabric.

Once the print has dried, I do a second print (so the edges of the stencil don't smudge wet ink).

And now, here's one I've prepared earlier... the fabric is then hand cut, lain into a silver base and preserved under resin.  I love that in that pendant there is a little piece of history as well as a little part of me in there for all time.

While I'm in Japan... Antique Markets

One of the main reasons I'm heading to Japan, and what I schedule my trip around, are the antique markets.  It is there that I buy my vintage kimono fabric that I use in my jewellery.

The antique markets are held in temple grounds around the country and are such a feast for the eyes.  With a gorgeous backdrop of an old temple or shrine, often the soundtrack of monks chanting in the background and the scent of incense carrying people's prayers to the heavens, it makes the experience even more enjoyable.

As well as gorgeous old kimonos, there are stalls filled with antique toys, painted scrolls, cameras, pottery, candy moulds, kimono pattern stencils, swords and coins. 

It was at one such market that my love and obsession for vintage kimono fabrics first began, and another that I just happened to "coincidentally" plan my Kyoto honeymoon around.

1. Kingyo + Kewpie, 2. Ultraman, 3. Netsuke, 4. Kimono Fabric, 5. Obi, 6. Tsuba, 7. Writing, 8. Astro, 9. Kimono, 10. Japanese Banners, 11. Paddle, 12. Kokeshi, 13. Mon, 14. Hina Dolls, 15. Flowers, 16. Hina Doll

Here's hoping for some lovely blue skies to go with the markets while I'm there!

Can I ask for your advice...?

I'm starting to take the plunge and advertise in a couple of magazines.  You would think that I would have actually put more stuff in my store first but maybe these ads will motivate me.

The first magazine, Yen,  has a lot of young, fresh with a bit of fun fashion in it.  I'm trying to decide between these two photos...

The second one is an eco fashion magazine, Peppermint.  For this one, I want some pieces from my "Eco range" - and my vintage kimono bamboo teapots have been the most popular to date.  Again though, I can't decide which photo to use...

Any thoughts?

Fabric Giveaway

The plan today was to get up at a reasonable hour (done-ish) and to use as much natural light available on these winter days, to photograph kimono. Alas, it's a dreary day outside and not really enough light to work with. So that means.... I have a free day! Yah! I can't decide what to do first.... I have some jewellery making techniques I'm trying to perfect, some photoshopping of images from our Christmas trip to Matsumoto, a load of new bag and purse patterns to play with, some more softies I want to make..... Where does one start??

Of course, I COULD go and clean the kitchen, put away the Christmas tree, do some washing... but really, that's not going to happen.

The night before last, I stayed up until 3am sorting fabric. Just the smaller pieces mind you. I really thought it would only take me a day or two to sort my purchases from the latest kimono auction, but it's taken over a week! Below is preview of some of them that will be going up in the store soon.

While I was sorting, I thought I'd share the love and put together a large pack (about 350 grams) of vintage kimono fabric to give away. You can see the fabric in the picture below. If you're interested, please leave a comment telling me what you'd do with a free day. If you're not a blogging person, you can just leave your name in the comment. I'll draw a random number on January 21st and post the name of the winner then. Please don't forget to come back and check to see if you've won!

Now I'm off to play!

Serious Auction Hangover

I went to another kimono auction yesterday. So much fun, but oh my!

Auctions can be addictive. Yesterday, I went over my budget, and way over my space limit! There was a huge amount of items being sold yesterday and I started off with a few large ticket buys. By lunch-time, I had already spent more than I had planned. In the afternoon, they were trying to get through the rest and so were auctioning things off in large lots and I just couldn't resist.

It's funny, it's not that I get things cheaper at the auction, but rather that I get a larger volume and access to some pieces that would normally be difficult to find. Yesterday, I bought a number of gorgeous old indigo pieces, a large stack of tenugui cloths (my husband is already claiming a number of those), some really cute furoshiki, and a few old happi coats. I wanted to buy some sets of geta shoes and a parasol, but by that time, I knew I didn't have space for anything more.

The people at the auction are friendly, and a lovely women next to me even gave me a few pieces she'd won in lots that she didn't want. The woman on the other side however was my main rival and we had some major bidding wars for children's kimonos. She outbid me on the large lots each time and other times was much faster than I was. I did manage to win a few while she wasn't watching though.

By the end of the day, the car was filled to the brim. I couldn't see out the back and my husband had to sit cross-legged for what became more than a two hour drive home (we got lost in the dark rainy night with only Japanese signs leading our way). There was a large kimono filled bag where his legs and feet should have gone.

I've now lost my living room once again and it will takes me days to sort the stock out and months to unpick pieces. It's a fun job however and what a great excuse to play with fabric. My husband doesn't complain when I don't cook or wash the dishes because I'm "working".

For now, I'll leave you with the piece I'm unpicking today, a really soft, light-weight silk kimono.