Photo Post - Butterflies and Nagajuban

Photo post today. Some things that made me ooh and aah and squee with joy ^^


This guy was on one of the curtains on our porch. He was so still and so lovely, even though it was really windy at the time.

I was chatting to a lovely local Japanese lady about kimono and Japanese culture yesterday and I mentioned my love of Japanese design and particularly of Japanese fabrics, and she mentions she has an old Nagajuban (the garment worn under the kimono) 'just hanging in the back of her closet' and that seeing how much I love and appreciate all things kimono, she offered it to me!
'Excited' is an understatement, I would have jumped up and kissed her right there!

Today, when I got home from the shops, I found this gorgeous thing waiting in my mum's work room and I was positively gob-smacked at how wonderful and in how amazing condition it is.
Apparently it belonged to her mother before her, in her youth, then it was passed on to her. Now, I knew it was vintage but this garment is over 120 years old! (the lady herself is 65)

More gob-smacking occurred after that.

At first I was hesitant to take it, especially after she told me it was her mother's first but she insisted, saying she's too practical too keep such things and that she's happy to give it to someone who would appreciate it. She then suggested I pull it apart and make something from it but I reeeeeally don't see that happening, this is my first whole vintage nagajuban, it is my favourite colour, it is pure silk, hand made and it is hand dyed in both shibori and silk screening.
Nahuh.
THIS is going straight on my wall where I can oogle it forever and ever.


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Artfire, ACEO's and neglected blogs

My poor neglected blog, how I have... neglected you.

Today I uploaded my first thing to Artfire!! *dances*
Remember that ACEO card from a few posts back, I've put that up there, I'm kind of nervous though! This is the first time i've sold something i've made online like this, I hope someone likes it enough to buy it lol.

And so as to not further neglect this poor unfortunately blog, here's a little sketch from my brown paper journal.

Pls don't ask about the other faces there, her's was the only one I actually liked enough to post.


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Personal Character for Whoring (selling) Purposes. Whut?

A little print i'm planning to maybe possibly sell on Artfire. I don't know. Would anybody even buy something like this? :/

Done in Photoshop.
Lots and lots of hours invested sadly enough x_x

Cross posted to my DA acount: http://albyon.deviantart.com/art/Inky-Space-115456782


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My Back Decides to Hate Me.

I'm a little more housebound than normal since yesterday, I've gone and stuffed my back up again it seems.

A few years back (first year of uni, if I recall), I had a small household accident involving a certain puppy that landed me jarring my back badly and ending up in hospital a little later with a slipped disk (bulged disk is another term I've have thrown at me).
After months of physio and relearning proper postures and sitting and back exercises I was well on the way to a good recovery.
Until yesterday.
I honestly have no idea why it's started going downhill again but there it goes; dull aching yesterday and today full blown lower lumbar pain in the same place as before.
Dammit, curses and all manner of cussing. I really don't need this now that i'm trying my damnedest to get organised for starting my own business.

So i'm hobbling around as straight backed as i can, stuffing towels behind my back when I sit and generally just not sitting too long at all as it becomes unbearable after about 10 minutes.

Still, the show must go on, so to speak, at least until (god forbid PLEASE) the pain gets to the point I need intravenous doses of morphine again, like last time, so I can sleep and puke my guts up all night :/

Speaking of shows, I have managed to be somewhat productive today, no crafts or arts though, just not feelin it today.

Here's a snapshot of my room right now, silks all over the place as I get them cleaned and unpicked properly and ironed (eventually) then sewn.

AND..... *drumrolls in my head*
MY SPOONFLOWER FABRIC!!! XD
I've been waiting for this to get here for ages and it finally arrived today! My design looks GREAT on the cotton, i'm so happy with it!

Also, these are two more of the wonderful fabrics I've gotten from from the Sew, Mama, Sew, fabric swap:

From Kelly

From Sarah:

I heart fabrics. ^^

Japanese Fabric-y Post

Most of today was spent very hands on with my silk stash, not so much in the "Yay! I made something!!" way but rather in the "Yay! I'm getting organised!!" way, which is just as good.

I've been regularly updateing my database of fabrics and today got a major update.
But today's main task was unpicking loose and errant silk threads from vintage silk panels, carefully as some of the silks are virtually threadbare from age. They're usually the most fun to do due to the delicacy involved. I am weird, I know, I have been told many times -_-

A little something I found quite a treat today though...
While going over a raspberry coloured silk I found a little Mon in one of the corners, it was a gorgeous little butterfly caricature! I've never seen one like that before, they're usually fairly symmetric and more 'serious' looking but this one was so sweet! Here, have a looksie:


So cute!!! I'm not exactly certain but it's either a Kiyobu Chō or Ageha-Chō, though i'm leaning toward the later.

After a full day's unpicking, I'm getting rather fast at it. Also, it won't be long before I have enough to start my own Temari! XD

And yes that is indeed a tea cup.

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Blog Layout Messing About + random lame-arts

Been messing about with my layout. Not sure how happy I am with it but meh, I like it a little better than the last one ^^

Here, have a lame sketch0rZ. :/