Obidome

Moonblossom from IG recently posted on her blog about obidome. I thought hmmm... maybe I should have a look. So I did. And this is what I won today: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230546249928&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Happy birthday to me! LOL!

New kiku obi

Just bought this obi! :)
http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/183226

Maybe to go with the momiji kimono to wear to Kimono de Jack in November. If not I have a fabulous tsumugi iromuji in purple that would make a nice contrast.

Yamatoku sale and festival

Thanks to the Kimono Lady here on Blogger, I just bought this: http://www.yamatoku.jp/classic/description.asp?tno=71047904
from the sale on at Yamatoku.

The Japanese Matsuri in London on Saturday was fabulous! Much better than last year. We all had a great time. Sadly, I forgot my camera so you'll have to look out for others who took photos.

Sunday I met up with a Japanese friend in Oxford. We both have shiba inu so we took the dogs out for a tour around the city. We enjoyed a great day out with fine weather. I actually did bring my camera but haven't uploaded the photos yet.

Festival of Quilts

Had a fabulous four days at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham. As always, you can visit my pictures on Flickr to see the event. I even got the opportunity to dress a lovely Hungarian artist named Eszter Bornemisza, friend of my friend Susan Brisco. It was lucky that I lived close enough I could bring my kimono things to dress her. I got a lovely tsumugi kimono from Susan purchased by Katie Chaplin as a thank you for me helping out at her Japan Crafts stall. I also purchased a gorgeous embroidered haori from Katie. Can't wait to get it all on to try!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigatsuhana/sets/72157624806968344/

New kimono

I've been debating about whether to buy this kimono for a while and today I finally decided to get it. It's rather a bold pattern for me so we'll see how it looks when I get it. It is green. I don't have any green kimono apart from my ro one. This one is hitoe. It has green poppies on it! Very interesting.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270619714205&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Hello Kitty Obi

I've been wanting one of these for ages. So when Ryu has a sale and there is a Hakata Hello Kitty obi, it's mine! There is one more left if anyone is interested. But this is the one I bought. Guess what I'm wearing for a festival sometime!!!!

Amsterdam

Just got back from a week in Amsterdam! Loved it! It's such a quirky and interesting city. We will definitely go back. Here are the photos I have downloaded so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigatsuhana/sets/72157624454067683/

We really enjoyed the feel of the city. It's fun to get around on the trams. You really have to watch out for cyclists. There is a reason why Cycle Path and Psychopath sound similar. ;)

Matsuri in London

Lyuba and I went to the Maede Gakuen matsuri in Acton, London yesterday. The weather was very HOT but we still had a good time. This was a great family festival and it looked like the kids had a really fun time playing all of the games and watching Anpanman Show! Here are a couple of photos of us, but as always if you want to see more please go to my flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigatsuhana/sets/72157624469417440/

The "ME" generation

I had always thought that people from my generation were selfish, or at least more so then previous generations. Not so. My 20 year old colleague just makes me go hmmmmm....
1. Today she announces that she'd like to have a boyfriend only because she wants someone to buy her clothes.

2. Her family is in danger of not being able to pay the next electricity bill. So I offer suggestions about how they might save energy. Including stop using the hairdryer, hair straighteners, etc. "Oh no, we can't stop being beautiful just for the sake of saving electricity!" Also the washing machine. You cut the number of loads you do, and the dishwasher, and it's amazing at how much that bill will go down. And... also not taking 45 minute showers.

It never ceases to amaze me at how wasteful people can be. Especially when we are facing a hosepipe ban, because of a severe lack of rain this year. And how insensitive people are to third world countries where water is a luxury for them and nobody here gives a crap and most of all the "ME" generation.

No amount of ranting or raving will make any difference as she and her kind simply don't care and don't want to know. How very sad.

Kimono dressing

Well, I have finally convinced the Birmingham Japanese Society that we should have a kimono dressing. So, our December meeting will be just that. I'll write a brief presentation and then start dressing people. So... anyone that can come up and help is welcome to come if you want. Unfortunately we won't be paid for this event but it will be for the love of kimono. And there will be men there so I'm going to have to learn me some men kitsuke. I'm going to finally buy Kevin a set so I can get practicing. I will also learn yukata kitsuke for men too. I figure that might be easiest to start with.
And I am now the chairperson for the Birmingham Japanese Society so I've got my work cut out for me!

Recent kimono outings

After a long hiatus I finally got to wear kimono twice in the last two weekends in London. First was the London MCM Expo. Sadly I had no pictures of me in my kimono that day but fun was had by Hong, Isla, Chantal and myself. Secondly, was the Kabuki at Sadler's Wells last Sunday. Brilliant! Lyuba and I had a great day out.
I will post a couple of photos here but please visit my flickr page to see the rest here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigatsuhana/

London MCM Expo outfit

Here's what I'll wear for tomorrow's London MCM Expo:

London Expo outfit

I will probably end up wearing this ensemble for London Expo on Saturday. I finally get to wear my fuji/wisteria shibori obi while seasonal appropriate. :)

Kimono outtings coming up!

After a long hiatus of no kimono wearing, there are two events coming up shortly. First the London Expo 29-30 May with the regular girls from Team Manekineko and then to a Kabuki performance on 6th June with Lyuba! Yay! It's time to put the greasepaint away until September and don kimono for the summer. Just finished our summer show with Stonnall and as successful and fun as it was, I'm glad it's over.

My husband very kindly bought me a new camera for my anniversary present. It is a Sony a330 DSLR. Hopefully this will help me up my game in my photography. Photography is a big hobby of mine and hopefully I will produce some better results. You can see just a dabbling of camera play here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigatsuhana/

Hopefully I'll be able to put some pictures up of forthcoming events in a couple of weeks.

New 2-piece kimono

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year and Year of the Tiger everyone!





After finding out how to wear my last two piece kimono I decided to buy another. They are the easiest things on the planet to wear! Wow! I will be wearing mine this weekend in London at Tokyo Day.