Normally all Realgood products are gluten free, right? So if you spot a new RG item, you'd assume it is also GF?
The corn dogs are not.
Almost picked them up bc Foster Farms discontinued GF corn dogs in FL, but I didn't see any GF markings like usual.
Early Showa had a lot of "shades" of formality, didn't they? I wonder if anyone put in and took out embroidered mon for different events.
The sleeves are not quite furisode length but are much longer than most antiques I own. I need to measure to be sure, but likely almost 30."
I had wanted to go with a black obi for the cool feeling, but only the tan one would work with this colour scheme...
This is from the woman who was selling piles of antique kimono from her father on FB. They are mostly summer items, but there were some children's clothes and propaganda kimono, too. If I'd had the money, I would have picked up a few more!
(edit: i forgot- first photo is my anti-Eris claws defense system.)
I transport overstock donated clothes to other 501c3 groups like Yaya's Closet, Jon the Blanket Guy, and others. I'm in Tampa "proper," close to University area.
I'm fine with doing the work. I sign up for it. But I don't know what to do with the SHEER AMOUNT of stained, torn, or otherwise damaged clothing there is.
No, there are no volunteers that happen to have an 18" black metal zipper to fix this backpack. No, I can't repair the "one tear" in the crotch of those jeans. No, I can't remove the vomit stains from 264631 baby clothes.
But I'd like to find a place I can either give clothes for recycling (1-2 garbage bags a month) or occasionally, people who like taking apart garments for fabric, learning sewing, experimentation, art, whatever.
I've called around but so far, other thrift stores don't take fabric for recycling. Our only alternative is landfilling it all.
I pulled out another kimono that never gets worn. It's fairly stiff and a bit narrow for me to wear. I think the neck needs to be pulled back even more, since the shoulders sit oddly, like the green/purple 50s meisen. Since it's also somehow... heavy? Like a silk taffeta, but dense, like a deceptively thin curtain. The fabric is very hot to wear, I haven't worn it after buying it...
The obi is a very damaged one from Sou. They did describe it but I wanted to see if it was something I could repair in person, or else, reserve it for fabric.
I couldn't decide on komono options. What would you do?
I bought this some years ago. Things happened, I packed it up. I don't think I even took it out of the package until maybe a year ago.
Of course, I've gained a lot of fat since I bought it. Like a snowball rolling downhill in a cartoon, once the EDS got bad enough to keep me from working, I started puffing up like a marshmallow. It isn't too bad, really, all things considered. It's just now most of my kimono don't fit.
But I was gifted this antique haneri months ago. When I saw it, I knew what I'd have to put it with first.
Isn't yellow a surprising colour for the lining? I wanted to repeat it in the obi, without it being too visually busy. Fortunately, I have one shot through with metallic silver and gold. Attractive without being too plain.
What do you think?
Went out last weekened. Still nearly 35c in the evening, ~38c during the day. That's 100f for some y'all. Plus the incredible humidity.
Usumono is SO hot. It's really becoming the only kimono I can wear most of the year. Besides needing to expand most of my clothes, I need to source komono that aren't incredibly expensive. 😭 I can't do $35USD for an obi-ita + $15 shipping.
I used to make most of my own komono, but I haven't made many summer items that have strength needed and shape. It's too thick, I think, but I'm considering plastic needlework mesh is a substitute to keep cool.
Any favourite affordable resources for usumono items?
Update:
Got the low-expansion foam today, since I only had the 3"+ gap kind. Have paintable caulk already. Will fill this weekend and then start window repairs... x.x tbh, the apartment looks structurally bad if you really inspect. BUT $15 in supplies is cheaper than $5k to move! What's renter's insurance for... right?
Thanks everyone!
-------------
My apartment complex doesn't fix anything, and it's a notorious Florida problem that "problem tenants" (those who put in too many maintenance complaints) simply won't be renewed. I don't have $5k to move... again.
They don't have to know that I'm learning to fix things on my own. Never had a place to do stuff, and I was always so paranoid that landlords would Notice. Not in a place this big, though.
The chunk of spackling or caulk behind this bathroom door was loose. I pulled it out, intending to just fill it with caulk like the frame had been. Uh. That hole does not look like caulk should have been there. But I can't mud + tape it like youtube suggests because the whole space between wall and door frame is maybe 1/3", not more than 1/2". 😭 Where that wall ends on the right? That's the door frame.
What can I do? It doesn't have to be professional. It just has to stop palmetto bugs and preferably not be duct tape. I have "minor repair stuff" on hand, but joint compound isn't meant for this, I think.
Hi, everyone!
I typically collect kimono but I'm often on the hunt for things used as accessories. For many years, pins have been coverted (with a special backing) into obidome, a charm worn on the obijime for kimono.
In a lot I picked up, there's a 2005 Special Olympics pin for Nagano Winter Games. It's hagoita-shaped with shou-chiku-bai motif (the Three Friends of Winter), which means it's most likely for the Japanese participants.
I can't find info on ebay, collectors' guide sites, and can't find any list of pins release for that year. Would anyone know something about it, like how common these are, if it is "official," etc?
Anyone have advice on that chic 1930s otaiko? I should probably look it up on youtube, but I couldn't replicate it via photos. If I do make the right 'image,' I know it isn't tied correctly at all. Couldn't be. Move, and it would fall apart.
I know the makura was a much different shape so I'm going to have to make one. I'm thinking of a process akin to making a tailour's ham. But how to get those straight lines into such a rounded shape? And the proportions correct? I can see from the inspiration that the obi is wider than modern nagoya obi. To recreate it, I'd need at least 8" wide and to tie it much higher up on the body.
The original photo looked yellow-gold, but I've been buying kimono online for too long to expect that. It is actually a deadleaf yellow instead of ochre. Since the inspo nakagi looks orange, I went with peach to match the muted yellow-tan colour. I need to get a coveted red/white clouds obiage!
There are quite a few small stains or places where the dye has run, but I'm not too bothered. I'll have some flaws too if I get to the 90s.
The antique image is from 1932's "Wedding Ceremony Must Know", posted by Naomi no Kimono Asobi on flickr.
i just need to rant a bit. i don't actually think one stupid 4-star review in 10 is going to do anything. that isn't what bothers me. it's how ridiculous some people are.
i'm just glad she didn't try to lodge a complaint or a refund bc mercari probably would have automatically sided with her, just like ebay does. that's why i only put cheap stuff on mercari.
----------
A person made an offer on two vintage lace pieces. I accepted very quickly at a lower price than normal. I'm trying to turn over some stuff sitting around, you know?
Their transaction failed.
I immediately sent them a message saying so, but if they make the offer again, I will accept it.
I have very, very few reviews on Mercari. She leaves a 4-star review saying the items are dirty, stained, and the wrong colour (she thought it was white. It is not.) Then she said I was slow at responding.
????
- First off, again, I responded to her offer within a couple hours of her sending it and messaged when that failed. Then I responded within a few minutes of re-offer. She ignored that and has never once sent me any messages.
- The item was sent within two business days after payment. Sorry ma'am, there is no mail on Sundays. Please inform the post office of this plight.
- The first item, which she said was dirty and stained, is literally listed IN THE TITLE, CONDITION, and BODY of the listing, as "fair" and damaged. I specifically detailed the staining on it AND prominently showed those stains in the FIRST and other photos. It was not a secret at any time. That lace was specifically stated to be used for junk journaling, coffee or tea-dyeing, overdye practice, or other crafting.
I'm not reiterating that 2-3x for funsies. If it's in the listing, I took time to write it for a reason.
What part of that did she miss.
It is a great peeve of mine, especially as another crafter, to spend HOURS looking for this or that vintage thing (often made of higher-quality materials) and click on these listings to be shown damage in the 3, 4, 5th photos. No mention in title. Sometimes those things are listed in good/great condition because people think "it's good... *for it's age.*" whatever THAT estimation means because it's 100% subjective.
It happens more than I'd like and it wastes my energy and time. I am disabled and very limited on both. I *hate* when people do that... so I don't. I put damages in the first or second photos whenever possible.
- The second, which she said is the wrong colour, does NOT say it's white.
The photos do not look white. I turned the brightness on my phone up all the way, just in case the photos 'bleached' to white. Nope. The listing title says "off-white" and "yellowed white." The body states multiple times that it is NOT pure white, it is an aged cream or off-white yellowy colour.
I used different varieties of that description in case someone didn't know what ivory colour is (since ivory is white in itself, but slowly browns; that is what the colour often refers to.) Also on some platforms, 'ivory' is a banned word.
In no way could this be mistaken, by photos, title, or description, as being pure white.
People like this often have a drivers' license. That means this person can legally operate a vehicle in excess of 3000-5000lbs at speeds of 80-100mph. A Toyota truck is now ~4500lbs. On a public road. With other people around. And this is normal now. ::Ralph Wiggum gif: "I'm in danger!"::
For Gofuku no Hi, I'm looking at some of my usumono amd getting them all out.
A Taisho sha komon with silk nagoya obi and yellow/white accessories. I think I would have gone with a gold pin for obidome but I don't have any.
I need an antique juban with nearly 30" sleeves! 🫠 The modern poly is way too short, and you can see how it sags instead of standing away from the body like proper usumono do.
Ever have an "off week" where it feels like everything you do is just a little bit wrong? Or things just will not come out right, regardless of trying?
I think I retied the brocade obi 3-4x and still couldn't get it right, it just looks good enough for photos. Same with the shibori obi. The colours are somehow a little wrong, things like that.
Just. Uninspired. Thrown together, good enough. Any better ideas?
I didn't want to put all this away without taking photos first. I didn't want to have to pull anything back out. The second kimono still smells musty, so while I like it as a kimono and would have just changed the collar fabric, it needs a full washing and I don't know how that will turn out...
A collection of summer outfits for inspiration. Some of these photos are very dark or very old, as a few of my antique summer kimono are a bit fragile and I don't tie them often. <3 Sorry, I'm really really short on time, so I may come back by 6pm EST to edit this.
I know I have many more. I just don't think I have any photos...
I typically use a synthetic ro juban and simply change the collars. I need a new set of komono so they are all summer weight, but it is what it is.
- Summer sha with ro obi, ro obiage, open weave obijime.
- Hitoe wool with hakata obi, ro obiage, open weave obijime. I prefer Nikko geta, which are "snow geta" but the feeling of snow during summer is so welcome.
- Synthetic sha kimono with open weave obi, ro obiage, open weave obijime. The collar shown is an easy collar I made which keeps the juban from being pulled at the neck. Tie it on over undergarments at the height you want, then drape the juban and kimono over it.
- "Orochi" outfit; I made the susoyoke, a dragon scale reference to the great Orochi. Antique summer obi with very old obijime (another reference to antiquity, the "long ago" feeling) and lacquerware geta.
- Yukata over juban with Fuujin/Raijin hakata obi. Summer obijime only.
- Antique sha kimono with summer hakata obi and ro obiage, vintage uchiwa. Modelled after an outfit from ukiyo-e.
Well. Whenever Eris lets me.
I picked up the juban project again. Sewing these lines by hand takes hours. I tried to make sure the folds were straight in advance but ... I guess not.
Plus, the pattern seems to have been printed *slightly* off. So although I matched the pattern up and went from that, one side of one sleeve is just 1.5cm ish longer than the other.
Kind of infuriating. The ADHD part of my brain wants to put it down forever, but then I won't have the matching sleeves to the susoyoke.
Anyone else have Fun kimono-related sewing adventures?