Sunday, November 30, 2014

potd - Pink Shibori

It's very grey here for the first day of summer... here's some kanoko shibori to brighten things up.


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

potd - Yukata Charm Packs

I spent last night making up more charm packs of indigo and white cotton yukata fabric




Tuesday, November 25, 2014

potd - Chidori Stencil

Small chidori (plover) katagami stencil...


Monday, November 24, 2014

potd - Kimono Silk

Another kimono silk that I've just put out...


Sunday, November 23, 2014

potd - Mosquito Netting

Antique kaya mosquito netting with patches for character...


Friday, November 21, 2014

potd - Soybean Design

I love this crazy soybean design on an old 1960's or 70's yukata fabric....


Thursday, November 20, 2014

potd - Kimono Silk

More silk from the new shipment going on the shelves this afternoon....


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

potd - Yukata Fabric

I'm just putting out more indigo and white cotton  yukata fabric...


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

potd - Shibori

I'm having fun today opening up a new shipment that arrived yesterday including some rolls  of wonderful silk shibori....

Monday, November 17, 2014

potd - Silk Threads

We always have a selection of old and not so old silk kimono threads...





Sunday, November 16, 2014

potd - 'Boro' Futon Cover

Well patched and stitched early 20th century 'boro' futon cover...


Friday, November 14, 2014

potd - Old Buttons

Old school uniform buttons....




Thursday, November 13, 2014

potd - Silk Pieces

A basket of silk. One metre pieces of unpicked kimono silk and roll ends.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

potd - Bamboo Bag Handles

We still have lots of these real bamboo bag handles in varying sizes.  Very retro and cheaper than plastic ones.


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

potd - Sakura Beer

Old reproduction poster of a Sakura beer advertisement





Monday, November 10, 2014

potd - Donsu

I'm selling these bundles of silk/silk-blend donsu online.  Donsu are beautifully subtle Japanese damasks which  are traditionally  used for special items such as scroll backings and tea ceremony accessories.  More information here.




Sunday, November 9, 2014

potd - Yellow Silk

Bold yellow kimono silk - probably from the 1970's. We rarely get  silk in such a bright yellow.




Saturday, November 8, 2014

potd - Katazome

In katazome (lit. stencil dyeing) a rice paste resist is stencilled on to the fabric before dyeing. Most of the indigo cotton katazome we get is old futon fabric but a very small fine design like this is more likely from clothing.  This is quite a quirky piece with chairs, eggplants, walking sticks, and butterflies. It  dates from the late 19th century when there was a huge influx of western culture in Japan. (Sorry the colour is a bit washed out in the photo)

Friday, November 7, 2014

Thursday, November 6, 2014

potd - Boro

A well worn and patched and stitched boro mat or kotatsu cover from the early - mid 20th century. I love the browns and tans in this.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

potd - Kimono Design

An original kimono fabric design from around the 1930's handpainted on paper...


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

potd - Marbled Silk

I still have a small amount of this  unusual hand-marbled kimono silk. I'm guessing it's from the 1970's.

Monday, November 3, 2014

potd - Sewing Books

I stock Japanese craft books in both English and Japanese. It's great that quite a few Japanese sewing books are being translated into English now - particularly women's and girls' clothing....


Sunday, November 2, 2014

potd - Geta

We always have geta in the shop but they're more of a talking point than a big seller!