j a d e X c o r e

Kimono Dreams

2012-02-15T02:39:00.000-06:00

I've been having a ton of kimono and geisha related dreams lately! The day before last, I dreamt that I found all these wonderful vintage pieces, the most memorable being a turquoise juban with white and purple swirl designs (pretty enough to be a kimono!). When I awoke, I was sad that it didn't exist lol. Then yesterday, I dreamt I was preparing to learn to be a bar hostess and "geisha" (more like kimono-san), except it was at my dad's work (a church - how silly!), and the kimono I brought kept getting things dropped on it, like cigarette ashes (oh, the agony!). I'm hoping today will be filled with better dreams! XD

Experimenting With Showing More Collar

2012-02-14T03:31:00.000-06:00

After some feedback from last kitsuke attempt, the consensus was that I don't show enough collar for my age (almost 23). So I tried the opposite extreme. I'm thinking that a little less would be better?

Also, this is the first time I got to wear this kimono, and I'd like to wear it to a shamisen concert coming up. Any thoughts as to whether or not it would be ok? And yes, I know the obi has a motifs that won't match the time of the concert (March), but it's unlikely anyone there will know. This is Memphis after all... ;P

Reversible White and Sakura Pink Fukuro Obi

2012-02-14T01:23:00.000-06:00

I won a pretty simple fukuro obi tonight from Ryu. It's a woven cloud and grass design on both sides. One side is white (just what I need for the Botan cosplay!) and the other is a pretty sakura pink.

With simple pastels like these, they will hopefully be easy to match with kimono (especially louder ones). =)

Matsuba Kimono and First Katsura!

2012-02-12T23:05:00.001-06:00

I really need to go on a buying hiatus now that I've put out so much money lately. It's a wonder I still have money for bills this month! But since my birthday is at the end of the month, I decided to buy myself a present: my first katsura!

At $90 plus domestic shipping, this was a steal. It will however need some TLC to restore it... It is a wedding katsura, but I will remake it as close as I can to a geiko katsura for a future geiko-hime. I am very excited about it!

I also got another kimono for only $1.04 from Ryu.

It's 173 cm tall! The pictures make it look navy blue, but it's listed as purple, so I'm interested to see what color it really is when it arrives. Also, I'm unsure if this counts as houmongi or irotomesode. Since it only has one crest, I'm guessing houmongi, but can anyone confirm that?

Hanabishi Hitoe

2012-02-11T01:09:00.000-06:00

I keep saying no more kimono, but yeah... couldn't resist! XD

I'm just trying to decide if the little blue pattern is maple leaves or snowflakes?

Tsumugi Furisode

2012-02-07T21:23:00.004-06:00

I won this plain pink tsumugi furisode on eBay tonight. I am so excited about it! I've honestly never seen a plain color furi, nor a tsumugi one for that matter.

Initially, I'm going to let my sister (or maybe myself) use it for a cosplay of Botan (from Yu Yu Hakusho). We'll need to get a white obi as well as red obiage, blue (or maybe purple? I can't really tell...) obijime, and red zori, but those shouldn't be too hard to acquire. Truly, this was the hardest part; cheap pink iromuji are readily available, but furisode... not so much.

The biggest trouble I'll have now is getting the correct obi. From what few pictures I have of the musubi, it looks like a cho cho musubi, but the obi appears to be hanhaba, not the typical fukuro. So I will have to see if I can find more pictures to decide what would be the best course.

After the cosplay is through, I may decide to cut the sleeves to make it an iromuji, but I'm not sure I'll have the heart to, considering the difficulty of acquiring this piece!

Muted Tangerine Nagoya Obi

2012-01-31T23:23:00.001-06:00

To go along with my attempt to buy only obi and accessories for the most part, I got this muted tangerine color obi on eBay.

I'm hoping that the simple design and color might go with my crazy kimono. I won't know until I get it in person, but we'll see.

Purple Hanhaba Obi

2012-01-29T00:36:00.002-06:00

I won this purple hanhaba obi tonight from Shinei. The texture looks neat and the pattern and color seem like they will go with a lot of things I own. =)

First Kitsuke of the Year!

2012-01-22T20:38:00.000-06:00

Today, I did my first kitsuke of 2012. It's a belated New Year's kitsuke. I had a new tsukesage in a soft of taupe-mauve color that I had since fall, but just needed the right occasion. With its mats motif, I figured it would be perfect for New Year's, especially dressed up with a shiny fukuro obi, also with pine trees. To keep the outfit from looking too plain, I used a mint obijime and mint and violet obi age. The ohashori is a little longer than I'd like it to be, and my obi got a little wrinkled after being under the haori. Anyway, I hope you all like it!

First Purchase of 2012!

2012-01-19T22:24:00.002-06:00

I made my first purchase of 2012 after a kimono-buying hiatus (to work on cosplays). I'm trying to make an effort to buy only obi and accessories for a little while since those areas are lacking...

Anyway, here's my prize - a bold green nagoya obi with fall leaves:

I cannot wait to coordinate with this! =D

Here's to a New Year!

2011-12-27T09:29:00.000-06:00

I just want to thank everyone who has followed my blog this past year. Readers are the reason I write! I hope to have more convention and kitsuke pictures in the next year, as well as other interesting tidbits I find to talk about. I hope you will all continue to read as we venture into 2012!

Two New Kimono

2011-12-09T17:21:00.000-06:00

I won two new kimono for only 99¢ a piece on eBay over the past week. I've been paying more for kimono recently, so I miss getting deals like this!

The first one is a reddish purple tsukesage. I has some fading/stains, but for only 99¢, I don't mind. I plan on using this in my steampunk ensemble this spring, so the fading/stains might actually fit in just fine with the look.

The second is one of many yabane odori kimono that Ryujapan had listed last week. I'm partial to warm colors, so I opted to the red over the blue ones. The kimono is quite large already, so it should be a good candidate to adjusted to become a hikizuri...maybe. Or I may leave it as is. We'll see. =)

Steampunk Shamisen

2011-12-08T05:13:00.000-06:00

I've been working on this piece for a couple of weeks now, and just finished it last night. I had this shamisen made of lucite that I bought on eBay some years ago for $11, and it has been sitting around my house ever since. It is technically playable, but the sound quality is poor, so I decided to turn it into an art project. Since I plan on doing a steampunk ensemble for some anime conventions this spring and summer, I decided to go that route.

The first step involved painting the whole thing. Since it was originally clear, it took several coats to get it opaque. Then I cut pieces of leather to simulate the skins. I made the neo (string retainer) and pegs out of sculpey; I painted those after baking. The koma (bridge) is actually a large square bead with a pin backing on top. The strings are thin gauge bronze colored wire. I decorated the top and pegs with cogs and a stamped compass. The dou (body) got a variety of cogs and a pair of stamped wings. All in all, I'd say it came out okay for a first time project. =)

Anime Blues Con 2012 - Memphis, TN - June 15-17, 2012

2011-11-07T11:56:00.000-06:00

Last year was Anime Blues Con's first year, and what a success it was! This year, we're back with a bang and better than before! Guests this year are Johnny Young Bosch (Trigun, Bleach, Power Rangers, Code Geass) and Eyeshine (How About That, Alone), Robert Axelrod (Power Rangers, Cowboy Bebop, Akira), Todd Haberkorn (xxxHolic, Soul Eater, Fairy Tail), Darrel Guilbeau (Durarara, Samurai Champloo, Paranoia Agent), and Alex Zemke (Killzone 3, SOCOM 4, Turra: Gun Angel). Featured events will be the Cosplay Contest, adult Cosplay Off (18+), Anime Olympics, Lantern Festival, Masquerade ball, Lolita Tea Party, Maid Café, Official Pokémon Tournament, Kimono Jeopardy, Rave, and more! We will have many other events from the culture, adult, anime, art, and gaming, as well as a chibi track for the kids (see website for full list of panels and events)! Come "party at the tower" with us!

Website
animeblues.com

Location
Hilton Memphis
939 Ridge Lake Boulevard
Memphis, Tennessee
USA 38120
Tel: +1-901-684-6664

Date/Time
July 15-17, 2012
(Programming will start at 10 am on Friday and will go 24 hours-a-day until closing ceremonies on Sunday evening.)

PRICE:
Tickets are only $25 for 3 FULL DAYS of programming until January 31, 2012!

Halloween Costume Contest at the Nashoba Carriage Show

2011-11-03T07:33:00.000-05:00

My parents drive carriage horses, and this year's local show was the weekend before Halloween, so they had a costume contest! My parents wanted to do a "rickshaw for rent" theme, so they asked me to wear a kimono and dress my dad in one (as he would be driving). My boyfriend Josh wore his new green tsumugi kimono for fun, even though he wasn't in the carriage with us. My sister made the saddle pad for the pony (his name is Third Rock :kawaii: ), the sign on the back of the carriage, and took the pictures. My kimono is not seasonally appropriate, but I wanted something synthetic so I could wash it if it got dirty.

The carriage!

When I saw the sign, I asked my sister, "Did you just write Japanese gibberish on it?!" XP

Dad just wore his regular clothes underneath the yukata, as it was cool outside and we had less than ideal conditions to dress (sorry no closeups of the yukata).

We got a lot of compliments, and won the "Traveled the Farthest" award!

Some other costumes are pictured below.

Batman and the Joker:

Red Devils:

Safari:

Mayberry (the blanket says "Just Nip It") XD

General Halloween theme:

Halloween Kitsuke

2011-10-29T15:29:00.001-05:00

Josh and I were off to two Halloween parties tonight, so we decided to go in kimono ^_^. Josh just got his first real kimono and juban the other day, so he decided to wear it. It's a nice dark green tsumugi.

I decided to go out of season and wear the tsubame komon. I needed to wear something washable, and the other choices were too plain or summer kimono, so I just said to heck with seasonality tonight and went for it. I wore a new fukuro obi that I received in a trade. Once again, breaking the rules (fukuro with komon), but I just didn't care tonight XP.

Our first stop of the night is a carriage show where my parents are competing with their pony. After the last class, there will be a costume party. Then we're going to Josh's friend's house for their costume party. I hope I'll make it!

Tsumakawa and other buys

2011-10-20T12:18:00.002-05:00

Since all my bills have been paid for the month, I wanted to get some things from Rakuten with some of the money I have left. I bought a few small kitsuke things from Kimono-Kyoukomati (like plain white haneri and rain covers for zori), but my two bigger buys from them were tsumakawa and a hip pad.

I've wanted tsumakawa since I saw ones like these in The New Kimono, so at 2,100¥, these were right up my alley ^_^.

I also bought 2 obiage from Kimonozone on Etsy. The first one is white background with blue shibori momiji and various geometric designs. The second is brown and grey with gold paint and wax-dyed filigree.

Another kimono bolt!

2011-10-17T01:59:00.000-05:00

I won another kimono bolt tonight!

I'm unsure as the whether I'm going to make a kimono or a haori out of this one though. It's wool, but I'm unsure whether I'm going to line it or not. I guess it depends on how good I do on the first kimono. Here's to hoping!

My First Kimono Tan!

2011-10-14T08:37:00.001-05:00

After countless fruitless searches for the perfect fitting kimono, I just decided to try to sew one. I have legitimate patterns to make one, but finding a good tan at a great price was a bit challenging. I finally settled on this purple bolt from Ichiroya:

The colors remind me of Easter eggs! XD I also don't have any purple kimono anymore, so it will be unlike anything I already own. And it's synthetic, so cleaning will easy. I now just need to hope that there's enough fabric to make a kimono my size (68 inches [173 cm] tall and 58 inch [147 cm] wingspan) as well as enough width. I know I will at least be able to get the height, so here's to the wingspan! If you have any tips on how to make the shoulders wider, please let me know!

Yellow Tsumugi with Purple Bird Obi

2011-10-12T21:45:00.001-05:00

My *expensive* purple bird obi arrived the other day, so I begged my boyfriend to bring his nice camera over to take some kitsuke pictures. I'm kind of in the middle of redoing my kimono collection at the moment, so the kimono that I chose was this yellow tsumugi, though I'm sure there are better coordinations out there. The obi itself is super soft, so it was frustrating to try to make a very straight line across the top of my otaiko. Any suggestions to help with this?

I also got these cork soled zori in the mail recently, and the purple color was right in line with the obi. =)

Autumn Grasses Houmongi

2011-10-08T03:21:00.002-05:00

I finally put together an ensemble with the autumn grass houmongi bought way back. When I originally bought it, I thought it was a much light "café au lait" color but when it arrived, it turned out to be chocolate brown. After much searching for a compatible obi, I found one a few months ago. Then came the trouble with selecting the obiage and obijime. I like the colors I've chosen (dark red obiage and brown obijime); they don't stand out very much, but they don't overpower the outfit either. For the most part, that is a look I like. But I also think green and coppery orange would suit it well. I finished the ensemble off with a yellow momiji kanzashi and pale green zori. My sweet boyfriend took the photos:

Tsubame Komon

2011-09-30T05:27:00.001-05:00

I've had this light grey-blue tsubame komon for several months now, but with the weather being so hot during the summers here, I didn't dare even try an awase kimono on, even in the house! So now that the weather is FINALLY starting to be reasonable (still 85˚F during the day though...), I decided to finally try it on. I put it with an obi I hadn't used before - a black tsumugi nagoya obi with tsuta. I used a dark red obiage and goldenrod yellow obijime. I also tried "flattening" and padding the boobies a little better than I have been previously. So what do you think?

My obi's a little crooked =(

And my pale green zori =)

Two Subdued Hanhaba Obi and "The Case of the Sakiori Obi"

2011-09-24T15:44:00.003-05:00

I went on more of a buying binge last night, but I got each of these hanhaba obi for 99¢, $5.50, and $7.50 - a super steal for mint or brand new items! They're all subdued colors, which I seem to favor lately, so I was super pleased to win these!

The first in a brand new striped cotton hanahaba:

Next we have an ochre grid design cotton hanhaba:

Last is an hanhaba width sakiori obi that appears to be tsukuri in style, but I'm really unsure of how to wear it properly. It has two shorter pieces, one of which has obijime-like ties; the other piece has no fittings. One suggestion was to tie it in karuta or kai no kuchi musubi, but I'm unsure if it can support itself alone (well, maybe in karuta musubi it can), so I'm still asking around to see if anyone knows. Please tell me if you know how to wear this!

Selling My Stuff on eBay!!! Plus, New Zori and Tsukuri Obi!

2011-09-21T02:33:00.001-05:00

I just moved into my new house a week and a half ago, and in moving, I saw that there were a lot of kimono and kitsuke items that I either did not use or the style no longer suits my tastes. So I listed many things on eBay. You can view them here.

I also decided to buy some nicer zori that I found on sale on Rakuten for 1500¥. It was one of those love at first sight moments, so I hope I have something to match!

I also picked up this faux shibori tsukuri obi for 500¥. It's simple in design and will be easy to put on in a time crunch, so I'm satisfied ^_^.

Purple Shioze Blue Bird Obi

2011-09-19T02:45:00.000-05:00

I have been on the hunt for a purple and a dyed obi, but after not finding any (especially the color purple) at the right price, I decided to splurge a little on this beauty:

It blew my whole kimono budget for a while, but I was so smitten with it when I saw it. The perfect color, simplicity, and a beautiful image of a graceful bird... I can't wait to try it on! I will post pictures when it arrives!

Kimono Break - Bring on the Cosplay!

2011-08-14T19:14:00.002-05:00

I'm taking a short hiatus from kimono to work on cosplay. I just received my custom Elizabeth "Lizzy" Middleford cosplay (from Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler). I'm very happy with how it looks!

Once I have the wig finished, I'll post my Makina Hoshimura cosplay (from Shikabane Hime/Corpse Princess).

Yukata Night Out

2011-07-24T02:39:00.002-05:00

This past Friday, my sister Jessi and I met up with a large group of people from Anime Blues Con at a local Japanese restaurant. Many of us staff members were there, as well as a few attendees. Believe it or not, I asked Jessi if she would wear her yukata with me, and she said yes! =D I think what convinced her was that I told her I could tie her obi in karuta musubi so she could sit back on it without crushing it. The whole outfit was so cute on her (she's the one in white and blue below). We inadvertently wore opposite colors, too, which is definitely ironic since we are opposite personalities.

Here's just one picture from inside the restaurant:

I didn't realize it until I looked at the pictures, but her collar is backward. (I killed her! X_X) And it was soooooo hot - about 100˚F (38˚C)! You can probably tell by the pink in our faces how warm it was. The restaurant was air conditioned, but with so many people and the fact that we were on the 2nd floor of the building, it was still quite warm inside. Thank God these yukata are washable!

More pics:

New Geta!

2011-07-19T11:46:00.003-05:00

I have been waiting to get some new geta for some time. I really wanted black lacquer geta in the toothed style, so I finally got some inexpensive ones today. Yay ;D

Anime Blues Con 2011

2011-07-18T09:33:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been a few weeks since the last post. I was CRAZY busy with last minute preparations for the very first Anime Blues Con! It went so well! We had over 1,300 attendees plus 300 presenters and guests! I was so busy that I didn't have time to take many pics, but I did get a few of me in my omodaka sha kimono from the first day.

Josh wore his Kisuke Urahara costume (from Bleach). Even Oshawott made an appearance. ^_^

The next night he wore his rangiku yukata.

He's so handsome in it! XP

Gold Autumn Bridge Obi

2011-06-22T22:47:00.000-05:00

I fully did not expect to win this obi because I only put in a minimum bid. But luckily, I am the owner of this lovely gold fukuro obi with kiku, momiji, sensu, and bridge design.

Sailor Mars Cosplay

2011-06-21T21:40:00.000-05:00

Very soon, my Sailor Mars cosplay will finally be complete! I've wanted to cosplay a Sailor Senshi since I was a kid watching the anime on Toonami after school. I've had a Sailor Mars costume for about a year now, but like many premade ones, it's far too short. I'm going to redo the bodice to make it a full three inches longer so that it fits me properly. I also ordered a few things to finish it off:

a Super Sailor Mars brooch (since the costume is missing it)...

a Super Sailor Mars transformation wand...

...and metal Sailor Mars tiara (Sailor Pluto is shown in the picture, but it's the same color stone).

I will add pictures of the completed look when it's done!

Red & Yellow Date-Eri and White & Gold Obijime

2011-06-18T10:14:00.002-05:00

I finally got myself a date-eri today. It's reversible between yellow with sayagata pattern and red with faux shibori. I'm already planning outfits with it!

I also bought a white and gold obijime to finish off my kurotomesode ensemble, as a gift to myself for passing the NCLEX!!!

Grey Sha Obi

2011-06-15T22:59:00.000-05:00

Not on the "to buy" list, but I couldn't resist putting in a minimum bid, and I got it luckily. It's simple, so it will go with many things. ^_^

Kimono Wishlist

2011-06-13T20:44:00.002-05:00

I need to give my buying more direction so that I can stop making bids on things I don't need... So here's the list, as it stands right now (* = want most or need soon, • = want, but not needed soon):

* ~~White and gold flat obijime~~
• Royal or navy blue ~~obiage~~ and obijime
• Light yellow obiage
* Orange obijime and obiage
• Light purple obi
* Light blue obiage
• ~~Another fukuro obi to go with my kurotomesode~~
• Light blue obi
• Green iromuji
• Gold brocade zori
• L or LL zori (purple, pink, blue)
* ~~Stretch white tabi~~

Five Obijime

2011-06-13T17:57:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite sellers on eBay frequently sells obijime in sets, but the problem is often that one or more of the colors are too similar to things I own already, but this one was perfect. And it had a yellow obijime that I needed for an autumn ensemble I've been planning.

In addition to the yellow obijime, I got obijime in gold and silver; dark pink; red, pink, and white; and mint green. I had a mint obijime at one point, but I redyed it due to staining, so I'm glad to have another one again.

Another Mystery Plant Motif

2011-06-10T22:48:00.004-05:00

I had been absolutely pining over this obi for some time now, and it finally went on sale so I snatched it up!

I just love that understated simplicity! But I have next to no idea what kind of plant that is. Perhaps lotus?

Edit: Another person confirmed that it is lotus. =) Funny thing though: lotus is a late summer motif, but the obi is not an open weave, such as sha or ro. Hmmm...

Summer Kimono and Obi

2011-06-08T18:58:00.000-05:00

Well, after an unsuccessful try at another ro obi, I bid on and won this one. It's not perfect for the omodaka kimono, but it will do:

Also put in a small bid on this sha kimono and won unopposed:

Kimono Photoshoot

2011-06-06T05:30:00.003-05:00

I was asked to do a photoshoot for our Anime Blues Con photographer so he could work out his new equipment with the green screen and 3D effects. Here are a few of the photos:

For fun, we did some shots at the end with my hair down and with a katana for maximum badass-ness. Of course, it ruined my kitsuke, but that's why it was at the end!

More Obiage and Obijime

2011-06-04T19:31:00.018-05:00

I bought a new ro obiage and obijime set today. After re-dyeing the old blue one to yellow and buying a matching yellow summer obijime, I decided I either needed a blue or green set for a softer look, so I got BLUE-GREEN, lol.

I also ordered a white and pink obiage that was quite cheap due to staining, but I figure I will dye it (maybe blue?), so no one will see the stains anyway.

This yellow summer obijime came in the mail yesterday, so now I have a yellow summer set! (It actually has little iridescent threads running through it which catch the light so beautifully!)

This is the matching obiage, which I dyed yellow (used to be pale blue):

I also dyed my pink shibori obiage to this lovely lavender color. I think it will see much more use now.

Café au Lait Houmongi

2011-06-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

I am so excited that I won this houmongi on eBay yesterday! It's a gorgeous café au lait color with what I believe to be autumn grasses. Of course, I needed another kimono like a hole in the head, but since I sold my peony furisode, I figured the money could go toward a replacement. ^_^

Now what I do actually need are some more obi and obiage. Since I still have $11 left, I will put that toward the next purchase. =)

Yellow Tsumugi Kitsuke

2011-05-25T20:46:00.001-05:00

I got my yellow tsumugi kimono in the mail today, and I immediately tried it on. I can now see why many people are so fond of tsumugi. The fabric felt amazing to the touch, and it's a dream to wear! I have a feeling that I will be looking for more tsumugi when the kimono coffers are refilled. ;)

Very Long Bird Komon

2011-05-25T17:04:00.004-05:00

Finally! A very tall kimono that didn't completely break the bank! I ordered this bird komon today. A lovely person on the Immortal Geisha forums identified the birds as barn swallows (tsubame). ANYWAY... It's a generous 67 inches, so I will be able to make a really nice ohashori.

I'm content. ^_^

Tsuta Nagoya Obi and Stylized Rangiku Men's Yukata

2011-05-23T17:16:00.001-05:00

My two purchases of the day:

First is a tsumugi nagoya obi with a tsuta (ivy) motif. It's roughly woven so as to be somewhat sheer, and therefore cool and summery.

Second is a men's yukata for my boyfriend. This one has stylized rangiku (spider mum) on it.

I will post kitsuke pictures when they arrive. ^_^

Blue Striped Hitoe Kitsuke

2011-05-19T20:13:00.000-05:00

I haven't practiced kitsuke since MTAC, so before the ABC meeting on Sunday, I quickly put on my blue striped hitoe kimono. I didn't use any padding for two reasons: 1. I only had 30 minutes to get dressed for the meeting, and 2. It was hot outside. I used my warm brown hanhaba obi and tied it in karuta musubi since I would be driving and didn't want to crush the musubi. It was "matchy" but I added the ice blue obijime to help secure the karuta. For dressing in only 20 minutes without padding, I'd say I didn't do too bad.

I'm going to try to wear kimono to more meetings in the future. ^_^

Yellow Tsumugi

2011-05-18T16:25:00.000-05:00

I've been collecting and wearing kimono for four years now, and I have finally gotten an appreciation for wool and tsumugi. In the past, I went for bright and gaudy, but my tastes are changing as I get older and my collection grows. I have a few pieces that I am currently trying to trade so I don't spend too much money, but I really couldn't pass up this gorgeous yellow tsumugi.

I won't be able to wear it until autumn, but that will give me time to coordinate it with a fall obi. I has lines of green, red, and brown thread, so I will be looking for a dyed or painted obi that plays on those colors. My dark red obiage and brown obijime would probably fit nicely with it as far as accessories go, but until I select the obi, I will hold off on that coordination.

Sha Kimono with Omodaka Motif

2011-05-17T17:40:00.003-05:00

I honestly was not sure what motif I had on this new sha kimono that I purchased from Shinei today. The seller listed it as "bamboo flower", but after looking through Japanese motif sites, I was unable to find a good match. I asked around, and I do believe it's omodaka or water plantain. Here's the piece:

Close-up of design:

My plan is to either trade for pale or butter yellow ro obiage and obijime or re-dye my pale blue ro obiage and coral obijime. The color would match my other summer ensemble as well. I think that an woven obi of the pale blue color on the kimono or the teal color would round out the piece nicely. I am certainly up for suggestions as well!

ANIME BLUES CON - MEMPHIS, TN - JULY 8-10, 2011

2011-05-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

We have less than 2 months left until Anime Blues Con! We just finalized the schedule yesterday, and I am PUMPED! This is going to be an amazing weekend with tracks ranging from otaku, to culture, to adult, to kids' activities, to gaming, and MUCH, MUCH MORE!! I hope we have a great turnout this year! Please either email me at gaston.jackie@yahoo.com or go to the website animeblues.com if you have any questions! See you at the Tower!

The Word from MTAC

2011-04-26T08:46:00.001-05:00

Originally, Mac and I were supposed to go together, but we broke up this month, so I ended up taking the whole drive alone to Nashville to go the 11th Middle Tennessee Anime Convention. It was not truly that big a deal since I was pumping the tunes and just feeling good in general that I was seeing my friends and had an amazing weekend ahead of me.

So on Friday, I dressed people in yukata at the Anime Blues Con booth. I had some very enthusiastic takers, but unfortunately no guys to let me practice my kai no kuchi musubi XP. My friend Sarah and I went to another friend's room party where we had way too much to drink and way too much fun ^_^. I met some very cool people that I hope I will see more of in the future. The party got shut down after some crazy guy trying to avoid security ran through the room.

Saturday was my yukata panel. I asked for a screen and projector, but got a TV, sound equipment, and no cables, so I threw out my PowerPoint presentation and just winged it. It went surprisingly well. I dressed two people from the audience and answered a lot of questions. I also helped a few girls with their kitsuke. Due to residual hangover, I went back to my room to rest for a few hours following my panel. In the evening, I helped my sister and friends to judge the cosplay contest at the Pokémon Party, which was bigger than ever! We had an amazing time for sure.

Sunday was a bust. I was supposed to do a panel on geisha, but since the presentation was highly visual, and I still had neither a screen and projector, nor even the TV that was there the day before, so I had to cancel the panel. I am sorry to everyone who wanted to attend, and hopefully, we'll try again next year. Good did come out of this in the fact that I was able to leave Nashville early enough to get home in time to see some family before they left back to Houston. And I got to meet up with a very amazing guy named Josh who I am seeing now. Who knows? Maybe I'll get him to wear kimono with me XP.

Rose Komon with Hakata Obi

2011-04-02T18:44:00.001-05:00

I got this great cream and green hakata obi from one of the members of the Immortal Geisha forum during our monthly kimono trade. I had owned a hakata obi before, but only briefly (the seller told me it was much longer than it actually was, so I resold it). This one is plenty long for me and goes with many things in my wardrobe. Today, I paired it with my rose komon and a pink obiage and obijime.

Steampunk Inspired Kimono Hime

2011-03-27T20:07:00.002-05:00

The Middle Tennessee Anime Convention is coming up in only one month now, and it's definitely the highlight of my year! I have been trying to come up with three kimono ensembles to wear for the weekend, and I decided to do one kimono hime at the request of some of my friends. I have some vintage-look items hanging around, so I made a steampunk inspired ensemble. I used my brown yukata and brown floral obi, as well as my brown and red obijime and dark red obiage, and of course, Victorian style boots! I added some accessories, and well, here it is...

Cherry Blossoms in Collierville Town Square

2011-03-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

My parents and I made a quick trip to the town square yesterday. No matter what the time of year, it always look so nice there. I took some pictures of the cherry trees, red buds, and tulips. What a way to welcome spring!

Ro Ensemble - All Put Together =)

2011-03-21T14:35:00.001-05:00

Despite the fact that it is still only March, it's already 80˚F (27˚C)! Since I finally got my ro ensemble finished, I took pictures outside. Some of the photos are "accidentally artistic". Despite two of them being blurry, the look was still very neat, so I've included them anyway.

Ro Ensemble

2011-03-20T18:55:00.003-05:00

I finally got the ro obi I ordered, so my ro ensemble is finally complete! The only piece I'm concerned about is the obiage, as it kind of blends with the light color of the obi. I'm considering dyeing the obiage and obijime bright red to match the red leaves on the kimono.

RIP Sugar

2011-03-12T18:33:00.000-06:00

My hamster Sugar passed away today. She was the sweetest hamster ever, and I miss her so much. She is completely irreplaceable. Rest in peace, my sweet darling.

Keep Japan In Your Thoughts

2011-03-11T10:13:00.003-06:00

The earthquakes and tsunamis that have hit Japan are proving to be highly devastating. Please keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers during this disastrous time. Many websites, such as CNN are providing updates.

Keep your hopes up that the missing will be found, the injured will be healed, and the devastated areas will rebuild.

(image from Kimono Tsuki)

Kofurisode to Komon

2011-03-10T17:00:00.001-06:00

After yesterday's success in turning my sakura kofurisode into a houmongi, I decided to also shorten the sleeves on my purple kofurisode. Because of its pattern, this made it a komon, which is much more practical. I also did kitsuke with this one, pairing it with my pink striped hitoe obi, a green obiage, and a cream and mint obijime. I think the combo worked out nicely! ^_^

Kofurisode to Houmongi

2011-03-09T14:50:00.004-06:00

I decided to shorten the sleeves of my sakura kofurisode. I'm almost too old for furisode, kofurisode has few uses (most of which I am too old for, once again), and I have no juban to fit a kofurisode. The sleeves are now 49.5 cm long, and the kimono is now a houmongi. I plan on wearing this houmongi at the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention in April when I do my yukata and geisha panels.

BEFORE

AFTER

Now, I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with the extra fabric. Kanzashi perhaps?

And of course, I had to practice kitsuke with it:

Plum Blossoms

2011-03-09T12:39:00.000-06:00

There are 3 main types of trees that flower first in Memphis, Tennessee: plum, pear, and red bud. The plum is by far my favorite, and the rarest of the three. Plums often don't grow well here because we usually don't have cold enough winters for plums, but these little trees at a gas station close to my house have been alive and well for several years now. When my boyfriend and I stopped to get something yesterday, I took the opportunity to take a few photos of the blossoms before they fall.

Red Obiage

2011-03-05T19:10:00.002-06:00

Red obiage often seem to be ubiquitous in wafuku, especially in the ensembles of geiko and maiko. I have a few kimono and obi that would look nice with a red obiage, so I purchased one today from Shinei with the last of my birthday money:

I had them send it AirMail, so hopefully it will arrive fairly quickly so I can post some pics with some other new items I have received as of late!

Kikyo Summer Fukuro Obi

2011-02-28T20:06:00.002-06:00

Today was my birthday, so I decided I would get a "birthday gift to me" with some money I was given. Since it's already been in the 60s and 70s over the past few weeks here in Memphis, I've been getting the summer bug. I had yet to get a summer obi to complete my ro ensemble, so I figured there was no better time than now, and I bought this fukuro obi I've been eyeing for a while now. It's a simple white/cream color with silver kikyo woven in.

Since I have some kimono demonstrations to do this summer, this will really help with keeping me cool, since some may involve going outdoors. After debuting my first ro kimono last summer, I learned the difference between ro and hitoe is phenomenal, especially during a humid Memphis summer!

Birthday Kitsuke

2011-02-26T15:37:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, some friends and I got together and celebrated my birthday early (it's not until February 28th). I decided, "It's my birthday, and what the heck, I'll wear kimono!" I pulled out my bangasa odori kimono (since it's washable) and my botan nagoya obi. I paired these with my pink sakura obiage, purple & gold obijime, black sakura tabi, and pale green zori. I was very happy with the combo and have gotten very positive feedback from the lovely people on the Immortal Geisha forums.

I also took the opportunity to dress my friend up in my sakura kofurisode because my matsukawabishi fukuro obi came today (great birthday gift to myself!!). I couldn't do a great job on her because I ran out of stuff to use for padding. X.X I also still need work on furisode musubi, so I'm not going to show the picture of the musubi. With more practice, I'll feel more confident, I'm sure.

Blue Striped Hitoe and Green Obiage

2011-02-23T16:05:00.010-06:00

I put in a $2 bid on this kimono thinking I'd be outbid, but I won this lovely striped hitoe kimono. It's simple, and it should be a nice addition to the collection. ^_^

I'm actually thinking of doing a "casual courtesan" cosplay with it (e.g., from this Japanese advertisement):

With my fuji obi and a little temporary tweaking of the kimono, it just might work!

On a side note, I also picked up this green obiage:

First Attempt a Bunko Musubi for Furisode

2011-02-20T14:30:00.000-06:00

I want to start by saying that this is NOT my best kitsuke ever.

This was my first time trying bunko musubi on a furisode. I had to tie it in the front and then turn it around, so the ohashori got messed up in the process. The obijime photographed as neon pink, but it's truly not that bright.

I am going to try this again when my matsukawabishi fukuro obi arrives.

Improvement Happens (or What a Difference a Year Makes)

2011-02-19T16:22:00.008-06:00

I recently did a redo of some ensembles from last year, and the improvement is evident. Here's the pics:

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

The trends I notice from the past:
• Messy obiage and objime
• Long and poofy ohashori
• Kimono and nagajuban collars separate and uneven
• Little or no padding

Overall, my style seems neater and more mature. Things I hope to keep improving on:
• Keep collar from moving forward (need to make more chikara nuno)
• Smoother ohashori and obiage
• Flatten "the girls" more

Fuji Hitoe Obi

2011-02-19T14:35:00.008-06:00

I bought this fuji (wisteria) obi today. I had been looking for a white- or cream-base obi, but every one I liked kept going for high prices, so when I ran across this one on Etsy for only $15, I jumped on it! I love fuji and have yet to own anything with this motif, so I am quite pleased that I got it. And it's just over 150 inches (380 cm) long, so it should fit my Western body. ^_^ I'm pretty sure it has some light stains, but if they're not too much, I'm sure I can work them out with some TLC. Also, I'm not sure whether it's red or orange. The pictures make it look like it could go either way. So, I'll just have to wait until it arrives to find out.

Close-up of the design

I plan on wearing it with my blue-purple ro komon, since the obi is hitoe. The fuji design will be great for summer. And with this komon, there will be so many stripes!!

Close-up of the blue-purple ro komon with leaf design

Yellow Striped Komon

2011-02-18T21:11:00.003-06:00

I bought this yellow striped komon about one year ago, and I haven't worn it out but one time. It's a shame because it is one of my best fitting kimono, and my wine red nagoya obi matches so nicely with it. I did a quick kitsuke with it, and I am quite happy with the results. I had a dilemma between my blue obijime and green obijime. Both colors are present in small amounts in the kimono, and they both look fine, but I went with my gut and chose the blue obijime. Although looking back, the green would have been nice as well...

Bright Orange Tsukesage

2011-02-14T15:45:00.001-06:00

The orange tsukesage in my closet was calling out for love today (it is Valentine's Day after all), so I took it out and paired it with my pine fukuro obi (tied in nijuudaiko) as a last homage to winter before I put all of the wintery things away for the season. I chose my purple & mint obiage and my purple & gold obijime to round out the ensemble. I always felt that the orange and purple just mesh nicely. And I threw in my homemade netsuke for a cute touch. ^_^

Karabana and Matsukawabishi Fukuro Obi

2011-02-11T18:45:00.001-06:00

I went on ahead a dished out a little more cash than usually so I could get this beautiful (and super shiny!) karabana and matsukawabishi fukuro obi. These designs tend to work for all seasons, so I'm happy about that for sure. I plan on wearing it with my sakura kofurisode and maybe my peony chuuburisode.

Close-up of detail

Valentine's Cupcakes

2011-02-10T19:21:00.000-06:00

What better way to win over your sweetheart than with something yummy? My sister and I made red velvet cupcakes with a pink cream cheese icing. It couldn't be easier to make and the colors are just perfect! Top it all off with a cute cake pick, and you're ready to give it to your sweetie! (If Anti-Valentine's Day is more your style, I suggest dyeing the frosting black instead of pink!)

Blue Rose Komon With Reversible Hanhaba Obi

2011-02-10T15:44:00.002-06:00

My kitsuke is considerably better than my last attempt with this kimono. It's very slick and hard to keep in place, but with some nice tight knots and a korin belt, it seems to be staying better. And it's quite funny that I bought this obi for it's orange-brown side, but the red and blue-green side is what I ended up using initially because it just looked so nice! I did take one picture with the other side. Let me know what you think!

Kimono Lily is Closing =(

2011-02-08T19:22:00.000-06:00

As some of you may already know, Kimono Lily is closing down at the end of February. If you receive their newsletter, you can get 50% off all items on the site.

I took advantage of this to finally get a summer obijime.

I'm not too sure the color will coordinate well with what I own, but I can always re-dye it if I find the color is not suitable.

Obi Chart

2011-02-05T18:56:00.002-06:00

I made this chart to aid people in quickly picking the proper type of obi for different types of kimono. I hope you all will find it helpful. (Just click to see the enlarged image.)

(Note that it is not all-inclusive and you should use good judgment when selecting formality, season, and occasion. For example, it is proper to wear a fukuro obi with an iromuji, but you wouldn't want to wear a fukuro with a lot of metallic in it to a tea ceremony.)

Happy kitsuke!

Reversible Hanhaba Obi

2011-01-27T20:02:00.001-06:00

I won this obi yesterday from Shinei's eBay auctions for 6 cents! It's a reversible hanhaba obi - brown with flowers on one side and red and blue-green on the other. It's got lovely gold thread running throughout, and it's plenty long for a hanhaba (406 cm). I hope the brown color is accurate, because I bought it to match my new rose komon (see previous post)

Vintage Blue Rose Komon

2011-01-22T20:53:00.004-06:00

I won this vintage blue komon today for 1 cent! I love wins like that! I hope it's the exact same color as pictured and not more green, but we will see when it arrives in a few weeks. I love the design of climbing roses. It even has little rose buds and rose hips! Owing to the fact that it is awase (lined), I presume it is a spring kimono.

This kimono has some stains, unfortunately, which I am going to try to spot out. Typically, using a little mild soap or detergent and wet sponge to wash the spots and another sponge with just water (not dripping wet though) to "rinse" is a good method. Of course, not all dyes will hold when you do this, but for an inexpensive kimono, this seems to be worth it to help restore its value.

I have my work cut out for me...

Ko-Ume Kanzashi

2011-01-20T15:26:00.000-06:00

Just in time for February, I made a little ume kanzashi! I have white one that I made years ago that is a little larger, but the quality is not near as good as this one. I hope to make more to sell soon!

Dreaming of Summer

2011-01-20T14:58:00.009-06:00

I don't know about the rest of the Northern hemisphere, but I'm getting tired of winter. It's fun through the first snowfall, but then (at least here in Memphis), it's just wet and cold. Since my boyfriend's new obi came in yesterday, we did an impromptu yukata photoshoot. ^_^ As someone on the Immortal Geisha forums pointed out, his obi is thinner than the typical kaku obi. I have seen only once before a kaku obi this thin (5 cm or 2 inches), also used on a yukata. Since yukata is very informal, this width should not be a problem. However, for a more formal outfit, I would suggest getting the standard sized kaku (9 cm or 3.5 inches) - which will be one of our next purchases, once the kimono "coffers" are full again!

For the first part of the "photoshoot", I wore my kingyo yukata. The hanhaba obi and the yukata both have lace detailing which I just love!

The second outfit I did for the "Single color challenge" on the Immortal Geisha forums. It's a plain brown yukata with my brown ogi hanhaba obi. I did a karuta musubi, just to try something different. It's not perfect, since it was a first try, but I will do better next time! Désolé! Overall, the brown is very obaasan, but very tasteful in some ways as well.

New Year's Kitsuke (belated) and My Boyfriend in Yukata!

2011-01-10T16:50:00.003-06:00

I know it's been 10 days since New Year's day, but my kurotomesode didn't come in until two days ago, and I've been dying to do some kitsuke with it. Since my silver obijime has not arrived yet, and I do not own a white obiage, I have substituted a cream obijime and light pink obiage for the meantime. (Forgive me!) I paired the kimono with my pine fukuro obi, which I think went quite nicely with it. It fit the season very well. ^_^ The kurotomesode itself has pheasants on it, of which I am uncertain of the seasonality (if there is one). When I get married, I will be happy because I can pull this one out again for ceremonial occasions.

Back shot:

Mac got his first yukata in the mail today! Since the obi has yet to arrive, we substituted a red hanhaba obi that we folded in half to look like a kaku obi. It's bold, but I've seen more brightly colored men's obi lately, and since it's informal, I think it looks just fine! He looks so handsome!

Back shot:

Working on mischief together ;D

Stunt "Raindrops" Wallpaper

2011-01-08T20:53:00.000-06:00

New Kimono for a New Year

2011-01-05T10:12:00.002-06:00

As of late, I have purchased a few items from Shinei through their 1 cent sale on eBay. All of the items I bought for $0.01-$1.75! Here's what I got:

Kurotomesode with pheasants

Furisode with peonies

Sakura Kanzashi

2011-01-01T21:23:00.000-06:00

I spent several hours today working on this kanzashi today. It's my first successful attempt at making sakura. It hurt my hands, eyes, back - well, EVERYTHING! But it was very worth it! It will go nicely with my sakura kofurisode. I most likely will debut this combo at MTAC 2011 in April. =)

The kofurisode that I plan on coordinating with the kanzashi:

Yukata for my Boyfriend!

2010-12-31T19:37:00.003-06:00

I have to say, I have the best boyfriend ever! He was extremely eager (dare I say jumping at the chance) to get a yukata! I have been dying to get a guy in kimono forever, so this is so exciting for me! We ordered him a patterned yukata, navy kaku obi, and a pair of black tabi (he insisted on the tabi because he hates feeling like he's going barefoot). I already own a pair of men's geta (don't ask, lol.), so he can wear those until he buys a pair of his own. Here are the yukata and kaku obi:

It was all at a good price for a "starter set", and I will post pictures of his kitsuke when they arrive!

Helpful Hints from Tomasan

2010-12-30T20:20:00.002-06:00

For those of you unfamiliar with the wonders of Tomasan, please let me introduce you! She has very nicely complied a comprehensive list of kitsuke techniques, for men, women, and children. And these don't just include the basic kitsuke offered by most kimono websites. She often delves into more advanced techniques and musubi. These two things I will offer to you today.

First, how to "tuck" the obiage (used with furisode):

Second, how to tie shigoki:

Good luck with your kitsuke!!!

Spring in Winter

2010-12-29T20:00:00.002-06:00

I got this purple kofurisode over the summer, and until today, it still had the tags on it! I felt bad for neglecting it, and despite it being winter, I decided it needed some attention. I paired it with my pale green fukuro obi which I tied in otaiko, and then I finished it off with a green obijime, pink shibori obiage, my octopus obidome, and my pale green zori. :) Overall, I'm pleased! I did the musubi in the front, and it actually didn't turn it to a total wreck when I turned it around the back! I wish my collar was a little better, but I had to use my eri sugata since I haven't gotten around to finding a nagajuban with sleeves that fit this kimono. :ohno: My ohashori is just a tiny bit too long for my taste, but I think that's just being nitpicky... XP Sorry that the pics aren't better, but my boyfriend was kind enough to take these for me, so I can't truly complain (SO much better than taking them by myself with the mirror!).

OBIDOME FTW!

2010-12-28T14:48:00.000-06:00

I made some obidome today from some pieces I had lying around in my crafting drawer. Since I don't own a soldering iron, all I did was hot glue on a pin backing. Couldn't have been easier and looks great!

The first one is a rose:

And the second one is an octopus/cthulhu:

Black Sesame Cream

2010-12-25T18:15:00.001-06:00

black sesame cream-filled dorayaki
Something about black sesame cream sounds so delicious to me. Toasted sesame seeds, with their light nutty taste, mixed in a silky buttercream... Mmmmmmmm... I have seen black sesame seeds used more frequently lately, especially into the American foodie diet. They flavor macarons, dorayaki, ice cream, pudding, and many more lovely treats. This is my next food project. It will be even better if I can get all natural/organic ingredients. I think it's doable. ^_^

メリークリスマス! (Merry Christmas!)

2010-12-25T15:10:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you're having a lovely day as well!

photo from phototravels.net

Dango Ideas

2010-12-21T00:00:00.003-06:00

Traditional dango. If you've had it, you know it's chewy and yummy in its simplicity. The traditional sauce for kushi dango is a sweet and salty soy sauce-based sauce. But I've been thinking: How can I make dango different? I've been contemplating adding fruit or other flavors to change the typical dango up a bit. Food grade flavorings would probably be a good solution to add a lot of flavor without a lot of liquid. If we're looking into natural flavorings though, citrus zests and vanilla bean/extract, among others, are other good choices for not adding too much extra liquid to the mix. Then there's the thought of replacing some or all of the water with juice or flower water (such as rose water). And then, instead of using the traditional sauce, coat it with a simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar) or roll in sugar.

Ah, I see cavities in my future.

Tea Sweets: Wagashi

2010-12-20T20:09:00.006-06:00

I have been doing a little research on the internet about higashi, dry sweets served with thin tea (usucha), after reading more books about tea ceremony lately. I have had the pleasure to try these little sweets during a tea ceremony demonstration at the annual Japanese festival at Memphis Botanical Gardens this past September. Higashi are made of a special type of sugar called wasanbon and pressed into molds. According to most sites I viewed, they almost impossible to get or make. My response to that is this: Rakuten. I typed "wasanbon" in the search box and a bunch of higashi came up, as well as wasanbon itself, of course. They range from the simple dome shape to elaborate flowers and shapes. The higashi range from about ¥525 (about $6.25) and up, depending on the variety and amount you buy. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try this recipe using either traditional Japanese molds (available at tea-passage.com) or plastic candy molds.

Namagashi, on the other hand, are a little different. These are wet sweets served with thick tea (koicha). While namagashi are supposed to be handmade and eaten usually within a day of making, you can easily use store-bought mochi or daifuku for informal situations. Also, recipes are easier to find on the internet if you feel like making some yourself.

And now I'm dying for a tea party. Anyone interested?

(Photos are from jimmie04's Flickr and Japan Foodie.)

Strawberry Macarons

2010-12-17T23:01:00.002-06:00

I have had the crazy urge to make macarons since my last failed attempt at them. This time, they actually turned out pretty well! Despite having a few cracked and misshapen ones, most of them looked decent. The recipe I used is a Laduree style recipe.

The biggest hints that I have to give for this recipe are:
1. Once you have made the macaron shapes on the baking sheet, let them sit for about 10-15 minutes. This will help keep them from cracking when baked.
2. Use a clip or rubber band on the end of the pastry bag to keep the batter from coming out.
3. Use a silicon baking mat if you have one. It will help keep the macarons from over-baking.
4. Use the middle rack in the oven only.
5. If you use the strawberry recipe, use 1/2 cup of strawberry preserves in the buttercream rather than the 1/3 cup suggested in the recipe. 1/3 cup just doesn't provide enough strawberry flavor.
6. Use slightly more food coloring than you think you need. The pastry will lighten a little as it bakes.

Good luck if you decide to take the macaron plunge!

Winter Kitsuke

2010-12-17T14:25:00.003-06:00

It's a shame that I didn't have time to practice kitsuke much this semester, so I had to entirely thwart the fall ensembles and move right into winter! This ensemble is not perfectly winter, but the colors were the main draw for putting these things together. The nearly all black ensemble is very chic to me. The kimono is a black tsukesage with purple bangasa. The obi is nagoya style wine red with silver accented white peonies. While peonies are not winter, the colors of that obi certainly are wintery. The haori is a brand new one with momiji and ume that I have been DYING to photograph. I chose my mint and lavender obiage and an ice blue obijime to round out the Japanese part of the ensemble. I finished

it off with Western winter accessories: black boots (borrowed from my sister), a grey beret, and black knitted gloves. It was quite toasty under all of that, which was definitely a good thing because it was close to freezing outside when we took the pictures! I was pleased my kitsuke today, especially with my collars. I even had my sister take photos of them to show them off! The ohashori even looked good (for once)! The only thing I would fix is my obiage because it looked messy. But that's only one thing out of many, so I can't complain! =D

Much thanks to my lovely sister who took some very awesome photos.

Ume & Sake

2010-12-16T23:02:00.004-06:00

I just thought that this was a beautiful image and felt like sharing it:

image from kyotofoodie.com

New Layout

2010-12-16T21:35:00.004-06:00

After a long four month hiatus due to educational obligations, I will hopefully have some new posts. I did make a new layout which is macaron themed. Apparently, maracons are my new mini obsession. But how couldn't you get obsessed with them?! They're colorful, fun to photograph, and overall DELICIOUS. The only problem is that they are incredibly difficult to make correctly; however, I am bound and determined to get it right someday. I got my sister an "at-home" macaron maker for Christmas, so hopefully she'll like that and let me get involved in the making of them. She and I have been meaning to have a picnic again and keep putting it off, so hopefully when the weather warms up this spring, we'll get to it and make some lovely macarons to bring along!

Anberlin Wallpaper

2010-09-06T22:44:00.004-05:00

SPECS
size: 1280 x 800 pixels, 908kb
file format: PNG
program: Photoshop
time: 3 hours
image credit: anberlin.com
lyrics credit: anberlin.com
©2010 jadeXcore

Photoshoppin'

2010-08-19T16:13:00.002-05:00

Sophie Ellis-Bextor Wallpaper

2010-08-12T15:50:00.003-05:00

I decided to make a wallpaper of the British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor today. I think it turned out nicely. I like the color scheme I chose most of all. Dimensions are 1280x800.

(All credit for photo to Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Manipulation by jadeXcore.)

Pendulum and Imogen Heap Wallpapers

2010-08-11T16:49:00.005-05:00

The first wallpaper is one using pictures from the official videos of the band Pendulum's new singles "Witchcraft" and "Watercolour". The lyrics are from "Witchcraft". In no way do I take credit for the pictures or the lyrics, just the editing. This wallpaper is 1280x800.

The second wallpaper is one using pictures and lyrics from the official video of Imogen Heap's song "Goodnight and Go". Once again, I don not take credit for the pictures or the lyrics, just the editing. This wallpaper is also 1280x800.

Steampunk Kimono

2010-07-28T10:49:00.006-05:00

I've been working on this costuming idea for about a month now, and my "character" is finally complete! I don't have any full body photos yet unfortunately, but I will get them up as soon as possible. Here's some of the photos:

Official Date for Delta Anime Expo 2011

2010-07-03T11:51:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, I am the head of the Japanese culture committee for the Delta Anime Expo (DAX). We now have an official date and location for our convention! It will be July 8-10, 2011 at the Hilton East in Memphis, Tennessee. For all updates, please visit the official Delta Anime Expo website.

Shamisen

2010-07-03T11:35:00.008-05:00

Today, I bought my first shamisen!

Some info:
A shamisen is a traditional Japanese musical instrument that somewhat resembles a banjo. The one I bought is nagauta style, the smallest type of shamisen. The next size up is jiuta and the largest is tsugaru. This type is also the type played my geiko (geisha) and maiko.

(***UPDATED 7/22/10) Here is a picture of my new beauty, accessories added:

It has been my dream for years to own a shamisen, and now I was able to get a fairly inexpensive one. I paid about $250 for it. It is used and has synthetic skins, which does not produce as nice of a sound as cat or dog skins, but it is practical for someone like me who does not have the need to have an expensive instrument because I'm just playing for myself. Also, it's a first instrument, so I don't want to pay too much for something I may not end up liking.

The instrument itself is completely intact, but it is missing a few accessories. While not completely necessary, they extend the life of the instrument. I need a doukake, which is a cover for the top of the instrument that protects it when you are playing. I also need a hiza gomu, a cloth that keeps it from slipping off of your legs while you play. The last piece I need is a yubisuri, a piece of cloth that you put over your finger to help it slide along the back of the shamisen for easier play and to protect the wood.

Hopefully, I will learn some basic songs and maybe one day I will be able to do more. =)

Tsumami Kanzashi Tutorial

2010-06-13T21:17:00.005-05:00

I made a simple step-by-step tutorial for those of you who would like to make your own tsumami kanzashi, which are traditional Japanese flowers folded out of fabric, usually silk. This tutorial will show you how to make the two main petal shapes: round and pointed, as well as how to do falls of petals, the bases, and a basic "bouquet" arrangement. Click on the link below to view and download the tutorial. I hope this helps you and gives you a creative boost:

Tsumami Kanzashi Tutorial

Feel free to ask questions. Happy crafting!