Obi Prize from Furicle - Kitsuke Photos

On Saturday, the obi I won from Furicle arrived. Part of the contest deal was that I had to take pictures wearing the obi for them. I paired it with this pine, pagoda, and bridge tsukesage.

I Won an Obi!!

I'm not usually very lucky when it comes to contests, but this past week, I won an obi from Kimono Furicle's weekly giveaway! It's a beautiful kiku and momji obi:

I have to send them a photograph of me wearing it within one week since I received it today. I can't wait to coordinate with it! =D

Quick Tea Ceremony Kitsuke Post

I was definitely in a rush to get out of the house for this month's tea ceremony practice (as evidenced by the wet hair, no makeup, and use of a tsukuri obi), but I managed to get a few pictures in before we left. This time, my ensemble consisted of a matcha green iromuji, a tsukuri obi with brown and tan ichimatsu, manju kiku, and momiji, a dark red obiage, a green and white ichimatsu obijime, a sensu obidome, and dark red zori.

Japanese Bon Festival 2012 (and surprise engagement!)

September 7 and 8 was the Japanese Bon Festival here in Memphis. Friday night was a reception for the festival and a local Japanese teacher who put in over 35 years of service. I only have one photo that someone snapped of Josh, my dance teacher, and me. We were trying to decide what type of animal the "Candyman" from Epcot had made. We think it may be a pegasus?

The second day was very busy for me. Josh and I started the day helping with tea ceremony.

Higashi and fukusa

I was the assistant. Here I am bringing the sweets to the main guest.

Patti is trying to show our friend Jason how to enter the tea room. He looks so serious!

Another couple and Josh and I are the "beginner" members. Sensei is telling us what we need to do for the demonstration.

 After tea ceremony, I hurried off to ready my models for a short kimono presentation.

The three female models. 

Dressing Becka

Becka in a fall ensemble. Cecilia in a spring one.

  What I didn't know was that I was in for a huge surprise at the end of the kimono presentation. Josh took the mic and proposed. I cried so hard! Of course I said yes!! And our friends caught the pics.

I had to play the shamisen right after the proposal. Despite being choked up, I did well for my first public performance!

At the end of the day, our dance group performed a modern-style dance and then four different bon odori dances. 

Performing "Tanko Bushi"

Everyone in yukata!

We made uchiwa. Our kanji is so bad!!

Going home. A long, exciting day is done. =)

Chanoyu Juban and Brown Obiage

Sorry it's been so long since the last post! I had to move fairly suddenly, and I GOT ENGAGED!! So, real-life things had to take precedence for a little while.

Anyway, I saw this men's juban the other night and decided it would be a mistake to let it go. It's large for a vintage piece, and it has chanoyu (tea ceremony) implements on it as well as some nice shibori. I hope it will fit Josh nicely.

Since I knew I'd be paying the shipping anyway, I slipped an obiage in on this order. This nice warm metallic brown color should fit nicely with the fall ensembles coming up.

Autumn Grasses Houmongi

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:

Gold Autumn Bridge Obi

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.

Café au Lait Houmongi

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

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.