Busy tech day!

The Kimono Momo site has been updated with sale prices and information and I've been busy digging up more items to put in the store, so if you don't see something there that you desperately want yet, I might still have it tucked away in a box and just need to photograph it and update the site again. But for you, I would do this. Yes, I would.

See the mini clutch I have listed here right now? This one:


Sure, it's sold. But I have at least two more almost finished. My wholesale buyers love these. If I walk in the door with one in hand, they snap it up. Why? Because it's cute AND practical. And elegant, too. Which is kinda nifty. I might keep one for myself as I'm almost out of the obi fabric and I really like it. You should get one. They'll be gone forever soon...

Here it is...

SALE details:

from Dec. 28 - Jan. 14

$15 off all scarves
$25 off messenger bags
$10 off clutches

and free standard shipping to anywhere in the world (express is $5 if you'd prefer)

I'll be updating the site today (27th) so you can peek now, but things won't be ready until tomorrow!

Upcoming SALE info

Yep, it's time for the end-of-year clearance thing. I've got new stuff I haven't even photographed yet, but I'd love to move some of the old stuff along first, SO... I'll be working this weekend on getting new web pages ready for Kimono Momo's first ever big sale. You heard it here first! I hope you'll check in on Thursday, Dec. 28 through Jan. 1st to pick up a few bargains. Don't forget that shipping is still free in the US and discounted overseas during December, so that's a deal right there, and it will certainly get better.

Stay tuned...

Solstice is almost here

and so I'm thinking of what to do about it. I like to think of it as my real New Year, and plan my resolutions a week and a half earlier than most people. They are (drum roll please):

1. Work out and lose some flab. Typical resolution, I know, but it's time. I've been sitting on my butt for 4 years now, either in school or in front of a computer, and I miss feeling fit.

2. Work harder on my business. I've invested a lot of time, effort, study and creativity into this baby and I don't think I've pushed myself hard enough yet.

3. Travel! For business as well as pleasure. Eastern US, California and Japan are on the ideas list so far.

4. Be more social and have more fun with other people. I can be a real hermit sometimes. Need to get out of that habit.

5. Get back into studying Japanese. It would be nice to be conversational in the language if I'm going there...

That's it for now. We'll see how long I stick to any of them. Tomorrow we're opening presents!

Ferrets bouncing in my brain

Oh my. I'm still lusting after those Puma kimono shoes I mentioned a few posts down. Please, pretty pretty please Santa, I want a pair. I really do! I've been so good!!!

Danced this evening with my sweetheart as we listened to French pop music. I can understand about 1 word in 5 and he understands even less, but we love it. Natasha St. Pier tonight. Lovely.

Did some holiday shopping, felt like a lemming, but got a few things that were on various lists. Accomplishment!

Fiddled around with some scraps of silk and remembered how much I truly and sincerely miss doing Victorian costuming and going to events like the Dickens Christmas Faire in San Francisco, Civil War re-enactments, etc. Wish we had events like that here, but no.

Plenty of listings at Dream Keeper Designs right now. Check 'em out if you're in the mood for some Japanese yukata/kimono cottons. I made a quilt from some last month and it looks keen. I'll post a pic of it here one of these days soon.

Can't think of much else to say. My brain is too addled with the ferrets doing cartwheels in it. So, your turn. You post something. Be amusing, be mundane. I don't care.

So indecisive am I

Still thinking about the ebay store... I'll probably just cancel the store subscription and just post auctions twice a week, which is pretty much what I was doing before anyway. Should be more cost effective at this point, right?

I need to pry myself away from this computer and get out of the house. But it's so cold outside. Wah.

This is what happens when I have cookie dough for breakfast. Mental chaos.

It must have been elves...

I know, I know. I told you I was out of the Red Leaf scarves, that they were gone for good. Well, I found two sitting--oh so politely--forgotten in a box. I had packed them for a show and never unpacked them after returning home. So, the good news is that I still have two if you'd like one. They are positively delicious and won't last long.



They are available (for now, anyway) at Kimono Momo - Scarves. I will be updating my scarf selection this week so you can see what's new and available.

Here's a thought... I'm considering selling vintage kimono starting in January 2007. It seems a lot of people come to my site expecting to find vintage for sale and I haven't had much for two reasons:

1. I like wearing it and haven't wanted to part with a lot of the pieces I've collected.

2. The stuff is such a pain to photograph well without the proper set up, and I haven't worked that out just yet.

I've offered my services as a kimono dresser and will continue to do so, but it looks like people are more interested in hanging kimono on their walls and I can't say that I blame them. Kimono make excellent wall art.

New week, new ideas.

The "Bags" page on the Kimono Momo site has been updated and is more user friendly. If you have feedback, please post it here! It really helps me to make a more functional site. I will be listing the minibags on there soon at $30 each, but blog-friends still get them for $25. If you'd like one, email me before you order so I can handle it effectively.

I listed some perfume on ebay yesterday and it's the most active item I've got now. Maybe I'm in the wrong business?...

Effective this weekend, I've sold out of the Red Leaf kimono silk scarves. They were one of my absolute favs and will be missed, but at least they've gone to some very nice people. The Sage Green one is on stand-by as I need to make sure I have enough green left to make more. It's been my best-selling one by far this year. There are also several new ones I need to list, but that will have to wait a while. I'll post here when it happens.

Oh, wow. Kawaii desu!

Kimono Sneakers. How cool is that? At $125 a pair, I probably won't be walking around in these anytime soon, but... so cool!!

Back to Ebay...

where I will be posting new fabrics this week. I give in. I thought I could get away from it and not bother with my ebay store, Dream Keeper Designs, but I can't. The fabric bolts are sitting here looking lonely and need to be out there getting pieced into baby quilts, artwork, curtains, the possibilities are endless and so is my rambling tonight.

In other words, stay tuned. If you've bought from me in the past, you'll see some familiar pieces, but also some new ones. I think you'll be pleased. Lots of cotton, but also silk and obi scraps that I need to move because there is only so much space in my little studio.

I will also be listing a few other odds and ends that have come into my collection of stuff, including... well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Back to Portland...

Where I sold this lovely scarf:


The silk is from a vintage formal kurotomesode kimono and it's just beautiful. I do have more with this design, but not in this particular style. The others are wider and more of a drape or stole style, and wider. This one is 6" whereas the others are about 12" wide. If you like this pattern, drop me a line and I'll email you some pics of the ones I have.

The drive to and from Portland was very pleasant, and my daughter was good company after all. It's nice to get out to a "real" city once in a while. Ours is so tiny and the downtown shopping area is so small!

"TGIF" is for nine-to-fivers.

I spent the day in front of the computer. Yay. Got nothing done. Happy, happy me. Tomorrow I get to drive out to Portland YET AGAIN over the slushy, icy, snowy pass and endure several hours of my pre-teen daughter asking for money so she can buy something cool because, of course, her mother is NOT cool and terminally broke and isn't that horrible.

On the other hand, I'll probably tune her out and watch the trees whiz by, watch the river at my favourite places and be reminded once again just how green is the valley as we drop down to sea level and the snow turns to mud.

I made nothing today. Nothing. I didn't turn the sewing machine on, didn't pick up any scissors or seam rippers or razor-sharp impliments of creativity... just made business calls and took pictures of the new minibags I put together last week.

Super cute, ne? They are from a hanhaba obi and lined in either dark pink or acid green obi silk (your choice). There's a magnetic snap to keep your gear from falling out, too. The phone is in the pic for visual perspective. A few hours after I took the pics, I forgot where I'd put the phone until it started ringing and there it was, still hanging with the minibags. It's been a truly slacker day.

The minibags are $25 each. Let me know if you'd like one and I'll send it out within 24 hours 'cos that's just the way I am.