midnight/noise

I'm not here anymore.

2010-02-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

I left Oregon, my boyfriend and Blogger. You can find me at The Ardent Thread if you are so inclined.

This guy has got my vote

2008-03-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

My MIL just showed me this ad, and I have to say that after hiding under a rock all this time and avoiding political ads, this one was worth coming out for.

Every kid will want this for their birthday

2008-03-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! It's the Ann Coulter Talking Doll! (apologies if you've seen this one already, I just stumbled across it by accident) And look, she's one of "America's Real Action Heroes". Just makes your heart all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

The Ann Coulter doll is a great gift for daughters, sons, mothers and fathers. Mostly, the Ann Coulter talking doll is a great gift for Republicans and Conservatives.

Push the button on the figure, and you'll hear such "Coulterisms" as:

"Liberals can't just come out and say they want to take more of our money, kill babies, and discriminate on the basis of race."

"At least when right-wingers rant, there's a point."

"Swing voters are more appropriately known as the 'idiot voters' because they have no set of philosophical principles. By the age of fourteen, you're either a Conservative or a Liberal if you have an IQ above a toaster."

"Why not go to war just for oil? We need oil. What do Hollywood celebrities imagine fuels their private jets? How do they think their cocaine is delivered to them?"

"Liberals hate America, they hate flag-wavers, they hate abortion opponents, they hate all religions except Islam, post 9/11. Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like Liberals do. They don't have the energy. If they had that much energy, they'd have indoor plumbing by now."

This highly collectible doll comes in a display box with information highlighting Ann's unique contributions to America's political discourse. If you can't get enough Ann Coulter, you'll want to order the Ann Coulter Talking Action Figure today!

This same shop has a GWB talking doll, but for some reason they don't list any of his funny quotes. Hmm...

Help me figure out what I'm getting into

2008-03-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

There's a show I want to do. It's a big show. There will be thousands of young buyers, and many of them save up during the year just to shop at this show. So far as I know, I'll be the only one selling the items I carry (vintage kimono, etc). I really, really want to do this show.

It costs $900 just for the booth. And it's 600 miles away. I'll have to drive.

I am nuts.

Damn.

So... tell me what you think. Am I crazy, overly ambitious, or on the right track?

Red sexy

2008-02-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

My KimonoMomo bags got a nice mention A Mom in Red High Heels recently. Cool site! I say check it out.

It's all about change.

2008-02-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

A new candidate has joined the race! Loki Weasel today announced his intention to run for president, along with his long time associate, Lux Ferret.

Loki's stance on foreign policy might be a bit shaky, but that's just because he doesn't get out of the house much. His running mate Lux has strong views on education and national health care, so she'll get the job done. And as for hot button issues like illegal immigration, you know they'll be on top of things. They have experience in that regard, as so many of their bretheren live illegally in New York City and the state of California.

"Fluffy bedding, fresh kibble and clean drinking water are our top priorities," states Lux. "No one should go without the simple necessities in life. A safe place to sleep and food to eat should not be luxuries, but available to all." The candidates also are keen to make basic health care more accessible. "Loki and I both know first hand how devistating it can be to face health problems with inadequate or no insurance coverage, so we will work hard to devise the best possible plan for all, large or small."

"Let's get the rats out of office," says Loki, harkening back to the days when ferrets were highly regarded as being tough on crime, especially in erradicating vermin. "We want to clean up the government, and will work from the bottom up to ferret out those who have been corrupted by lobbyists, special interest groups and corporations."

Outspoken Dooker of the House, Boomer Rang, has thrown his support behind these two stalwart advocates of equality. "I've known them a long time, and I can honestly say Loki will put corrupt officials where they belong--on their knees. As for Lux, I know for a fact she won't take sh*t from anyone. Some may call her a shrew, but she works hard to stand up for what she believes is right."

IT'S TIME TO PUT A REAL WEASEL IN THE WHITE HOUSE

LOKI & LUX 2008

Saints preserve us!

2008-02-24T20:41:00.001-08:00

With apologies to FranIAm (who I'm sure will get a chuckle out of this anyway), I now present to you these icons designed and created by fellow Etsy artist Madelyn Smoak of Mad Art Jewelry in North Carolina.

First up we have Saint Pilaf, The Patron Saint of Imaginary Weapons of Mass Destruction. Doesn't Condi look so reverential?

This next icon brings together Saint Malevictus, The Patron Saint of Senseless Sacrifice and several of those who have been sacrificed in the War on Terror. I love the feel of this piece and the level of craftsmenship involved. Gorgeous, and yet depressing.

This one is just plain silly: Saint Doobie, The Patron Saint of Global Village Idiots.

Click through and check out her work. Madelyn has quite a selection of non-political pieces, both elegant and artistic, but these make such a statement. In keeping with my kimono theme here on the blog, I'd also like to add this one, Wabi Sabi Geisha.

And now for the gentlemen

2008-02-20T21:47:00.000-08:00

Because Comrade Kevin asked and also because I need the practice, I give you the men's version of dressing in kimono, speed-style. (note: this is not quite the traditional way, and the guys are obviously non-Japanese, but it's a funny video from the perspective of someone who has had to dress people in kimono in a hurry)

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ......

2008-02-20T11:53:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering what goes into putting on a kimono, this video will show you what I go through putting mine on, only I do it by myself with a mirror. It's kinda like having both hands tied behind my back!

Book meme

2008-02-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

I picked this one up from Comrade Kevin and DCup today because after a too-long hiatus, I'm back to reading their blogs (which I suggest you do too, if you don't already). I'm tagging myself with this one as I figured no one else would since I've been out of the loop for so long. So, here it goes:

(1) Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)
(2) Find Page 123. Find the first 5 sentences and read them.
(3) Post the next 3 sentences.
(4) Tag 5 people.

Well, since no one tagged me, I'm not going to tag anyone else. If you want to do it, I say go for it on your own volition. It's fun. The first book I grabbed was Beyond the Tanabata Bridge, Traditional Japanese Textiles. It lives either next to my bed or at my desk, depending on where I'm sitting at the time. Page 123 has a color plate of a fireman's jacket, a fantastic example of craftsmanship.

"Commoner's firefighting coat (hikeshi banten), Late Edo-early Meiji period, mid-19th century. Quilted (sashiko) cotton coth with freehand paste-resist decoration (tsutsugaki)." --yes, I do actually read this stuff for fun.

But I figured the point of the meme was to find something with actual words, so I picked up Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn (an interesting fictional tale about feudal Japan, but Shogun it ain't) and found this lovely passage:

"In the distance, a lone figure was stumbling across the plain. It fell repeatedly, struggled to its feet, sometimes crawled on hands and knees. As it came closer, they could hear its voice, a thin anguished howling that now and then quietened to sobbing only to rise again in a note that made horror touch the spines of the watching men."

Think men with really sharp swords and no centralized government to tell them, hey, leave those peasants alone! Yeah, feudal Japan, where samurai were armed and peasants occasionally got slaughtered.

Okay, your turn. Go!

lil' bizzy bee, that's me

2008-02-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

Today I signed up with flickr and Talent Database. Why? um, because people at Etsy forums told me it would be good for networking. And I guess there just aren't enough places to be online already, right? I'm already on Trunkt (which is juried, so that's really cool), myspace, here on blogger, wordpress, Etsy, eBay, Squidoo, my own website, and... I'm sure I've forgotten some.

I guess this kinda explains why I haven't been blogging much, doesn't it? I'm pooped.

Sakuran

2008-02-07T11:48:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching this film (I take Thursdays off) and it was most excellent. And before you ask, no, they are not geisha, and yes, it's as much fun as it looks. Great costumes, lots of sex, even some romance. Just perfect.

Of course, it would be nice if the trailer had subtitles, but since it doesn't, I'll tell you that the cherry tree in bloom (sakura) and the goldfish are both highly symbolic in the story. Other than that... eh, I don't want to ruin it.

Don't talk to me about spring.

2008-01-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

This was the view outside my window yesterday morning. Today it looks slightly more snowy, but since the sun has come out, it's all melting. My back muscles are not happy with me due to all the time I've spent shoveling the driveway, walkway and front porch yesterday and today. It's my daughter's job, but never mind. Being the stubborn virgo that I am, I had to do it right.

I need another cuppa tea. Oh yeah, Astrogeek has come down with his annual case of pneumonia, so he's staying home with me today. We're quite the pair of achy whiners today. I think we'll be having ice cream for lunch and watching the Ninth Gate. Don't try to stop us.

So pretty!

2008-01-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

I love it when my customers let me see what they do with the fabrics I sell. Today I got a ping from the lovely lady blogger at Mart's Farm Blog and she shared an art quilt she made for her sister-in-law.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu! Thank you so much for sharing.

There be fairies?

2008-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

While checking out the Contrariwise blog yesterday I read about Urban Fairies and how you just never know when or where they might be about.

As I have been planning to post on my other blog The Ardent Thread about Warped and Wonderful, a weaver who sells her work on Etsy.com, I thought this might be just the thing for an urban fairy who likes to live in comfort: a handwoven bedspread, available through her shop right here.

When I was little (okay, stop laughing, I know I'm still short) my grandmother would take us grandkids on hikes through her neighborhood on the waterfront of Puget Sound outside of Olympia, Washington. We'd wander through dense forests of old growth trees and wild flowers, and she'd tell us to keep an eye out for the forest fairies.

One summer when my sister and I asked to go on a fairy hike, our grandmother told us we couldn't go anymore. Why not? Because a developer had bought the surrounding acreage and was building houses on it. The fairies were gone. Forever. Believe it or not, that one moment stuck in my mind as the point at which I became and environmentalist. I was probably only 7 years old at the time, maybe even younger, but it opened my eyes to the idea of urban sprawl and over-development. As an adult, I've collected flower seeds from my grandmother's garden to grow in my own garden and always make sure there is a safe place for the garden fairies to live.

My grandmother, a formidable woman, passed away at the age of 94 in 1997, the year my son was born. I was living in England, tending to Old World fairies in my tiny (1 foot by 3 foot) garden and taking my babies for strolls across the nearby heath, past mounding shrubs of wild roses, eating wild blackberries or sipping nectar from honeysuckle. I was on the brink of a messy divorce, but what I remember most fondly are those long and lovely days spent out in the scrubby wilds of southern England with little children (sometimes several, including the neighbors) in tow.

These days my high desert fairy friends are under snow, perhaps dreaming of the flowers we'll be planting in the spring.

So in love

2008-01-13T23:35:00.000-08:00

I rarely, rarely drink alcoholic beverages, so to say I'm hooked on one, smitten, in fact, really says something. And no, I'm not plugging it just because they practically poured it down my throat last summer when I was at the tasting room and did that kimono fashion show. I really dig this stuff. Coconut Lemongrass Saké from SakéOne in Forest Grove, Oregon. Yum.

Let's make a band! meme

2008-01-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

From Zaius Nation:

Let’s Make a Band:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.
(Bema is somewhere in Italy)

2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.
(mine was "When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all."
Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919))

3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
(this pic is "Arthur Punished". There were several pics on the page that would have worked really well, including a chain link fence with ice on it, and a scolded dog. I just got lucky.)

You then take the pic and add your band name and the album title to it, then post your pic.

whoo hoo! new blog!

2008-01-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

Moving on a bit from the rampant silliness and unfocused nonsense of this blog, I've put up another one at WordPress, The Ardent Thread, where I'll be all business-like and discuss the stuff I actually do for a living. You're welcome to join me. I'll probably still post here, too, since I can't hold a straight face for too long, but we'll see.

Anywho, it was great to finally make it back to BlueGal's Monday night Skype session. I've missed you clever people. Cheers to BlueGal, Comrade Kevin, Dark Black, DCup, MathMan, Tengrain, Bad Astronomer, FranIAm (who was there in spirit) and all the rest.

Be well, and Happy New Year!

Too funny not to post

2007-12-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to pick a single item from the Mixed Species shop to post about, but couldn't. They all make me laugh. Maybe it's because I lived in Corvallis for a while, who knows?--but I really get this stuff. It could be that there's just something in the water here in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever.

It's 2 am. Spare a little change?

2007-12-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

I'm working my tush off with the Kimono Momo website, the ebay store, and the Etsy store, and now I'm out of stuff to sell! Well, nearly so. To that end I've been working for the past two months to put together a kick-ass loan proposal for a small business micro loan, but it will take several weeks to get it approved and I need to pay for an outstanding order before the end of this month, not next month, ya know?

If you're feeling adventurous and/or generous, take a look at my Prosper loan proposal and see if you feel like throwing a little loan my way. If you've never heard of Prosper, read up on it. I have a friend here in town who financed part of his business with it and even my small business counselor suggested it. It's an interesting way for you to make a little cash off of me by earning interest from my loan. Really! It's peer-to-peer lending, which is pretty cool and so very modern.

I don't know all the details, but apparently there is some sort of promotion where you can get at $25 bonus for lending to me. I'm sure they'll explain it at the site, so go check it out.

Okay, I'm toddling off to bed now. Astrogeek has warmed the bed quite thoroughly by now, I'm sure. I'll just stick my icy toes next to his and see if he jumps, shall I?

Bloggin' and froggin'

2007-12-11T19:55:00.000-08:00

The lovely Liz over at No Good For Me posted about my bags today! (insert Kermit the frog waving arms madly) Yaaaaaay! Thanks, Liz.

My new playground

2007-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying Etsy.com a helluva lot more than Ebay. The site is much more friendly, colorful and welcoming. And hey! I'm in a treasury this week. Nice.

Here's a little pretty that is also in the treasury. As I'm a fan of all things Japanese (except their politics), I've got to say, these little buttons from TLiss are pretty cute.

It's a tiny, shrinking little world

2007-12-07T23:26:00.000-08:00

and I'm sure it's getting smaller by the hour. Six degrees of separation? Ha! Try more like three. This came to me as I was sitting on a bus in Hong Kong many, many years ago when I met a woman who had gone to the same high school I had just graduated from. And of course there's nothing like moving 500 miles from your home town just to meet and fall in love with a boy who grew up in that very same town but you never met until you'd both moved away.

I frequently meet people who either know where my hometown is (which is surprising since a lot of folks who actually live near it don't even know it exists) or know people I grew up with. There are also people who seem to move with me, like some great herd migration that none of us are aware of until we meet again someplace different from last time... mostly old Renaissance Faire friends from California (oh those were the days. I miss Black Point, do you?).

The idea of a collective consciousness appeals to me in a way that religion does not. I think that religion tries to reach for it, but throws a monkey wrench into the works by adding the concept of a great omnipotent leader (paternal or not). Do I believe in a higher power? Certainly, but it's the higher power of the collective consciousness, and not just ours. It's everything, all of it, including the space between the stars. You can call it The Force (I just heard Yoda in my head, explaining the Force to Luke. Yes, I'm a geek), you can call it Mana, call it what you will, but it doesn't really need a name. A few people have told me I sound like a secular humanist, but I'm not even sure that explains my philosophy.

But back to that small world idea. The internet of course has a lot to do with it, so do TV, radio, and other forms of communication that we weren't naturally born with. Ideas now spin faster around the globe than ever before, and what are we doing with all of this speed and technology? It does my head in even considering how much we waste this precious new talent we've developed. Instead of opening our minds to new concepts and learning more about each other, we're watching "reality" TV and learning to hate new people we've never even met. Fear, hate and intolerance seem to spread more virulently than... well, the good stuff. Sorry, after 7 years away from people I could actually discourse with, my vocabulary and debating skills have rather gone down the toilet. I'm working on reviving them, though.

I feel quite literally tongue-tied right now. My brain is spinning and I can't find the right words to convey what's going in in there, but since this is a one-sided conversation, it doesn't really matter. This is why I tend to blog more on other peoples' blogs (by responding) than on my own. It's so much easier to respond to a challenge than to sit around waiting for one to come to me.

Anywho, I've got a business plan to write. Nose to the grindstone and all that. *sigh* What a load of crap I've just written. Just the warm up I needed for the task ahead.

Photos I Like, part II

2007-12-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

I logged in to update my Trunkt profile today and found this amazing portfolio from isphotography. My own portfolio looks a trifle anemic right now, but that's just because I'm updating it. In the meantime, take a stroll through isphotography's work for a touch of the slightly surreal.

Just because I can't seem to be busy enough

2007-12-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Now I'm on Etsy, too.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
kimonomomo

Kimono are addictive, see?

2007-11-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

I am totally digging on this! If you work with kimono, you'll understand.

Kimono dress-up game on Deviant Art by Tohlee. It's a flash game where you can dress your little lady in everything from full geisha gear to um, a corpse. It's a bit of an in-joke, really, the white kimono with the red splotches (blood!) that is worn right-over-left instead of left-over-right.

Just give a spin, it's fun, even if you don't know the rules or what all the gear is for!

Weaving hidden tapestries

2007-11-24T23:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a while, I know. I haven't had time to focus on blogging (reading or writing) at all, lately, which is a shame since so many of you have such interesting things to say. To be honest, I don't much enjoy the holiday season, for many various reasons--some having to do with being the sort of person who doesn't care much for religion, some having to do with being the sort of person who doesn't care much for being told when and how to send gifts to people I care about--but here we are and I am busy making stuff to sell to stores so that they can sell it to other people, thereby turning the wheels of our great economy, blah blah blah.

My head hurts. Pretty much all the time, lately.

If you could see my studio space, you'd see me practically drowning in color. Great swaths of fabric are everywhere. Some of the fabrics are well-behaved and orderly with tags on them so I know how much there is on the bolt, stacked together by fiber (no mixing cottons and silks here), but others are not so compliant. They spill over the shelves, cascade off the tables, drape from the ironing board. They get into every corner and leave thread trails like sticky spider webs. We're forever pulling loose threads off our clothing and out of the vacuum cleaner where they clog up the brushes.

There are three different types of hand lotion sitting on my computer desk, just so my hands won't get dried out and snag the silks. My three meter long tape measure resides on the floor in a tangled heap, because any attempts to roll it up and keep it somewhere tidy inevitably backfire because then I can't find the damn thing. There is a box full of Japanese incense under my desk, and when I bend down to find a missing pencil or piece of note paper, I catch a whiff of that elegant and sublime aroma. "Reading for pleasure" means getting a new book through inter-library loan that covers a dye or weaving technique I've been trying to research. There's a perpetual stack of reference material by my bed, and I fall asleep sitting up almost every night.

Astrogeek puts up with all of this, probably because some days I remember to stop working and actually cook him a meal.

I've been told it takes 15 years to be an overnight success, which makes me about 3 years overdue. At this point, the best gift I could give my family is for me to be at least successful enough not to be stressing about paying the bills all the time. "How am I going to pay the bills" is the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing on my mind when I go to bed. 18 years of financial instability (tempered with intermittent episodes of gainful employment) can make a person edgy at times. I have almost everything I need to make it all work, to earn a living wage, but there is something missing. I'm not sure what, but it's something important. Gumption? An MBA? A swift kick in the ass? I just don't know.

Secret Santa Stuff

2007-11-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

Jen over at Indie Fixx was selected as my Secret Santa from the Switchboards forum this year, and I had a great time picking out what to send. She writes a great shopping blog that showcases indie crafters like myself, so drop by and give her a read to see what is new and cool for the holidays, 'cos she knows her stuff!

New Directions

2007-11-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

In the interest of keeping this blog on the light and fluffy side, I will be opening a new blog soon dealing with those who work with victims of domestic violence and rape. I'm still working out a title (suggestions, anyone?) and looking for a team to work with because this is not a project with only one voice, so if you have any good leads, please let me know.

I decided to start this new blog after finding out about Pretty Bird Woman House (post below), dealing with a domestic abuse situation right down the street and helping Astrogeek deal with his training (post below), all within about 3 days. If I don't speak about all of this, I'll have to scream, and speaking is often more productive. There are, of course, times when you really do just have to scream, but let's not go there just yet.

Everything is in the research phase right now because if there's one thing I've learned from owning a small business, it's that going off half cocked is a bad idea. Any words of wisdom from those of you more experienced bloggers out there would be much appreciated. I'll be posting here and around the blogosphere when the new blog is up and running. It will be more about the shelters themselves, not just victims' stories. There are so many stories, but I want to highlight the shelters so as to let people know what is available in their area and how they can help or get help.

Help your sisters in need

2007-11-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Man-who-keeps-my-toes-warm, a.k.a Astrogeek, is currently in training to follow his calling to aid those in crisis, specifically victims of violence and trauma. He comes home from these trainings looking drained and low, as if the gravity of all that information just drags him down, but he wants to serve so back he goes and absorbs more information. Hopefully the end result will be for him to be better equipped to aid those in need, not have a total mental breakdown from depressing-information-overload. Hey, there's a reason I don't watch TV and don't go out much: I know what's out there and I don't want to deal with it. The fact that he's willing to clean up the mess shows he's got more of a backbone that I do sometimes.

To that end, I promised FranIAm that I would pass this along. Please go to the Pretty Bird Woman House website, READ what they have to say, and donate. I'm cash poor right now, but they also request other items for use in the shelter, such as toiletries and clothing, and I know I can fulfill that request no problem, maybe even ask local resources to chip in.

I can't stop the war in Iraq or end all injustice in the world single handedly, but if I can help a woman in need, then at least I've done something. It doesn't seem like much, but if you've been that woman in need, you know it means a lot. So reach out a hand and help a Native sister, and don't forget to look around your own town to find a shelter in need. Please do all you can to help the helpers, as well as the victims. They both need you.

Oh Em Gee!

2007-11-05T00:13:00.001-08:00

That's a direct quote from my daughter, who at the tender age of 13 talks in txtspk.

But this is so cool! Check out this page from the brand spankin' new Handmade Boutique that has my name on it! If you click through to the "Women's Apparel and Accessories" section, you'll also see Mohop Shoes and Becky Oh! Handbags. Another thing those ladies and I have in common besides appearing together is our absolutely amazing photographer, TS Harrington.

Here's a big thank you to Cristine at Handmade Boutique and Marie Cristine Jewelry for putting it all together.

Wicked Cool Mac Pride

2007-11-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at my desk as I type this, bouncing back and forth from one Mac to another, so it's obvious where my technological biases lie. And I love this: a pin made from those old, clunky Mac keyboard "apple" buttons. Available at Acorn Studios for as long as they last. Perfect for that geek in your life.

Gettin' nostalgic yet? I am.

Blogfest. Feel the Luv.

2007-10-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

How lovely to fine my wares featured on Rare Bird Finds, Indie Fixx and Weezi! Thanks, ladies.

And there's this lovely reply from Blue Gal's post about knitting and my own comment about my never-finished-boyfriend-scarf:

"BTW it's never about the boyfriend and always about the knitting/blogging/fulfilling your creative mission. The guardian angel of your creative blood is a jealous lesbian who will not harbor it being for the boyfriend. Knitting or whatever the frick you decide will be your art is for you and you alone, no matter who you give it to when the current project is finished. Just saying."

I hope she doesn't mind me posting about it here. The statement just hit a nerve that needed hitting. My creative muse has been absent of late, and it's time for her to come home. I'm feeling stuck!

Smokin' pincushion & target practice

2007-10-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my acupuncturist used some moxa on my shoulder. "Let me know if it gets too hot" she said. Seeing as I'm normally cold anyway, I never said a word, just felt like a kitten in a sunbeam. Some of the needling had interesting side effects, such as "feeling" needles in other acupuncture points where there weren't any. I'm told this is an indication that things are "moving" and it's good. Okie dokie.

Since that treatment yesterday, my trigger finger has developed a funny twitch, hopefully only temporary. I guess it's a good think I'm not armed. This does bring back the memory of being at a shooting range here in the desert, a .45 in hand, turning to respond to a question someone behind me was asking, and feeling my finger twitch. A .45 has a helluva kick and I almost dropped it from the shock. (cue nervous laugh)

Time to get off the computer and help my daughter's friend find a tiara. Much as I love costuming (see post below with the pretty pretty black dress) I don't care much for Halloween. It feels like costuming for candy. You know, kinda cheap, I guess.

Salavating

2007-10-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I made a loaf of gluten-free French bread. Amazing stuff. Hot, fluffy, crusty and damn good. I had a thick slice for lunch, toasted and slathered with Lilly's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and a cup of carrot-ginger soup. Hearty, seasonal goodness.

So today when I read Gluten Free Girl's blog and see that she'll be in Portland (just over the mountains from me), I think, yeah, I could drive out there, get a signed book and have a fabulous Peruvian meal and all that... yeah... if I didn't have bills to pay, that is.

Oh well. At least there's a bit of hummus left in the fridge. I can still eat.

Bring on the holidays

2007-10-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! this is very nice publicity. It does have sound, consider yourself warned. The Artful Living Catalog from Trunkt.org.

I'm having a free shipping sale from now until Nov. 8. Scarves and bags are being uploaded to the site all day today... it's gonna be one of those "html on the brain" days where my eyes are all buggy after endless hours of coding. Let me know if you catch any errors by sending me an email to: carol at kimonomomo dot com. Thanks!

For those whom I have just met

2007-10-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

I realize I kinda jumped into some of your blogs recently and you likely have no idea who I am. My blog is formulaic, I suppose, no fancy coding or personal photos, just links to my business and some friends' blogs. No political links, nothing that shouts "liberal hippie chick from Oregon" aside from the shade of green...

I'm a mother of two humans and three ferrets. We live with the Man Who Keeps My Toes Warm at Night, an amazing man who has chosen to help me raise the heathens I brought into this world (their bio-dad totally failed in this task). He and I grew up in the same small California town but didn't meet until a decade after we both left and headed 500 miles north. I can see the Cascade mountains from my doorstep, and right now they are covered in snow.

As for my politics, that will evolve slowly. I spent a lot of my early years in Berkeley and learned early to question everything. I've never taken recreational drugs. I don't really drink. I've never smoked anything. Many of my friends are Pagans, Atheists, Unitarians, Quakers, Baha'is and Buddhists. I spent 2 years living in an RV, technically homeless but at least mobile... for a while. Then I sold everything and bought one-way tickets to London Heathrow, had a baby, lost a grandparent and ended my marriage all within a year and a half.

Yes, I'm rambling. There are children in the room with me now, talking on the phone, making gun noises, waiting for a turn on the computer. I'll writing something intelligible when I can hear myself think.

I love my mother

2007-10-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

I forwarded her an article about the kimono fashion show I did at Sake' One in Forest Grove, Oregon last summer and then forgot about it. Apparently mom wrote the paper to notify them the reporter forgot to mention my business name in the article. Gotta love a mom who comes to your rescue like that.

Mom is proud of daughter’s business

I read the article “A Kimono’s Place in the Modern World (News-Times, July 18, 2007) because the artist is my daughter. I was quite impressed with how well it had been written, but you forgot to give the name of her company. KimonoMomo is growing and if anyone wishes to get in touch with her and the collection they would have to have this information.

Go Mom!

Breakable

2007-10-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Dcup posted this on her blog today, but I thought I'd add it here because it made me cry and hey, that makes it worth sharing in my book.

pincushion

2007-10-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

I had my first acupuncture treatment today, and it was quite interesting. I won't bore you with the details, but for the most part it was really positive and I'm looking forward to going back next week. The discomfort was minimal and everything was done in a pleasant and professional way.

My left hand hurts pretty badly though, so it's hard to type. The pain has to do with a pre-exiting condition that I hope will get worked through in the next session. In the meantime, ouch.

Blogging for the Environment

2007-10-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the weather was so oddly pleasant (for October in the high desert) that I stepped away from the computer for a walk outside. I was motivated by the plethora of small boys in my house at the time (okay, it was only three, but three small boys equals an army as any parent knows). As I stepped onto the back porch I was aware that the air outside was the same temperature as inside, but much fresher and with that subtle autumnal tang to it, so I left the door open and fetched the compost bucket from the kitchen counter and a trowel from the table where my indoor plants live.

As I headed to the south wall of the house where my veggie beds are now mostly dormant (some weenie little leeks, lettuce gone to seed, Canadian strawberries that are taking over the yard and patches of thyme spreading like a virus), I found peas sprouting with more vigor than they showed in the spring and I had some fun crushing eggs shells and spreading them about. I dug a hole to bury the fresh kitchen waste and sifted dirt onto the reeking, slimy pile of apple peels, tea leaves, onion skins and other refuse. A lone paper wasp joined me, I think her sisters have mostly died off for the season and she was moving rather slowly herself. Perhaps she wanted company.

After the stinky part of the job was done I did a bit of watering. Our native soil is volcanic and fairly sterile, but after nearly 7 seasons of composting, the beds are quite delightful. Water retention is higher and the soil is quite fertile, as proven by the amount of seeds that sprout without any encouragement from me. Since I pit compost, I just plant over whichever pit is oldest and has space, or simply take advantage of whatever sprouts on its own from the rot of last year's harvest.

I Picked up my compost bucket and trowel, rolled up the hose and prepared to engage the boy-army again. As I turned to head up the porch steps I saw something flying toward me. It landed on the grass and I could see it was a beautiful, pale green praying mantis, about 2.5 inches long. The coloring was perfect to blend with the lawn, but more than that were the variations of red, green and yellow that had a wonderfully relaxing effect on my eyes. I mean, red? Why red? but it worked. They play of light on grass causes shadows and other effects we don't see because we rarely look at an individual blade of grass. We look at a lawn and expect it to be GREEN and nothing else, but it is quite colorful, actually.

We stared at each other for a minute or so, and it never flinched when I lay down on the grass near it. I was aware of the different smells of grass, soil, freshness and decay, and how they differed from the smells of summer. The mantis had enough of me and took off for the yard next door. Time for me to go back in.

Today it's overcast and dreary, but feels fine for October. Time to rest up a bit. Snow will come and if there's a decent freeze this year it might kill off some of the aphids this time. Last summer the bf and I fed aphids to our herds of ladybugs and must have looked like little kids playing with bugs, but the real kids in the house couldn't be bothered to join us. A few weeks later they did help hunt down ladybug larvae and find patches of surviving aphids to feed to them, so there is hope for them yet.

It's such a small yard, but everything in it tells a story. Maybe I'll share a few more another time.

2007-10-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering what I'd like to do in my spare time, this would be it. Wear stuff like this in public. Seriously. The woman in the photo studies costume design in Sydney and this was one of her projects. You can follow the thread over at craftster.org and see even more photos of her work.

Simply amazing. I wish I had the time and patience to make something that good. *drool*

Blog Action Day

2007-10-12T09:38:00.001-07:00

I'm on board, are you?

More birthday wishes

2007-10-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here's to Dcup over at Politits and Melanie at View From the Tenth Level. Two sexy Libras!

Hot and cold

2007-10-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

There's frost on the lawn today. I kept the bf in bed so as to get in as much snuggling as possible before he had to venture out into the icky outside. Here's a tip, boys: if you want your woman to look after you, make sure you look after her first. The man who keeps my toes warm at night does his level best to keep me in a fairly balanced mood most of the time, so I do the same for him. At least I think so. I can be a moody bitch but I think I'm doing pretty well.

I went to my friend's studio on Tuesday to pick up more fabrics to bag and sell. She has such yummy stuff. As I was walking out of the studio with two huge bags of silk, one of the artists was walking in. She was coming back from lunch with a friend and had a relaxed and happy vibe to her. She looked at the bags I was carrying, brushed one with her hand and said "you know I painted those? Those are my pieces." Oh? "They're lovely. You do good work," I replied as we passed. I had spent an hour with her cohorts, the head designer and other dyers, sewers and crew members of the studio. What an eclectic bunch, including the resident mascot, the designer's dog. I love this stuff.

Ebay headaches

2007-10-07T00:14:00.001-07:00

Since the powers that be decided to "fix" the search feature on ebay in September, my sales and traffic have gone down hill, and I'm not alone. Plenty of other sellers--and even buyers--have been complaining loudly but to no avail. So, with that in mind, I'm going to spend my Sunday setting up fabrics on the Kimono Momo site so people can purchase items there instead of dealing with ebay's issues.

Does the term "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mean anything to these people?

Knitting is good for the soul

2007-10-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have a scarf that I work on from time to time, but it's easily been two years now and it's still not done. Wool and silk, very soft and fun to work on, but.... my fingers have ADHD or something. I just can't seem to knit and not mess with the design and then I need to cook dinner or do something else domestic.

But aha! Here in Oregon we have a lovely little yarn shop online at Freshwater Fibers for those with crafty hands. I'm getting twitchy just looking at the lovely colors and different fibers. I suppose if I actually finish that scarf, I could start another.

And look--organic cotton that is soooo pretty.

Brrrrrrr......

2007-09-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

We have two seasons here in the high desert: summer and winter. One is hot and dry, the other is cold and mostly dry. Right now it's damp out there so I'm assuming it's not going to be hot again until sometime around late June or July. Hoorah, Oregon.

Lucky me I found a gorgeous black wool trench/pea coat on sale back when it was still hot, but I still haven't found those ever so elusive perfect black boots I've been lusting after (preferably waterproof). I know they are out there, but not for less than $100 and right now that's out of reach. I just paid a booth fee for a craft show in December and now I've only got $60 to my name. I aspire to being independently wealthy, not just independently employed.

It's been said that it takes 15 years to become an overnight success. Well, it's a few years late, but I think I could be ready for success by January.

My Mac, my boyfriend

2007-09-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love them both. I take them both for granted by assuming I can turn them on anytime I want to and they'll perform to my expectations (HA!). I spend a lot of quiet time with them, I yell at them periodically, too. I put them through their paces but rarely spend the time finding out just what makes them tick. And weirdly enough, they seem to speak the same language, one that I've never bothered to learn.

But baby, one of you is getting replaced. Here's a hint: it's not the one who keeps my toes warm at night, but it IS the one who is having a hard time gettin' it up these days.

I suppose I could replace them both, but where's the fun in that? After five years, I've got the man programmed to respond appropriately to my prompts and he can fix the computer when it doesn't.

All I need now is a spare $2k. hahahahahaha. ("but honey, it's a business write-off!")

Happy birthday to all the virgos out there.

2007-09-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

To my dad, my first boss (and lifelong friend), my post-divorce boyfriend, The Angel of My Heart, and Me! Yup, I've lived comfortably surrounded by male virgos and bless them all for keeping me heading in the right direction, especially the Angel I wake up next to every morning.

Just so you know, I'm stopping production of the purses and scarves because all I've ever really wanted to do was handle as much exquisite fabric as I possibly could, and that means simply dealing in fabric, not accessories. It's been fun, I think those of you who have either purchased or continuously lusted after my bags are great and fabulous people, and don't worry, I can still make you a special something if you desperately need it.

Damn, that felt good.

ebay store stuff

2007-08-29T12:26:00.001-07:00

2007-08-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

More Kimono Shoes!

2007-07-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Ah, I'm in love. With Hetty Rose Kimono shoes.

As for the SakeOne kimono fashion show, I'll write about that when I get the photos... I was too busy dressing models to take photos or even listen to the music. But it was fun!

Hey! Check out my guide!

2007-07-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

I did it. I've taken yet another step to becoming totally ebay-ified, as if I wasn't already. I got up at 6:30 am and wrote a guide to using kimono fabrics for crafts. Please take a look at it and let me know what you think, and submit a happy vote while you're there! If you think it needs revising, let me know about it.

You can find it here: Using kimono fabrics for crafts, quilts and art, a brief primer on kimono fabrics, uses and care.

One show down, one more to go for July

2007-07-07T23:21:00.001-07:00

The Fiber Arts Walk in Sisters, Oregon was so much fun! This was my second year doing the show and I had a great time in my friend Debbie's shop, Wisteria Chic. It was a hot day and I wore my new green shibori yukata. I met a lot of friendly quilters and artists and sold quite a nice bit of fabric.

Up next... the kimono fashion show at Sake'One! I'm so excited. I've never done an event like this, so it's all a bit intimidating, but in a good way. I will certainly post pics after the show. Click on the link to get more details. It will be on the evening of Saturday, July 21 in Forest Grove, OR.

Photos I Like, part I

2007-07-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I really like this photographer's work. Simple black and white photos, but they convey a feeling of sensitivity for the environment and people within it. These are the pictures you take in your mind when you're walking down a city street and see kids looking at toys in a shop, or a father and son walking down the street together. Nothing too complex, just ordinary stuff, but shot in such a way as to make you feel you were getting an honest look at life somewhere else as it is happening, not something staged or set up.

Maybe I'm just a big fan of black and white photography? See more photos at tetsu_awazo's Flickr page.

Cats in Kimono?

2007-06-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Kawaii! I found these online today and think they are pretty darn cute. Click to view Moussarts' blog and Cafepress store. As a big fan of the film Serenity and the series Firefly, I think I'll go for this piece (it says Serenity in kanji), but I really do think the cats are fabulous.

Blogorama again

2007-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Try This At Home blogged me today. Yay! I've been promising buyers that I'd have the new smaller purse design out soon, and with the amount of publicity I'm getting these days it looks like I need to come good on it. Okay, that's my July goal. By July 15 I will have the new purse in production.

Oh arg.

SALE SALE SALE and other stuff

2007-06-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

It's summer. It's hot here in the northern hemisphere. And I still have scarves. Lots of really pretty ones. Regularly $85, they are $45 each until the end of July when I start making new ones for fall. So click on through to the casual scarves page and take your pick!

And now for the other stuff... blogorama! Kudos to No Good For Me for plugging my sale items, including the prototype totes I made ages ago and then shoved in a box and forgot about until recently. *hangs head in shame*

I've got oodles of yummy yukata cottons in the ebay store today. Check them out at the Kimono Momo Outlet.

Also in the outlet are half pound bundles of silk scraps from a local (to me) designer. Her finished stuff is gorgeous, and she has worked out a deal with me to sell off her remnants. These are hand painted and dyed silk fabrics that are available nowhere else outside of her studio. I've been a fan of her work for years so it is quite and experience for me to be surrounded by so much of her art. I sit in the middle of my floor and sort the colors... yowza. Too much fun. Here's a sample:

My first interview!

2007-06-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Check it out at Indie Entrepreneur.

3 beautiful things

2007-06-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

Here's my 3BT for the week so far:

I've had so much progress with the ebay store, it's amazing. Lots of fabric going to lots of places. Some familiar old customers, many new ones too. Erin, the ebay staffer helping me with this has given such good advice and it's working.

After taking time off the main Kimono Momo site, I'm getting back on track. New bag designs will be up for fall. In the meantime I'm working on press releases for magazines. If you have suggestions, let me know.

The mysterious lump in my lymph node is due to allergies, not anything sinister. I feel so much better knowing this.

More ebay madness

2007-05-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh wow. I had no idea how much silk I had and how long some of these pieces have been sitting around. I'm selling off some of the old style kimono scarves right now. They were listed on the Kimono Momo main site for $50 but now they're opening at $16.50 or buy-it-now for $20. I've had some of them for two years and they've been rolled on bolts, sitting in a box because I couldn't be bothered to do anything with them. Silly, silly woman.

Here's pics of some of the stuff I've been listing today. You can go to my ebay store by clicking here.

Big revamp in the ebay store

2007-05-17T21:00:00.001-07:00

I had a friendly one-on-one chat with one of the ebay folks this week and she gave me loads of "homework" to do with fixing up my store. So check in sometime soon and give it a look through. You might find something you're looking for... if you like Japanese fabrics for crafting or quilting, that is. You can check it out here.

bloggers who rock part deux

2007-05-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Check out She's a Betty blog. I got a mention on the "Budget Finds" List!

I'm also in the Modish Summer Gift Guide in the section headed *ahem* "I'm sick of spending all day at the mall! (one of a kind gifts)". There's a discount code in there for 20% off if you'd like to use it.

Yet another siting, this time on Craft Revolution's Handbag Roundup.

*happy dance*

I'm working on a new bag design RIGHT NOW. Okay, I'm typing RIGHT NOW but in a moment I will move away from the computer and turn to the sewing machine and work on the new bag. It will be just like the messenger, but smaller. I'll be needing beta testers, so stay tuned...

Bring on May

2007-05-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

There are more updates on the Kimono Momo site than I can count, and I'm the one who is still working on the code to add more. Html makes my head spin. I get all glassy-eyed and kind of numb. But it's all good.

Certain items will be going away, such as the old clutches, to be replaced by the very popular wallets. Certain other items will finally be appearing on the site instead of sitting on my "completed projects" shelf and feeling lonely.

Does anyone even read this anymore? I know people did once upon a time. Where did you all go? fine, be that way. I'll go to typepad or some other fancy blog instead. nya nya.

Bloggers who rock

2007-04-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

A big THANK YOU to the Wickedly Chic and Mixed Plate blogs for giving Kimono Momo a mention this month! You ladies are fabulous.

Etsy!

2007-04-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

I've never had an Etsy store, nor have I ever bought anything there, but now I'm in. I donated an Obi Wallet to the Wonderland Retreat. Hey, this is kinda fun!

Help from Wonderland

2007-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Until this week, I'd never heard of Alison Gordon of www.wonderlandq.com. However, there has been a tremendous outpouring of help from the crafty community to aid Alison in dealing with a recent medical issue. Like many of us who are self-employed, Alison doesn't have any health insurance. To pay the bills and show how much we like to support our own community, an etsy shop has been set up for her benefit. You can see it at Wonderland Retreat.

To donate an item, please contact renee garner at wonderlandretreat@gmail.com for more information. To make a monetary donation of any size, please send paypal to info@auroraseven.com. And pass it on!

The hardest part of my job

2007-04-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

...is cutting into a beautiful kimono or obi. With a kimono (such as the gorgeous one that arrived in the mail from Japan today), I put it on first, see how it looks in the mirror, then tell myself that far more people will be able to enjoy it once it becomes something different, such as a set of scarves. With every stitch I remove, I think about the artist who designed the pattern on the silk, and the hands of the person who sewed it together, as well as the woman who may have worn it. In some cases, the kimono I use are deadstock and have never been worn, so the only history they have comes from the hands of the creators, not the consumer.

New items will be available in May, as well as beautiful new photos.

Welcome to Distant Lands!

2007-04-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

Seattle was fabulous. We even saw the sunshine part of the time, which of course shows off how beautiful the city really is.

On my way to meeting up with several friends at a pub Saturday night, I got lost. I peeked in through an open door and found a shop full of Buddhas... I stepped over the threshold and met Tom, the owner of Distant Lands Importers. He helped me figure out where I was and where I needed to go, and off I went, but not before we exchanged business cards. Sunday morning I found myself back at the shop where we went through my stock and picked out several beautiful items, including two of the formal wrap scarves (my personal favourites) and an assortment of other pieces.

We also met several attendees of Sakura Con, the northwest anime convention. I think we may be paying them an extended visit next spring. My kids are already planning their costumes!

Next stop, Seattle

2007-04-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Portland was... interesting. The weather was about as cold as Bend (unusual, to say the least), but my shopping experience with Jandi Girard from Inspire Style Coaching was AMAZING. I met her in Nordstrom at 3:30 pm, where she greeted me with a cup of tea (she guessed what I'd like and she was right!) and a cookie. We went to a dressing room that was stocked with TONS of clothes for me to try on. Wow. My budget wasn't big enough to take home all the things I liked (and there were a lot) but I did pick up several good wardrobe staples. A few were even on sale, and who doesn't like a sale? By the time we left--around 7 pm--we were exhausted, but in a good way. My fashion sense is forever changed for the better. If you're in Portland or Bend, give her a call. Right now. Tell her Kimono Momo sent you.

The trunk show at Twisted Locks was fun. The crew there is so much fun to be with and very friendly. They became my new favourite salon the first time I got my hair done there, and I look forward to going back again. So, a big THANK YOU to Nancy, Eddie, and all the girls at Twisted Locks. You all rock.

This weekend I'll be heading north to Seattle. Oh boy... more to come.

Being Green.

2007-03-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Since my product line is almost entirely made from recycled vintage textiles, I've been tagged as "being green" by the Central Oregon Environmental Center and thegreenspot.org. A few nights ago I attended the Green Drinks group at the Grove here in Bend (I'm pretty sure I was the only one not involved in construction or landscaping), and I was raised by a mother who's parents first met on a Sierra Club hike back in the 1920's on Mt St Helens.

I recycle, compost, and dug up a large part of my (rented) lawn to grow veggies. We take short showers. We ride our bikes. We buy organic foods from the farmers market. And now... I'm adding a new blog to my list. It's Sew Green, a group of green individuals blogging about making our world a better place. Check it out.

Almost April, what to wear?

2007-03-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am, counting down to the trunk show at Twisted Locks on April 3... but first, I'm meeting up with a Style Coach! Jandi Girard of Inspire Style Coaching will be helping me find my own personal style. Oh sure, it's easy enough for me to wear a kimono in public, but something like business casual? I'm lost. Seriously. I had a meeting with Jandi a few days ago to take my measurements and I was very impressed. She's got an upbeat attitude and loves her work. Check out her site for more info.

Meanwhile, here in Bend it's still winter. The crocuses are up, daffodils are trying, tulips are so-so (at least in my yard. I get the impression they don't care for sand), and I've got hundreds of sunflowers sprouting up everywhere. Apparently they DO like our soil. Hardy little buggers. That's what I get for trying to compost the seedheads last fall...

Trunk Shows booking now--hooray!

2007-03-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be doing my first trunk show of the year in Portland, Oregon on April 3 at Twisted Locks Salon from noon til 5 pm. Be there!

Working Wonders

2007-03-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Say hello to the wonderful staff at Working Wonders Children's Museum in Bend, Oregon. Meet Ashley:...Graham the Samurai:...and Amber, the one who puts it all together and made Hina Matsuri happen. She's not really that blurry, I think the camera was tired.

Hina Matsuri!

2007-03-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Once again we'll be sprucing up in our finest kimono to celebrate Hina Matsuri day on March 11 at Working Wonders Children's Museum in Bend, Oregon. Last year was really fun, and this year even some of the staff will be slipping into kimono... yes, I will post pics after Sunday, but if you're in the area and have kids, please join us and bring a doll! You can say hello to me (Carol) and Mickey (the lovely young brunette on the Kimono Momo homepage) as we have tea and treats.

Shiny New Updated Pages

2007-03-07T22:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, finally. There were a few places on the Kimono Momo site that still said things like "updates to come in Feb. 2007" even a week into March, so I figured it was time to spend the day sitting in front of the computer, hacking out code and cropping photos.

Now my eyes are all buggy. But at least the site looks better.

Don't forget to eat the chopsticks

2007-03-02T21:10:00.000-08:00

With a big shout-out to our friends over at Asian Buzz, this find is amazing. Sushi. Chocolate sushi. Koo-Ki Sushi. Take a look, but don't lick the screen.

SALE page now up

2007-02-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

Yep, I finally got around to it. You can find some of my older pieces for pretty cheap here on the Bag Sale page.

2007-02-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

I love making these now! As with all new items, they start out as a headache and end up just being really pretty and fun to do. So, here are a few to look at, or go HERE and see more.

Icky bug #2

2007-02-19T16:30:00.000-08:00

The household has just survived yet another nasty virus, so I'm really behind in production. The new Obi Wallet is still in "demo" mode--which is to say, not in stores until I work all the kinks out, but if you'd like to be part of the demo crew, send an email to info(at)kimonomomo(dot)com and let me know which one you'd like. If you don't see any, I'm either making more or... something.

Sorry, brain is a bit fuzzy. We've all been on a liquid diet here for days and it's making us a bit loopy.

Suuuuuushi

2007-02-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

Hey, I got a mention on Sushimatic! Sweet. Thanks guys.

Juicy goodness

2007-02-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Maybe this whole matcha thing in the US is just a fad, but it's one fad I'm enjoying as long as it lasts. This stuff is super tasty, non-dairy, and full of good stuff. I'm sipping one as I type this and it's very yummy!

I've been told that Odwalla is now owned by CocaCola, but I can remember back in the day when they had a delivery driver who looked like a punk (pink spiky hair, that sort of thing) and laughed as she delivered the goods to little grocery stores in the area. That to me was a big part of the company--that the people involved in it enjoyed their work. As a business owner, I find that something to aspire to. You know, when I actually get around to hiring employees, that is.

Magpie find of the day

2007-02-13T18:50:00.000-08:00

Shiny!
Available at
Eni Oken Jewelry.

Oh, Wish Pixie....

2007-02-12T22:09:00.000-08:00

Just on the off chance anyone out there was wondering what I might like for a gift, a subscription to Kateigaho International Edition would be delightful, thanks!

3BT

2007-02-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

Three beautiful things for today:

1. Making 5 onion soup (using only 4 today as I'm out of leeks) and knowing my bf who is working today (Saturday) is looking forward to coming home and eating some soup and baked potatoes with me. It just makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside.

2. It's been raining a bit this week. Normally we'd have snow, but as we've not had anything wet hitting the ground in weeks, this is a welcome bit of moisture. Very good for the garden.

3. I bought some Japanese Morning Glory seeds on ebay today. I have no idea if they'll do well in our funky climate, but I couldn't resist! They look like shibori to me.

Portland Kudos

2007-02-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

First, to Suzanne at Donna & Toots in the up-and-coming Alberta district. If you're in Portland, check out her shop. Seriously cute clothing that anyone (including me!) can afford, and she makes it there in her shop.

Second, to the ladies at Twisted Locks Salon, also in Portland. I had a gift certificate that was going to expire soon so I called them up and got an appointment the next day. I plan on going back for some spa services next time! They were all super friendly and really fun to chat with.

A clutch of clutches

2007-01-31T21:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's nice not to have to change the thread in my machine for days and days at a time. When I'm making bags, it's basically black. I'll get around to making other colors eventually, but for now I find black to be a workable neutral. Besides, there are so many black obi to work with! And I wear black. Not all the time, everywhere, but it does seem to be a staple in my wardrobe. And it's still winter. And I'm making excuses for my lack of personal style, aren't I?

But the clutches look mighty good!

Dischord & Bliss

2007-01-28T23:48:00.000-08:00

Just in case you wanted to know what I'm working with. New stock coming this week!

Struck down in the prime of... something.

2007-01-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

The 'flu had come to Chez Kimono. And it's staying. We want it to go away, but what can you do? Some house guests just don't get it.

*cough cough hack hack haaaaaack.

Ew.

Busy fingers

2007-01-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated anything lately because I'm working on a custom wall hanging for a client and don't have time for much else. It's a very interesting piece, all shades of gold, red and brown and made from kimono and obi silks. When that's done it will be back to normal... whatever that means.

Moving right along

2007-01-11T17:28:00.000-08:00

After the site sale concludes on Sunday Jan. 14th, all the scarves still listed there will be moved to another site... to be announced! I will be making way for the spring collection and loads of new ideas that I've been working on. Pictures and more info soon to come.

System upgrades!

2007-01-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

The new shopping cart is up and running, hopefully without a hitch. You can now use credit cards to purchase items and you shouldn't have to log in through Paypal anymore, unless you prefer to pay that way (I often do). I also have inventory control, so that little headache has been taken care of.

New items will be up and on the site after the sale concludes on Sunday, Jan. 14. I will post more items in the Discontinued Scarves section sometime this week because these really need homes!

More vintage items will be listed soon as well, since I've had so many requests for kimono and only have the two haori listed right now.

Psssst...

2007-01-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

I'm going to up the ante on the sale, just because I really want to move some of this stuff out. I'm busy making new items but need the space! So... on Wednesday, January 10 from midnight to midnight US Pacific time, everything in the store will be 50%--wholesale--for everyone. After that I'll probably start listing more of the new items that have been sitting on my shelves. Only one problem: my shopping cart is Paypal based and doesn't do inventory control, so if something sells while I'm not looking and someone else also tries to buy it later, I'll have to tell the second person the item is gone and that's so not cool.

Good news though, there will soon be a standard shopping cart for my items on a site my friend and biz associate is building. When that's ready I'll post a link to it here.

Oh yeah, here's that bunny bag I mentioned!

New Look for the New Year

2007-01-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

I like the fact that when you take all the world's religions and cultures together, you can celebrate New Year just about all year. In celebration of the Gregorian Calendar New Year, I'm giving the blog a brighter look. The old all black look reflected my original intent--late night ramblings that really had nothing to do with anything else--but now it's time to move on. So, hey presto, we are green. I hope you like it.

The Kimono Momo site SALE is still on and the Dream Keeper Designs store is in hiatus for a few more days (semi-closed for the holidays). I've got spring fever, which is ridiculous because it's only January, and I'm working on some very nice silk scarves in pale greens, pinks, and golds for the coming (still chilly) months. Today I'm working on more of those mini totes that I mentioned a while back. There aren't any on the Kimono Momo site because my wholesale accounts gobbled them all up before the holiday rush and I'm just getting back to making more of them. Along with the two crown designs, there will also be a bunny one. Yup, a big, fat Japanese rabbit. Too cute.

I hope the New Year is treating you well.

Busy tech day!

2006-12-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-12-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-23T19:59:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-16T23:08:00.000-08:00

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.