Cats and Kitsuke

Peacock feathers

2012-01-08T13:23:00.000+01:00

Some times I try to keep away from ebay so I won't be seduced to buy something new.
As shown in the photo it's obvious that also this time I've failed but the kimono is very nice.
So maybe I will succeed next time:)
She has some stains en one of the hems I have to repair but she has a new home.

Year of the dragon

2012-01-01T14:15:00.000+01:00

Best wishes for 2012

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:23:00.000+01:00

Dierenwelzijn maakt een betere wereld. Stuur @MinPres naar Rio+20 met deze boodschap. Via @wspa_nl

2011-10-12T19:46:00.000+02:00

Dierenwelzijn maakt een betere wereld. Stuur @MinPres naar Rio+20 met deze boodschap. Via @wspa_nl

meisen kimono

2011-10-08T15:09:00.001+02:00

I made the decision quit buying kimono for a while because my tansu is getting full. But I couldn't resist this very colourfull meisen kimono. The colours are bright (pink/orange) only the flowers are very blurry and what a disappointment again, there are damages which were not mentioned in the advert. Still she is a beauty and looks very nice on mine "Annie". I used a orange ro obi and a pink obi age/obi jime which is a nice combination I think.

Meisen silk, generally crisp and supple, is one of the Japanese silks fabricated by weaving pre-dyed threads, utilizing the tie-and-resist ikat technique (ikat is an Indonesian term widely utilized to refer to this technique). In this process, the threads, silk or cotton, are first stretched on a frame. Selected design areas are tightly bound to prevent the dye from penetrating and the hanks of threads are immersed in the dye pots. The bound portions of the yarns resist the dye and when woven, as a result of the threads not being perfectly aligned, create shapes with charmingly uneven edges.
Other Japanese textiles that are made with variations of this technique are cotton kasuri, omeshi silk and tsumugi silk. (source: kasuri )

JJ gives it a go

Thumbs up says JJ

New books

2011-09-26T21:55:00.001+02:00

A few weeks ago we went to NYC and I've found a bookstore on the internet, Strand bookstore, they sell new and second hand books. Of course I wanted to check if they sold any books about kimono and yes they did. So I had to make a selection because there were many to choose from. I bought 3 books and send them to my home town.
I also visited two shops which suppose to sell kimono, one was unfortunately closed but the other one was indeed open. They sold beautiful things but really high priced, kimono were sold from 200 dollars. They sold very pretty things but not for my wallet. The lady in the store told us that a week later there was a kimonoshow in the store but our visit wasn't that long. Bummer but if you ever have the chance to visit NY,
I can recommend it, it's a great city.

Here are the books which I bought:

Kimono and the Colours of Japan

Kimono Collection of Katsumi Yumioka

                         Tagasode: whoose sleeves

                         Kimono from the Kanebo collection

Kimono Fashioning Culture

So I will have enough to read till the end of this year.

Lazy sunday

2011-09-25T15:04:00.001+02:00

Do we have to say more? Have a nice week.

Japanese kimono presentation

2011-08-16T21:16:00.000+02:00

Last year I was asked if I could give a presentation about the Japanese kimono. Because I was really busy at work I wasn't able to do this any earlier than today.
I had some items with me to show and Annie(my fitting doll) was with me aswell. She wore a blue tsukesage with a white nagoya obi with flowerpattern. Luckily my BF was with me and did the hard work by bringing everything upstairs, what a sweety.
For this occasion I wore my salmon-pink hitoe which was never before worn by me, I combined it with a reddish purple antique hanhaba obi. This combination was really nice, at least I thought so.
Everything went really well and afterwords people shared there compliments and were very enthusiastic.

Yukata with karuta musubi

2011-07-14T20:11:00.000+02:00

I have a very nice yukata but never worn her until yesterday. Last weekend we were visiting some relatives so I thought why not wear my yukata. I never used this musubi before but is really simple and stays very well in place but I did use a obi jime.

かるた Karuta, loaned from the Portuguese word meaning "card", carta.

Kin sha kimono

2011-07-03T18:38:00.000+02:00

A few months ago I bought this kin sha chirimen kimono, she has quite some stains which I probably can't remove but she still will be a beauty with a past. There were a few damages which where not mentioned in the ad, so that was a disappointment but in the end she did find a new home with me.
I hope to wear her some day soon.

Chirimen and kin sha silks have a slightly textured surface similar to crepe, achieved by twisting the threads during weaving.

Chirimen is heavier and stronger than kinsha and plain-weave silk and drapes exceptionally well.

Kinsha is a very fine, light-weight crepe-like silk.(source: kasuri Home)

New gagdet

2011-06-12T11:29:00.000+02:00

Bossie got a new phone with effects so she took a picture of me, I think it's a very nice picture.
What do you think?

In this picture I look very strange but I heard bossie laugh when she saw the picture

Have a great week.

Newbie

2011-05-14T20:18:00.000+02:00

One beauty I couldn't resist.

Vacation

2011-04-21T22:33:00.000+02:00

Last year my bf and I were suppose to go to Japan, unfortunately that trip didn't went through because of the volcano eruption in Iceland http://catsandkitsuke.blogspot.com/2010/04/japan-here-we-dont-come.html.
So this year we planned our trip again but as you maybe can image the trip was cancelled by the tour operator.
We did wanted to go on holiday because it was some time ago that we went away together. One of the countries which was on my list was Iceland so that's were we went.
How beautiful Iceland was to visit I still hope that we will have the opportunity to visit Japan someday.
I hope you enjoy the pictures:

A path in Reykjavik between Perlan(a restaurant and museum) and the city.

A park in the city of Reykjavik and the famous church Hallgrimskirkja.

Still water in a big national park Pingvellier.

We did have al kind of weather so also snow when we were on the road.

Japan earthquake

2011-03-17T20:13:00.002+01:00

Please help the animals in Japan and donate to this organisation or an other one so they can help the animals in need.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&ThirdPartyClicks=ARS_linktous_120_02
http://www.wspa-international.org/

Thank you

Purrs JJ and Jinx

Ebay

2011-02-22T20:51:00.000+01:00

Last week I could not resist to look on ebay for something beautiful and of course there were some beautiful kimono. Stupid stupid stupid, so I did a bid for what I think is a beauty and in the end I won.
Auch my poor wallet but I have to be a girl about or otherwise don't bid.
The photo's will be shown later when the kimono has arrived in a week or two if I am lucky so I thought maybe this is a pretty alternative.

Look what the cat dragged in

2011-01-23T15:15:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I woke up and as usually I looked out of the window not expected to see this great white animal also know as a goose.
She(or he) is beautiful and very white but also accustomed to people. Luckily we live near a great pond so she can get enough swim exercise and food.
Here's are some photo's of our stranger:

Have a great week.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T19:33:00.000+01:00

We wish you all a healthy and beautiful 2011

Best wishes

2010-12-23T17:28:00.002+01:00

Merry Christmas and the best wishes for 2011

Hope to see ya next year

ro kimono

2010-11-14T16:58:00.000+01:00

A few months ago I bought this nice synthetic Ro kimono on ebay, I really like the colours but having a problem finding a suitable obi.
Today I found the time to do some kitsuke but of all the obi I have there wasn't one which really was a beauty combi, so in the end I choose a fukuro obi with some pink/beige and silver in it and I found the outcome not really bad.

Have a great week.

being creative

2010-11-07T17:24:00.000+01:00

Sometimes I have the urge to change stuff in my living room. Don't ask me why because I haven't gotta clue, the only thing I can tell you is that I do but maybe it sounds familiar.
So I few weeks back I started to metamorphose my dresser which I tried to sell on a local internet site but wasn't something which people were looking for, so I thought I had to paint this one to give it a better look.
I think it looks much better this way but it's bin a long time with me so maybe you would prefer it in the old look but anyway I think it's a improvement.

the look before

the look after

home made

2010-11-01T19:55:00.001+01:00

Yes, I finally made a eri sugata. It took me a quit a while but it was worth the trouble. It's made of plane cotton but I also made a eri of cotton with a kind of flower because just plane cotton didn't do it for me.
I hope when I wear it, it will stay in place but time will tell.
Here a some pictures:

What are you looking at

2010-10-25T18:08:00.007+02:00

Hé Jinx, what are you looking at?

Duh, just look outside

Our friends are here, waiting for some food.

Lazy sunday

2010-09-19T19:17:00.003+02:00

The weather isn't that good, so we have to stay in.
So what should we do?

Hé, we can just hang out.

We hope you have a great week.

work visit

2010-08-30T14:02:00.009+02:00

The last couple of weeks I have been visiting the Antilles for a company visit.
So here a a few photos of a few animals who a living over there.
a wild piglet near the beach

A quit lizard looking for fast food near a restaurant.

A little sugar-thief which enjoying the sugar of the liquir

Here is a beauty but unfortunately she is a stray dog which are so many of them over there. My hart bleeds to see that people threat them this way.

I saw these birds and thought it was a beauty full picture, I don't know what kind of birds they are but don't they look pretty?

You will have to look hard but when you open the picture there will be wild donkeys, I always find them so pretty.

These beauty's are living on Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Saba or St Eustatius.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Inspection of the week

2010-07-12T20:52:00.003+02:00

Last week I had an inspection of the kitchen.
The inspector was really critical and had to see the kitchen cabinet from up close but luckily she gave it a go.
So for this inspection I got away with it. But my kitchen is always really clean or do I always dream that it is :-)

two pieces

2010-07-05T14:02:00.002+02:00

As told in a earlier post, I take sewing lessons.
Which not mean that I am getting any better at it. :)
But hé at least I am trying.
Mine latest project has been a two pieces undergarment as shown in the picture.
It's a combination of salmon silk with pink cotton. The silk I've bought on ebay and the cotton I've found on the market but I think it's a very nice combi.
I must say that it took me a lot a time and made a few mistakes but in the end I am content with it. Now I've to think about a new project.

I'm so pretty

2010-06-14T12:16:00.003+02:00

A young calf has been born and got my name. I have to say she's a beauty, what do you think.

a little taurus

2010-05-28T20:39:00.003+02:00

Some friends of us run a farm and last week they had new born calf's, bulls to be exact.
Don't they look very beauty-full. Hope that we can pay a visit very soon.
One has got the name of my BF, so he has to be cute.

Lazy sunday

2010-05-23T18:25:00.006+02:00

What's Jinx doing this Sunday?

Guarding the stairs.

And what's JJ doing this Sunday?

Guarding the closet.

As you can see the girls have very important jobs.
Have a nice weekend and enjoy the sun.

Outside

2010-05-17T11:17:00.005+02:00

Yesterday we went in to the garden, it was sunny and our bossies took us outside so we could enjoy the sun and the wind.

A lot of interesting things to find.
Don't we look pretty as wild cats in the jungle?

Little Japan in Düsseldorf 2

2010-04-29T19:36:00.009+02:00

I thought you maybe would see some more pictures of this beautiful place.

the inside of the temple

the garden

Hope you enjoyed the pics.

Little Japan in Düsseldorf

2010-04-24T13:17:00.009+02:00

Since our trip to Japan has been cancelled I felt the need to go to Düsseldorf. Luckily my bf was my date that day.
The Japanese Eko house is build there with a beautiful garden, guest house and temple, all in Japanese style..
So for a little bit get the feeling of being in Japan I wanted to go to Düsseldorf. We went last Thursday, it was beautiful weather and still quiet when we arrived so we had al the time to look at the amazing craftsmanship and garden.

I really respect the way they build this beautiful building and garden. It seems to be made with so much care and love.

If you have the chance to visit Düsseldorf, go see the Japanese Eko house. It's worth the trip.

Japan, here we don't come

2010-04-20T22:49:00.002+02:00

We were suppose to have the house for our selfes and our bossies should be in Japan. Unfortunate they are still here in Holland because of the volcano irruption in Iceland their holiday has been cancelled.
Well as you can imagine we are very disappointed, hopefully we will have a new change next year.
We have thought about every scenario of what may go wrong but never thought about a volcano which could erupt.
Bummer!!!!!!

What do cats want

2010-04-08T20:07:00.003+02:00

The weather is good and it's busy in the garden with birds, frogs and others animals SO WE WONNA GO OUTSIDE!!!!!!

Theather

2010-03-07T16:20:00.004+01:00

Last weekend we went to Dadadadan Tenko with their Dance and Percussion tour. It was our (my BF and me) first time but we went with Kyuukaryuko an BF, it was their second time so they new what was coming.
I really liked the Japanese percussion and beautiful dance which was played with a lot of energy and inspiration. After the show is was possible to get an autograph or take a picture with one of members of Tenko.
If you ever have the chance to go to a show of them, I would say go for it.

home made

2010-03-01T15:51:00.004+01:00

It took me about 3 months but now it is finished, made by my one hands.
My beautiful, if I my say so yukata with a cute fish.
I have to say that my teacher from the sewing class did help me with the collar. It's a little bit too width but hé who's counting.

Let me now what you think of my yukata, you don't have to be gentile.

This is how it looked 3 months ago

Birthday

2010-02-07T18:14:00.003+01:00

Today our little Jinx became 3 years old or should I say 21 years?
I hope too enjoy her presents for many years.

Happy birthday little one.

Japanese image

2010-01-17T20:49:00.004+01:00

A couple of months ago I've got a package from the mail women
(mine sister in law). It was a book with a diversity of Japanese images as shown in the foto.
Every image has a explanation so you know what it resembles.
So thanx sweet Bernie for your beautiful gift.

What's this

2010-01-13T19:36:00.004+01:00

Is this a rabbit?

NO

It's a paw of Jinx

lazy saturday

2010-01-09T17:35:00.006+01:00

JJ;

Today is a crazy day because the weather isn't normal. We've got snow the hole day and a lot of wind (almost a storm) so not a day to go out for our bossie. But she had to go outdoors, we stayed in as we usually do, we only go outdoors on a leach with our bossies . A few days ago we went into the garden there was every wear white stuff, we got cold feet so quick back inside brrrrrrrr.
Now I am laying cosy by the heater and Jinx downstairs in the hammock, looking bored.

Jinx;

There are no birds to look at because of the cold, to bad. hmmm
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

musubi unknown

2010-01-07T17:43:00.005+01:00

Still enjoying my holiday and had the need to do some kitsuke. I took one of my books with a diversity of musubi. Unfortunately I can't reed Japanese language and have to look at the pictures who aren't always obvious. So it didn't come out the way its supposed to but in the end I think it looks very nice.

little rascal

2010-01-05T16:37:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch and surfing the net. I had to leave my laptop for a few minutes. Suddenly I had a intruder, who was it, that took my laptop, well it was my little JJ( jufrouw Jannie).

She was laying very cozy, so I let her be for a while.

Isn't she cute my little rascal?

komon

2010-01-03T16:17:00.004+01:00

Today I made time to do some kitsuke on "annie". Some months ago I bought a nice brown komon which still was laying in my tansu.
So time to get it out of the closet.

I've tried to make the eri a little bit wider which looks very nice I think but let me now what you think.

The obi is a hanhaba (half width) obi which you can use for casual kimono like this one.
It's reversible and has pretty bunnies on one side.
I've tried to tie it in the shellfish bow ( kai no kuchi musubi) but it didn't come out the way it's suppose too.

So practice, practice and practice.

new years eve

2010-01-02T17:37:00.005+01:00

At new years eve we had invited family over. My mother in law, sister in law, nephew and niece with her boyfriend were present. They do now about my love for kitsuke but never have seen me dressed in kimono before. So I decided to surprise them this day. Because it's been a while since I've dressed myself in kimono, it took some time before I was ready. Not completely satisfied with the outcome but hey who's counting.

Luckely we had a great evening and enjoyed each others company. The only ones who didn't enjoy the evening were our girls( JJ and Jinx) because of the fireworks. But they survived and everything is almost back to normal.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T13:01:00.006+01:00

best wishes for 2010

Our plan for 2010:

we will not chase each other every day,
we leave the birds in peace
and
we will be kind to everyone who comes to visit our home.

winter

2009-12-21T15:42:00.007+01:00

Last week is started to snow in our country, so that means chaos. Busses,trains which no longer drive and traffic congestion but what a beautiful sight.

Omeshi

2009-12-13T15:57:00.006+01:00

Some weeks ago I've bought this beautiful omeshi kimono on ebay.
Omeshi means a noble person puts on clothes.
Omeshi is a kind of Chirimen (silk crepe) kimono.
It belong to the Tsumugi (woven kimono) and is weaved after dyeing.
I really like the combination of the colours, dark red/purple with green.

The tsukuri obi is very handy, i don't now when you wear this obi if it will stay properly.
The obi age and obi jime are light green but i think light yellow would also be a option.

love

2009-11-18T20:13:00.003+01:00

I found this picture on the internet,
do I need to say more?

yukata fabric

2009-11-09T12:23:00.004+01:00

A few weeks ago there was a bidding for this bolt of yukata fabric. Luckily I was the one who won this fabric and the price was nice.
I really like the coral red colour with very cute fish.
Since I have join a sewing club because I really do not now how to sew (my boyfriend does it better than I). So I hope that in a few months or years (lol) to show you a beautiful yukata. Yes in a few months/years because I only sew in my class and nowhere else. So my projects take a little bit more time. But hopefully in the end it will make no difference.

Penthouse view

2009-11-08T15:10:00.008+01:00

Our lovely cats have a beautiful penthouse, if i may say so. We bought is last year and hoped that they would use it. Luckily it was approved by them both, they even helped putting it together as they always do when something new arrives in our home. It has a kind of hanging baskets or as we call it hammocks on top of the pole which i call the penthouse with a view.

But looking at birds and other cats during the day makes us very tired so let's take a power nap.

Hé, wake up something is happening!
Huh, what are you waking me up for?

I think we are going to eat something , I am dying for some fish.
Hopefully we are getting some.
Damned I smell chicken,very disappointing but luckily we have a penthouse view.

hitotsu mon

2009-10-19T17:27:00.006+02:00

It's been a while since i posted something but it has been a crazy time. We did have a holiday but didn't went anywhere because we wanted to paint our house on the outside, my boyfriend and i got a new job, we lost a friend which always makes an impact in your life but hé here we are again.
A couple of months ago i bought this samon-coloured hitotsu mon. Today i had the time to put it on "Annie". I really had difficulties with kitsuke because it's been to long since the last time. In the future i hope to take more time for kitsuke.

The obi which i am using is a nagoya obi with crane birds.
I really think that it is a very nice piece, I hope the colour suits me.

aankopen

2009-07-27T17:39:00.007+02:00

Twee weken terug heb ik de verleiding niet kunnen weerstaan en heb via ebay een synthetische obi en een zijden obi-age gekocht. De obi is versierd met een "trommel" en past qua kleur mooi bij de hitoe kimono.
Deze obi is echter een stuk korter dan de gemiddelde obi die ik heb, wat het een stuk lastiger maakt voor mij om mee te werken.
En zoals op de foto is te zien vindt JJ het allemaal reuze interessant maar dan heel anders. Maar ze is wel gezellig bij het vrouwtje aanwezig of was het nou andersom!

Deze obi-age vind ik zelf erg mooi met name de vogel welke erin is geweven, logisch anders had ik deze niet gekocht maar wat de doorslag heeft gegeven is eigelijk de verpakking. Prachtig om te zien maar vooral om te hebben. Ja, wat moet je er eigelijk mee? Niets maar gewoon leuk om te hebben.

Hitoe

2009-07-19T17:41:00.005+02:00

Deze mooie hitoe kimono heb ik vorig jaar gekocht bij Ryu maar nog niet op "Annie " uitgeprobeerd. Gezien het vandaag een redelijke rare dag was Qua weer ben ik aan de gang gegaan met kitsuke.
De kimono is redelijk gekreukt maar dat mag de pret niet drukken, de vraag is alleen hoe krijg ik deze er het gemakkelijkst uit. Uiteraard zijn suggesties welkom.
Wat ik nog steeds niet netjes voor elkaar krijg is de ohashori, er zal wel een truc voor zijn maar ik heb het nog niet gevonden.
De obi is van één laag stof welke heel grof is geweven, zo grof dat je de obi -ita er door heen ziet. De obi-age is warm oranje en de obi-jime zachtgeel, volgens mij een combinatie die gemakkelijk moet kunnen en niet eens zo slecht staat.