Cats and Kitsuke

Monday, June 8, 2015

brooch with a Japanese theme

A few weeks ago I was at a secondhand store just seaching for anything Japanese.
Mostly I never find anything but this time I found this cute little treasure.
The use for this brooch will be as a obi dome

As shown in the picture she has been damaged but still looks pretty.

My old tsukesage kimono

My old Tsukesage would be a lovely match with the brooch.

Tsukesage: a tsukesage has more modest patterns that cover less area, mainly below the waist, than the more formal homongi. They may also be worn by married and unmarried women

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Houmongi with ro obi

I gues it's been a year since I've done kitsuke which shows at the pictures but what a lovely color-combination this orange houmongi and light green ro obi.
The obi age which I used is also light green and the obi jime is orange, made of beads.
Hope you had a great liberation day.

Monday, January 12, 2015

exhibition Geisha part 2

At the exhibition there were photo's, drawings, pictures of Geisha's and of course kimono. Here are some more pictures, hope you will enjoy them.

OTOMARU 1906-1976

Born as Nagai Matsuko, she started taking singing and dancing lessons at the age of six and debuted as Geisha in the Shinbashi district of Tokyo at the age of 13.
Otomaru was one of the few Geisha's who wore Western clothing and hairstyles whenever possible.
She was famous mainly thanks to her singing career.
Her name, which means something like "music sound", is said to be an allusion to gramophone records.

Geisha relaxing outside the okiya

Nice (fake) blossom

More kimono

and more, this one of my favorite

A stunning obi with the crest of the okiya

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Exhibition Geisha Leiden

Geisha is a world-renowned style icon. The Japanese with the stark white face, red lips and precious kimono is a phenomenon that fascinates the world and stimulates the imagination. A stereotype ofJapanese aesthetics, surrounded by mysticism and misunderstandings.

The concept is even more than samurai geisha surrounded by a sensation of mysticism. The intriguing Japanese is a global source of inspiration for fashion designers, artists, photographers and writers. Once stood geisha symbol for trendsetting haute couture, now you can see her just as guardian of refined cultural traditions and etiquette. An epitome of courtesy, control and beauty.

The world of the geisha is exclusive and private. Geisha houses are visited by influential politicians and businessmen, on which it can be sure that what they discuss there remains absolutely confidential. An evening in a tea house in the company of geisha is not for everyone. It is exclusive, expensive and only for the happy few.

Through this private character countless stories circulating about their role in the nightlife. Comparisons with prostitution and oppression do justice to reality. In this world, women, big exception in Japan, the power: they themselves have in most Geisha- and tea houses, both in content and business, the leadership. In addition, young women choose for themselves to go to the long and intensive training, a voluntary commitment to a disciplined life of dancing, singing, study and performances.

National Museum of Ethnology works for this exhibition together with a geisha house in Kyoto, the main city of Japan geisha. Admire the paintings, the precious kimonos, obi and hair accessories, dressing tables, mirrors and musical instruments and with lacquer set tables. Meet the woman behind the phenomenon in especially for this exhibition made reports: personal stories about her motives, sacrifices and a constant search for perfection. GEISHA offers a unique look behind the scenes of a closed world.

Here's an impression of the exhibition many kimono are from Yoshifumi teahouse in kyoto.