Kimono craze and A GIVE AWAY!

Here are a couple of kimono from my collection. They are difficult to photograph because the pattern on these are damask and they have a sheen to them.

I have to confess that I have a kimono buying obsession. At first I figured it was an environmentally friendly way to craft: buying vintage. That is until I considered that it ships all the way from Japan...

The other problem is that I love the fabric but haven't really decided what I will do with it yet. I guess I feel a bit sheepish about sharing my passion for kimonos when I don't really know what I will do with them. I simply adore looking at and feeling the various silks. Some are buttery soft and others are beautifully crisp. The colors and designs are always stunning.

So far I have made a few scarves from the kimono I have picked apart.

   

Here are some panels:

I have also made some flowers. Here is one of them. From Kumiko Sudo's book, Omiyage. That is all I have made from the kimono.

I have assembled a few piles of kimono scraps.   

Since I am not using up the vintage silks very fast and am starting to have a guilty conscience about it I am going to have a give away! Maybe I can help someone with a Christmas gift or help inspire someone else to make something with a panel or scraps?

JOIN THE DRAWING! (Ends December 3rd)

I am going to host a drawing with 3 different prizes! They are as follows:

1. a vintage kimono silk scarf

2. 3 vintage silk kimono panels for crafting inspiration

3. a small bundle of vintage silk kimono scraps

All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment on this post between now and next Monday, December 3rd. On December 4th I will draw 3 names from among those who leave a comment to this post, one for each category. The winner of category 1 may choose a scarf , the winner of category 2 will receive the two panels shown plus a mystery panel, and the winner of category 3 will receive the silk scraps shown here!

Otherwise I am hoping to entice people to trade with me! Anyone want to trade: my supplies or hand-mades for theirs? I would love that! Look in my photo album for things available for trade. Plus if anyone has any tips on more ways to use the silks I am all ears.   

Comments

[Veronica TM]

oh wow! i was just coming to you blog to return your visit to mine and find this wonderful give away!
thank you so much for your kind comment, i am looking forward to visiting again!

[Kara]

Beautiful pictures of some beautiful fabric! I'd be honored to win any of the options :)

[Charlotte]

oh my goodnes - that red panel is amazing!!!!! Yes look at us nutters with our japanese fabric obsessions!!

[Charlotte]

that pink and grey scarf is rather divine as well! what scrummy fabrics!!!

[mereteveian]

Jeg vandret også over hit for å myse for min første gang (koselig blogg!) og fant jo denne posten som bare tagg om en kommentar.
Kimono-biter som en kan gjøre noe med sjøl, frister mye, så kanskje jeg må melde meg for et bytte: Kimonobiter mot sjølfarga stoff? Perler/ ferdig smykke? Noe i lappesøm og/ eller artquilt?

[Marcie]

I'm not officially entering (as your cousin, it wouldn't seem fair), but wanteed you to know I added you to my blog. I'm also going to share with blogspot.com.

[Laney]

beautiful fabric and I love the idea to make the flowers, with the silk. I would love to be in the drawing, thank you!

[Tonje]

Hi. Wow... that are some gorgeous fabrics... LOVE... and what a great idea to have a drawing!

I see that you are in Norway... I'm norwegian, but live abroad just now. We have plans to move back "home" next year, probably near Oslo somewhere... so I'd like to thank you for telling about filling a bag with fabric at Tanum tekstil for 100kr... wow cheap! Will definately have to go there when we move back to Norway.

[Christine Down]

Lovely fabric. I will turn mine into a bag if I'm lucky.

[Gerrie]

So glad you commented on my blog today because I came over here and found these wonderful Kimono fabrics. I use vintage Japanese textiles in my fabric collage pieces.

[Michele C]

The kimono fabric is beautiful. I think you could make some pretty fabric flower pins with the fabric. Do a coordinating one to match up with a scarf. Put a button on the back of the flower so that it just has to button through the scarf and not make pin holes. -- Michele

[Cary]

wow. what a treat!

[Joanna]

I have the book Omiyage also and have made several things from it. I can never figure out where to purchase kimono. The flower you made from Omiyage is beautiful. Lovely choice in colors.

[Lara]

Beautiful fabrics and nice blog! Thanks for entering me in your giveaway!

[Carrie S]

Wow, what lovely pieces! I would be tempted to make A-line panel skirts with the fabric or piece them together to make a lap quilt or refashion a blazer by recovering the lapels with the fabric....the possibilities are endless!

[Beth Dasecke]

wow the fabric is beautiful I have just found your blog and will be back for more
Hugs Beth

[dennis's mommy]

The fabrics are so, so very beautiful. And you are so generous to be giving them away! Thanks for the opportunity to share in the bounty of your obsession : )

[michelle]

Hey! I just got a little bundle myself, today! And, guess what I shipped off? A little bundle of scrappy goodness to you!!!! Hurray! I'm glad for both. And, I already have a plan for one of the little kimono pieces. Thank you, Emily.

[Amy]

I love your pictures. They remind me of such vintage romance, which just inspires me to knit beautiful things. Your embroidered flowers especially reminds me of what I found of my great-grandmothers embroidery.

[claire]

The kimonos look great, I know what you mean about amassing fabric. At the moment, in my head anyway, I'm building up the confience to do my very first quilt, so any bits of gorgeous fabric would be great. thank you for being so generous.

[mary]

those are absolutely GORGEOUS fabrics. i stumbled on your site off of Sew Christine's... who recommended stopping by to see your kimono fabrics. i'm with you, however -- i wouldn't know the slightest of what to do with kimono fabric, although a scarf sounds like a good idea! however, i don't have much fabric right now as it is (somewhat of a newbie at the crafting-stuff) and would love to acquire more. thanks for the opportunity :-) i won't be a lurker anymore... i'll start checking by regularly!

[cmoon]

just found you via Sew Christine. Just had to join the draw.I hope I will be lucky*
Now back to look at your blog. Thanks

[Lisa R-P]

Please, please pick me. I love that fabric.

[Kim Musgrove]

Gorgeous Fabric....so sweet of you to have a give-a-way!

[Nancy]

Your fabric is gorgeous! I love the flower you have made. Very lovely!

[jan in nagasaki]

thank you for your comment on my blog... I am not entering the drawing for the kimonos, but I just wanted to say.... let me know what I can get for you here in Japan.. and I hope we can swap for something norwegian.... my ancestors are from Norway... my family name is HILLESTAD.. and I would love love love to learn more about (textiles) norway!!!

I am more into cotton and buy used yukata from flea markets.

[jenny]

Lovely I have been purchasingsome Kimono siilk - just waiting for it to arrive!

thanks Jenny

[Rosanne]

Gorgeous fabrics! I'll check back often

[Meagan]

Wow.... I love the fabric... If you don't mind me asking where do you buy them from? My sister in law is from Japan and I love all the japanesse fabric she has and all the Japenesse crafts I have seen on the blogs, but haven't found a good place to get them from yet...

Those are scrap bundles... Ohhhhh, that is one nice scrap bundle. The blue flowered scraps are gorgeous!!!

[Hazel]

I would love to be entered in your drawing. I have a kimono that my father brought my mother from World War 2 when he was in the Philippines. I love that fabric!!!

[CharlieP]

Wow! They are beautiful fabrics and this is a lovely blog. You are so lucky to live in Norway- there seem to be so many fab crafty things and crafty people there and it's great that even your son is taking up sewing and crocheting!

[Denise Ridgway]

just perfect, stunning fabric
Denise

[jan in nagasaki]

i think I already made a comment but I don't see it...

thank you for visiting my blog.

I don't need to enter for the kimono material. I just wanted to say how fabulous it looks and how great it is to share!!!!

[karen]

Those who love fabric will understand how you feel about the way the silk feels. If I win, my daughter and I will share the prize!

[AmelaB]

Oh please count me in!

[Lesa]

I too have an obsession with kimono fabric. I keep bidding on ebay but have only won one piece! So I'd like to be in the drawing for the bundle of scraps. I plan on making notebook covers, etc. out of them.

[Merruli]

Such lovely fabrics. How generous of you to organize a give-a-way.

[Sherri]

Oh my gosh, that fabric is so pretty! I could see how that could very easily turn into an obsession ... just what I need, another one - lol, but a kimono would be lovely ... have a wonderful day.

[Eileen]

I love beautiful fabric, and this is certainly very beautiful. It must be a constant source of inspiration to you. The flower is wonderful.

[Janellybelly]

Count me in, hope I'm not too late...
Janelle xx

[futuregirl]

Oh, no! I missed it by just 2 and a half hours. That'll teach me to put off responding to my comments. :)

[Donna]

I just found your blog on futuregirl's. Darn't....I missed the draw. I'm really enjoying reading your site. I want to get back into embroidering. My Mom taught me when I was little and haven't done it for a long time. I still have some of my Mom's odd patterns and thread.

:) Donna

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[Priscilla]

2 yrs late but any hoot
o_0 PRETTY
I'm obssed with kimonos as well. First I wanted my own kimono now i've given up cuase of price so going after the fabric. Been on medical leave since Febuary sooo I got lots of spare time.

I have beads, leather, clothes(yard sale next year most are large and up with some meds),
necklaces (can custom make I use stones and semi gems), I can also custom hand embroidery, crochet lace, homemade cookies >:F either the cookies made or jars of the powder mix, can also make citrus pie fillings/apple/berries in jars, home made herbal tea, pear butter, wire wrap items for pendents, chinese knots, wax pressed flowers/leaves and crochet blankets, oh and I make sock animals. Basically WILL WORK FOR KIMONOs :D

ideas for kimono fabric and scraps: Corsets (fav), quilted skits and dresses mixed with bigger pieces of fabric, edging on outfits, quilt or glue on to the rycleable grocery bags, Glue to backpacks, glue to shoes, Glue to furniture, dont know how to spell it but kimekoma dolls, lamp shades, kleenx box cover, Pouch on a hoodie, lineing on the hood of a hoodie, Decopoge, aplique designs for pants and such, grab a clear glass plate glue fabric onto the bottom with decopoge, (glue is a wonderful thing) xmas ornaments, have some one trace your shadow for a portrait made out of fabric (trace onto paper cut out and wha la pattern for fabric), toys, umm lets what else looks around room, add sleeves to you t-shirts or use the tshirt picture for the front of a corset. hmm guess thats pretty much it besides scrape booking (I don't do that becuase 1 don't have pictures and two omg the cost yes paper is cheap buuuut people get carried away with it)