Woodblock print master - Mr.Naotaro Nagao

Hi, I have just come back from Japan.
It was hot summer and enjoyed beach, fireworks and Beer & Edamame(steamed beans) very much.

When I am in Tokyo, I like to walk around downtown especially Asakusa-bashi, kuramae to Asakusa, Ueno.

There are still many traditional art&craft whole sellers.

I knew from magazines and news paper about Mr Nagao.
His family started wood block print since Edo period. At Edo period, wood block prints were cheap as same as a noodle. So it was the art for general people.

He reprints Hokusai, Utamaro, Yumeji through his whole life(more than 75 years). He often commented "Japanese should respect our traditional arts. Now his family start to take over his traditional technique.

I personally like his prints "Cat" series which were originally made by Hokusai. I bought a couple of Hokusai, Utamaro, Yumeji's prints. If you have chance to pop in Paddington, Brisbane. Please have a look the original his works at Kazuyo's collection(98 Latrobe tce Paddington)!
Even now the price is unbelievable reasonable too!

Baby kimono made by Tenugui(hand towel)

Hi, One of my customer asked me to make a baby kimono.

The picture's kimono was made by Tenugui(Hand towel).

It will be comfortable for the baby to wear!!(Because, TENUGUI is normally made by very fine 100% cotton)

In my shop, TENUGUI is a popular item for scarf, table centre, quilt works.

KAZUYO'S COLLECTION Tanabata - star festival -

Hi, today, 7th of July is "TANABATA -star festival".

The Milton state school invited me to have the Japanese tea ceremony and Tanabata festival" today.

I asked the kids "Who is the lady?".
The answers were funny, "Geisya girl!!"
I said the kids "We can not serve SAKE today, we will serve Japanese tea!"

Anyway, they enjoyed the Japanese tea ceremony with their interest and tasted the Japanese green tea and sweet(KONPEITOH).

After we had the TANABATA festival with Origami and wish card.
Thanks for inviting us in the kid's world!!

What's the TANABATA festival?
The festival originates from Chinese legend of the two bright stars, Altair and Vega. Vega(Orihime) was weaving lady and Altair(Hikoboshi), a cowherd boy. They loved each other. They had so much fun and stopped working hard. The king was upset and separated them by the Milky way. He allowed them to meet once a year across the Milky way on the 7th of July.

On the day, people decorate bamboo with paper strips and ornaments. It is believed that a wish comes true when you write your wish on the strip and hang it on the bamboo.

The Japanese art & craft, tea shop, Kazuyo's collection has the 1st anniversary sale on the 10th of July at 98 Latrobe tce Paddington!

vintage kimono bag with leather

I have just done my next goal how the vintage kimono revive as a long life!!

The vintage kimono has a history which somebody enjoyed "kimono life" and finally came out in the antique market". I have been making the vintage kimono bags for 5 years. But always worry about the bag's life. Especially, The corner of bottom of bags.

This year, I had a chance to get an industrial sewing machine. It's not for mass production, it's for the leather's work. As you feel that kimono and black is a matching colour, That means leather should be matching with vintage kimonos!! I really would like show the real these works.

If you live in around Brisbane, please have a look my new works. It will make you happy feeling for vintage kimonos.

Kazuyo's collection

98 Latrobe tce Paddington, Brisbane

Japanese traditional craft

Hi, I just wanna inform about the Japanese traditional craft's official site .

The contents is covered all traditional crafts and also you can pick the craft from region. I recommend the persons who just wanna know something about the Japanese crafts. Please have a look!!!

My shop has the 1st anniversary sale this Saturday, 3rd July 2010.

Please pop in and Japanese vintage world!!!

Kazuyo's collection - 98 Latrobe Tce Paddington Brisbane.

Baby vintage kimono bear

Can you see the picture as "a bear"? Maybe not, but hope yes!!!

The bear is my first work for the one of my customer's little grand daughter. She asked me the bear without plastics.
I picked a vintage cotton kimono for the main part, shibori kimono for a ears, paws, a part of face, and tomesode(black kimono) for eyes.

When I completed, my impression "BUSAIKU!!!(it's not cute!)" But once I hold and stared the bear, "you were born now, hope she likes it...!".

It's a big different between making kimono handbags. My feeling is as same as looking after my daughter....

Last time I introduced the lovely vintage kimono teddy bear made by Haruko. I know now, how she likes teddy bears!! And also her Bear's face must be reflected her warm heart!!

Traditional wooden craft - Dovetail joint technique

Currently my shop is in the shop "Latrobe artspace"(Framing shop). the shop owner is just completed the Japanese traditional wooden craft which use the one of traditional technique called "蟻組継ぎ Dovetail joint technique". the Dovetail joint is no nails but very strong structure. So There is a very popular in Japanese traditional furniture and housing. Anyway the picture is his first work. What smart his hand is!!!

Kanoko shibori kimono bag

Kanoko shibori is mostly developed at Edo period in Kyoto, Japan. The feature is that there are the some pattern with Shibori(tied dye). The picture is the bag which made of kanoko shibori(red part) with girl's kimono(Panel). The shibori is silk and very thin, so I use heavy interface and also leather for bottom and handle. I am sorry that the picture was taken by my mobile, that's why not good and can not show the texture..

How to maintain Vintage kimono bag

Hi, This article is just information to Vintage kimono bag buyers. As you know, "Vintage" means as same as your grand mother, existing for long!!.

About Vintage kimono, there are mostly occasionally used by some Japanese person for a long time.

For example, The third sash(Crane's ) was;

First stage was a wedding gown

Second stage was a celebration sash for the lady

Third stage is "Vintage kimono purse!"

Can you imagine how old the textile is now?

It is 100 years ago old since Wedding gown!!!!!

So we need look after as a great grand mother, if you got a real Vintage kimono bags.

The small tip how to maintain your vintage kimono bag;

1. Please use a furnishing protector such as scotch guard for keeping the stitching pattern on your textile.

2. When you don't use it, please hang up(if yours have handles), and also fill some paper in your bags for avoiding moisture and also keep the original shape.

I also can not recommend to wash the vintage kimono bag even hand wash, Please go to Cleaning specialist and ask which is the better way "Dry cleaning" or "Special water washing".

If any questions, please contact to me!

Anyway, hope you are enjoying the Vintage kimono world!!!!

Japanese painting by Japanese ink - Yoko Murakami

Hi, there. First of all, I am a dinosaur and beginner for BLOG! So, I am sorry that I need to learn many function... At the moment, I am not able to response to comments person, follower..etc. Please don't think "I am rude!!!" Now I focus on showing my accompany works. Please enjoy each article. One more sorry for my English.

Anyway......
Have you seen this footpath sign on Latrobe tce Paddington?

The picture was painted by Yoko Murakami. I asked her to paint "A Kimono lady who harvested flowers and Japanese hand towel"(It's me! but changed the face from my face to the traditional Japanese cute lady!!!!)

Her back ground is Japanese traditional painting in Japan. She has 2 daughters and quality of life with her partner here. Since last year, she has started painting pictures and joining in a couple of group exhibitions.

She is painting with Japanese inks on Japanese rice papers. Her current interest are "Nature" and "Children" Please enjoy her some of works as below. Some works look like "Contemporary SUMIE"!

*There are 5-6 her works at my shop(98 Latrobe tce) also a couple of works at Hanasho(West end).

Sashiko-Japanese traditional stitching

Sashiko is the most famous Japanese traditional embroidery stitching. There are many traditional patterns and most sashiko works on Noren(Japanese traditional curtain), coaster and cushion cover etc. This is a part of the Japanese traditional Noren which Takako made. Takako also originally designed the pattern . I will try to take picture better and replace the picture soon!!!


The work is currently at my shop window, so if interest, please have a look the real her work!

Takako used to work in Japanese fashion industry, before she migrated in Australia. She is also making dress, knitting etc. Very talented lady, isn’t she!

Shincha- new harvested green tea available!!

Please enjoy the special aroma now!
New green tea leaves has just been harvested. It's the first harvest of 2010. We can enjoy Shincha such as "Beaujolais nouveau"
More SHINCHA information and on line shopping from Aya green tea.

(Picture by Kazuyo)Tea and Mizu-manjyu with Japanese homeware
*Mizu-manjyu made by Japanese ptissier, Miho

Vintage kimono teddy Bear made by Haruko

Please look at the picture! What's a cute teddy bear!!! The bear is handmade of Vintage kimonos by Haruko who lives here in Brisbane. She is also a Japanese tea ceremony instructor and enjoying Japanese traditional culture through tea ceremony as her life work.

For Haruko, These kimono teddys are special such as her own babies. When she finished making one teddy, She puts on a name which will be able to show the Vintage kimono background or the bear's outlooking. She is already a pretty well knowledge person about kimono, but just started studying more about kimono for naming.

Her handmade teddys are available at my shop.
She will look after her teddys, if the teddy become sick(injured)too!

Anyway enjoy the Haruko's teddy world!

Any interest please contact to Kaz; kimonofrog@yahoo.co.jp
visit my shop, 98 Latrobe tce, Paddington

Vintage black kimono dress

Hi, Sorry, I have still not bought a camera, so I can not show my current works....(Please wait for a while, I will show new works with vintage kimono soon!!!)

The picture's dress was made of a women's formal kimono which is called "TOMESODE". Tomesode is black colour and normally family crest on the sleeves and back, also some bright cerebration pattern on the bottom of kimono, such as crane, peacock, flowers ocean waves etc.

In Japan, even wedding reception, women wear the black kimono as formal dress.

Tomesode is one of my favourite kimono as hanging on the wall, reforming to dress, bag.

At the moment a couple of Tomesodes at my shop. If interest, please pop in my shop and have a look!

Kazuyo's collection (98 Latrobe tce Paddington Brisbane)

Tea ceremony at Paddington

Hi, all,

Just a event news, I will have "Japanese tea cermony and tea session" on 15th May(Sat) from 10:30 at 106A Latrobe tce, Paddington, Brisbane.

It's free event and if you are interest, please pop in!!

Tea ceremony master is HARUKO, Japanese tea instructor is Aya from Aya green tea.

Hope see you then!!

Kazuyo

Hina Matsuri - Hina doll festival

Hina doll festival is tomorrow, on the 3rd of March in Japan, The festival is also called as "Peace festival". Spring has come! We Japanese decorate hina dolls which depict the Japanese imperial court. The girl's parents hope that the child will have happy life. So the girl's family enjoy eating traditional meals, such as Chirashi-zushi(homemade sushi), Hina-arare(popped rice) and drinking "Shiro-sake"!

My shop, 98 Latrobe tce Paddington will be decorated the hina doll on my window from next Monday. Please have a look!!!

Setsubun

Setsubun 3rd of Feb- The close of winter "Bring happiness of 2010!" with throwing beans

I have not updated my blog yet. Sorry.. I will start to introduce Japanese culture with my words again. Please enjoy the parts of Japan with my funny English!!

"Setsubun" means "Winter has gone" and the day was the end of winter in calender. On the evening of 3rd of Feb, people throw roasted beans inside and outside of their houses with yelling "Oni wa soto(Devils out) Fuku wa uchi(Good luck in)!" Japanese people wanna invite good luck in. The event also customary to eat the beans as same as one's age. it is a kind of "Good health for each family members"

I myself last year was a bit hard, so I did with my family "Oni wa soto! Fukuwa uchi!!!"

Kazuyo

I reopened my shop "Kazuyo's collection at 98 Latrobe Tce paddington. Please come and enjoy a tiny Japanese culture world which There are Japanese art and craft, tea also my favourite kimono, kimono sash there.

The beauty- Kimono sash (Obi)

Hi, Here are the couple of works which made from Vintage Obi(kimono sash).
Especially clutch styles is a new design and coming out at Cherish2008 at Artisan(Craft Queensland), Fortitude Valley on Oct 2008.

Where are you going with my kimono bag?

'Hey! Duck where are you going with my kimono bag? '



'The bag looks like very heavy? Many stuff must be in the bag!'
'Where are you going with my bag? Are you coming back??'

“･･･・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・”

‘Anyway, Enjoy your traveling!!!'

Current work - Vintage kimono bag

Hello! This time, I would like to introduce my current work with vintage kimono Obi(kimono sash).
Just enjoy the pictures!

Left bag- Black Obi for ceremony and Brown-gold Obi which is patterned with Cranes and Pines (Pre 1945).

2nd bag - Black Obi for ceremony with Lady's kimono 'Shibori'
3rd bag - Geisya Obi
4th bag - Black Obi for ceremony and the patched work with Girl's kimono
5th bag - 'Nishijin' Obi which is famous in Kyoto