18 October 2009

Saturday's Lunch

If there is an event happening in London that gives me an excuse to wear a kimono then I am going. And if there isn't then why not just create one!

This Saturday I met up with my IG friends for a spot of shopping and lunch.

It started off really well, I got up at the right time and got on the right train and then the series of misfortune began. As I was about to get to Liverpool Station I realised I forgot my obi ita! So an emgerency shopping at WhSmith was need to find a subsitute was needed. Lucky I found a clear folder which would make a reasonable obi ita. Then off to Hong's to get change then she pointed out that one of my kimono seams has come loose! So that needed to be repaired before anything else could be done.

Ok we are all dressed and off we went to Piccadilly Circus. Stupidly I just got on the first DLR that was there which did not go to Bank. Hong did tell me that it didn't go to Bank but my brain was panicking! Not a problem we thought because we could get on the Tube at Tower Hill. Wrong! It was closed for whatever reason so we got on a bus to get to the nearest tube station which was Monument. But that was closed as well and the nearest one was Bank so we had to walk to Bank.

Finally getting to Bank we got to Piccadilly Circus at 12.30, an hour late which is not fashionably late.

After making our rubbish excuses to Chantel and April we made our way to the old Japan Centre to look at the non-food items. So much cute stuff to buy but no where to put it. The was the most adorable glass cat mug for £6.99 which was just shouting to be brought. However I had to resist as I don't have any space in my room. Chantel on the otherhand decided to buy a few matching plates and bowls, triangular onigiri maker and a onigiri lunch box.

Then off to Minamoto Kitchen because we are suckers for them but we didn't buy anything. They did have a cute window display though.


Although looking at the picture now, the models look a little creepy to me.

Hong and I were thirsty after our adventure with London transport so off we all went to Okawari for lunch.

Now you hear of things happening around Chinatown at night time and when we arrived at our restaurant we found it taped off as it was part of a crime scene! Ok at this point I think we were all a little stunned however the nice officer allowed us enter the restaurant because we had a booking and it was only a few feet past the police tape.

Okawari was chosen because it had tatami style seating where the tables were sunken into the floor to give the impression that you were sitting seiza style. Great idea however we all had trouble getting our legs under the table which lead to some unladylike behaviour.

Lunch was surprising nice with bento boxes priced around £10 and we all shared a tempura starter. All in all a very nice lunch and it gave us time to take a few pictures.

April and Hong.


Chantel.


Of course a trip to London would not be complete without a trip to Haagen Dazs.

This Saturday happen to be the grand opening of Japan Centre new food store near Mitsukoshi with a 10% off promotion. So as you can imagine it was very busy and we left it to the end of the day to have a look to avoid getting squashed.

As we all parted our way we all saw the most funniest thing. The man driving the little van was also singing as well and yes the van was blowing bubbles.


When I got home around 7.10pm I thought I deserve some lovely belgium chocolates that my brother was kind enough to buy for me. They are very nice by the way.

9 October 2009

Another expensive hobby!

As you may have gathered, lately I have been on a kimono buying spree but I have another hobby which is even more expensive!

Corset!!!

Before I started on kimono my first fashion love are corsets. I have loved them for as long as I can remember and though people kept saying that they are fetish wear, I think they are gorgeous.

I have only three in my collection but with the cheapest on being £100 you can understand why I only have three.

£100 can buy you a lot of kimono.

As such, my next corset will be a custom made but I don't have a design in mind.

6 October 2009

One has gone a little overboard!

The following photos were taken after one of my friends took a picture of their kimono collection.

I feel SOOOOO guilty for buying to much.



But I do love everything and to show how sad I am, I actually enjoyed rearranging my wardrobe to fit all my kimono items into it.

Here is some close up of my kimono



Now the obi



I wish I had more time to wear them!

2 October 2009

I feel like moaning about annual appraisals.

Sigh..........work can be very trying for me. Ok with current economic being bad one should be glad that there is still a job for me and that there is no redundancy planned at my company. However it is the time of year for annual appraisals!

This year has been a bit of a challenge. I am doing well on my studies but it does not seem to be showing in my actual work. This means my progression through the ranks has been slow and as such managers are not happy. Unhappy managers means they don't like you and they will not book you for future work.

What does one do? Clearly doing my best is not working and although people have offered suggestions they don't seem to be working.

I can not help but feel depressed.

On a lighter note, I have purchase more kimono accessories!

Two pairs of lovely geta!





Another purple obi.



And another kinchaku bag which is slight bigger then my current one.



One has been very busy at Ryu Trading!

28 September 2009

Japan Matsuri 2009


It has been over a week since this event but I have been very busy. Anyway not only I am interested in kanzashi, I love kimono! And there is nothing better then getting dressed up in kimono for an event or whenever.

A group of my friends from immortalgeisha website decided to meetup for the event and what a day it was!

This was my outfit for the day.



















I'm the one on the right by the way.

I heard that it was going to be 20 c in London so I decided to wear my ro kimono with a loose woven hakata obi which has been sitting in my wardrobe for over a year so what better co-ordination.

Here is a group photo of the day!















Don't we all look cute ^_^ , my friend in the red kimono was interviewed by a Japanese news channel and you can find it on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5NIsF-iDd4
)which means she is famous.

My friend managed to get a closeup picture of me wearing my hanagushi that I made for the day but I don't have a copy of it however here it is when I just finished it.















At some point I should have the courage so make and sell them but at the moment I don't.

31 May 2009

New Kanzashi!


I have been meaning to make one of these for ages just because I thought I could.

So finally after much planning I made it yesterday.

My first concentric plum kanzashi made out of white and lilac fabric.

9 May 2009

It has been a while since I have posted something. That is mainly due to the fact that I have been pre-occupied with things. Nothing important but for some reason I have been going through things in my head and it has taken up a lot of time. Like I spent my Saturday evening just watching tv because it is the only time my brain feels at peace.

Well I should rest my weary head now.