Emilia and Fabric: sewing adventure in Japan
Hey there! This post was originally published on shopkintsugi.net blog over a year ago. I've decided to revisit for several reasons: I was asked about it in a podcast (have a listen to Clothes Making Mavens!), I'm planning to relaunch Kintsugi this year or early next year with a collection of one-of-a-kind kimono remakes only,… Continue reading Some thoughts on waste
Hi! This is an off topic post, absolutely not sewing related. As somebody who wears only leather shoes, mostly boots, I get asked how I care for my shoes. Now, it's not like I'm the depository of any sort of received wisdom, but over the years, and thanks to a husband who loves classic menswear… Continue reading Shoe care 101
Hi! Hope you had a peaceful end of the year AND of the decade. Things were very quite here, but I did burn out a bit trying to finish all my experiments by the end of December. That resulted in a very painful infection and being too tired to even enjoy some amazing food. But… Continue reading My plans for 2020
As you may know, I originally hail from Italy. I was raised in Torino, but my entire family is from a tiny village in the alpine province of Biella. Biella doesn't offer anything particularly appealing, excluding incessant rain and a penchant for being stingy (or, as we say, "careful with money"), but, due to a… Continue reading The guide to wool – Part I
Over the next few months I'll share a few posts about my machines. Besides sharing the love for our indispensable sewing companions, I also intend to show models which are not known outside Japan. Hello there! How are you doing? As with many things, I am a bit fastidious when it comes to hardware. Since… Continue reading My machines: Janome 817 Excel
Hello there! Last month, while visiting my favorite vintage kimono store, the shop assistant came up to me with star shaped eyes and a summer kimono. There were several holes, especially in the back, which sadly meant this hand-stiched gorgeousness had ended up in the "remake&recycle" section of the store. Since she knows I mostly… Continue reading The Acton Dress: a refashion
Hello hello hello! If you live in a climate like East Japan, you know summers are long and very, VERY humid (now, this year is a bit weird, as the rainy season came from the North instead of the South, and it's still ongoing. Hopefully, we'll experience a cooler summer than, let's say, last year).… Continue reading All I want for summer is you – the Hilo Dress
This series of blog posts where originally published on shopkintsugi.net. After the success of Part I, I decided to make Part II also about Nippori. Here I will introduce a few more stores, mostly for the sake of completeness, and also will include my favorite leather shops. NO. 54 MIX NIPPORI This smallish second floor… Continue reading Tokyo Fabric Shopping Guide – Part II
Hello there! How are you doing? Today I want to talk about shirts. And not the boring (which I love, guilty as charged!), easy-to-tuck-in-and-corporate-feeling white shirts, but the fun ones, cropped and with overlays! Free cakes, you say? Where? WHERE? I have been searching for the perfect white shirt pattern forever, a search which is… Continue reading Style Arc Blaire Shirt
When it comes to clothing, one of my greatest frustrations has always been pants. Often, if they fit on the waist, they are too tight on the hips, and don't even get me started on the inseam! In addition, I have over the years developed a love for super-high waisted pants. They fit me much… Continue reading A make from long ago: Style Arc Teddy Pants