I’ve stalled since the New Year. Partially because I’m out of work and searching for a new position and partially because *waves hands at the state of the world*. It’s hard to think about art and personal goals when people are dying for no good reason. I think the only way I can help is to continue my research and provide a little spot of joy to myself and others. This calls back to the compassion I’m supposed to be showing to myself and everyone else.
SO. Projects. Let’s see if we can get a handle on all the things I’ve wanted to do and start making forward progress again.
SEWING
I have two pieces of clothing that are all but done. Hakama and a kosode. I’d like to finish those by tomorrow and get them in the mail by Monday.
The Kobai project. This one is a big undertaking. I’m still debating whether or not I want to completely hand-sew it. There are 5 ginu/kinu and nagabakama cut out ready to go. This project is intended to be worn with the uwagi I finished for Birka 2025. (I should make a post about that.) I do not yet have a plan for the karaginu to go with it, but I think resetting for next Birka (2027) is the right thing to do. That gives me about 10 months. Doable. This will also mean mending my hitoe from the pilgrimage ensemble (which needs to happen anyway).
I also want to make a smallish number of asetori/kosode (underwear). 3-4 would do it. It is possible to finish one in about two days, but that does not mean it’s easy.
Oh. And I need a new obi. Mine was green, representing “apprentice”. I am no longer an apprentice as I have been elevated to Laurel, so I need a new belt. (That would also be a good subject for a post.)
TANKA
I’ve not been writing very often. Partially I’m trying to decide how much I want to continue to share. I enjoyed sharing my work widely, and many, many people enjoy reading what I write, but I’m considering publishing and most publishers do not want the content available anywhere else. I think I’ll focus on my Kokinshu Challenge project and share that, as I have been in the past. I also share one poem in each of my Waka Wednesday episodes and some here. That should be enough sharing to satisfy that itch. I’ll keep the rest private.
GENJI
Continuing on with the analysis and YouTube videos is the main project I will focus on of all the projects I have in various states of doneness. I do want to create the Heian Look Book I dreamed up last year. And I’ve received a bit of encouragement to move forward with the fan project. I mentioned wanting to make a hiogi, the ceremonial fan, after one is called out in chapter 29 and one of my lovely viewers commented, “make the fan!” The fan project will be a minimum of two, one paper (sensu) for Oborozukio, one wood (hiogi) for Tamakazura, and possibly one for our lady of the molted cicada shell who has now become a nun. We’ll see if there are others in the second half of Genji. The look-book and fans don’t need to be finished until 2028 when the whole project wraps up, so for now they’ll live in a research and gathering of supplies state. I do want the fan construction to be recorded and turned into videos.
SAMURAI TRAINING
This may be the hardest part for me. I have not been able to muster the motivation for this, and I’m running out of time. I’m 46 and the sport is not kind to older bodies. Maybe I should make myself a little chart and get some star stickers and go for it like a little kid. I know that motivation is something you build over time through practice, not some magical feeling that will vault me forward in martial practice. Perhaps another 100 day challenge. This is important to my improvement goals and my health in general.
LANGUAGE
I’ve been studying, but I switched to Spanish. Didn’t mean to, I meant to add Spanish to assist in brain plasticity while I study Japanese. Time to buckle down and make sure I do a lesson from each everyday. I want to be able to muddle my way through without too much help when I finally visit Japan.
While I have certainly discussed other projects, the above list is MORE THAN ENOUGH. Everything else can and must wait. Honestly it’s a little too much, but I don’t want to let go of anything else. If I can focus on these and move them all forward, I’d be very pleased with myself.
Starting once again I draw on hope and resolve to motivate me
Steady practice is the way, will this time be different?
Only time will tell.
I love that you’re continuing on the Genji project. I need to send you a pic of the big kimono — uchikake — that I have. The sleeves are faked to copy the Heian period. I think it was a part of a wedding ensemble.
Thank you so much for your comment! I would love to see a picture of your uchikake and am intrigued by the faked sleeves. Do they fake the layering style of junihitoe? There’s a period garment referred to as an itsutsuginu (in at least one book) that has a single body but hems, collars and sleeves that are layered. Eventually I’ll get around to making one!