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One more thing--

If you are coming to Fanime in regular clothes and plan to change into kimono, I suggest wearing a tank top or sports bra (for the ladies, of course), something without an underwire. I usually wear a tank/cami with minimal support because you don't want excessive boobage, you really need to underplay the cleavage as much as possible. BE COMFORTABLE. Kimono are wonderful to wear, but they can be heavy and hot in warmer weather. Consider that your underclothes need to be light and breathable so you don't want to pass out later in the day.

If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them here as long as my computer and this site are working together in harmony.

Let me just say thank you MOONBLOSSOM!

I'm in today, but yes, please do email me directly as I still have trouble answering messages and posts here. The forum pages load and load and never get anywhere and I get frustrated. Today it's good, so who knows. I blame the internet elves.

I have very limited stock of everything but I will have the following:

Shoyeido incense
Sashiko supplies (kits, thread, etc)
some craft books and shibori DVD
random Japanese fabrics (cotton and silk)
kimono (furisode, kurotomesode, hitoe, meisen, etc)
haori
michiyuki
obi (hanhaba, nagoya, fukuro)
obijime
tabi
kanzashi
uchikake
myamiari
yukata
geta
juban
Folkwear patterns (for kimono, etc so you can make your own)
...and anything else I can think of between now and then.

**NO obi makura (pillows) or other bits like collar stiffeners, velcro belts, that sort of thing. When I can get them in bulk from Japan I will have them on my website, kimonomomo dot com. Sorry!

If you buy a kimono from me, I will do my best to dress you, but please understand this takes a lot of time and I am also trying to sell. If you are already wearing a kimono and need a little adjustment, I can probably do that too.

If I ask to take your picture at the show I will also give you my business card. That way you can contact me later and I can email you a copy of the pic. I use the pics for personal reference and not publicity unless you want me to, in which case I would need something in writing from you first. If you're okay with me posting your pic on flickr, let me know. NO PHOTOS I TAKE WILL BE PUBLIC WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.

My able bodied assistant Chad will be around Saturday and Sunday. He's a cutie so stop by and say hello! I am super excited to be meeting all of you soon. If I don't have what you are looking for at the show, I will have more stock in June and I ship all over the world.

Moonblossom, yes! I finally sent you a reply. Thanks for the reminder.  :)

Kyokun, I'll see what I can do.  ;)

BTW, I've been informed I'll be at booth #404.  ;D

Holeee carp. My tabi dealer just totally bailed on me.  :(

I guess that leaves more money for me to buy kanzashi!  :)

Okay, I'm finally officially listed as a vendor. Phew!

So far I've been amassing as many kimono as I can, including a lot of hitoe (unlined) pieces since Cali is warmer than Oregon and I'm sure you don't want to be sweating buckets. My geta stash has already been raided and I'm really low on those, but hey, flip flops are good in a pinch, so bring some if you plan to buy a kimono to wear and don't have geta.

I'm getting the kanzashi order sorted, and the pieces are really nice, including some simple clips and fancier combs.

I will be taking credit cards and paypal (if I get internet sorted out), and cash is always lovely. Checks, not so much.

I'd like to know what's going on, too.  :)

No idea. I've been told I have a booth, but haven't received any info from the organizers yet. It's a big show run by a lot of busy volunteers, so that is to be expected, I guess. :)


psst... hey, organizers, send me some info!  ;)

As far as accessories, I'm working on it. Most of what I'd like to carry I can't get wholesale from Japan so I'm stuck either paying as much as you would to get it off ebay, or making it myself. I don't like the idea of paying retail plus shipping from Japan just so I can jack the prices on you. Not nice. I won't be going to Japan before the show so I can't pick up a bunch of these at a shop, either.  :(

I make koshihimo from strips of muslin, and those are free if you buy a kimono from me. If I dress you at the show, you'll be wearing them, anyway! And no one will know they're just plain cotton, because they're hidden.

Price range for kimono, juban, yukata, etc will start at $30 and up, obi should be around $60 and up for nagoya and fukuro. I'm still getting in new items, so prices are not totally set.

I'll be selling kimono and kimono gear, assuming all goes well and my booth contract gets approved. And yes, I will dress people if it's not too busy.

(speaking from experience) Geek girls find geek guys attractive. We like the things you like, and we've likely been snubbed by the cool guys so we know what that's like. I got asked out by nerds in high school, but I wasn't a nerd, so I sought out costume/cosplay/theater geeks and found some really nice ones. My sweetie is an anime geek who isn't into costuming, but that's okay. We still have many similar interests, and I remember being happy when I met him because so many guys don't get anime. With him I could be myself.

Self esteem is really important. If you don't have it, we can sense it and will avoid you like the plague. If you have too much, we'll run the other direction. Just be comfortable with yourself and be open to meeting new people. 

Excellent! Librarything is such a fun widget. I didn't know they had an events section, though.

Off to go update...

Some of the cons I went to in the '80's are still around (comics & sci fi). Like it's been said already, as long as there are fans to support it, there will be Fanime.

Well, I know I won't be "getting some" because I'm leaving my honey at home. In Oregon.  :(

Best thing: I make enough money to book more cons and buy more kimono!! and pay bills. Maybe not in that order.

You want boring? Try Oregon. We got yer boring....

I'm 35 and this will be my first time at Fanime. I'm getting a kick out of seeing how excited my kids are about going. My parents were not keen on this sort of thing when I was a teen, but my mom did go with me to comic cons and let me go to sci fi cons on my own, plus ren faires and other crazy stuff. She probably figured as long as I wasn't getting into drugs it must be okay.

My mom is SO cool.  :D

 :D Ha! This reminds me of my early years at the Renaissance Faire in Marin (back when it still was IN Marin). Same stuff. Must be something about costuming that brings out the wacky in people.

Oh noes! Apparently Gaijin Geisha no longer makes kanzashi for sale (yes, I looked her up and her work is amazing).

No, not Gaijin Geisha's work, but yes, there should be some with clips. I'll request some at any rate.

And yes! I am making more bags and scarves to bring to the show.

Hmmm.... either black kimono (kurotomesode) or somethin' slinky.

By the end of the day, I think slinky will win, for sure. Excuse me, I must go shopping now.

BTW, when is it? I'm assuming Saturday night (hopefully) after the dealer's room is closed?

LOL! my tax refund (I have two adorable deductions  :P ) is going to help me stock the booth.

I forgot to mention the kanzashi I should be getting soon from an artist here in the US. She does beautiful work. I'm still sorting out the details with her, and I'm really looking forward to having her pieces at my booth. They are sooooo pretty.