greetings, I am a postmodernist called Matt, who believes truth lies in many things. I am also an author hoping to write a book that looks at spiritual, social and historical development of mankind in a fictional novel.

Today's lesson is a quick overview of the Japanese stencils, called Katagami. Traditionally they were made from heavy paper and coated with persimmon juice for strength. The patterns were made by hand with the design first drawn on the blank paper and then cut with punches or knives. Here are two examples:


This one is special because of the fine, reinforced paper that connects the stencil edges and also creates a brushstroke design for the image.


And this one actually even more cool - it uses fine wires to connect the stencil cuttings:


With detailed designs, a screen of silk threads was added to hold the delicate pieces in place - you can see the screen on the right below.


Here is a great example of a punch hole stencil:



And here are some images of kimono fabric designed using katagami:




There aren't many books in English on Katagami but one that is fantastic is "Carved Paper", by Suzanna Campbell Kuo et al. See more on my website books page: http://www.kyotokimono.com/Books.html

which of means I can't park on the street for 12 days and getting anywhere in town will be a pain. So of course my goal is to bike over a few blocks and find mini donuts outside :)

Not wasps this time but somehow there are normal bees in one window and I can't tell how they're getting in :( I went outside and I don't see them going in anywhere. Luckily it's not horrible hot because I had to shut the window.

I was just blessed by Tibetan Monks! <3<3<3
WORK IS FUCKING AWESOME OK>?! <3
Im having a joygasim over here :D
I was witnessed front row their deep chanting, intense instruments!! and omg.. <3 the insence :D
i am SO SO blessed because I now have a white silken khata in my possession around my shoulders that I presented to the Monks and had it blessed and placed around my shoulder and chanting a prayer.
that is SOOOO going on my altar when I get home <3
*EXPLODEY* :DDDDD

I am bone-deep sad about this LeRoi Moore thing. I can't believe I did as well as I did on the returns this morning. Listened to sax-heavy DMB songs the whole way to school, and then I had to perform a catheter insertion & a discontinuation. STERILE FIELD when I'm distracted and sad and scattered as leaves in a hurricane.

It was kind of neat, though; I hit some sort of zone when I got in there. Deep breath and pushed everything else in the world out. My autopilot is pretty good already, so that gives me a little heart for nursing later in life.

This is so much harder than I thought it was going to be. I'm a wreck; an outright freakin' wreck.

I'm in the middle of my first week of godland. It has been pretty awesome so far. Meeting quite a few people. and... I'm already behind in homework. Seriously?? Today is only class 2. -__-;; I know what I will be doing this weekend...

Things have been pretty crazy. Especially with my dad. I hope things work out in the end T-T I feel like I've been sleep deprived for a while. I went to bed at 9pm last night.. 9pm!! When was the last time I went to bed that early?? Anyway, my apartment still lacks the internet. I finally set up my wireless at the school yesterday though. I'm joining the hip hop dance group at UTSW.. and tonight will be the first class. I'm quite excited and I have high anticipations. I hope I don't get let down. haha..

Other than medschool slowly eating up my life, things have been pretty good. I feel like I'm loaded with money but I have no interest at the moment to spend it. I miss Gabby. <3 <3

Today marks the third time I have cried over the death of a celebrity; someone I didn't personally know.

Thanks, LeRoi Moore, for everything.

Beldar posted this on his LJ. He was inspired by a piece of art in Indianapolis, & I have been inspired by him in turn.

Interpret this question in any way you wish: What would you share?

I don't have any links or studies, but this morning we were discussing cognitive, emotional, & moral development (I LOVE Kohlberg's levels...so cool). Anyway, Ms. Walden referenced new studies suggesting that self-identity does not solidify at 18-21, as we used to believe, but closer to 25.

This made me think: that is true for me. I was "getting" who I was at 18 and on up through 21, but to be perfectly honest, I really decided who I was and what was important to me closer to 25. Many major life decisions happened for me then, including my desire to become a nurse and mine & Bryan's co-decision to start on the Ganon Adventure. Before that, we lived in Dallas for a little while, and it didn't work out for me (I was 22 at the time), but I feel the woman I am now wouldn't have a problem living there. There are things I need anywhere I live, and now I realize what those are and how I get them.

What are your experiences with this? Anyone older, younger, right at that age? How old were you when you realized "This is me"?

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Bold and cross out any items you never would again

I think I'm seeing a pattern with the things I will eat.

( Read more... )

(FULL VIEW PLEASE) as this pic is like- massive in length D:






on ArtSpots
on DeviantArt

about a month ago I received a Reiki treatment from one of the masters here at work Brian. Reiki for those that don't know is spiritual energy work with areas of the body. During the session I had a wonderful vision of a dragon with its Chakras (energy points in the body) all a glow.
The colours and symbols all have meanings which I will list here.

1. Muladhara (red) lower body
2. Swadhisthana (orange) solar plexus
3. Manipura (yellow) navel
4. Anahata (green) heart
5. Vishuddha (blue) throat
6. Ajna (purple) eyebrow or forehead
7. Sahasrara (rainbow) top of head; the "third eye"

So, I've finally had a project come and grab me in a chokehold. Never exactly had that happen before. And its in a new medium. Every moment I'm awake I think about it. I want to work on it. The slowest bit of progress makes me feel like I've come miles, and I know this will come to fruition.

I can't talk about it too much here because I feel like I have a curse. When I tell people 'I'm going to do this!' I rarely do it. So, I'm sorry, lj, you can't be in on it.. yet. But I will tell you.. it has to do with film.

I've never breathed, slept and lived a project before... it's amazing.

I'm sitting here after class to make an LJ post real quick. The night is always darkest before the dawn, and that's definitely what this week is for me. Our first 2 classes, Essentials & Foundations, end this week. We have a return on Wednesday (and recall, a "return" is a demonstration of a skill that is basically an exam that you perform), a return and a final exam on Thursday, and two other final exams on Friday. So that's 5 exams in 3 days.

Ganon is doing well. He plays with Gwendolyn at danyelle_h's house all day, & he comes home and is cute & silly & sometimes cranky for me. So just your normal 2-year-old.

I'm really excited about going to Frisco for Labor Day weekend! Wheee!

I wish I could come up with a journal entry that isn't about nursing school.

I did a pretty big rant on nutrition yesterday but the internet crapped out before I could post it. However, I will point out that today when we talked about it in class, I made a point of stating my weight, my BMI & category, & the fact that my eating habits are more healthy than a lot of people half my size. Also when we were talking about food histories (there are several circumstances in which you might have to ask what someone ate yesterday) and Meg mentioned that many overweight patients are defensive about what they eat. I could NOT let that one go without some clarification. I pointed out that because of the way overweight people are treated, we're conditioned for that. I said that many times a nurse won't BELIEVE me when I say I had tomatoes on toast for breakfast, because I'm a size 16. She thinks I must be eating Twinkies & doughnuts, and that if I give her my food diary from the day before & it's healthy, that I'm lying! We've been MADE to be defensive by condescending medical personnel. Don't even get me started on something like going in for a respiratory infection & being told it would get better if we lost weight. e_e

Right now I am going to Kroger for some salmon. I want teriyaki salmon over rice for supper. YUM.

- Frilly, gauzy yukata bows on the obilend a sort of Victorian feeling to these, I think (the numbered square photos are clickable).

- I'm really intrigued by the details on Guiches' graduation kimono and other kimono, but I haven't been able to find large images yet. (Well, there are some here--boy, these combos are bright and busy! Let me know if you find images of the graduation ones larger anywhere--I love that Meiji look.)