Masayo's Stories

During this latest lockdown in Brisbane, we had another clean up at my home.  It felt like our place is growing and accumulating too many things over time.  We have two teenagers in my family, my son wanted more space in his room.  Our son just turned 15 and has started to be more conscious about his look more than anything. He started to spend more time in front of the mirror trying to get his curtain fringe perfect.  He added new T-shirts and pants that he bought from op shops and quietly stole from his sister's wardrobe and placed into his own draws. (As his...

My grandma turned 103 years old the other day.I haven't seen my family for almost 2 years now, but feel like I haven't seen them for more than decades. These days my grandma wakes up for a short time everyday. When my grandma wakes up, she makes sure that my mum is near her and my grandma seems happy. They have a routine life that is very simple and slow in the countryside of my hometown.I sometimes wonder if it may be one of the happiest times of their lives where they don't have to worry about anything any more....

When they were little, my children used to be interested in everything that I used to do. Cooking, cleaning, crafting or sewing, anything I did they used to follow me all day long. It often made achieving anything a slow process. I miss that time very much.  These days my teens are not interested in anything that I do.  I feel a bit empty sometimes.  My eldest one is going to be 17 this year and she is slowly changing towards me, showing some vague interest in my projects. I wonder if my daughter will be interested in sewing with me this year?  I have...

You can dance and you can fight You can be darkness or light Stand out or hide Receive extra strength or disguise your weakness Be in the tribe or you can be a loner Whatever you wish, you can hold the magic.

Softer than the Autumn bush rain and deeper than the calm night sea.  Gracing the hidden streets of this town, the Etched Wichelen knows countless secrets Like Obsidian silk overlaid on the divine patterned skin, every mark tells a tale of the past and possible futures. Shades of midnight ink are her incantation - read, spoken, sung or chanted, they hint at true power and elegance. Amulets and sigils lead her way, casting shadows of ancestral magic. Listen closely as the Etched Wichelen has many things to impart, though, these tails are not for the faint of heart.

HINAMATSURI - CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL On the 3rd of March in Japan, we celebrate and pray for young girls' growth and happiness. (boy's day is 5th May) There are sets of dolls of emperor and empress, three court ladies, musicians and ministers to celebrate the festivals.  When I was little, my parents used to set up and display the 9 levels of red shelves with those dolls. It takes almost a half day to set it up for about 1 week.  When my children were younger we were going to bring those Japanese traditional dolls into Australia and celebrate the day and...

I still remember my grandfather's tattoos. When I was a little girl, I saw the tattoos on his back when he was having a bath. It was the first time and the last time in my memory of my grandfather's tattoo. I was so shocked. But they were mesmerizingly beautiful. I didn't know the real meaning of the tattoos at that time but I knew it was something I was not supposed to see nor ask him about even when I was a little girl. My grandfather was a very gentle man and was always very soft to me and...

IREZUMI-Tattoo means eternal beauty and strength in Japan. But it also means taboo, the underworld and secrets trust in the dark. When folds and drapes create shades and angles it shows another dimension and story. I love the way BLACK hides some emotions and strengthens others. I love Tamara in our WATA Dress and the contrast of the graceful silhouette against her ink skin. Black reminds me of Tattoos, where ying and yang play effortlessly in their eternal dance. What articles of clothing or beauty possess contrasting meanings to you?

Sometimes my grandma used to take my sister and I to a public bath near our home when we were kids. It used to cost us 30 cents each. We loved to go to the public bath with my grandma. In Japan it is quite common to go to a hot spring (Onsen or Sentou) in public. It has a great culture and atmosphere. Everyone washes themselves at small showers, before going into the large communal baths. Just before dark we would take our own towel and pajamas and go to a public bath near our home. My sister and...

I have been seeking pieces of Japan recently. But instead of bringing a whole Japanese flavour, I have been thinking of some elements of Japan to reintroduce to Australian culture in a different way. These vintage Kanzashi - Hair Pins... Some are over 100 years old. They are beautiful and intricate pieces and are traditionally used of course for women's hair in Japan... But is it of course? What if we can use them in a different way? I have been thinking and thinking for a quite while ... But I still haven't got an answer... What can you see...

This gathered tulle skirt I created is slightly more feminine with carefully constructed layers to add drama. Historically tulle posses connections of purity, femininity & discipline. Wearing a tulle skirt with a tough boot or our structured Giza Giza top [translates to zig zag] juxtaposes it’s original values whilst embracing power and individuality without sacrifice of femininity. What do you wear and or contrast your tulle skirts with?

Each little shibori shapes on this neck piece are made by hand. It takes a long time to tie the fabric individually with thread. There are many different sizes and shapes of shibori. It didn’t look so special when I was a child because we see this everywhere. It is used in futon blankets, or Japanese cushions and many things in our life. It does look special now, especially when I first saw this piece. It may look like a sea urchin, or coral.. We call this technique Bai Shibori. Bai is a type of shellfish and this shibori is...