Does anybody out there know someone involved in designing and selling gothic clothing? (or cyber or alternative or gothic lolita or anime or fantasy or whatever you want to call it...) in the UK? After going to Leeds and seeing the awesome collection of such shops at the Corn Exchange, I was actually left a little disappointed. While I saw some very cool items, none of them were quite as nice as what I've designed myself. I have a sketchbook that is literally full of conceptual drawings, most of which are entirely viable to be made into real clothing. Clothing that I think would be a cut above the rest as far as style and fashion. I even have designs for men, good ones of which seem to be particularly elusive. But I'm not a seamstress or tailor in the slightest, so I could never make my ideas come alive on my own.

What I would really love to do is become a partner in a small company that produces its own label of clothing. I think I would have a lot to offer with my unique blend of styles and themes. But how to get involved in something like that?

I'm such a dork sometimes. I guess it makes it better that I realize this.

Today while my husband was out of town for business, I went out to the local Japanese restaurant for some lunch. Not only have I now been upgraded to larger glasses of plum wine then standard, but there was a group of three Japanese girls there today. I'd say they were around my age, maybe a little younger. They were speaking in their native language the whole time, looking through one of the Japanese magazines the place keeps for customers to look through. At one point they found a page with a very cute hairstyle on it and one of the girls liked it so much she asked the host if she could have that page. He ended up cutting the page out for her and after he gave it to her, I smiled over towards them and said, "Kawaii!" And then looked at me with bright smiles of their own, nodding and saying, "Kawaii! Kawaii!"

Kawaii, of course, means cute. And it was indeed a very cute hairstyle. I know it was a dorky thing to do, but it made me smile nonetheless. It makes me wish I knew more then a scattering of words, but learning a language seems like such a daunting thing.

And I will say this - if you think all those cute little Japanese character culture things are just a sort of export item for really young girls, you're wrong. One of the three pulled out a bright pink plastic wallet that had all sorts little puppies on it. I prefer my Mr. Sushi Rice riceball coin case, but to each her own.

My husband has decided to try to part with his not insignificant sci-fi collection, so I'm giving his sale site a quick plug. If you're interested in any sort of Star Trek (both original and the Next Generation) or Babylon 5 collectables, check it out. There will be some incrediably rare bits and pieces posted there over the coming weeks.

http://forsale.wicked-sidhe.co.uk

I've half been thinking about making a serious effort at cataloguing my collection of Japanese kimonos and related textiles. Its not that I have any truly valuable pieces but some of the pieces I do have are really quite beautiful especially when viewed together. It would be a lot of work to set up though and it would only be worth it of others got some enjoyment out of it. Any thoughts?