Hello, Year of the Rooster!

Torn Tissue Rooster by Toni Yuly

On January 28, the world will greet the Lunar New Year of the Rooster — the Fire Rooster, to be specific. This feisty creature heralds a dynamic, high energy year wherein people will practice lessons in temperance and politeness. Folks born in the year of the Fire Rooster are known for their loyalty, trustworthiness and popularity.

The Wing Luke Asian Museum will kick things off on Saturday, January 28th from 10am to 5pm. ringing in the New Year with fun activities for the whole family. Lunar New Year games, arts and crafts, a stuffed animal petting zoo and much more! 

On Sunday, January 29th from 11am to 4pm, Seattle’s Chinatown-International District will continue the festivities in the heart of the ID. Sunday's celebration will be something to crow about with lots of cultural entertainment, including lion and dragon dancers, and drummers. And for the 7th year, check out the Adult and Children's Costume Contest and Parade, sure to be packed with creative cuties. More info available here.

For the foodies out there, there will be the famous $3 Food Walk (view menu here). Get 5 stamps from participating restaurants and enter for a chance to win prizes from Delta Airlines and Steven’s Pass Mountain Resort! 

And do visit your local shops (especially Momo!) while you’re in the neighborhood. You never know what New Year treats you might find.

Are you a Rooster? Here's a fun little chart that Momo Girl Angela found!

Cool Cottons for Summer Sewing

Soaring temperatures find you retreating to the shade of the indoors, hankering for a project to heat up your creativity and cool your mind? Look no further for inspiration: at Momo you’ll find a newly unveiled collection of lightweight cotton remnants with beautiful vintage Asian motifs, perfect for summer stitching.

Iconic cranes, illuminated with a faint hint of gold. 

In pristine condition, this fabric (varying from 1/2 to 3-1/2 yards) comes from the private stash of a Momo friend who stored them with loving care. At $4 – $28 they’re a steal, and perfect for whipping up a tenugui to cool your head, a light summer skirt or even an elegant noren to block the fierce sun. Supplies are limited, so make hay while the sun shines.

This could become a strikingly handsome noren.

An assortment of future fabric fun!

Sterling Silver Seals of Approval

What do you get when a passion for antique wax seals collides with a love of metalsmithing? History and symbolism expressed in beautifully crafted jewelry. We are delighted to introduce brand-new-for-Momo jewelry: Plum & Posey.

After spending a decade exploring Europe and its plentiful street markets, fairs and antique shops, Canadian Adrinna Hardy developed an abiding appreciation for Georgian and Victorian era wax seals. She also found herself with a huge collection of them — over a thousand, in fact. In a brilliant move, Adrinna melded her fervor for stamps with her skills as a silversmith and birthed her distinctive jewelry.

Per Ardua Ad Alta: “Through Difficulties to the Heights.”

Each piece “celebrates the exceptional craftsmanship of the past and the deep and complex meanings of the seals,” says the artist of her creations, “while incorporating themes such as hope, courage, strength and inspiration.”

As for us, we love the intimate expressions, each unique in shape and suitable for a man or woman. Cast in pure silver and suspended from an antiqued sterling rolo chain, these intricate pendants are a lovely way to express a personal inner theme — yours or a lucky recipient’s!

Made from a 19th century French wax seal,
the peacock symbolizes beauty, knowledge and power. 

Vous En Avez la Clef: “You Have the Key.”

Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup

Beer Mug

Emily Dickinson said, “Bring me the sunset in a cup,” at Momo we say, bring me a beer in a Bowl Maker! If anything can make drinking more fun, it’s the cups of The Bowl Maker of Bellingham.
Bring me the sunset in a cup
Reckon the morning’s flagons up
And say how many Dew,
Tell me how far the morning leaps—
Tell me what time the weaver sleeps
Who spun the breadth of blue!

Tumbler

Artist Cary Lane lives just a Bolt Bus away from Seattle and spends her time creating poetic pottery while she raises her kids. We think she’s super sweet, too.
Write me how many notes there be
In the new Robin’s ecstasy
Among astonished boughs—
How many trips the Tortoise makes—
How many cups the Bee partakes,
The Debauchee of Dews!

Wine Glass

There’s a size to fit any hand and thirst, and a lucky beast to please any animal lover. What’s your totem animal?
Also, who laid the Rainbow’s piers,
Also, who leads the docile spheres
By withes of supple blue?
Whose fingers string the stalactite—
Who counts the wampum of the night
To see that none is due?

Shot Glass

Her sturdy cups are dishwasher safe, although we always advise hand washing. Prices range from $9.50 to $18.
Who built this little Alban House
And shut the windows down so close
My spirit cannot see?
Who’ll let me out some gala day
With implements to fly away,
Passing Pomposity?
- Emily Dickinson

His & Hers : Bridge & Burn

The Momos in Vegas, modeling Fall 2015.

Since 2009 Portland’s Bridge and Burn has been producing classically Northwest clothing: practical yet stylish, durable yet versatile. In characteristic Portland spirit, 1% of Bridge and Burn’s retail sales are donated to their favorite Oregon charities. 

Momo has long been enamored of our B&B men's shirts. The textiles, craftsmanship and attention to detail makes us feel good about sharing them with you. We’re excited to announce that we are now stocking Bridge and Burn clothing ... for women! 

For Her: the “Loren” shirt-dress. Weighty textural cotton in a super fine indigo pinstripe, we think this dress is perfect year-round. Layer it over leggings and throw on a cozy cardigan for chilly rainy days, or wear it with strappy sandals in the summer.

For Him: the casually tailored “Porteau” shirt is patterned with a subtle yet handsome deep indigo grid. 

For Her and Him: scarves. Thick woven cotton and generously sized. We adore these for spring.

Mix and match patterns.

Mix and match colors!

Railroad stripe, ultra-fine red stripe and classic blue and white stripe scarves.  

Time to Get Your Warm On

With winter’s first gusts blowing out of the north, it’s time to think fast about ways to stay warm when you’re out and about. Momo is ready with cold-weather essentials to ensure that you remain perfectly snug in the upcoming chill. Let’s take it from the top.

Head First! Squishy and thick cable-knit beanies from New York Hat Co. will keep your noggin toasty. Momo has versatile black and charcoal grey.

From Japan, the ever-popular Beagle House beanies in both knit and jersey.

Neck + Neck: A Momo classic, the “Alvéole” (French honeycombed) scarf from Saint James. Compact, a cinch to slip on and off, beautifully crafted — one of our favorites.

Unisex lightweight cashmere scarves from Nepal are large enough to wrap around your neck multiple times yet sleek enough to stow in your bag ... all while excelling at keeping the chill and rain off of your neck. One of the many charms of cashmere.

Gotta Hand it to You: For everyday wear, we present 100% wool fingerless gloves from New York Hat Co. Thick and sturdy, these will last you many seasons. Available in light grey and black in size medium or large.

On the other hand, luxuriously soft Meg Cohen plush fingerless cashmere gloves are little ‘blankets’ of heaven for your hands (note: they make indulgent holiday presents).

This week’s nighttime temperatures will be hovering around freezing. Beat the cold front to the punch and stock up on cold weather cozies! Momo’s got you covered.

Winterize Your Wardrobe

With the seemingly sudden arrival of fall (wasn't it 80 degrees last week?) Mother Nature has informed us that months of chill and rain are ahead of us. 

The good news is that we at Momo have been working hard, unpacking delivery after delivery of fall and winter clothing ... including jackets galore!

For those especially wet days, we have:

Men – the “Rudy Full” jacket made by Bench, headquartered in Manchester, England. A perfect outer layer, it features extreme water-resistance (even down to having sealed seams).

“Rudy Full” is ultra water-resistant.

Sealed Seams! They thought of everything.

Women – Vancouver, BC’s Three Stones’ “Getaway” jacket does double-duty. Constructed of water-shedding high-tech fabric, it’s designed with a hood and cinched back belt, so it will repel the drizzle while looking shapely.

A rain jacket with femininity!

The adjustable cinch in the back is a great detail.

If feeling warm and cozy is more your focus,
check out:

Men – Our Bridge & Burn “Harden” jacket is constructed of thickly quilted, densely woven cotton. The Portland brand is known for modernizing classic designs like this one with its slim-fit tailoring. Available in black and khaki. 

Thick + quilted + zips up to the neck = toasty.

Women –  Curator’s “Seaclif” jacket from San Francisco is a revelation. Incredibly plush, it feels like a cozy sweatshirt while looking like a million bucks. We love the giant zipped cowl.

“Seaclif:” all the comforts of a sweatshirt with none of the dumpiness. 

Staying warm and dry does not mean you have to sacrifice style! Come to Momo where we’ll show you how good you can look while feeling comfortable in the coming months.