Kitty Kanzashi

Mental Block!

2012-02-22T07:22:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of days I have been having a mental block.

Not that I'm short on activities but I'm unsure what to do first so people, I need your advice, what should I do next?

Here are the list of things that I want to do.

Embroid my koi design onto obi material.
Draft up design for ipod/iphone case.
Design more kanzashi.
Make another kimono.
Make another obi.

What do you think I should do?

Wedding Dress - Virginia by Kevan Hall

2012-02-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about other styles of neckline that I like to wear and I almost forgot about halter neck.

I personally love halter necks because I think my shoulders look good but I hate showing off two much of my neck. Sometimes I feel naked when I show the top of my chest which is silly because I love corsets.

Anyway this dress called Virginia by Kevan Hall is a nice example.

Virginia by Kevan Hall

Why do I love it

One, it is one of my favourite necklines because it shows off your shoulders while keeping you very modest.

Two, the cute flowers which are on the skirt. Each one of those flowers is made up of several layers to give a lovely 3D look and makes the skirt look very light.

What would make me think twice?

If I was big chested then I would avoid this dress because the halter neck will just make them look even bigger. Of course you can ignore me if you want to show them off.

And as there is so much detail on the skirt, it would be a shame if it was not on show so maybe if you are short in the leg department, this might be a dress to avoid unless you can get a bridal shop to take the dress up from the waist.

Stormy Sky Tsumami Kanzashi

2012-02-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Now for something completely different!

This stormy sky tsumami kanzashi is unlike any other kanzashi that you can buy.

*** Kanzashi Description ***

* Materials - merino wool (clouds) and habutae (raindrop falls)
* Colour - white and blue
* Hairpin size - 9cm (wide) by 30cm (height) by 17cm (depth)
* Haircomb size - 15cm (wide) by 8cm (height) by 6cm (depth)
* Mount - metal hairpin and clear comb.
* Ideally suited for up hairstyles.

Based on the tsumami kanzashi that maiko's wears, the clouds have been made from merino wool to give them the fluffy texture and then on the rain drop falls are made using the tsumami technique.

There are even some diamanté to add a little sparkle to the whole set.

*** Other information ***

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my store http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests.

Wedding Dress - Style RK263 by Romona Kevza

2012-02-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

So far I have only looked at ivory or white wedding dresses but don't think that is your only wedding colour.

As you can see from Romona Kevza!

Style RK263 by Romana Kevza

I remember having a heated argument with my mother when I told her that I didn't want to wear a dress which was all white/ivory and she told me that is was not western convention and that I was being awkward.

Well if I can't be picky on my wedding dress then when can I be?

Why do I love it!

It is BLUE! Yes a blue wedding dress!

In addition, it appears that the dress has pockets as well which will come in very handy. I know a lot of you are wondering why would any bride want pockets on her dress? Simple, to hold those little things like tissues, lipstick or safety pin which are just essentials. Yes you can ask your bridesmaids to have those things but they are not always within screaming distance.

Hmmm maybe not

This is a couture dress so I don't even what to guess how much this will cost but for that price I would expect everything to be perfect.

My main concern is the sweetheart neckline which is quite low on this model which reveals a lot of your shoulder and neckline which is not good for those who are shy. However as this is a couture dress I would expect them to make it look perfect for you.

Kanzashi Red Fabric Flower Hairclip, Two Hearts

2012-02-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

For your viewing pleasure, a pair of valentine kanzashi hairclips with fabric hearts made using the “tsumami” technique. A perfect gift to present as a secret admirer maybe?

* One of a kind
* Colour - pinky red
* Size - 3cm (wide) by 4.5cm (height) by 1.5cm (depth)
* Mount - alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

As well as receiving a pair of heart kanzashi hairclips, if you order this before Valentines Day, you will receive a origami heart and it will be gift wrap just like in the pictures.

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Did you like this kanzashi then why not have a look at my kanzashi haircomb http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi?section_id=7360560

*** Tsumami Kanzashi ***

Once the pursuit of the royal maidservants, "tsumami kanzashi" or "pinching hair accessories" have long been worn for centuries by Japanese women to decorate their ornament hairstyles. Nowadays they are mainly worn on special occasions or by artists called maiko and geiko.

Each petal is made from one square of fabric carefully folded using tweezers and then delicately arranged onto a base to create the flower of choice. Precision is key with this tsumami technique and many hours of practice (and patience) is required to be able to produce these flowers. Howwever once mastered, this technique offers the artisan the freedom to create unique flowers which are as charming as the real object which will never wither away.

*** Other information ***

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Wedding Dress - Rumor by San Patrick

2012-02-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Time for an asymmetric wedding dress.

And we have a lovely one from San Patrick called Rumor!

Rumor by San Patrick

There are days where I love the look of asymmetric dresses because they just look so quirky and interesting because they do not have a vertical symmetry. However on the other days, I just think they look awkward and the strap on one side does nothing whatsoever.

But I'm not in that mood and today I love asymmetric dresses.

Why do I love this dress!

What drew me to this dress is the little panel of bead embroidery on the one side of the dress. Don't get me wrong I love bead embroidery because of the intricate patterns and how the dress hangs with all beads but sometime it can be overdone. Especially if it on a wedding gown where unless you are wearing a chinese wedding dress, less is more in my eyes.

And then there is the strap, rather then stopping at the top of the bodice, it carries on to the waistline so prefect for brides who have a short torso because this will elongate your upper body.

Potential Down Points

The main problem area for me is the hip area as it will not be forgiving for those of us who have large hips since the dress hugs that area. And the ruffles on the back will not help those who do not want to draw attention to the derrière.

And for those of you who want to wear some special underwear for your future husband, beware! This dress may give the game away because of the figure hugging cut ;).

Kanzashi Flower Valentine Hairclip, Deep Red

2012-02-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

A large kanzashi flower hairclip that will show off your bold and adventurous personality!

---Kanzashi Description---

* One of a kind kanzashi
* Colour - deep red and white
* Size - 9cm in diameter
* Mount - 5cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

The kanzashi flower is made from a vintage scarf that has been carefully cut fabric to ensure the pattern is carried through to the finished kanzashi flower. It is then offset by the striking white petals in the centre.

*** Tsumami Kanzashi ***

Once the pursuit of the royal maidservants, "tsumami kanzashi" or "pinching hair accessories" have long been worn for centuries by Japanese women to decorate their ornate hairstyles. Nowadays they are mainly worn on special occasions or by artists called maiko and geiko.

Each petal is made from one square of fabric carefully folded using tweezers and then delicately arranged onto a base to create the flower of choice. Precision is key with this tsumami technique and many hours of practice (and patience) is required to be able to produce these flowers. Howwever once mastered, this technique offers the artisan the freedom to create unique flowers which are as charming as the real object which will never wither away

---Other information---

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my storehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Kanzashi Valentine Fabric Heart Hairclip - Intertwine

2012-02-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

Kanzashi Valentine Fabric Heart Hairclip - Intertwine

These kanzashi heart hairclips are made with a lot of love and care so they will make the perfect valentine gift for your loved one.

*** Kanzashi Description ***

* One of a kind
* Colour - deep red with black leaf.
* Size - 2.5cm (wide) by 2.5cm (height) by 1.5cm (depth)
* Mount - alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

As well as receiving a pair of heart kanzashi hairclips, if you order this before Valentines Day, you will receive a origami heart and it will be gift wrap just like in the pictures.

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Did you like this kanzashi then why not have a look at my kanzashi haircomb http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi?section_id=7360560

*** Tsumami Kanzashi ***

Once the pursuit of the royal maidservants, "tsumami kanzashi" or "pinching hair accessories" have long been worn for centuries by Japanese women to decorate their ornament hairstyles. Nowadays they are mainly worn on special occasions or by artists called maiko and geiko.

Each petal is made from one square of fabric carefully folded using tweezers and then delicately arranged onto a base to create the flower of choice. Precision is key with this tsumami technique and many hours of practice (and patience) is required to be able to produce these flowers. Howwever once mastered, this technique offers the artisan the freedom to create unique flowers which are as charming as the real object which will never wither away.

*** Other information ***

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Kanzashi Red Flower Hairclip, Speckled Gem

2012-01-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

A kanzashi flower hairclip made from cotton which has a lovely speckled red pattern all over it. These kanzashi are perfect for as a gift for someone who loves all things Japanese or maybe you are looking for something to brighten your everyday outfit.

---Kanzashi Description---

* One of a kind
* Colour - red
* Size - 3cm (wide) by 5cm (height) by 1cm (depth)
* Mount - 3cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Did you like this kanzashi then why not have a look at my kanzashi hairbands http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi?section_id=7338380

*** Tsumami Kanzashi ***

Once the pursuit of the royal maidservants, "tsumami kanzashi" or "pinching hair accessories" have long been worn for centuries by Japanese women to decorate their ornate hairstyles. Nowadays they are mainly worn on special occasions or by artists called maiko and geiko.

Each petal is made from one square of fabric carefully folded using tweezers and then delicately arranged onto a base to create the flower of choice. Precision is key with this tsumami technique and many hours of practice (and patience) is required to be able to produce these flowers. Howwever once mastered, this technique offers the artisan the freedom to create unique flowers which are as charming as the real object which will never wither away.

*** Other information ***

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

Wedding Dress - Aragon by Rosa Clara

2012-01-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

Time to have a dress which has a bit more structure.

And Rosa Clara shown me something which is just what I am looking for.

Aragon by Rosa Clara

Why do I love this dress?

From the front it just looks like a plain white wedding dress but just you wait until you look at the back!

Isn't it cute! Those two little bows are just delightful and the pleating for the train give the back of the dress a bustle look.

Truly it is a wedding dress fit for a princess.

The down points

You may have notice that this dress will show a lot of your back so if you have any blemish that you do not want to show then do not wear this dress! However a day's worth of pamper wouldn't go amiss just to make sure things all look good.

This dress will also not be good for brides who are well endowed because that neckline and bodice will only just emphasis your assets even more. Which might not be the attention you were hoping to draw.

Japanese Kanzashi Flower Hairclip - Indigo Dream

2012-01-30T07:31:00.000-08:00

What kanzashi shall I show you now!

How about this pair of tsumami kanzashi flower hairclips made from a navy-blue coloured cotton fabric?

* One of a kind
* Colour - navy blue with blue streaks.
* Size - 3cm (wide) by 4cm (height) by 1cm (depth)
* Mount - alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Did you like this kanzashi then why not have a look at my kanzashi hairbands http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi?section_id=7338380

Kanzashi Valentine Hairclip, Deep Red Hearts

2012-01-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Heart kanzashi hairclips that are perfect valentine gift for someone you love and cherish.

---Kanzashi Description---

* One of a kind
* Colour - deep red
* Size - 4cm (wide) by 3cm (height) by 2cm (depth)
* Mount - 3cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

As well as receiving a pair of heart kanzashi hairclips, if you order this before Valentines Day, you will receive a origami heart and it will be gift wrap just like in the pictures.

---Other information---

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my storehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Kanzashi Floral Hairclip, Green flower with Pearl

2012-01-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Flower kanzashi hairclips that are perfect for someone who wishes to brighten their look effortlessly.

---Kanzashi Description---

* One of a kind
* Colour - emerald green
* Size - 3cm (wide) by 4cm (height) by 1cm (depth)
* Mount - 3cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

---Other information---

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my store http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Kanzashi Hairclip, Blushing Bloom

2012-01-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

Kanzashi Hairclip, Blushing Bloom

Kanzashi hairclips that are ready to add a touch of quirkiness into your outfit.

---Kanzashi Description---

* One of a kind
* Colour - black with muted colours
* Size - 3cm (wide) by 5cm (height) by 1cm (depth)
* Mount - 3cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

---Other information---

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my store http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Wedding dress - Georgina by Joanne Fleming

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Since it became fashionable to go vintage, I have seen a increase in very cute cocktail style wedding dresses. And I can see why they are becoming popular!

Cocktail dresses conjures up an image of an era where all women were very feminine and that there was no such thing as an unattractive lady (just a lazy one!). And if you love dresses then at some point in your life you must have wanted to spin round wearing a full circle dress. I know I have!

Here is a perfect example from Joanne Flemming Design.

Georgina by Joanne Flemming

Why I love it?

It is a dress full of messages. It is a refined dress which would not look out of place at a lovely church while at the same time shows off the bride's eccentric personality.

The best thing about cocktail dresses is the fact they are cocktail dresses so you can wear it again for a fancy party! I know there are people out there who would shout abuse at me for saying that but I don't care. If you are going to spend that amount of money on a dress then why not wear it again, it just makes sense in my eyes.

Hmmm problems.

Cocktail dresses will pretty much fit any body shape and size. So long as you buy the right length petticoat which is one problem. Unless it has a built in petticoat, you will need to make sure that you get one or your dress will be very flat.

And while you are wearing the dress, just be careful that you are in control of your skirt and petticoat because a gust of wind will blow your dress up and you do not want to reveal everything to your guest.

Kanzashi Hairclip, Pale Blue with Red accent

2012-01-24T03:17:00.000-08:00

Kanzashi Hairclip, Pale Blue with Red accent

A dainty blue kanzashi hairclip which will add a unique and quirky touch to your everyday style.

---Product Description---

* One of a kind
* Colour - pale blue with red cracked glass bead
* Size - 4cm (wide) by 4cm (height) by 1cm (depth)
* Mount - 3cm alligator clip
* Suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

---Other information---

If you have questions about this kanzashi, please feel free to contact me, I am happy help you

Like this kanzashi then why not visit the rest of my store http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

I accept custom orders for all sort of accessories (like fascinators, hairbands, brooches, etc), please convo me for requests

Commence hanfu project.

2012-01-20T02:28:00.000-08:00

Finally I have got round to making a hanfu!

Really after rediscovering them 4 years ago, I have been pondering how to make one and since I am still looking for a job what better way to keep myself sane then to actually make one!

My plan is to make something like this.

So I got my thinking hat on and drafted a pattern.

It took me a couple of days to figure out the curves and then how to cut the pattern on the fabric because there is no way I was going to find fabric wide enough to cut the bottom part of the shirt in one piece.

However it was only now that I realised I made a tad mistake!

The top part is not too bad because I used the hanfu that I brought 4 years ago as my pattern but the wraparound skirt is wrong.

It doesn't wrap around enough times. In my reference picture it appears to wrap around three and half times whereas my one is only two and half times. But I have looked at other pictures since and it might not be as wrong as I thought so PHEW!

Since then I have sewed it all together but I still need to buy some more fabric that will be used as a border for the hems and collar. I am thinking of emerald green but I'm up for suggestions!

Wedding Dress - Tallulah by Stephanie Allin

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Sometime the past offers up lovely little design gems and from Stephanie Allin "Jazz Age Collection" we have Tallulah!.

What drew my attention is the feather skirt. Doesn't it remind you of the fringe dress of the flapper? I can just picture the photos of the bride wearing this dress when there is a slight breeze in the air.

Tallulah by Stephanie Allin

Why I love this!

Don't you just love the contrast between the plain fabric and the feathers on the skirt? It just looks so much fun to look at.

This dress will be perfect for those brides who have a short upper body because fabric on the bodice carries on into the skirt which will give the illusion of a longer body.

Also for you brides who can't decide whether to have hair up or down then I think this dress will work with both. Have it up using finger waves/victory rolls or down where you brush out your pin curls for the more relax look. Either vintage look would be great.

Hmmmm second thoughts

It is not the most forgiving of dresses! I think a few hours in the gym and maybe some supportive underwear maybe in order to achieve the smooth look around the belly area.

Also it is not good for petite brides like myself. The skirt will just overwhelm us and probably make us look shorter.

How to make a Tsuke Obi

2012-01-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

Someone asked for a tutorial on how I made my tsuke obi so here it is!

Here is the list of things you will need.

Two lots of 2 metres of fabric your choice (for reversible obi)
2 metres of stiff interface
4 metres of ribbon
Sewing Machine
Thread
Pins

Of course if you do not want to make a reversible obi then you just need 4 metres of one type of fabric.

Instructions

Step one
Take your fabric and place it so the right sides are touching. Now we need to mark the pieces!

Here is the basis pattern that I used.

To lay out the pattern I would recommend the following.

This way you are using the fabric economically so you can use the remaining fabric for other projects like making more obi!

As the pattern is basically rectangles you can lay the pieces so they are edge to edge.

Step two

For the interface, you will need to cut the same shapes as above except the measurements are as follows.

Again lay them out on your interface like the fabric.

Step three

You now have all your pieces at hand. If you have not ironed the fabric and interface beforehand, give them a quick once over.

Step Four

We will sew the tare part first.

Take your tare fabric pieces and line them up with the right side facing each other and sew.

Snip the corners like below and then turn it inside out.

Now iron your tare and then insert your interface.

You have not completed your first part!

Step five

Take your ribbon and cut it into 1 metre lengths and then singe the edges if you have synthetic ribbon. If you have natural ribbon then turn the end of each piece on one end only leaving the other end raw.

Now take your waist pieces and two ribbon pieces and lay out as follows.

Making sure that the long edge of the ribbon is 1cm away from the edge of the fabric.

Now pin the edge or baste the fabric together and sew!

Make sure you don't catch the ribbon when you sew the thing together and also don't forget to leave a gap of 30cm to allow you to turn the waist band inside out.

Snip the 4 corners just like you did for the tare, turn it inside out and iron flat.

Time to insert your interface, this can be a little tricky but if you have left a 30cm gap there should be enough space for you to push your arm into the waist band and position the interface correct.

Once you are happy the interface is in the correct position, sew the opening closed as neat and as close to the edge as possible. If you are worried that your ribbons will rip off from all the tugging then you can sew over the fabric and ribbon to give it extra strength.

Your waist band of your tsuke obi is complete.

Step Six

I left the otaiko part the last because it is the trickiest if you are a beginner.

Take one piece of your otaiko and lay it out so the right side is facing up.

Now take your completed tare piece and your two remaining pieces of ribbon and layout as follow.

To make sure you have place the tare piece the correct way round, the matching colours should be touching.

Fold up the ribbon and tare piece so they are within the fabric boundary and lay the second fabric piece of otaiko on top. Pin/baste the pieces together and sew.

Snip the top two corners, turn it inside out and iron it flat.

Now insert your interface and sew the opening closed.

And volia you have a tsuke obi.

Wonder of the day! Golden Cape.

2012-01-13T04:23:00.000-08:00

A lot of the time I go wow for no reason but this time it is different! Just look at this!

Here is the pattern closeup!

And would you believe me if I said it was made from spider's silk? No I am not joking this cape and the accompanying scarf was entirely made using the silk from the golden orb spider.

It does sound creepy but if you think about it, it is no more creepy then silk from the silkworm and this by the way is the natural colour of the silk that is produced by the spider.

If you want to see this wonderful piece of textile then it is on display in V&A museum from 25 January to 5 June 2012 and admission is free. I must find some time to see it!

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/golden-spider-silk/

New kanzashi for you to enjoy.

2012-01-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

For the past two years I have been purchasing vintage kimono fabric because I thought they would make perfect kanzashi. However it has only been recently that I have decided to actually use the fabric.

So today I have listed three new kanzashi!

First one is called Midnight Sparkle.

It was so hard to capture the true colour of this kanzashi because it was a dark blue/purple silk with hints of red but I think the pictures does it justice. There is even a little bit of sparkle to give your kanzashi something to shout about.

Second one is called Checkered Past.

This used a lovely checkered piece of kimono which I wish I owned because I lack a nice beige kimono. It is set against black petals so you can see the true beauty of the fabric.

And thirdly, we have Mother Nature.

Using as dusky green/brown kimono fabric, it just shouts Mother Nature so adding a bit more green just helps the whole piece.

Lace kimono tryout!

2012-01-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

So I made my first kimono!

But I could not stop and this time I decided to challenge myself by making a lace kimono. I saw this lovely lace which had a scalloped edge which I thought would make a lovely edging on the kimono.

Lucky the scalloping was on both edges but it wasn't until I received the fabric that I realised that the pattern on the edge was not copied on the other side. Not a problem really but it would have looked good.

I followed the pattern of my previous kimono and cut 36 cm strip pieces and then draped the pieces on my Miffy to see how it might looked.

It looked promising I have to say from the draping.

Collar will need a bit of tidying to reduce the number of layers of fabric.

And the back with the non fancy scalloping didn't look bad either. Things are looking up!

Now the sewing.

I started with the sleeves and what made this easy was the fact I didn't have to create the curve. However hemming the edge was not easy because the lace was very light and stiff as it was synthetic and it occasional stretched because of the holes in the lace.

Anyway fast forwarding 4 days and I have reached this point!

The front didn't look as tidy as I hoped because of the vertical folds from joining the okumi panels and I am not sure I the stitching is straight or not as the lace as a slight stretch.

Time to sew on the sleeves which is were I decided to go freehand. I just sewed them on very simply rather then follow the method I used previously because I didn't want to have layers of fabric around the shoulder. I thought about french hemming but since the lace does not fray I thought why bother.

So after a couple of my hours of sewing this is the finished result! This lace kimono does not need to have an ohashiori because I used the scalloped edge to create the illusion of that fold.

You can see it more clearly on the back shot here!

The collar still looks a little bit messy but cutting of the excess lace helped with the appearance.

The front isn't as tidy as I hoped but the next time I make a kimono using lace, I will need to get some that is heavier because it was a pain not knowing if the stitching was straight.

Here is a closeup of the sleeves. They are 70 cm in length so they will be hang lower then all of my kimono sleeves which are around the 50 cm mark. I think I will wear it with my teal ro kimono or my green wool kimono however it doesn't look to bad on my pale green kimono.

I am going to have a break from making kimono now and start on another one of my to do things!

My next project will be a hanfu of this style!

I'll be using a pale yellow fabric with blue/green gridlines and it will hopefully be a wearable piece. I will probably need to make a plain top to calm the outfit but but first I need to make it!

Wish me luck!

Wedding Dress - Henriette by Vera Wang

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Time for a fantasy gown time and this time I went for a Vera Wang creation.

Vera Wang gowns are always something special because they look so light and delightful and this one is a wonderful example.

Look at all that tulle around the skirt! It looks scrumptious and decadent but at the same time retains the delicate nature of the dress. And to keep with the current trend for lace the bodice has some which I think balances out the floaty nature of the skirt.

Henriette by Vera Wang

Why I love the dress!

I love how the tulle is used to make the skirt! Something as simple as arranging fabric could create a wonderful looking skirt still amazes me. In addition I feel this skirt is very flattering for many shapes!

Plus the cap sleeves on the bodice made from lace is perfect for brides who feel uncomfortable exposing too much flesh while at the same time want to look sexy walking down the aisle ;)

But oh dear!

The look of the dress is wonderful and although it will hide a multitude of sins especially in the leg department, height will be an issue.

Well to be more precise, it is the length of your upper body compared to your height. The skirt is clearly a massive feature point but you must not forget about the lace bodice. In order to show it off, you must have a long upper body or you could find yourself disappearing into a sea of tulle.

What do you think of the dress? Have you got a dress that you think I should look at? If so, then let me know in a comment below or email me at kittykanzashi@gmail.com.

Wedding dress Erika from Pronovias

2012-01-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

Since my wedding back in October, I still have this craving for wedding dresses so to fulfil this desire I have decided that every week I am going to find a wedding dress that I like.

Therefore the first dress of the week for me has to be this one from Pronovias called Erika.

Wedding dress Erika from Pronovias

Why I love it!

Wow I love the lace on this dress! If the lace on the dress isn't enough for you, this comes with a lace poncho which I think gives a lovely ethereal feel to the ensemble.

It also has a timeless classic feel because of the figure hugging design.

With that much lace, you can forget the veil! A charming headdress will be enough to complete your outfit because you would not want a veil to cover all of the detail.

Hmmm so why wouldn't I buy it?

I have a nasty feeling that this style of dress is not very forgiving in the body department. For example, being only 5'2'', this dress would swamp me. Then there is the figure hugging issue, unless you are going to be wearing control underwear on your wedding day, this will require a couple of months in the gym to tone your legs and arms.

So what do you think of the dress?

Finished Kimono - Part Two

2011-12-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

Day Six - 24th December

After yesterdays challenge, I was confident I could get the collar done quickly. Opps!

First step was attaching the first layer of collar to the kimono body. In the DVD, the seamstress was able to lie her kimono flat but I had real trouble here. Then there was the markings that I was suppose to follow, they didn't go as according to plan. For example, the hemmed edge of the okumi panel was not high enough to be covered by the collar so there is some raw edge poking out. Not that you will see it because it is on the inside but something to remember!

There was a lot of small things that make attaching the collar tricky but now I have done it, I know how to improve.

First the positioning of the reinforcements needed for the collar. I sewed them too far away from the seam which means you can see a line of stitching on the outside.

I going to blame this on the book because in the DVD the lady didn't sew them on like the book show me!

Second more dodgy stitching but this time blind stitch.

Day Seven - 25 December

Nothing! It was Christmas Day and I wanted to spend the day eating, drinking and watching my husband play games.

Day Eight - 26 December

Finally the sleeves are being attached. I am not sure if I have followed the markings that I made but did follow the method of sewing so it is accurate enough with construction.

And here is the result.

Fortunately from a distance you can not see the mistakes I made.

And from this distance, the collar looks quite good.

Now I need to buy more fabric and wear this one.

Finished Kimono - Part One

2011-12-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

What have I been doing since my last post since 15th December? Well the fabric that I brought arrived on 19th December and since then I have been busy making my kimono.

This was how the week progressed for me.

Day One - 19th December

Received fabric only to find that they sent me 5 yds rather then 5 ms of fabric. Lucky I only needed 4.4 metres but it was annoying to receive goods that were not what you paid for. Anyway there was no point in complaining but the next time I order from them which I might I will mention it.

All I did that day was go through the measurements, cut the fabric into 36 cms wide pieces and marked the body panels ready for sewing.

Day Two - 20th December

Got up a bit late and since I had a Christmas lunch to attend I only managed to sew the two rows of stitching for the back seam.

I said I was going to part machine and part hand sew this kimono but in the end I choose to sew it all by hand because I need the practice and to see how long it would take.

I tell you something, it is not easy sewing long straight and even running stitches. I tried my method but it takes a long time to sew. However when I tried the Japanese method it was quicker but harder to create even stitches. I suppose with a bit more practice I will get the hang of it.

Day Three - 21th December

Taking things slowly, I sewed the horizontal back seams and for some reason I decided to make the sleeves.

The sleeves themselves were easy to make and the only thing that is complicated is the armhole. I made a template for the kimono curve which was just the curve of a 8cm in diameter circle. Not the correct curve but I had a used cardboard cylinder that was at hand so I thought why not use this cylinder to create the curve. Later I will make proper card templates.

Again the problem of sewing straight and even running stitch is still troubling me and it is a running theme.

Day Four - 22th December

Now to tackle the side seams and arm holes on body panel.

The challenge here was the arm holes because they needed to be as flat as possible to prevent any bulk fabric from showing.

Also that night I cut out the okumi and collar panels and marked up the okumi panel ready for tomorrow works.

Day Five - 23rd December

I have heard attaching the okumi panels was tricky and although the first part of sewing the hem wasn't too bad, the rest of it was a bit of a pain.

There was a lot of fudging here because I wasn't sure what the diagrams were trying to say and how the markings I made earlier were used. All I knew was the overall look that needed to be achieved so I went with my intuition here.

I hope it was good though.

Here is some dodgy sewing!

DIY kimono time!

2011-12-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

You may have guessed that I am a kimono fan/addict but I have reached a stalling point in my collection.

In the past I would go onto ebay and find many kimono that I would love to wear however now it is completely different. Although I am still finding kimono that I would like to own, none of them are ones that I would like to wear. I do not know what has brought this on but it is for the best because it was a huge drain on my finance.

So how am I am going to resolve this? Well it is time to complete one of my things on my To-Do list, make a kimono!

I have been talking about this for ages and I have reached the point that I am tired of hearing myself saying it so when my friend went to Japan I asked her to buy me a kimono making book and some kimono making tools.

This is the book that she got for me.

I have already had the chance to look at this book so I know it contains detailed instructions in constructing a kimono if you can decipher the Japanese measurements. Which is what I did for the last two days!

I literally I spent the 2 days studying the pictures and re-drawing some of the diagrams so I understood what the markings and measurements are needed. It appears that there is a lot of preparation in making a kimono because when I watched the DVD, the lady didn't do a lot of measurements once she began to put the kimono together.

However now I am confident that I have all the measurements in my head and I have brought my fabric. Nothing exciting, just some green polycotton which will make a perfect summer kimono.

Although I think I can wear it if I make a nice warm juban.

Well wish me luck and I will keep you posted!

Snowflake Kanzashi

2011-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I attended the Something Old Vintage wedding fair in Sheffield and Ruth Coe from Sweet Words Stationary said she would love to have some of my kanzashi in her winter themed photoshoot.

Unfortunately, the photoshoot was on the same day as my exam so I was unable to attend but I sent some winter themed kanzashi for her to use and here is the result!

They are gorgeous are they not?

You can see the rest of the wonderful photographs on Sweet Words blog here.

http://www.sweetwordsstationery.co.uk/general/winter-wedding-inspiration/

Kimono de Jack UK meetup in Birmingahm.

2011-12-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

Well it is the end of another year and my Kimono de Jack UK friends could not end 2011 without another Christmas meetup in Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas market.

Full of Christmas food, drink and gifts, you can't help but feel festive.

We started off our celebration with a nice mug of hot wine (or hot chocolate).

Well it was a cold day and the drinks certainly helped with the cold.

So bottoms up!

After our little tipple, it was time for a little lunch before heading indoors to the Lost in Lace exhibition at Gas Hall in Birmingham.

It was full of lovely examples of modern interpretation of lace which was not what I was expecting but none the less very interesting. Also it was the perfect place to take photos.

Just look at this crystal structure, it looks absolutely stunning and does remind me of a mathematical model but I can't put a name to it at the moment.

Anyway we couldn't stay in there all the time because some of us wanted some desserts. So off to the Christmas market again.

I have waited a whole year for this treat and being lactose intolerant, I am going to suffer but I can't resist!

Yep it was good! Really good! In fact, plate licking good!

But April and I were not the only ones enjoying dessert. Here is Liz enjoying some healthy fruit.

By this time, our feet were telling us to give them a little break so we stopped off in a coffee shop to relax and look at the latest Kera magazine that Liz brought back from Japan. I wish I could get these sort of magazines in the UK.

A completely enjoyable day, which I hope we carry on into the future because it is a lot of fun!

Roll on 2012 and next meetup which is planned in Oxford.

What have I been up to for the last couple of days?

2011-12-01T08:50:00.001-08:00

You may be wondering why I have not posted something on my blog?

Well here is the reason!

My friend and I have finally got moving and made our first kimono videos where we show you how to wear kimono on your own.

There is plenty of kitsuke videos but they are either they are in Japanese or do not show you clearly how to do things. In our videos, we intend to address these two issues.

The first two videos are just plain videos with no subtitles or voices because it seem perfectly clear what we are doing! They are video on how to tie there Kamifusen or "Paper Balloon" musubi on your own and it is a very cute and comfortable musubi to wear.

Kamifusen Musubi Obi Part One

Kamifusen Musubi Obi Part 2

I hope you enjoy them!

If I had the opportunity.

2011-11-29T04:03:00.000-08:00

On the 23 November at 11.00 GMT, I tuned in to listen to a BBC Four broadcast on "Mastering the Art of Kimono".

The programme is about how the art of making kimono is dying because the artisans who make these wonderful garments do not have anyone to pass on their knowledge and skills and the market for kimono is also shrinking as the younger generation are more attracted to the western fashion.

Kihachi Tabata's family scrapbooks of kimono samples date back five generations. Photo credit: Pam Skinner.

Although I know about the plight that Japan is facing with their kimono and obi industry, it was still interesting to hear the artisans point of view.

And it then got me thinking.................

If I had the time, money and opportunity, would I devote my life to learning one of the many kimono techniques for the sake of it.

My creative side is telling me yes since I love learning new things and if it involves textiles then even better! Something about learning and developing a particular knowledge set which you love is very appealing. You are studying the area for the sake of learning and in doing so, you are enriching the lives of people. This is the reason why we have art and music. Can you imagine a world where there is nothing creative? And I do not mean finding tax loopholes for help rich individuals or company to avoid tax.

Unfortunately one has to listen to their sensible side because there are many issues to consider. First and foremost, my partner, I can't bear the thought of leaving him in the UK all on his own. I maybe a modern woman and he himself would tell me to pursue my ambitions but we are old fashion when it comes to our relationships. Wherever one goes, the other follows, that is what we are like so going to Japan on my own would break my heart.

However if money was not the problem then this would not be an issue. My partner is happily devoting his life to maths and so long as he has maths (and the internet) he is happy.

Then there is the language barrier. I have never been good at learning new languages, or at least I am good at one element but not the others. Take French, when I was learning it at secondary school, I wasn't not good at listening or writing it however reading seem to be fine. I have a feeling with Japanese, I will have the same issue.

All of these things do make me wonder because I love blogging, making kanzashi and kimono dressing. I really do wake up sometimes like my husband and think "can I do such and such?". Maybe one day I will be able to realise my dream.

If you are interested in the radio programme and here is the link to the page.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017chpt

I know if you are in the UK, you can listen to this programme over the internet so if you have the chance please do.

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Eight - Dear Diary......

2011-11-27T05:38:00.001-08:00

Actually come to think about it, this should have been Part Five but my brain was a little tired.

So you thought about the time and venue for ceremony and reception (see what I mean about lists becoming lists!), time to think about what time of the year you want to get married.

Autumn, Spring, Summer or Winter? What is the best season to get married in? Is there a best time of year?

Unless your country experiences bad weather at certain time of the year, any time of the year is perfectly fine. It all depends on what you want to do on your wedding.

Normally spring or summer is associated with outdoor weddings because the days are long and the weather is nice and warm. Whereas autumn and winter are general considered suitable for indoor weddings.

However this is not a hard and fast rule!

So long as you have suitable clothing and heating, no one said you can't have an outdoor wedding in winter. Just imagine having a wedding when there is snow on the ground or when the leaves are falling off the trees. It will make wonderful photos!

Then again, if summer for you and the guest is just too hot to handle but you still want the long days to party then having an indoor wedding would be refreshing indeed. And if any of your guests wish to enjoy the sun then they can venture out while you keep your cool in the venue.

I think technically, I had an autumn wedding but for some reason (maybe global warming) the weather in October was really nice. In fact on the actual day, we had lovely sunshine and it was nice and warm throughout the day so I didn't have to worry about getting cold.

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Seven - Location, Location, Location (Reception)

2011-11-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you have an idea of where you would like to have your ceremony and now it is time to think about reception.

Here are a few things that went through my head when I was brainstorming for ideas.

How far away from the ceremony should I go?
What is the maximum and minimum number of guests?
What is the food and drink like?
Is it children friendly?
Are there any local hotels in the vicinity for guests to stay?
Is there adequate parking?

When you are answering these questions, think about the guests you are likely to invite. It maybe your big day but considering the needs of your guest will make all the difference in how your wedding will be remembered.

Choosing a remote reception where the guests have to drive 20 minutes before trekking another 20 minutes may give you a unique reception but leaving your guest high and dry in the middle of nowhere and with little to eat or drink will not go down well.

This is far too remote!

I remember my mother complaining about one wedding where she really wanted a cup of tea but when she asked for one the staff didn't give her one because the bride and groom didn't think about refreshments after the wedding breakfast. She does not have a positive memory of this wedding.

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Six - Location, Location, Location (again)

2011-11-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

So we talked about registry offices but if you are planning a non-religious wedding then that is not your only choice. You can also get married at "Approved Premises" as they are called.

Approved Premises are places that have been granted a licence by the council to hold a marriage ceremony. Normally these premises are stately homes, hotels or restaurants and most of the time the local council will have a list of such premises.

Here is the list for Southend on Sea

http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/317/marriage-arrangement_and_ceremonies/612/marriages/5

and this one is for Solihull.

http://www.solihull.gov.uk/community/21397.htm

As you can see the council website ends up being your friend here.

Then last but not least there are the religious ceremony.

If both of you wish to get married in a place of worship then you probably already have an idea of where you would like to get married. However if you are like my friend who was a Catholic, she found two Catholic churches she would like to get married in and it was only after a conversation with the Father that she finally made her choice.

When it comes to getting married at a place of worship, it is best to contact the person in charge of marriages at the religious building to see what needs to be done. The reason for this is that not all places of worship have a licence to hold a marriage and if the place has a licence then they may not have an incumbent (or official) who is able to register the marriage. For the latter, this is normally resolved by booking a registrar and they will attend your marriage which will be conducted by the minster.

For certain Asian marriages, they would go to the registry office to get their marriage recognise by law and then hold a separate religious ceremony at the place of worship so that their marriage is recognise by their religion.

Remember if you don't understand something. Don't be afraid to ask or it could end in heart ache.

Tomorrow we will look at receptions!

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Five - Location, Location, Location.

2011-11-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Now it is time to consider your location.

Do you have an idea of where you would like to get married?

Are you going to have your ceremony and reception in different places or are you opting to have them in the same place?

Now for us we wanted the ceremony and reception at the same place because we didn't like the idea of up-heaving 55 people from one place to another. Therefore it was logically sound to have them in the same place. Not to mention the registry office wasn't the most photogenic place to have photos taken and although we had the whole of Essex to choose from, it seemed only appropriate to get married in Southend on Sea because that is where most of our family live.

However that isn't to say all registry offices are ugly. Here are some example of registry office that will give you the perfect setting for your wedding.

Weybridge Register Office

Langtons Register Office

Dunoon’s Registry Office

I actually can't believe how stunning Dunoon Registry Office looks but this one is in Scotland so I would expect some amazing buildings and landscape.

The most easiest way to find a list of registry offices is to search the Directgov site here.

http://maps.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/MapAction.do?ref=grolight

It not the best but it is a good starting point.

However registry offices are not the only places to get married which you will find out tomorrow!

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Four - What's the time Mr Wolf?

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

This can be a tricky question because there are a lot of factors that could affect your decision for the ceremony time.

From Black Country Metalworks

You can get married anytime in the UK so long as the registrar or the religious official is free but when should you get married.

A morning wedding would suit a couple who are planning a small wedding where it is just you, your partner and some close family members and friends. The advantage of this is that when your ceremony is over, you can head straight to a reception for lunch and them spend the afternoon relaxing. However it does mean you have little time to get ready hence why I said it is suitable for a small wedding.

Then there is the afternoon wedding, this gives you plenty of time to round up your wedding party and get ready in relatively good time. Also if there is any issue that needs to be resolved, at least you have the time to get someone to sort it out. However should you get married before or after lunchtime? Before lunchtime then you will need to organise some sort of light refreshment while the photographs are being taken. Whereas after lunchtime then this is not an issue but then when do you want to serve the wedding breakfast?

Finally the evening wedding or at least before 17.00. This overcomes many of the issues raised in the previous paragraphs however do not be fooled. Even though your wedding is late afternoon, you will not be able to do anything in the morning because you will be preoccupied with you wedding.

Another thing to consider is how long you want your special day to last? If you want to go the whole hog and have the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening disco then you will probably want to have an early afternoon wedding so you have time for your day to unravel. However this means your guest will have a long day and if you are like me and your guest list is mainly elderly relatives, having such a wedding would be too tiring.

So to summaries!

Think what wedding elements you want.
Choose a time for the ceremony which will allow you to fulfil your plans.
Consider the guests needs.

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Three - Lists, Lists and Lists!

2011-11-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Now you know what you and your partner wants and also your parents.

Time to pull all this information together and create your first list which will detail what you need for this wedding to become a reality!

Things to think about : -

Ceremony time
Venue
Formality
Budget
Potential guest list
Legal details like marriage notices

Such a small list you may say but believe me from these 6 things you will be potentially creating another list for each one!

Tomorrow I will discuss ceremony time!

Kimono de Jack UK: 19 days left till December meetup at Birmingham!

2011-11-22T01:09:00.000-08:00

If any of my followers like kimono then why not meet us up in Birmingham? Register your interest on the facebook event page and we will see you there.

Kimono de Jack UK: 19 days left till December meetup at Birmingham!: Only 19 more sleeps till that last KDJ UK meetup of 2011 so lets make it a fun one! Like last year, we will be visiting Birmingham Chri...

How to Plan a Wedding - Part Two - Discussion with the parents.

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

So you both know what you want from the wedding.

I suppose now you need to discuss it with your parents.

Now most parents are more then happy with whatever you want to do for the wedding but this is not always the case. Maybe your parents would like it to be held at a particular location or maybe they would like to include an activity which is customary in their culture. For example, my parents wanted a tea ceremony to be performed at the wedding.

Not the set that was used at my wedding but I don't have a picture of it.

Don't get upset by this and don't feel like they are going to take over your day. It just means you have to accommodate their expectations.

And don't be afraid to mix cultures if you are in an inter-racial relationship. There is always a way to add elements of one's culture in the big day, whether it is the way the venue is decorated or the food served. These elements should be embraced on your big day because they will only make it more special and memorable.

So remember listen to what your parents have to say and make a note of what they would like you to do.

How to plan a Wedding - Part One - Decision making

2011-11-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

So what is the secret to planning a stress-free wedding?

Did we follow a magically book which told us how to plan the wedding?

Did we hire a wedding planner?

Maybe I had a moogle to magic me the day?

(Unfortunately the final option was not possible but if only it was, wouldn't it be great!)

Nope the secret is planning. No really, I'm not joking, if you want anything to go well then planning is the secret and don't be fooled by other people who say it was stressful. Once you have planned and put everything in place, it should all fall into place.

And despite what people keep throwing at us, never did we panic or worry about our wedding. In fact, we managed to annoyed people with our relaxed attitude. However we could afforded to be relaxed because we had planned it to be this way.

Now no matter how spontaneous your wedding is, a degree of planning is needed and before we began to make any lists, budgets or announcing our engagement to our parents, we did the most important thing an engaged couple should do.

We both discussed what we want for the big day!

Yes we sat down and talked about what we would like. No paper, no computer, nothing! We just talked about how we both wanted a calm and relaxing day without too much pomp and for the ceremony itself to be as simple as possible.

This discussion proved to us that we both wanted the same thing out of our wedding and setup a nice solid foundation for all our plans.

So why not do the same? It can be as formal as you want or you can just keep it casual. How you do it isn't important but rather the outcome of the conversation that is key.

Wedding all over and finished!

2011-11-19T06:08:00.001-08:00

I just looked at the date today and I have already been married a month and still haven't blogged about it.

How forgetful I have been these days.

It was a lovely day and apart from one slight hiccup, everything went according to plan!

The ceremony went smoothly and before my partner and I knew it, we were married!

If you are wondering what I am doing with my hand, I'm doing a maneki neko pose for my kimono friends.

And here we have my lovely husband walking me down the aisle as his wife. We joked that we should running out of the hotel and hopping onto the first bus into town to avoid socialising but that would have been cruel.

The rest of the day was taking up by a tea ceremony.

and generally mingling around with the guest to make sure they got a chance to talk to us before having a nice three course lunch.

Yes it was a day to remember and now it is all over, it is time to return back into reality.

Strawberry Kimono: Lyuba's Guide to Starting a Kimono de Jack

2011-11-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

As you may have noticed that I am a kimono fan or addict depending on how you see it and part of a kimono group where we create events to wear kimono at and we have lots of fun!

Have you always looks on with envy and wish you had a group nearby? Well why not start one yourself? My friend who started the one in UK has written up a guide for starting your very own Kimono de Jack. It isn't hard at all and all you need is some kimono fans who are interested.

If you are interested then have a read below!

Strawberry Kimono: Lyuba's Guide to Starting a Kimono de Jack: Hello Everyone, Kimono de Jack is taking the world by storm. Well, at least the kimono world. Either way, when it started back in 2010, on...

Kimono de Jack UK Anniversary

2011-10-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a year already since KDJ UK began!

Where did the time go? Whatever the time there was only one way to celebrate and that is to visit the same location as we did one year ago which was Trafalgar Square.

Weather prediction said it was going to be a good weather for kimono which is under 20 Celsius and slightly overcast. However you can never be too careful so we planned for the worse case scenario.

I arrived around noon due to my train and greeting me was the kimono de jack group with a new attendee! Her name is Stephanie and she happen to be visiting London at the same time as our anniversary and couldn't believe her luck that she was able to attend our Kimono de Jack.

After a few photos around Trafalgar Square we got on the bus to Nizumi. We got a little bit confused by the building numbers but we got there and had a lovely lunch!

I had a lovely Tendon.....

while the others had chicken katsu curry, teriyaki salmon,

teriyaki beef bento box and fried chicken udon noodles.

All our lunches where very nice by the way.

After lunch we slowly walked back to Piccadilly Circus to look at the shops along the way. We went into the M&M world but was disappointed by the lack of M&M! :( However they did have a nice elevator which we had to take a picture of.

After our disappointing discovery we went to our favourite wagashi shop, Minamoto Kitchoan!

They were holding a tea ceremony so we all had tea serve to us. The lady was quite stern with us but liked the fact that we wore kimono. She pointed out my mofuku obi but I explained that I understood what the black symbolised but I was dressed for Halloween.

Then off to japan centre so I could buy some onigiri for the journey home. It was very busy but we fought our way round to get what we wanted.

It was only 16.30 and although my train didn't depart until 18.55, I wanted to get to the station because my feet were tired. Also everybody else was tired after walking around London.

Our next planned kdj is in December at the Birmingham Christmas Market! November hasn't been scheduled because a lot of us are busy and need to save our pennies for Christmas time but we might organise some local meetups around where we live. So keep following our facebook or tweets to see what is happening.

10 days left!

2011-10-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Yep you heard it only 10 days left of being a single girl and the final element of my wedding has arrived in the post.

My purple wedding dress is just as I imagine and when I put it on it was just what I wanted. Part of me feels that I missed out on the whole wedding dress experience because although I visited a couple of bridal shops, I didn't try on any wedding dresses. However I think I made the right choice and all that needs to be done now is get it the reception without any incident. That should be fun!

Obi for sale

2011-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

After my little triumphant making of my first tsuke obi I thought wouldn't it be a good idea to make another one for someone else to enjoy!

Well here it is!

Like before it is reversible so you can alternate how you wish to wear the colours and at the front you can twist your obi to create interesting contrasts.

As it is a tsuke obi, it has been designed for the single fold otaiko.

However I have made it long enough so you actually create a double fold otaiko as well.

And if that is not enough, you can even tie tsunodashi musubi for a more casual look.

You can even create otaiko variations if you like. As I have only used a heavy weight interface to line the obi, you can tuck the tesaki part towards to back and create a different otaiko musubi look.

This wonderful handmade obi can be yours for £30 (not including postage).

I hope to find other materials to make more obi because they are a lot of fun to make.

Custom kanzashi order.

2011-09-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better then creating a kanzashi for a bride and last week a bride contacted me to ask me to create a kanzashi for her special day!

Cherry Blossom was her chosen kanzashi however she wanted it completely white!

I couldn't disappoint her so here is the same kanzashi in white.

I have to say it is lovely but I'm bias ;)

First attempt on Red Velvet Cake.

2011-09-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone talks about them and since my partner has to organise seminars for his maths department, he normally volunteers to make the first batch of cakes for the tea and coffee afterwards.

By volunteering, this normally means me making something that 20 people can eat and survive therefore this time I made red velvet fairy cakes.

I had to try 5 of them to make sure they were nice enough but then most cake taste nice when they are warm.

But you can not have red velvet cupcakes with frosting and taking my friend's advice I made butter roux frosting. This frosting is a lot lighter then the standard cream cheese frosting and because you mix in a roux mixture to bulk out the butter and sugar frosting, it is marginally healthier!

Now to combine the two together.

Kimono Challenge Tag #12

2011-09-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

I look stupid posing, don't I!

And here is the latest outfit.

Still rubbish at posing as you can see but I would say my style has evolved to be a bit more quirky these days because I am always breaking the rules when it comes to motifs and styles. In the end of the day so long as the colours go together then I'm happy and my motto for kimono co-ordination is always "It will do!".

Well that is all 12 questions answered, if you want any more questions answered then let me know in your comments.

Kimono Challenge Tag #11

2011-09-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

and since I moved to Sheffield my kimono have been living in 4 large (50cm x 30cm x 23cm) and 2 small (34cm x 27cm x 23cm) plastic boxes.

I am not going to start counting how many items I got because I might faint.

Kimono Challenge Tag #10

2011-09-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
~~5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.~~
~~6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.~~
~~7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...~~
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your biggest kimono inspiration.

I love the work of Yamamoto Yumi!

She makes kimono, obi and zori from modern print fabric which means her kimono look really funky.

Don't you just love this outfit? It is just perfect for the seaside.

Even her more traditional looking kimono outfits still have a modern feel to them.

However I do like to experiment and I love combine boots with kimono because zori/geta are not warm enough for the UK winters. I have my trusty tan boots which are great for kimono!

Kimono Challenge Tag #9

2011-09-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
~~5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.~~
~~6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.~~
~~7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...~~
~~8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).~~
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your biggest kimono fears.

When it comes to clothes, my ethos is if you buy it then you must wear it. Which I apply to my kimono collection as well but my biggest fear would be destroying a kimono that I love while wearing it out.

Either through staining it with makeup or food I would be heartbroken if I made a kimono unwearable because I am one of those fools who gets sentimental about inanimate object. Fortunately however I have not encountered this problem yet.

Photos from the BUNTweetup Yorkshire.

2011-09-16T03:31:00.000-07:00

Back in September 6, I went to the first BUNTweetup in Yorkshire and had a bundle of fun.

However I didn't take any pictures!!

Well Bride Up North came through and here are some photos from her site.

Here is the lovely Julia getting things ready!

Can you spot me in the photo below?

This was the lovely centrepiece in the middle of the room.

Yep that is me wearing my purple kanzashi, it is becoming the kanzashi that I wear for special occasions.

Some attendees who were having fun at the booth.

The yummy sweetie table which I was very good and didn't eat anything. I don't need help to be unhealthy because it is programmed into my genes.

For more photographs of the evening then you can visit Brides Up North website here.

http://bridesupnorth.com/2011/09/16/buntweetup-yorkshire-all-the-action/

Wedding Kanzashi all finished.

2011-09-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

And now I can relax (a bit) from thinking about my wedding and concentrate on EMS!

My bouquet is made from the same flower designs as the rest of the boutonneire and hair pins because I wanted all the elements to co-ordinate with each other.

The only addition I made are the 3 lace roses which were included because I wanted lace roses and they helped with the arrangement. In previous bouquet, I would find odd gaps which were unattractive and it dawned on my that I could eliminate them if I had a flower which could be slotted in.

Like with my other bouquets, I used a lot of floral tape which creates a stable handle which is covered with white satin ribbon and with the remaining lace I create a double tier covering for the back of the bouquet.

And here is the wonderful bouquet being held by my partner like as if he is about to bludgeon someone with it. I think at the time we were talking about the bouquet making a lovely hand guard for a sword so we spent a couple of minutes thinking what it would look like with a blade sticking out in the middle.

(We have been playing Dragon Age 2 so killing evil darkspawn and assassins with swords is the first thing we are thinking about)

Question to my readers, would you people be interested in buying such a bridal sets? And if so, what price would you pay for it?

Kimono Challenge Tag #8

2011-09-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
~~5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.~~
~~6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.~~
~~7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...~~
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).

So many things I would love to get!

How about a pair of okobo, those lovely wooden geta that maiko wears.

Why? Because I am short and they are look so cute. Not to mention they make a lovely noise as you walk. What I can decide is whether I like the plain or the black lacquer ones.

Another piece of maiko kitsuke that I would like is a darari obi.

The obi is 6 metres of beautiful fabric and just to wear one would be a dream let alone own one. They are just too expensive for me.

Finally, there is of course the heian style kimono.

Far too many layers to put on by yourself, it restricts your movement and it probably weights a lot. It is totally impractical in every way and therefore I love it. If I own this, I would be over the moon and feel like a princess.

Kimono Challenge Tag #7

2011-09-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Number 7 already!

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
~~5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.~~
~~6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.~~
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Kimono Confessions. Did you know that....

I still use a towel and my homemade koshihimo as a obi makura.

You may ask why I have not bothered to buy a proper obi makura yet, well here are the reasons.

It is indestructible.
Very comfortable to lean back on after a long day chatting with my kimono friends.
Can be folded to different sizes depending on how puffy I want my otaiko to be.
It is very cheap.

Funny enough I don't have any pictures of this.

Kimono Challenge Tag #6

2011-09-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
~~5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.~~
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

What do you like and don't like about kimono.

The best thing about kimono is the variety styles and materials available. Really I can't think of any other garment that has such variety!

From the heavy decorated furisode.

To the teal ro iromuji.

There is a kimono for everyone's taste.

Another thing that I love is that you can create lots of new outfits from one kimono. Lets take my polka dot kimono which I love.

I first wore it with a black ro obi with a pink and white obi-age and pink obi-jime.

Then with a little bit of lace and a different obi, obi-age and obi-jime it is a completely different.

I really should wear my kimono more often but it would mean buying more obi.

Now the pet peeves! The amount of accessories you need to have before you put it on. It took me ages to buy or make all the correct kitsuke items to wear a kimono which meant a lot of time and effort.

Then of course once you start buying kimono, it becomes an addiction! This was my collection after only a year and a bit.

Since this photo I have brought a few more pieces but when I look back at it I must have been mad or something. True I have worn pretty much everything at least once in this photo but if I did the same thing with western clothes I think I would be broke. Thank god for Ebay bargains.

Kimono demo and workshop at Alcon!

2011-09-11T04:44:00.000-07:00

Another weekend has past and on Saturday, my friend (Liz) and I were invited by Alcon to present a kimono demonstration and run three kimono workshop.

Fortunately Alcon was based in Leicester at De Montfort University so it was fairly close for both Liz and I to travel.

It was a packed Saturday schedule and unfortunately we were assigned the 10.00 slot for our kimono demo which meant we didn't have a packed audience. It appears the night before there was a rave so clearly 10.00 is far too early if you were hungover. Also we clash with the Tea Ceremony.

However despite our low turn out we gave our talk and we first went through a furisode kitsuke with a bunko style musubi. The kitsuke went very well despite my forgetfulness. I accidentally forgot the obi-shin and makura however the obi I used was very stiff to the obi-shin was not need and since I tied a bunko style musubi, the makura was not needed.

For the next kitsuke we did a maiko cosplay. We choose a furisode that could double up as a hikizuri so one less kimono to bring. Also as the model was slim, I was able to fold the kimono with the front opening nicely. The hardest thing was tying the darari musubi style with a fukuro obi because I needed to judge length of the trailing part. In the end the difference between the tails was only a couple of inches which isn't bad considering I have not practice on the model before. Of course as I forgot the makura the musubi was a little flat but I hope I managed to create the look well enough.

Now we had 3 hours to relax before the workshops so Liz and I sent the time wandering around the convention. I was surprised how small the event was and with the dealers room opening at 12.00, Liz and I decided to walk around the university. But by the time we got back in time for the room to open there was already a queue to get in and it did not disappear until 14.00 which was the starting time for our workshop. However I probably wouldn't have brought anything so I'm not upset.

So the workshop. We knew from the forum that we would have plenty of interest and the first workshop was packed! I demonstrated at each 40 minutes workshop how to put on a female yukata while Liz helped the male side.

We were both very busy and it was lucky that we were moved to another room which was not being used because 40 minutes is not long enough to tutor people in yukata. And we over ran by 15 minutes which isn't bad.

Also we also were unable to cater for women who were plus size because getting yukata for plus size ladies is hard. However I was able to tell them the method of putting on a yukata which they can used when they are able to find one that fits.

Overall we did very well and everyone said that they learnt a lot. We even manage to sell a couple of items so that was a bonus.

Next event that you will see my friend and I will be at the Entertainment Media Show!

By the way photos will follow as I need to get them off an observer who was kind enough to take pictures for us since we were to busy with work. Thank you Colin!

Kimono Challenge Tag #5

2011-09-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

Onwards!

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
~~4. Your least used kimono item(s).~~
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your favourite coordination(s) so far.

Oh dear this is where my lack of photos may let me down but I will pick out my faves.

Here is the most traditionally coordinated outfit I have done and it was for my friend's wedding in Glasgow. It was lucky that it was a nice sunny day or I would have spent the whole day worrying about the kimono.

All the colours and flowers matched nicely and I provided a flash of colour to the proceedings.

Ah then there is this outfit, a nice cool looking outfit which was lucky because Japan Matsuri was packed and wearing ro was best decision I made.

I'm sure I have other outfits which I love but didn't take pictures which is a shame. However I have them in my memory and maybe when I have time I will dress up Miffy in them.

Kimono Challenge Tag #4

2011-09-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

Three down, nine left to go!

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
4. Your least used kimono item(s).
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your least used kimono item(s).

When it come to kimono items the least used is probably these two.

The first one is an obi that I brought thinking that it was perfect for co-ordination. How wrong I was!

I have only worn it once and I only worn it because I was desperate to wear this obi at least once and I couldn't find another obi to match an outfit I wanted to wear. It is a lovely fukuro obi but you do get a little blurry eyed if you stare at it for too long.

The second thing that I rarely use is my biyo sugata obi aid.

Again I have only worn it once for a party but I have play around with it, creating different musubi. It does take its toil on the fukuro obi I used so I haven't been using it lately as I need to buy a better obi.

Kimono Challenge Tag #3

2011-09-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Carrying on with the challenge questions.

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
~~2. Your dearest kimono item(s).~~
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
4. Your least used kimono item(s).
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

Your most used kimono item(s)

It will have to be my comfy zori!

I love them!!!

They are the best footwear I have ever brought in my life because they are so nice to wear.

First off the hanao are the padded sort which means they do not cut into your feet which for a walker is very important. And secondly, these zori do not have the usual metal staple at the bottom of the sole so I don't have to worry about it rusting if I step into a puddle.

In fact, I must buy another pair of this sort.

Brides Up North Tweetup at Mansion in Leeds

2011-09-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful night yesterday attending the first Brides Up North Tweetup in Yorkshire and it was a fab turnout.

Normally I would find these sort of gathering daunting because I'm a shy person in social situation. However I felt at complete ease and picked up a load of business cards! I think in total I picked up 19 business cards out of 80 which isn't bad.

The venue was the mansion at Roundhay park it was picturesque! The leaves were only just turning a different colour and the light was warm. And the mansion itself lovely as well I wish I took photos of the place but I was anxious to get started with the networking.The tweetup was in one room but it was fabulously decorated I will have get the pictures off brides up north website.

Of course I had to wear a kimono because I wasn't going to the kdj September meetup. Therefore I wore my favourite polka dot kimono with the added lace and my homemade obi. There was another good reason in wearing a kimono and that was to stand out in the crowd and by god did I!

I'm sorry for the dishevel look but I have been on a 1hr and 20min train journey and I was very tired.

I got talking to a couple of dressmakers who loved my kimono which provided the ice breaker to discuss our business.

I think I made a good impression and a lot of the people liked my kanzashi so this gives me hope that what I am doing is worthwhile. I hope the people I met today will recommend me to their brides!
It was a shame that I didn't stay over in Leeds because I didn't get a chance to meet everyone. But hopefully I will be able to connect with them twitter in the coming months.

Well done to Julia for organising this wonderful event and I hope in future we will work together.

Kimono Challenge Tag #2

2011-09-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I answered the first question out of the following list.

~~1. How did you discover and got into kimono?~~
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
4. Your least used kimono item(s).
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

On to the next one.

Your dearest kimono item(s)?

Eeeek that is a good question.

Obviously my first kimono is the most important kimono in my collection as it was the one that started the whole obsession.

It was not flashy and as it was a komon, I could wear it everyday if I wanted. However it is silk so I would be a fool to try and wear this day after day.

There is another kimono which always come to my head when I think about kitsuke and it is this furisode.

Again it is another non-flashy kimono and I remember looking at this furisode on ebay thinking that this is a bit plain for a furisode? Why? Anyway I like the simple silver crane design and just had to have it. My impression is that this furisode was made for an unmarried girl who was a little older then average hence the lack of colour and embroidery. However this suited me perfectly as I am in my late twenties and technically getting a little bit too old to wear furisode.

I do own another furisode which is more typical of the kind worn my girls at the coming-of-age ceremony but that is for special occasions where a little bit of show is needed.

Kimono Challenge Tag #1

2011-09-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

So I was reading the many blogs that I follow today when I saw on Strawberry Kimono a Kimono Challenge! It appears that Kira Kira Kimono set herself a challenge on answering the following questions.

1. How did you discover and got into kimono?
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
4. Your least used kimono item(s).
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono.
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that...
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears.
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration.
11. Your kimono collection.
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.

How could I resist so here goes.

How did you discover and got into kimono?

I have a vague memory of seeing a kimono on tv as a child all those many years ago and I think that was how I discovered kimono. I think it was the sleeves that attracted me to them because as I was growing up, I was always drawn to clothes which had long flowing sleeves like hanfu and medieval gowns.

Of course I never acted on my interest until 2006 or 2007 when I discovered Immortal Geisha website where for some reason I wanted to learn more about kimono. Don't ask me why I had this urge to learn, maybe I was bored and wanted a challenge, whatever the reason I began to research into kimono. It was also this time I discovered kanzashi and began to make those for fun!

I didn't actually buy my first kimono until 2008 on ebay and it was this one!

Which I didn't wear until the following year for Tokyo Day in London as I spent a year getting all the necessary accessories to wear kimono. As you can see it is not the most exciting kimono but it was my first one and therefore has a special place in my heart.

For the next year or two, I went on a slight kimono buying spree which I am glad to say has stopped due to financial and space constraints.

Tomorrow I will answer question two!

Wedding Kanzashi - Part 5

2011-09-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

So I have been toiling away with my flowers and I have my buttonhole flowers complete!

Three purple ones for the the groom's family.

And three ivory ones for the bride's (i.e my side) family.

One of the ivory one is for my maid of honour as has been attached to a hairclip for her to wear on the day.

Now I just need more fabric to make my bouquet which is on the way!

Today's kanzashi - Ivy Love

2011-08-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

“I never thought I'd cry for the love of Ivy”

Green is not the most obvious kanzashi colour you would choose but green is actually a lovely colour. These tiny plum flowers are made from a dark green cotton fabric and have a short fall on each flower to give them the cute factor.

Ivy Love is a one of a kind pair of hairclips as I no longer have any more of this lovely fabric. Each hairclip measures 3 cm wide by 6 cm height by 1 cm depth and the clips are alligator style so will be suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles.

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

Although I do not have the fabric anymore, I have many other fabrics available for you to choose from so if you found a kanzashi that you like but would like to customise it to your needs, taste or occasion then let me know. I am sure I will be able to create a kanzashi that will meet your expectation.

Wedding Kanzashi - Part 4

2011-08-31T04:34:00.000-07:00

Decisions, decision, decisions.

I thought I would leave the bouquet last because I want to make sure that my parents and future in law had their buttonhole flowers ready but what sort of design?

Previously, I just wanted to use the kanzashi but I have this lovely lace which is calling me to use it. Therefore I thought of the following designs.

As you can see there is a common theme. One big flower with a purple lace fan at the back but how should I make use of the smaller flowers?

There was a lot of hmmmm and arrrrrrr at this point so time to ask my partner what he thought. My previous design did not appeal to his eyes but as soon as I added the lace he said the overall design was less girly. Those were his words by the way not mine!

So we deliberated and here are the winning designs!

The first one is for the groom, best man and groom's mother.

While this one will be for my parents and my maid of honour. For the maid of honour I plan to attach it onto a hairclip but I will ask for her opinion.

Wedding Kanzashi - Part Three

2011-08-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

For the past week, all I have been thinking about is my wedding. My partner and I have sorted out the reception, menu and guest list. Table decorations have been brought and they are all around my future mother in law house ready to be assembled closer to the date.

Oh and my own mother is constantly changing her mind on the type of cake I'm having. First it had to be a three tier cake because it will look good, then it was mini cakes and one large cake because she saw them in a wedding magazine and thought they look good and now it is back to the three tier cake because she is having trouble finding boxes. Sigh.........I don't need this at all.

So to calm my nerves I decided to make my kanzashi and following my partner's excellent advice, I made the kanzashi that will be used to decorate my hair!

I had trouble deciding on the arrangement because I actually do not know how big my hairdo will be on the big day since it has grown a couple more inches since the wedding hair trial and I'm torn between having flowers all around the bun or just concentrating them on the top.

Therefore the solution is to mount them on individual hairpins which will allow the hairdresser the freedom to arrange them.

The pins I used are 6.5cm which may seem long but my hair bun will be huge so the length will ensure they stay in the hair.

As normal, the pearls are not glued onto the flowers because in the past they have fallen off on my own personal kanzashi. Instead they are attached to the flower and hairpin with a thin wire which keeps them in a stable position.

I am now tempted to make them for my etsy store now.

What do you think?

Wedding Kanzashi - Part two

2011-08-29T04:48:00.001-07:00

Playing around with silk dupion is fun but I also got sent some purple lace as well from Bound by Obsession.

I have always wondered what kanzashi would look like made from lace and at first I was a little hesitant to cut up this lovely lace but I bit the bullet.

And now it is time to make the kanzashi.

The flower at the back is not a kanzashi but a rose that I made because it dawned on me that I may need some more substantial flowers in my bouquet.

What do you think?

And so the adventure begins.....

2011-08-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

My wedding day is fast approaching and it is time to begin the mountain of kanzashi I have to make for my hair, bouquet and buttonhole flowers for the wedding party.

I though wouldn't it be good to make the flowers from the same fabric that my dress will be made from and I was lucky that Bound by Obsession was kind enough to post me some of the fabric. The fabric is lovely, there is something about dupion silk that I just love the look of.

So as you may have gathered that I couldn't wait to use it and I wanted to take more photos of the process however I got a little carried away and by the time I realised what I have done I have already finished the first batch.

What I can't decide is what to make first?

I could make the buttonhole flowers. This one is for my mother and father to wear.

And this one is for my future husband, his brother/best man and his mother.

Or I can start to arrange my bouquet.

I haven't had a chance to think about my hair ones but it will be very similar to the buttonhole flowers but with something extra.

Merino Needle felt kokeshi doll - Mimi

2011-08-19T05:02:00.001-07:00

Hello my name is Mimi the kokeshi doll and I am pleased to see you!

Made from merino wool, I am wearing a gorgeous blue kimono with a purple and black obi.

My hair is styled into casual chignon as I am out for the evening with some friends. I also have a little white obi-dome on my obi-jime for decoration.

I am only 6.5cm tall but I am a feisty doll. I hope you enjoyed my description and see you soon!

The waiting game!

2011-08-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

So the kokeshi doll are waiting for their owners to contact them so what are they doing in the mean time?

Of course play a little bit of computer games.

They discovered that they were rubbish at playing games because they couldn't co-ordinate themselves quickly enough, nevermind.

After the failure of the game playing they decided to meet their neighbours that live down the hallway.

They may look scary at first but the robots where quite nice and they got on very well!

Fun with Felt Kokeshi Doll

2011-08-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been absorbed in making kokeshi doll via the needle felting and now I have a small army of them it is time to start posing them!

Here are three of them trying their best type an email.

They are having a little trouble because they are only small and they have to jump really hard to push one of the keyboard letters.

Then there is the problem with the mouse!

They are only small and this mouse is somewhat big for them.

And after all this hard work sending an email it was time for a well earned break.

These three kokeshi dolls were trying to contact their new owners. I wonder if they were successful?

Guest post on Kiss My Tulle!

2011-08-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

A while ago, the blogger of Kiss My Tulle was asking for guest writers for her blog as she was busy. Therefore I decided to throw in my name in because at the time I was thinking about my wedding.

I decided to write about my experience in table decoration! Not the biggest question that needs an answer because clearly there are more important things to think about when planning your wedding however it would seem odd if you left it alone.

So my solution was to look for elements that I like and dislike. Now I have my ground rules, I can shop for all the bits and pieces that I need.

If you want to see the rules that I have set myself then why not read it on her site?

http://www.kissmytulle.com/2011/08/reception-table-decoration.html

Flush Joy-Japanese inspired Kanzashi

2011-08-11T05:58:00.001-07:00

“Flush it down with a white shade of pale”

Oh this kanzashi is quite unique so you must have a look! These kanzashi are made from a salmon pink coloured cotton fabric and have been decorated using some gold mizuhiki cord. As with all my work, they made using the “tsumami” technique and a lot of love and attention have been put into them.

Flush Joy is a one of a kind pair of hairclips as I no longer have any more of this lovely fabric. Each hairclip measures 3 cm wide by 4 cm height by 1 cm depth and the clips are alligator style so will be suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles.

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

Merino Needle felt kokeshi doll - Ume

2011-08-10T09:37:00.001-07:00

Hello my name is Maiko Ume the kokeshi doll and I am so happy to see you!

Made from merino wool, I am wearing a lovely pale yellow kimono with a stunning orange darabi obi. My hair is styled into the "wareshinobu" style and I'm wearing a cute little orange kanzashi that co-ordinates with my obi.

I maybe only 7cm tall only but I am full of character. I hope you enjoyed my description and see you soon!

The needle felt ball in the background is not part of the listing however if you would like one then please convo me.

Tangy Surprise-Japanese inspired Kanzashi

2011-08-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

“It’s no surprise, I won’t be here tomorrow”

I hope this kanzashi will not be here tomorrow as it will mean it has gone to a lovely home. And who wouldn’t want to give these little hairclips a home? They have been lovingly made by me using the “tsumami” technique so a lot of love and attention have been put into them.

Tangy Surprise is a one of a kind pair of hairclips as I no longer have any more of this lovely fabric. Each hairclip measures 3 cm wide by 4.5 cm height by 1 cm depth and the clips are alligator style so will be suitable for all hairtypes and hairstyles.

The little red box in the picture is for display purpose only and not for sale. If you would like the little red box with your purchase then convo me and I will give you my prices.

Kimono De Jack Meetup in Birmingham

2011-08-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

It was only a two weeks ago since Hyper Japan but yesterday was August meetup and this time we decided to have a picnic at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Here are the other members posing in the Japanese garden by the bamboo water feature.

We all made too much food for the picnic but that is never a problem and although Lyuba could not be there with us I took along the Lyuba kokeshi doll.

It was a fun day as you can see here where April and I were testing the see saw in the children's playground.

The next KDJ meeting will be in London for the London Matsuri. I'm not sure if I will be able to make it because it is on a Sunday but that doesn't stop all you other people who live closer to London.