Felt Kanzashi Adventure continued......

So I have been a little quiet in the kanzashi scene because of the regency event but now I have some free time I thought I would get back on the kanzashi making.

Kusudama is one of my favourite kanzashi to make.  They are just adorable to look at.

These ones are a little different to the ones I use to make in that they are brooches as well.

And since it is Autumn / Fall, I thought it would be nice to make them in the colours of the seasons.

The grey one is particular apt for me since I am going to be seeing grey skies for a long time.

But then again, seeing the golden leaves in the Botanical Garden is quite nice.

And purple because I love purple.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/250389357/felt-kanzashi-brooch-hairclip-for

Adventures in felt kanzashi - part 7

My felt kanzashi adventures has been a lot of fun but I have to say this one has to be my favourite so far.

The iris kanzashi!

I posted it a while back but here are some nicer pictures.

Love how the felt leaves curl.

And those little yellow highlights are just perfect.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/239309963/tsumami-kanzashi-iris-flower

Now that I have finally got some nice pictures this flower is finally for sale!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/239309963/tsumami-kanzashi-iris-flower

Adventures in felt kanzashi - part 5

There is finally some sunshine in Belfast and since it is June I thought I should make a kanzashi that is June related.

Hydrangea flowers!

Now you can not just make one flower but a cluster of them because when have you ever seen a hydrangea flower on its own?

The minimum number I could possible make is three and I had to include some leaves as well.

The hydrangea flowers are actually made from two colours of felt as this is traditional however the flowers need a little bit more so I added a pearl centre to each of the three flowers.

Isn't it cute!

Adventures in Felt Kanzashi - Part 4

So many flowers, so little time!

This is one that has been on my list for a while for traditional tsumami kanzashi because it is a flower that I see every spring!

Well I never got round to making it in silk for some reason but I had a chance today to try it with felt!

Finally I have a daffodil!

Rose Tsumami Kanzashi.

I have been experimenting with making rose kanzashi for ages and I think finally managed to find a design that works in my eyes.

Previous ones have been very pretty.  They are very pretty roses but somehow my eyes thinks something is missing.

So after lots of thinking and experimenting.  Yes lots of experimenting, my sewing room is full of proto roses.  It is actually quite sad seeing all these flowers.  I will have to think of a way to give them a good burial.  I always hate throwing away my flower failures.  

Anyway with a bit more playing, I think I have make ones that I am even more happier.  These ones are 7.5 cm in diameters so they make a lovely hair accessory or bouquet (ohh I must make one).

At the moment I have only made them in habutai silk but I would like to try and make them in kimono silk to see what effect it will create.  I think those roses will be lush and I can't wait to make more.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/233640856/large-rose-tsumami-kanzashi-hairclips?ref=shop_home_active_1

Kitty Kanzashi is back!

I have been very bad and neglected my etsy store.

Mainly due to the fact that I started a new job 1.5 years ago and have not been able to find a routine.

Anyway after a move from Sheffield to Belfast, getting full time job and then decided to move to my own flat!  I have finally managed to settle down enough to get things back in order.

So to slowly get back into the kanzashi business I have decided to start with something I have been thinking about for only the last month or so.

Glitter Kanzashi!

Seriously, glitter makes thing sparkle and everything is improved with glitter.  Well it was something I use to believe in as a child and then I went through a glitter hating moment.  Mainly because you can not put the stuff on your university work.  But now I need sparkle and lots of it.

The gold one was the first one I made because it is my default colour when I think of glitter but there are other colours.

As you can see I have only played with three at the moment,  I would love to play with more but I will need your help for that ;)

So here is where you can get these little bundles of joy.  There is only three at the moment.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/233598325/glitter-flower-kanzashi-hairclips?ref=shop_home_active_1

Out with 2013 and In with 2014!!!

So 2013 has been an eventful year for me.

I moved to a new city!

Where the first few days it rained and rained!  And once the rain stopped, it decided to snow however by summertime it was all lovely and hot.

Then I continued with my dressmaking and made the following dress and kimono.

However this has slowed down in the last few months as I have started a new job in September which meant my kanzashi making took priority over my dressmaking which is a shame!

However these are the stunning kanzashi that I have created.

SO what does 2014 have to hold for me???

Well hopefully in the next 3 months I will be sorting out all the financial and legal details for my new flat which will mean I will hopefully have my own little workroom where can store all my kimono, sewing and kanzashi making equipment.  I am very excited about this!

Restarting my "Making a Dress" series again with the first dress being made being  a 50's day-dress from an old kimono by 2 February 2014 so I can wear it for a vintage fair.  Still need to figure out what sort of dresses I want to make but the list is as follow : -

• Another regency dress.
• Wa-Lolita outfit.
• Aristocratic lolita skirt.
• Hand muff (okay not a dress but very practical and would be a lovely accessory).
• Bustle style skirt.

Of course I will be making another kimono as I went on a spending spree on kimono bolts.  As always some of those will be used to make the above dresses.

And I will be looking to finding a part-time job.  I have found that since I started working full-time I miss my sewing and kanzashi making far too much and it is getting to the point where it is actually making my depressed when I am not being creative.  I really hope I can find something soon so fingers cross!

Colourful Kanzashi Combinations!

So apart from creating kimono kanzashi hairclips, I have been experimenting with colour!

Why?

Because I always wanted to play around with colours and now I had a little bit of time to indulge in my fantasy.

So the first one I tried is grey and fuchsia.

Grey and Fuchsia Layered Kanzashi Hairclip

 This one came about because of this kanzashi

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/171926770/grey-and-fuschia-kimono-kanzashi?ref=shop_home_active

and I thought if a kimono silk has this colour combination then what would it look like if it was supersized?

Brown and Rich Yellow Layered Kanzashi Hairclip

 Then I thought I would try something a bit more retro in combination and went for brown and yellow.  I often see plaid fabric with this colourway and even my a-Line lolita high waist skirt you see below,

has a similar colouring although not as strong.

Latest Creation - Kimono kanzashi

So for the last few years I have been hoarding kimono fabric like there is no tomorrow.

I have kimono fabric in almost every room in my flat so I thought it was time I did a little spring clean and make some wonderful kanzashi from them.

Muted Green Kimono Kanzashi Hairclip

Grey and Fuchsia Kimono Hairclip

White Kimono Kanzashi Hairclip

Vibrant Orange Kimono Kanzashi Hairclip

Pink and White Kimono Kanzashi Hairclip

You can either click on the link on each picture or visit my etsy store if you are interested in them.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/kittykanzashi

Kanzashi Making Withdrawal!

Between making dresses and starting work I have been missing my kanzashi making days and after 2 months of non-kanzashi making and develop I decided this weekend I would sort this out.

First off I needed to make some kanzashi for the forthcoming Fine and Dandy Craft Fair on 24 November.  I decided to make some lovely kanzashi using some kimono silks that I purchased a long time ago.

Don't they look adorable!

Then I needed to make some for my classic lolita outfit.

I thought some roses would suit a classic lolita outfit perfect.  I made two but I think I need a couple more or maybe I will make some cherry blossom ones.

Then finally I made a fuschia!  I had this one in my head for a couple of months as I kept seeing them in hanging flower baskets around Belfast city centre and I have always thought wouldn't this flower make a wonderful kanzashi.  There is a photo of one just so you know what I am trying to aim for.

Well while pondering on the bus journey to work to figure out the best way to recreate the look and then some mental imagination, this is the end result.

The colour in the photo is are not correct because I have used purple for the lower petals but it is not a bad first attempt.  The top petals need to be bigger and the lower ones a little bit smaller but overall the shape is there.  I actually quite like the chubby look of this one, it adds to its charm.  I still haven't thought of the best way to mount the flower but I am thinking on the lines of a hairpin or maybe earrings???  Oh the possibilities.

Then for good measure I made some dainty little flowers which just look cute!

They will most likely be made into little hairpins.