New kanzashi for you to enjoy.

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.

Custom kanzashi order.

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 ;)

Wedding Kanzashi - Part 5

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

“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

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

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

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.....

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.

Tangy Surprise-Japanese inspired Kanzashi

“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.

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

Lily Love Kanzashi Haircomb

New kanzashi design with a new flower design!

This delicately constructed kanzashi is made from 3 lilies and 2 ume flower using white polyester habutae and is perfect for a vegan bride who wants an accessory that does not compromise her beliefs.

Lily Love measuries 11cms wide by 7cm high and is attached to a plastic haircomb.

This is a vegan friendly kanzashi and I can make in the following colours:

• Ivory
• Baby Pink
• Pale Blue
• Lilac
• Pale Yellow
• Red
• Royal Blue
• Green
• Orange

If there is another colour you would like me to make the flowers from then let me know!

And for those of you who are interested, this kanzashi can also be made using vintage kimono silk. Again just drop me a convo to discuss details as this option will be more expensive.

Golden Ume-Japanese Bridal Tiara Kanzashi

A bride should always be the centre of attention and this kanzashi certainly make it so.

Made from ivory colour habutae, these delicate ume (plum) blossom have been hand-folded and then decorated with gold bead cap and silver pearl beads. Enhancing the flowers arrangement are 2 decorative strands made from silver wire, gold bead caps and more pearls.

Golden Ume measures 13.5 cm(wide) by 5.5 cm(height) by 4cm (depth) with the metal comb being 4cm (wide) by 3.5cm (height).

This tiara will be truly unique as it is made to order for you and therefore if you have any special request to make regarding this tiara such as colour or fitting then do not hesitate to contact me. Once I have received your order, it will take me 5 working days to be ship your order.

If this one doesn’t quite tickle your fancy then why not browses though my etsy shop or my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/kittykanzashi_designs. All of my designs can be customisable to your wishes and needs so do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to fulfil your expectations.

Mellow Pink-Japanese inspired Kanzashi

A nice and mellow kanzashi brooch for you to purchase!

Perfect to wear everyday to add a little bit of summer to your wardrobe. Made from vintage kimono fabric, the petals have been hand-folded and delicately arranged on a felt base to create these pretty flowers and momiji-style leaf.

They are then finished off with a lilac pearl and a small piece of mizuhiki cord for the leaf. The flowers and momiji have been arranged so that the momiji swings freely which will add a little movement when you wear it.

The arrangement measures 8cm (wide) by 9cm (height) by 3cm (depth) (3 1/8in x 3 1/2in x 1 1/8in) and is attached to a 2.5 cm (1in) brooch pin.

Have you found a kanzashi that you like but would like it on a hairband? Or you have seen something that you like but would like to customise it to your personality, style or occasion then do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to fulfil your expectations.