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My first three kanzashi
Tsumami kanzashi, to be precise. The "tsumami" refer to the method of folding, I am told.
Number 2, 1, and 3, in that order from left to right. I like #2 on the left the best - the small petals look nice. It was made by folding 1" squares of cloth. #1 in the middle is larger than I like and really needs more petals, or needs for me to make the petals exactly alike and space them perfectly which is probably a looong time coming. It was made with 2" squares of cloth. #3 on the right looked better in my head than it does in reality. It needs a couple more purple petals (1.5"; the green were 2"). It was a bitch to tie off - it kept wanting to be much looser, which would have ruined it.
The different clips on the back, as I'm experimenting to figure out what's going to be the best. I think #1, in the middle, is heavy enough that it's going to have to be stuck vertically into the base of a ponytail, or into a chignon or bun if the wearer doesn't have really thick hair. I think #2, on the left, is probably going to pop off eventually as the clip flexes; it's jsut hot-glued onto the clip. #3 is probably on the best base, at least for *my* hair - it's small enough to stay in thin hair, but possibly too small for really thick hair.
And now with a geologist's hammer! (reference meaning something placed into the picture to provide scale.)
Now, I think the question is - besides practicing to work out other ways of folding and to get better at doing so - how to make larger constructions? These are all hot-glued onto a small circle of random cardboard scrap I had lying around, but I'm not sure that would hold up well for larger pieces made of several flowers, because it wouldn't really curve around the head. I think the versions of these that geisha wear, the ones that are piled up into small lush mountains, are built on metal bases, and probably are attached to combs or long sticks.
I bought a couple of metal combs at the craft store to experiment with. I would have gotten hairsticks if I'd seen them, but I didn't. I may just have to find some chopsticks. I'm not sure how to attach them to a hairstick and have the back look nice - by its nature, a hairstick's end is often an inch or two away from the head and can be seen in 3D so random crappy cardboard and hot glue really might not do it. Hm.
I can also see why people charge so much for these - they take forever to do and craft and fabric stores charge out the wazoo for fancy buttons and things for the middle. XD I'll probably get faster as I get better, but it still took me 2 hours to do the purple and green one today.
Oh - the fabric is 100% cotton quilt blocks I bought at a fabric store. They come in 18x22" blocks, which is great as I only need several 1-2" squares for these. I got green, purple, red, and pink. Traditionally these are done with scraps of silk, but I wasn't about to do that without practicing on cotton first.** #1 and #3 were sprayed with spray starch and ironed* first, which after doing #2 without that, I realized makes it easier to manipulate, although the petals aren't quite as soft-looking. The centers are buttons hot-glued in. If I get good at this, I'll probably get different kinds of buttons, little ladybugs or shiny ones. And maybe put dangly bits and bobs on - the craft store beading aisles are full of that sort of thing jsut waiting to be added to kanzashi. :)
A basic search on "kanzashi" at etsy.com.
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* With a straightening iron for my hair, actually, as I don't own a regular one and the fabric store wanted a ridiculous $40 for their cheapest one. I'll just run by Target and grab a $12 one later, thankyouverymuch. But the straightening iron worked so well that maybe I'll dedicate it to this and get a new one for my hair.
** And here's a place that sells small bundles of scraps of kimono silk for $15, for after I get better at these. :D
Number 2, 1, and 3, in that order from left to right. I like #2 on the left the best - the small petals look nice. It was made by folding 1" squares of cloth. #1 in the middle is larger than I like and really needs more petals, or needs for me to make the petals exactly alike and space them perfectly which is probably a looong time coming. It was made with 2" squares of cloth. #3 on the right looked better in my head than it does in reality. It needs a couple more purple petals (1.5"; the green were 2"). It was a bitch to tie off - it kept wanting to be much looser, which would have ruined it.
The different clips on the back, as I'm experimenting to figure out what's going to be the best. I think #1, in the middle, is heavy enough that it's going to have to be stuck vertically into the base of a ponytail, or into a chignon or bun if the wearer doesn't have really thick hair. I think #2, on the left, is probably going to pop off eventually as the clip flexes; it's jsut hot-glued onto the clip. #3 is probably on the best base, at least for *my* hair - it's small enough to stay in thin hair, but possibly too small for really thick hair.
And now with a geologist's hammer! (reference meaning something placed into the picture to provide scale.)
Now, I think the question is - besides practicing to work out other ways of folding and to get better at doing so - how to make larger constructions? These are all hot-glued onto a small circle of random cardboard scrap I had lying around, but I'm not sure that would hold up well for larger pieces made of several flowers, because it wouldn't really curve around the head. I think the versions of these that geisha wear, the ones that are piled up into small lush mountains, are built on metal bases, and probably are attached to combs or long sticks.
I bought a couple of metal combs at the craft store to experiment with. I would have gotten hairsticks if I'd seen them, but I didn't. I may just have to find some chopsticks. I'm not sure how to attach them to a hairstick and have the back look nice - by its nature, a hairstick's end is often an inch or two away from the head and can be seen in 3D so random crappy cardboard and hot glue really might not do it. Hm.
I can also see why people charge so much for these - they take forever to do and craft and fabric stores charge out the wazoo for fancy buttons and things for the middle. XD I'll probably get faster as I get better, but it still took me 2 hours to do the purple and green one today.
Oh - the fabric is 100% cotton quilt blocks I bought at a fabric store. They come in 18x22" blocks, which is great as I only need several 1-2" squares for these. I got green, purple, red, and pink. Traditionally these are done with scraps of silk, but I wasn't about to do that without practicing on cotton first.** #1 and #3 were sprayed with spray starch and ironed* first, which after doing #2 without that, I realized makes it easier to manipulate, although the petals aren't quite as soft-looking. The centers are buttons hot-glued in. If I get good at this, I'll probably get different kinds of buttons, little ladybugs or shiny ones. And maybe put dangly bits and bobs on - the craft store beading aisles are full of that sort of thing jsut waiting to be added to kanzashi. :)
A basic search on "kanzashi" at etsy.com.
--
* With a straightening iron for my hair, actually, as I don't own a regular one and the fabric store wanted a ridiculous $40 for their cheapest one. I'll just run by Target and grab a $12 one later, thankyouverymuch. But the straightening iron worked so well that maybe I'll dedicate it to this and get a new one for my hair.
** And here's a place that sells small bundles of scraps of kimono silk for $15, for after I get better at these. :D
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Oh, and have you already seen Kurokami-kanzashi (http://kurokami-kanzashi.deviantart.com/) on DA? I've been stalking her for a while...so much pretty!)
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with practice, this'll be quite nice! i don't have a good hand at this kind of stuff, blah! BUT NOW I CAN WATCH YOU DO IT
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I had good results buying from kimonomomo, who also has smaller samples of her kimono silk
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5432958§ion_id=5584126
Or why not go to the Japanese source directly karaku.etsy.com. Occasionally she has smaller packs of Japanese fabrics, cottons mostly, though. I bought this pack and it's very pretty indeed.
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=8803449
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I'm having to slap my fingers because I really don't have time or focus to spare to try it myself right now, but... argh! Want!
For the cardboard backing piece, could you cover it with a piece of matching fabric so that the edges of the fabric are glued to the side that the petals will be stuck to, so the smooth side attaches to the hairpin or whatever? Covered-button style?
It looks like it would be a great use for those big bags of random retro and vintage buttons that most thrift stores offer for a couple of dollars, too, if you'd like to go for a chance at finding some unexpectedly interesting pieces rather than buying a few new ones that are just what you want for the same price.