10 replies to this topic

[LadySilverSpider]

I'm wondering if anyone out here knows any good places I can buy Kanzashi flowers in Australia or from Japan. Also does anyone know if you can buy them individually before they are all made up into headpieces?

And for those of you who don't know what I am talking about

http://kanzashigarden.com/

This is a beautiful website that shows you what I am on about

[Chastangela]

I did a lot of searching on Kanzashi a while back because I wanted to learn to make them, but I don't remember seeing anyone that sold the 'raw' flowers. A lot of people on Ebay and Etsy that sell clips and all sorts of headpieces and at least one seller on ebay that sells the raw materials for making them but not just the flowers.

[Misstress_Lily]

These 2 sites have some good tutorials on how to make them.


http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/kanzashi_tutorial.php
http://www.jenminnis.com/kanzashi.html

[LadySilverSpider]

Thanks guys - I was actually starting to head more in the direction of making them - they are so cute

[Metanoia]

The western artisans seem to be making very different flowers to the tsumami kanzashi makers in Japan in my opinion. I have made some myself with very thin fabric. You want something like cotton voile because its cotton for a start so it doesnt slip around while you're getting the hang of it, and it is thin enough to do all the folds, though traditionally silk is used. Then either glue or sew them together. I didn't have much success with other material, but managed to complete 5-petal flowers in about 10 minutes each with the voile and sewing method and put 3 small glass beads in the centre to cover the joins.

What I actually want to find is a place to buy Bira in Adelaide. They were expensive to import when I last looked... in 2006 I think.

Hmmm I haven't put the tutorial I did on my site yet. Mine turned out like most of the western artisans due to the instructions and methods I used. These ones: http://www.ohbara.com/kanzashidirections.gif

Kanzashi just means hairpin. Here are some of the traditional designs: http://www1.odn.ne.jp/maya/top.jpg There is a different ornament for each month of the year which represents different seasons.

For by far the best video showing a japanese master craftsman making very traditional Maiko and Geisha hair ornaments. You want part 13 and there are 5 videos on Kanzashi (note the broadband videos are screen printing, not kanzashi, so just watch the small videos) http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/...nto/dento4.html

If you are looking to buy them in my opinion http://www.puchimaiko.com makes the best from a western seller. She is in America.

Edited by Metanoia, 30 July 2008 - 02:24 PM.

[LadySilverSpider]

Thanks Metanoia - I found the you tube tutorial last night. I'm keen to use the traditional rice glue - do you know where I can get that from? I'm not so keen on using the glue gun as the glue can tend to come apart on a hot day (in OZ anyway) but thats all part of experimentation.

I like the japanese silk flowers the most they are just dynamite! I think its years and years of practice showing through

I have found a few japanese sites selling beautiful specimens of hairpeices but I am more interested in individual flowers and the fully made ones look to be about $116 Australian each from what I have found price wise so far

Edited by LadySilverSpider, 30 July 2008 - 03:48 PM.

[LadySilverSpider]

Hey!!!!! I found a place place that sells all Kanzashi parts and the glue too WOOHOO!

http://www.zipangu-treasures.com/servlet/StoreFront

[Chastangela]

*lol* I think those are the same guys I bought my stuff from but I couldn't find the link. They should have an ebay store, which is where I bought from.

[LadySilverSpider]

Doing a happy Silverspider dance!!!

[Pink35]

Thank you so much for this info! Another way to make silk flowers for hats! Yay!

{I am very into hats at the moment}

Pink

[leez1986]

Thanks for your share ,it is useful for me.