Today I welcome Diane Gilleland on her blog tour for her new book Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give
Meet a Master Kanzashi Artisan
I thought it might be fun to do something a bit different for my Kanzashi In Bloom Blog Tour stop here on Whipup. I’d like to introduce you to one of the few remaining master Kanzashi artisans in the world. Her name is Kuniko Kanawa.
Kuniko grew up in a family who were immersed in the art of Japanese Kimono. As an adult, she studied this traditional form of dress, and began making her own Kanzashi hair ornaments to complete her Kimono designs.
Kanzashi is something of a dying art in Japan – only a handful of acknowledged Kanzashi masters remain. Because Kuniko is so passionate about preserving traditional Japanese culture, she sought out one of these master artisans and convinced him to take her on as a pupil.
Today, Kuniko makes beautiful traditional Kanzashi under the name Atelier Kanawa. She creates accessories for Kimono, weddings, and dance events. She is now one of very few artisans carrying the Kanzashi tradition to new generations. And she has used the internet to help her spread the word about this beautiful art form.
Visit Kuniko’s YouTube channel to see her making Kanzashi using the traditional method. She also offers a lovely video showcasing her creations, and a series of videos about her Kimono work.
Kuniko has an Etsy shop for her creations, and you can learn more about her in this article on The Storque.
Kuniko graciously allowed me to share pictures of some of her Kanzashi in the first chapter of Kanzashi In Bloom. Her work exemplifies the delicacy and grace of the traditional form of this craft.
[Photos by Atelier Kanawa, used with permission]
[ps - to win a copy of this book please leave a comment telling your favourite traditional Japanese craft - that you have tried or are dying to try - comments open for 48 hours]
Comments now closed – the winner will be notified by email – thank you to everyone for entering
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I have been a life-long fan of origami. I think that is where I first learned to think about making animals in three dimensions. Diane’s book looks amazing and I’d love to win a copy!
Kanzashi looks so beautiful! I would love to try it.
I think one Japanese craft that most people would come across in their lives would be the wonderful art of origami! So simple, accessible, suitable for kids; yet satisfyingly practical and cool. Kanzashi looks like a variation of it, using fabric instead of paper, which I’d love to try!
would love to try making some of these flowers!
I just love Japonese flowers and and silk embroidery!
I love making origami flowers. Like fancy yo-yos.This looks like a beautiful book.
I’ve seen Kuniko’s etsy shop. Her work is beautiful. I’ve been meaning to get a Japanese corsage book to try to make fabric flowers too. The other traditional Japanese craft I would like to try is sashiko embroidery. I think it’s all so beautiful in a very simple, elegant way.
I love the look of Temari balls, and I’m dying to try them, but these fabric creations are just as beautiful!
Ah, Japan.
I just got a book on Sashiko embroidery and I love the geometric designs in running stitch. I can’t wait to try out this beautiful craft!
Thank you for bringing this wonderful book to my attention. I remember seeing pieces like this when I was in Japan years ago but never gave any thought to how they were made. Can’t wait to give these a whirl.
I would LOVE, Love, love to try Kanzashi. It is so delicate and so neat and orderly. So much potential for ways to use it.
I love origami and have made a kanzashi flower once. I think they’re lovely and would love to try different techniques.
I’ve given origami a little try but I’m really excited about Kanzashi! I like how versatile these are when it comes to embellishing other projects or using them as a stand alone craft.
I would love to learn how to make the Ajisai (Hydrangea) Tsumami Kanzashi, flower of June. They are so beautiful, and hydrangeas are my favorite flower : )
I haven’t done that many Japanese crafts – only Origami and Kumihimo. I would love to try Kanzashi!
I’m not really familiar with traditional Japanese crafts and so love the exposure I’m getting by hearing about the Kanzashi craft. I would love to try it!
I love the look of sashiko as well, and hope to try it out in the near future.
I only tried Origami, love to do kusudamas. I tried last weekend orinuno, i suppose it’s similar to this craft. I love fabric, i do patchwork, and know i am anxious to try this craft. Please consider me to your giveaway, i’ll be a great partner to transmite this craft to all my friends.
I am, in fact, dying to try kanzashi!
Love the look of this book. Beautiful.
Other than origami, I haven’t really been aware of other Japanese crafts. Kanzashi looks beautiful and I would love to try it!
I would love to try the style of Japanese jewelry making that you will find in books like the bead fantasies series.
I love sashiko! BUT iḿ dying to try this wonderful book! ;)
I have only dabbled in origami – the paper is so beautiful! This book is so exciting!
I haven’t tried a lot of traditional Japanese crafts, but I do think origami is fun! And I like my new Japanese crochet books :) I look forward to trying these flowers, too!
Definitely sashiko, too, but wow, some of the needle felting I see being done in Japanese craft books and blogs…it blows me away! Thanks for the giveaway. I love ALL things Japanese, so this is great!
the only think I’ve actually tried is origami. Sashiko is on my list of things to do, as is Temari. Kanzashi looks like a lot of fun too :)
I tried to make kanzashi but, unfortunately, wasn’t very successful at it. I would love to learn how to make it as I find it really beautiful. Other traditional japanese craft I already tried is origami, I especially love to make kusudamas.
I’ve tried crafts and sewing projects from Japanese books and magazines. I enjoy a different aesthetic and perspective.
I love origami and I love japanese fabric, this book can combine them both! Awesome!
This is my favorite Japanese craft!! My sister went to Japan a year ago for 6 months, and I asked her to bring me back one, but she COULDN’T find any!! I was so sad!! I would love to learn how to make kanzashi.
I have done some origami, though at a very childish and hack-like level (paper cranes, water bombs, etc)! I’ve been eying off amigurumi for a while now, and now kanzashi has made it onto my ‘would like to do sometime soon’ list ;-)
I just love kanzashi and have tried it. I just wished I had more time to practise making these beautiful flowers. They’re so beautiful made with the traditional kimono fabrics!
I would LOVE to try kanzashi it looks beautiful!!
My favorite Japanese craft that I have tried so far is Ikebana (flower arrangement)
I’ve only done a little origami and amigurumi. Kanzashi looks beautiful! I’d love to try it.
i’ve always wanted to try to make kanzashi. =)
I love looking at zakka crafts and attempting to recreate them! I have so many cotton and linen fabrics because of this, haha.
I have actually recently discovered kanzashi, and got so excited when I read about this book! I attempted to make some, but mine did not turn out so beautiful.. lol. A detailed book of instructions would certainly help! Thank you. :)
Origami is my favorite Japanese craft. I love making little creations with it.
I’ve always loved origami, drooled over temari and love the look of this book for using all my great fabric scraps.
I’m looking forward to trying Kansashi. I like sashiko and origami. Also kimono, which are beautiful when handsewn.
Thanks for the links. I intend to spend some time checking out the atelier.
I like Japanese paper cut art. I think it’s called Kirie. Basic tools make beautiful artwork.
Ever since grade school I have loved origami. It was the very first Japanese craft I learned and is still one of my favorites. I love the simple beauty of Japanese craft!
I really enjoy embroidering so Sashiko is on my to do list. I’ve of course done some origami, though this year I have really enjoyed gardening so the art of bonsai would be interesting too.
I like origami and I’m trying my hand at making my own yukata, as I thought I’d start with something easier than a full awase -lined- kimono. And after seeing this book, I’m itching to try kanzashi too!
without a doubt: shibori!
Kanzashi is what I want to try! I am so inspired by the photos I’ve seen introducing this book. This art is new to me, and melds my love of fabric and beauty in an inspiring way.
Thank you for the giveaway! And thank you for the introduction to this beautiful art!
Today I’m so in love with all those lovely Amigurumi out, there!! So, i’m dying to try it out!. But I’m also alwasys on the lookout for new crafts!
I remember as a child being given an origami book by someone, and having a go at making things by folding paper. Just last week, I bought a couple of books to introduce my son to Origami. I also splashed out and bought myself a book on kusudama which I’m longing to try – Kanzashi may have to come next, but it’ll have a fight with temari!
Choose one Japanese craft? I just love all kinds of Japanese style.
But if I had to choose one, I would say that it’s the art of arranging and decorating bento (lunchboxes) – some of them are so beautiful they are more art than craft! There’s such a range of possibilities, from minimalist chic to cute Hello Kitty extravaganzas.
Kanzashi looks incredible! I’m sure Sr. Diane’s book is wonderful. My favourite Japanese craft is sashiko. I love the stark contrast of dark blue cloth and white thread. It’s so minimalist and striking!
I have always wanted to try Japanese book binding, I’ve seen so many beautiful notebooks that people have made, but have never got round to doing it.
I really like embroidery but this giveaway is wonderful
I have always been a fan of origami and adore the patterns of the tawashi. I’d never heard of Kanzashi but it looks like so much fun! Thanks agin
I’ve have done origami, but would love to try kanzashi–it’s gorgeous! Thanks!
I really love kumihimo – a braiding technique. I work as an artist-in-the-schools and teach it to kids all the time. Seriously addictive. I thinks these flowers are just enchanting – would love to have the book.
I love the kanzashi flowers !!! They looks so beautiful, and i bet she explain how to make them very well …
I have been a fan of origami for many years and have passed that love on to my grandchildren. But I think Sashiko is really number one for me.
While I very much want to try the fabric folding I have also been thinking about attempting to make some temari. I think these are beautiful items and would make great handmade gifts for the winter holidays. Another skill I would like to acquire is the Japanese art of gift wrapping.
I really would like to try japanese doll making. They are so beautiful!
i love japanese natural indigo dyeing, and recently became a bit obsessed with sashiko. this book and related resources are inspiring me to give kanzashi a try. being in japan, there are so many crafts to sample!
I, too, am an origami fan. I love the story of Sadako Sasaki, who tried to fold a thousand paper cranes before she died. I have a goal of doing the same, but I never remeber to tally them.
My favorite Japanese craft I have done is Origami. I thought it would be frustrating at first, but it ended up being incredibly peaceful, and resulted in some gorgeous, simplistic Christmas ornaments.
I really enjoy making bento style lunches for my daughter who is completely obsessed with all things Japanese. I hope that counts as a craft because the only other traditional Japanese craft I have much experience with is origami which I am not very good at. (The simple things I do fine at, the more complex ones I get lost.)
shibori, sashiko!
Kanzashi looks lovely, I’d love to give it a try. Other interesting techniques are sashiko and temari.
Being mainly a paper crafter, I’ve often watched origami videos online and thinking I’d try it someday. But I’m also looking for ways to decorate my knitting – would love to try these flowers!
I’ve been dying to try THIS! I so wish this book had come out before my wedding, but I would still love to learn how to do it!
The mairuru blog has instructions on making cute sarubobos that I think are too cute (and they have traditional Japanese meaning too). That’s the Japanese craft I’d like to get into the soonest. Of course, Diane totally has me inspired to get to some flower making, though!
I love origami and have always wanted to try kanazashi & sashiko! I also did a class in ikebana when I lived in Japan.
I would love to win a copy of this book!
My favorite Japanese handicraft is sashiko stitching. I’ve been trying it for a while and slowly getting better with time.
I would love this book!!! I just tried my hand at a very simple flower and am hooked!!
I have always wanted to try origami
This book sounds fun!
Origami for sure, something i’ve been practising for years now. My mum and i made 1000 paper cranes for my Jan wedding to ensure my husband and i will have good luck and good health in our marriage!
Does sushi count as Japanese craft?!
I woudl dearly love to try indigo and shabouri dying – please ecxuse the incorrect spelling.
My grandma taught me how to do origami when I was little. I would love to learn more about kanzashi!
I would love to attempt the 1000 paper cranes in fabric for stylish good luck – this book looks absolutely gorgeous xxx
Hope my comment is not too late… the comment form is still here so I guess it’s ok.
I started to learn origami a while ago. I really like this art, and I’m amazed at the things some people can create. I don’t practice that much because I have a hard time finding what do to with my creations after. ^^; I’d love to try those simplified kanzashi flowers! They’re beautiful and I’d now what to do with them.
Also, since I’m learning embroidery, I’m curious to discover more about sashiko embroidery, and maybe later traditional silk embroidery.
The winner has been contacted and the prize is on its way – thank you everyone for entering
K
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