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
. For a treat today Diane introduces us to a master artisan of this Japanese traditional craft.


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]
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