Sakura Kanzashi

Sakura are cherry blossoms, and Helen has never made one. It's because Helen has Her Own Way Of Doing Things, and she has never once made a batch of rice paste. My understanding is that all you would have to do is to get some white rice and boil the crap out of it. Store it in the refrigerator, and you're done. But no, that's too hard, or she hasn't gotten around to it, or something.

So in today's post, we're going to look at other people's sakura kanzashi. They need a little rice glue or you just can't make them. They are April's flower. They have five petals, each with a little fold or dimple at the top.

Here's a luscious pair of sakura with leaves by Thea Starr. Her wonderful blog is here http://theas_soapbox.blogspot.com/ and her Flickr photostream is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/thea_starr/ . Her Etsy shop is here http://www.etsy.com/shop/theastarr This piece is made with hand-dyed vintage kimono linings, so the silk has a very simple weave.

Next, PolishedKanzashi on Etsy www.polishedkanzashi.etsy.com has made a gorgeous sakura with a pair of leaves from chirimen silk. Chirimen is a heavy-ish crepe (look for the ribbed texture). This flower has two pink layers and handmade clay stamens in the center.

Marissa Joanna Rojas www.mjrojas.etsy.com  has made an elaborate sakura, complete with leaves, buds, varnish-coated paper stars, wire stamens and birabira (aluminum jingles). The flower is mounted on a 2-pronged fork hair pin. The MJR designs Flickr photostream is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjrdesigns/ 

Bright Wish Kanzashi, or Hanatsukuri on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/hanatsukuri , has also made an elaborate composition of three hand-dyed charmeuse silk sakura with leaves, pearl stamens, and falls (shidari) of hanging petals, much like the wisteria we were talking about a few posts ago. Silver bells hang from the bottoms of the shidari. The Bright Wish Kanzashi Flickr photostream is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/brightwishkanzashi/ 

Finally, a layered sakura by Cuttlefishlove on Etsy www.cuttlefishlove.etsy.com/ , made from habotai (lightweight, simple weave) silk and a poly-silk blend, with Emily's trademark assemblage of stamens. Emily's Flickr photostream is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuttlefishlove/