Review from Christine

Just a quickie, tonight, I guess. Christine posted her very lovely review of some of Helen's work a few days ago. Read it here . Also, Christine sent Helen some of her beautiful photos, such as this one...

(Logo by Christine). A new version of these clips is posted on Etsy here . And this one. These little ume, or plum flowers, are listed on Etsy as a snap clip pair. Christine requested these on ponytail elastics, as she wanted to wear them with her braids. Helen thought it was a cute idea.....

This is a made-to-order item, which you can find here .

Anyhoo, at this moment, Helen is laboriously and slowly experimenting with something. Necessity is the mother of invention, as is making up something of your own if you can't figure out how to do it the way everyone else does it. All shall be revealed when Helen finally finishes her project. For now, we have high hopes.

Kanzashi Fun with Blogs

Helen started working again with these people , so her time has gotten a little more limited for creative work. Luckily, she gets to bask in a little recognition that's been happening recently!

Helen's friend Joana featured some of Helen's hair accessory designs in this whimsical little blog post . Joana knows Helen from the musical world. A few years back, Joana became a goldsmith, and began producing award-winning designs. While she currently has left jewelry design behind (we hope temporarily!) she has become quite a sophisticated fashion illustrator, and she sells her fun drawings as prints and cards here .

What else? During the summer, a young woman blogger in LA emailed Helen, asking to review some of her work. Helen sent Christine a few things, and Christine took some wonderful photos. The full review isn't up yet, but the sneak peak is here .

I can't leave you without posting some kanzashi pictures, however. Helen is selling her kanzashi necklaces at her neighbor Terry's store (one of them already sold!!!) and Helen took a few photos, luckily. What have we got?

Here's a little number in dupioni silk with a pink jade bead...

....another dupioni one with carnelian....

....and a couple in kimono silk from Helen's kanzashi fairy godmother in Japan; this Christmas-y one with yellow jade....

...and this salmon shades one with a sort of off-color carnelian bead....

Next: Helen made a kanzashi bobby pin in chiffon that she would love to show you. She's going to make another one in the same design, only a little smaller. Sorry, you're going to have to wait.