White Ume Kanzashi: Senior maiko plum blossom

A close up on this lush white cloud. This one is made of habutae (the traditional kind of silk used in kanzashi making), and has lots of layers.  I wanted to finish it before February (the month for plum blossoms), but I was super busy.... 

On etsy:   www.etsy.com/listing/505391510…  

Anyway, this one is a senior maiko design.  It's one of my favorites! The little red stamens, the layered silk petals, the glorious white cloud-ness...yes. I love this one.    

Maiko, or apprentice geisha, wear different flowers in their hair every month, and while less experienced maiko have more shidare (dangling petals), brighter colors, and generally a lot of "cute!!" and complicate designs, this one is easily a favorite because it's so well balanced...and just gorgeous.  

This technique is a traditional Japanese one-- it's called tsumami zaiku, popularly known as kanzashi.   it's like folding origami of silk squares, and setting them with glue.  


Remade 2018: fav.me/dc2406e

So, thoughts?