aimeekitty

I had been dreaming for at least 2 years about visiting the old kanzashi stores that supply the geiko and maiko in Kyoto. I'd been saving up my pennies.
I was so excited when I stepped in the store and realized it was the one I'd seen in KIE magazine and had been hoping to visit for so long! Also, the man running the store was the owner, and the one who made the kanzashi. I kept thanking him repeatedly. He probably thought I was mental.
I got myself one large maiko set (sakura, which were blooming at the time) as a special special thing... and the rest are smaller kanzashi which I will probably wear with my normal kimono. :)

as a side note, all of these are seasonal flowers. Many kanzashi (hair ornaments) that you see online are just random flowers. They are still gorgeous, but these below are of the same style that are worn by Maiko. Maiko wear a specific flower for each month. (one of two or three flowers, but they are specific.)
I think it will be very fun to wear these with kimono seasonally. (though I'm sure sometimes I will just wear it at a particular time due to color.)

Each petal is made out of one or more tiny squares of silk fabric that are folded into shape.

Plum for February