The Flowers Bloom For You..

I've always been a big fan of putting random things in my hair - hair ornaments fascinate me no end, and I've said it before. However, the traditional kind (at least in India, and I'm guessing in other places too) aren't easy things to wear despite their beauty, which is why my interest is more than slightly piqued by the fabric creations of Japanese artist Yonuko*. Yonuko's creations are worlds away from your run-of-the mill Alice band, being a take on traditional Japanese hair ornaments or tsumami-kanzashi (she makes them from vintage kimono fabric) that manages to make them look completely wearable but without ever entering the territory of oversimplification or kitsch. And wearable they might be, but ordinary they most certainly are not- the pictures should stand as proof enough of that (I'm actually inspired enough to look up kanzashi tutorials online, despite the fact that I will almost certainly bungle the making of anything like these). But there's much potential in the idea- hair is such an underaccessorised thing these days...

EDIT: To those who like kanzashi and won't be able to get your hands on Yonuko's pieces because you can't figure out how to buy them, I strongly recommend a look at Gochemoche's Etsy shop- she does absolutely lovely kanzashi as combs, snap clips, brooches and even pendants made out of kimono silk.

*just a quick heads-up to everyone who clicks: the site is entirely in Japanese, so it might not be that easy to navigate.

all pics from http://www.a-yarn.com and http://www.himeko-no-kazari.com.