Cassablanca Kanzashi
Adornments & Embellishments
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To really make your kanzashi your own, you can add other personal touches, such as a whimsical centerpiece, wired extensions, and wisteria-inspired petalfalls. On this page you'll find examples of all the ways you can really make a kanzashi your own. I'm still working on better photos of all of these, so please excuse the dust while I polish things up.
Centerpieces
As the focal point of the kanzashi, the right centerpiece is crucial! There are lots of options to choose from, including pearls of varying colors, glass gems, rhinestones, and even genuine Swarovski crystal. You can also add stamen pieces for a more authentic floral look.
There are also more whimsical centerpiece options, from seasonal pieces to hearts, stars, flowers, and many others. These are usually decorative buttons with shank backs, so there is a wide variety available for just about any occasion.
The base price of any kanzashi commission includes a centerpiece of your choice. All additional embellishments can be added to your kanzashi for an additional fee depending on the intricacy and size of your preferences.
Wrapped Petals
Any nylon or polyester ribbon fabric can be wrapped in lace, for an elegant, gothic touch. At this time, only petals made with ribbon can be wrapped with lace, as it's too difficult to fasten the lace to other fabric types with my current tools. If this changes in the future, there will be an announcement.
Feathers
Feathers can add a really fun accent to any piece, or make something look especially elegant. At this time, I have spiky goose biot feathers available in a few colors, and iridescent black contour feathers. Additional feathers in other colors aren't hard to find, though, so if you have a request, please let me know!
Wires
Surprisingly, sometimes wireless isn't the way to go. Wire accents can add a lot of character to a kanzashi, by way of sprays of buds, curly vines, movable parts, and even antlers! Wires are not recommended for pieces intended for children, as they are a bit delicate since they protrude away from the rest of the piece.
Falls
Many traditional kanzashi worn by professional geisha and maiko have long, luxurious petalfalls inspired by the beauty of the wisteria. I have expanded this category to include other sorts of falls as well: asymmetrical falls, beaded dangles and drops, as well as jingle charms inspired by Japanese phone straps can be added to most any kanzashi, including jewelry pieces (with some limitations).
Bira Bira
One of the most iconic components of geisha and maiko's hair accessories are the bira bira--the flutters. These are thin strips of metal that are attached to the kanzashi, or sometimes worn just by themselves, and move independently with each step, sometimes tinkling pleasantly together. Bira bira are difficult to find, and have to be imported directly from Japan, so these are a premium embellishment piece. They are available in racks of three, five, seven, and eight (to avoid bad luck and encourage good fortune, of course).
