
Shift from folding paper to folding cloth to create beautiful hair ornaments, earrings, and decorations for any occasion.
Tsumami zaiku was developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868) as a way to enhance the beauty of kimono with hair ornaments that represented the traditional Japanese themes of natural seasonal beauty. Time-honored patterns included chrysanthemums, sakura blossoms, and cranes, but modern tsumami zaiku has a much more lenient design that includes objects like stars and roses.
1年前に作った、早春の野をイメージしたかんざしです。黄色い花はタンポポから着想を得ました。端切りの練習用も兼ねた試作でした。直径13cmです。寒すぎるので、春を待つ気持ちを込めて。#つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/5iEi1J3WAj
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) January 29, 2016
いつものねじり菊(と呼んでいる)シリーズです。金属パーツやビーズを色々組み合わせるのが好きです。つまみ細工ではあまり見かけない使い方かなと思います。 #つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/AdjK12HQ8l
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) January 20, 2016
一昨年(ということに驚きました)作ったアラベスク文様を参考にしたつまみ細工のかんざしでした。初めて使ったかんざし足で前挿し的に取り付けてしまった失敗例です。ただ、色合いなどは気に入っています。#つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/sCEo1sZepL
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) February 14, 2016
冬至に合わせて、南瓜と小豆を煮た料理、通称『いとこ煮』モチーフの髪飾りでした。多分、東北民には冬至南瓜で通じるはず…。南瓜を水平にスライスした形のつもりです。冬至一週間後に無理矢理完成。 #つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/1x5LPApDkB
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) January 24, 2016
Making a tsumami zaiku ornament is no easy task. It requires intense focus and concentration to fold the numerous pieces of square cloth, which are then intricately bonded together to a base with glue and attached to a hair comb, hair clip, or other fastening object.
昨年作った紫陽花モチーフの練習作です。同じ花でデザインを変えて2つ作りました。菱形は組み上げが大変でした。またの機会があれば要改善です。 #つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/WZ533BGuVV
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) January 25, 2016
仙台七夕イメージをイメージしたかんざしでした。時間もなくてやり直せず、4匁が酷いことになってます。ただ、むすび丸の成功により可能性を確信しました。自分のではなく、つまみ細工による表現の方にです( ^ω^ ) #つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/WQ3hChj6rY
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) February 13, 2016
季節外れのオクラですが、冬でもスーパーで見かけます。 これは昨夏の終わりに作ったもので、黄色と白は矢羽根のつもり…旬も終わり急いでいるのに中心が決まらず、こんなに投げやりに完成させた簪は他にありません。 #つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/Pzl81XWMB0
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) January 24, 2016
古布の柄を参考にした白鳩の簪です。土台の作りが色々適当すぎたのが反省点です。体と頭につまみを葺いたら鱗のように。翼があって体に鱗で尾鰭があって、少し山海経風味… 羽の表現の練習として作りました。#つまみ細工 pic.twitter.com/ycq4XgPYqF
— はるまい (@harumai_ko) February 24, 2016
Hair accessories aren’t the only option either; necklaces, earrings, and small decorative ornaments are also possible and popular. If you can fold it, you can make it. Check out the video below for a brief look at the detailed process of tsumami zaiku and get ready to open your Etsy store!
▼ Japanese only, but look at the pretty things!
Source: CuRAZY
Top image: Twitter/@harumai_ko

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