Thank you very much for visiting Atelier Kanawa, evolved by Future Certified Kimono Consultant of All Japan Kimono Consultant Association.
You can purchase my creation at Atelier Kanawa .
With the Expertise of Kimono, Geisha/Classical Japanese Dance, and Bingata/Katazome Dyeing Kimono techniques, Atelier Kanawa handcrafts Particular Traditional & Modern Japanese Pieces from the Highest Quality materials, to deliver you the Authentic Japanese Atmosphere.
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Atelier Kanawa would love to share the stories of her ancestors who were in Kimono business.
Her great grand father was in Kimono textile dyeing industry, her grand mother was a Kimono tailor, and both her mother and her aunt graduated from Kimono school and her aunt taught Kimono in Japan.
She didn't know these remarkable histories of her family members for such a long time, however, without knowing these facts, one day she was inspired to learn about Kimono.
Since January in 2005, I have been studying Kimono to dress myself. And since March 2006, I have been learning to dress other people.
In October 2007, I officially became a certified Kimono Consultant/adviser of All Japan Kimono Consultant Association through "Sodo" Kimono Academy. This certificate is acknowledged by the country.
Atelier Kanawa also studies to dye Kimono designs by Bingata, which is a traditional Japanese method of dyeing fabric using a resist paste applied through stencil. This method uses all natural ingredient for ink, brush, and fabric.
Atelier Kanawa is also pursuing Traditional Japanese dance by Hanayagi-style, which includes Geisha dance, Noh, and Kabuki. She graduated from the beginners level in June 2006, from the intermediate level in June 30th 2007, and currently in advance level.
Lastly, Atelier Kanawa passionately pursues Tsumami Kanzashi, a traditional Japanese long ornamental hairpin. Today, there are ONLY 15 acknowledged artisans of TSUMAMI KANZASHI in the whole world. Most of them don't have anybody to carry out this traditional art, so it is RAPIDLY & CERTAINLY dying out.
Atelier Kanawa was accepted as a private pupil by one of them even though her master does not teach anybody due to critical symptoms of cancer. Her master was deeply moved by the fact the she strongly wants to preserve this artwork and carry this out to the future generation. She can not even put in words how much she was honored to inherit her master's spirit.
At the beginning, she was basically making things from Kimono because she purely enjoyed handcrafting, but most importantly, she could not afford them, so she had to hand make them so that she could have them whenever she wore Kimono. And one day, people who saw her art work suggested that she sells. This is how she started Kimono handcraft business.
Beside Kimono handcraft, Atelier Kanawa began to sell Chiyogami accessories in 2000, fused glass accessories, PMC jewelries, image transfer accessories, Japanese embroidery in 2005.
Today, she deeply regards her ancestors who were in Kimono business. She passionately strives to pass this culture on to the next generation throughout the world.
Atelier Kanawa will be very happy if you enjoy her authentic Japanese art work.
************************************************************ *********** TRADITIONAL JAPANESE KIMONO CRAFTSMANSHIP
Historically, Japanese women unstitched and recycled vintage Kimonos for use in various handicrafts.
I am eager to inherit and continue this tradition.
As I love Japanese materials,I produce a new life from old materials for your use.
Most of my products are hand-sewn stitch by stitch or hand-made, with my whole heart.
FUSED GLASS ACCESSORIES
Fused glass is created when the glasses with the same coefficient are heated in the kiln and fused at the best timing.
It is quite difficult to predict the best timing, but that prediction brings beautiful designs of an artist.
CHIYOGAMI/VINTAGE KIMONO JEWELRY
(in CRYSTAL CLEAR RESIN/GLASS FRAME)
Most people know about "Ori(fold)gami(paper)". There are so many different types of Origami paper today, but originally, the word "origami" derived from "chiyo(a very long period, like thousand years) gami(paper)".
Chiyo gami papers are traditionally created by hand with the highest quality Japanese paper, and also hand dyed by woodcut print, one color by one color, one paper by one paper just like Kimono fabric. It takes several days to produce one paper. It takes five years to become a Chiyo gami master.
Therefore, historically, chiyo gami was consumed in imperial palace, and also used for calligraphy by upper class Japanese. Ordinary citizens could not own it.
However, the Edo period came, chiyo gami spread from Kyoto to Edo(Tokyo of today)and began to be sold at the store which sells "Nishiki e(picture)". Nishiki picture is gorgeous and colorful woodcut print which is particular to Japanese. Those "Ukiyoe" artist had very good printing techniques, so chiyo gami became much cheaper since then.
Nishiki picture was to mainly portrait Kabuki actor/historical person, so they were just like poster of Tom cruise or something like that:) Girls worked at Edo castle folded Chiyo-gami paper which portrayed their favorite Kabuki actors, to make something.
This is how Chiyo gami became very popular.
Atelier kanawa uses both handmade Chiyo gami paper and machine printed chiyo gami paper, selectively hand-picked from her favorite chiyo gami stores in Japan, to make modern Japanese accessories. Her accessories are combined with crystal clear resin, glass, shell/mother of pearls, bamboo etc.
JAPANESE EMBROIDERY
Originally, Japanese embroidery is embroidered with very thin silk threads by twisting them together.
I use reasonable western threads to embroider beautiful and fun Japanese design.
PRECIOUS METAL CLAY SILVER ACCESSORY
*This category is sold out at the craft fair, but they are coming soon:)Please look forward to it!
This remarkable metal clay gave artists so many possibilities! I use Japanese metal clay PMC3, which is known to be the best PMC, to create beautiful Japanese touch accessories:)