The joy of creating, the happiness of giving. Tsumami-zaiku deepens both life and bonds.

An elegant hair ornament adorned with small flowers, and a plump and lovely obi ornament. These refined and gorgeous works are created by Ms. Oshima, a resident of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, who was captivated by tsumami zaiku (traditional Japanese fabric flower making) through Felissimo's lessons. She kindly shared her proud creations, born from her daily enjoyment of making tsumami zaiku, along with wonderful stories behind them.

Become absorbed in the joy of cultivating flowers with a clear mind and improving your skills.

Ms. Oshima said she had been interested in tsumami zaiku (a type of traditional Japanese fabric flower making) for some time. "I'd always wanted to try making it myself, but I never got around to it because I didn't think I'd have any opportunities to use it. But when I had more time at home due to the pandemic, a friend recommended Couturier's basic tsumami zaiku lesson, and I thought, 'Now's the time to do it.'"

Tsumami-zaiku (traditional Japanese fabric flower making) "Basics for Beginners" Lesson Session

For Ms. Oshima, this was her first new challenge in a long time. She was engrossed in the experience, remembering the feeling of being so focused that she lost track of time, and the joy of being able to do more things. She also said that the format of receiving a kit every month suited her well.

"I once thought about buying a few commercially available books and starting to make things, but the instructions differed from book to book, which made it difficult. Couturier's kits are easy for beginners to understand, and I liked that I could learn various techniques and tips step by step. If I were to learn on my own, I think I would try something too difficult right away and end up giving up (laughs)."

Over the next two years, he tackled six more kits, and now he's skilled enough to create original works.

I handcrafted a hair ornament for the bride, imbuing it with my feelings using pure white flowers.

The piece that particularly stands out in her memory is the hair ornament she made for her son and daughter-in-law's wedding. "I asked if I could make a handmade hair ornament for my daughter-in-law if she wanted one. It was a mother-in-law's plea, I guess (laughs). They said yes, so I put a lot of effort into the design and fabric, carefully making each piece. I was relieved that I managed to finish it on the morning of the wedding."

And on that auspicious day when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, the pure white hair ornament, imbued with Ms. Oshima's feelings, adorned the bride in her white wedding kimono with a dignified presence. "She was so touched, saying that the exquisite craftsmanship conveyed the feelings of the effort you put into making it for this special day, and that made me so happy," she said, recounting a lovely family moment.

It's a wonderful gift for graduations or birth celebrations, and you'll also enjoy seeing the smiles on people's faces.

Ms. Oshima says that recently she's been making more tsumami zaiku (traditional Japanese fabric flower crafts) as gifts for others. "I've made them to accompany baby shower gifts, and I've also made hair ornaments for the graduation ceremony of a young girl I've been helping with her studies since she was a child. It's fun to think about what kind of design would look best based on the colors and patterns of the kimono, and I end up creating many different combinations of fabrics and colors. I've even splurged a little and ordered silk fabric from a tsumami zaiku shop in Kyoto to complete some pieces. The joy of making them is certainly appealing, but the joy of giving them as gifts is also a big draw."

Ms. Oshima says she's been adding her own touches and challenging herself with various creations, including hairpins, brooches, and obi decorations. "The lines I used in my couturier lessons to divide a circle into equal parts as a guide for attaching fabric are still in use today. They're reassuring to have even slightly difficult pieces. I'm thinking of trying my hand at a crane soon, so I still have a lot of practice to do," she says, full of enthusiasm. It seems that both the breadth of her creativity and the joy of connecting with people will continue to expand.

Finally, we asked for a message for those who are thinking of starting tsumami zaiku (traditional Japanese fabric flower making). "The biggest appeal is that you don't need needles or thread; you can make adorable pieces with just a small piece of fabric and tweezers. As you make them, the enjoyment will grow and grow, and I think it will become a lifelong hobby that you can continue for a long time."