Friday 5 February 2016

HINA - 2016

Starting one month before March 3rd I have a tradition; I display my Hanging Hina Dolls for the Girls' Festival.
Each year I make a few new ornaments and for 2016 I made these three:
a butterfly
a leaping rabbit
a sumo referee's fan, called a gunbai. Click on the link to read more.

The two latter are made of chirimen and kimono silk stretched over a cardboard base.
The butterfly's chirimen body has a drawstring so the yellow part can be used as a small pouch (maybe for fragrant powder (お香), but I stuffed it with wadding.
There are now 70 ornaments dangling merrily, and I will have to think hard about what to make for next year!

20 comments:

Pamela said...

How wonderful! I would love to make one. Maybe I can start this year to make two or three ornaments by next year. Do you make up your own patterns, or is there a pattern book?

margaret said...

what a delight so creative Queenie I would want to have this hanging up all year

Julie Fukuda said...

How about a monkey hanging by it's tail? (or by now you may have one).

Queeniepatch said...

A monkey would be good for THIS year. What is the animal for next year? Let's see, it's a bird, isn't it? I already have some birds on this mobile...

Queeniepatch said...

If I had had a baby (girl) in my household it would be a fun thing to hang by the crib, whatever the season.

Queeniepatch said...

Good idea. Hina matsuri is celebrated on March 3rd so you have a month to make some ornaments, and with the speed you work, it should be easy to have them ready and on display long before that.
I'll blog about the pattern book tomorrow (if I have the time).

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

I think I would have fun making one of these too. Love the leaping rabbit.

Janie said...

What a fun project, a little girl would be fascinated. I'm not a little girl and I'm fascinated!

crazyQstitcher said...

Your Hina mobile must delight everyone who views it. Your new characters are all lovely.

Queeniepatch said...

I have just made a post with some links to instructions for ornaments, if you still are interested. I am sure you can add your own unique touch to any ornament. Have fun!

Queeniepatch said...

I left girlhood behind me a LONG time ago, but still feel girlish enough to make these ornaments. We never grow out of pretty things, do we?

Queeniepatch said...

Especially the cat, who stalks the dangling temptations! I have today posted some links with instructions for other ornaments should you be interested.

Unknown said...

I feel like I'm growing into pretty things, not out of them. The older I get the more I appreciate having items that are lovely as well as useful. I'd love to have the space to hang something so wonderful.

Anonymous said...

The Hina mobile is lovely, it would look wonderful done for a nursery.

Queeniepatch said...

If all the ornaments were made of flat cardboard covered with fabric (like the rabbit and the sumo referee's fan) they don't take up much space to store and could also be hung on a string on the wall. The suffed ones however, need much more space, and my storage box is getting too small... Should I leave the ornaments up all year round??!!

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, it is the perfect nursery ornament, as long as it is out of reach of curious fingers.
Traditionally these mobiles are kept 'for ever' or at least long into the baby's adulthood, and taken out each spring to celebrate Girls 'Day.

Anita said...

pretty ornaments! small pouch in a butterfly is wonderful !

JennyPennyPoppy said...

What a fabulous looking mobile and your new ornaments are simply delightful.

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, isn't it a great way to carry around tissue paper or a lipstick in one's handbag? Or hang it on the mobile with sweet smelling powder or lavender.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you! As it is now past March 3rd, I have packed away the mobile until next year when I will be making some new additions!