Giveaway/CLOSED: Kanzashi Maple Lead Pin

A recent trip thru Etsy had me clicking on Autumn Hair clip and I came across multiple Kanzashi hair clips!
I bought a How-to-make Kanzashi instruction book off ebay about 2 years ago, but I never got started in trying to make them, because IT'S ALL IN JAPANESE. No, I don't read Japanese ( I can do decent with Spanish, and muddle thru French and german). I went ahead and got it because the photos and illustrations are decent and followable.

But when I saw this clip, on the left, I just knew I had to buy it for the giveaway! I'll learn to make them later! Ha ha!

Here's a little bit about Chennapenna, the superb craft maker:

I'm 28, living in St. Peters Mo. I love everything crafty. Clay, metal, paint, sewing, fibers, you name it I've dabbled in it.

My obsession is knitting though. Most of the items I will have up to sell will be knit. Maybe later I'll try my hand at selling a few other crafty things. But right now I'm happy with my needles and yarn.

Kanzashi are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Kanzashi first appeared when women abandoned the traditional taregami hairstyle where the hair was kept straight and long, and adopted coiffured nihongami hairstyles. Kanzashi came into wide use during the Edo period when artisans began to produce more finely crafted products. Some believe they may also have been used for defense in an emergency. There are many varieties and many styles of wearing them. The way in which a geisha wears her kanzashi indicates her status immediately to an informed audience; according to the type and location of the kanzashi. Maiko (apprentice geisha) usually wear more numerous and elaborate kanzashi than older geisha and progress through several hairstyles where the kanzashi must be worn in a fixed pattern. Even the month determines the flower used.
September - Japanese bellflower (kikyo). The purple tones are traditionally associated with autumn. Often these will be mixed with the other autumn flowers.
October - Chrysanthemum (kiku). These are well loved in Japan, and are a symbol of the Imperial Family. Usually the chrysanthemums featured are red and white, a combination which signals the height of autumn.
November - Trailing autumnal leaves. These may be a generic yellow leaf or the characteristic red maple leaf. Maple viewing is the autumnal equivalent in Japan of cherry blossom viewing. Ginkgo and liquidambar leaves are also employed.
Kanzashi are fabricated from a wide range of materials such as lacquered wood, gold and silver plated metal, tortoiseshell and silk, and recently, plastic. In fact, early bakelite kanzashi are extremely collectible. Nowadays, they are being made out of fabric, especially matching kimono fabric.

as seen here, from Wikimedia Commons

Nowadays, kanzashi are most often worn by brides and professional young Japanese women who wish to add an elegant touch to their business suits and formal wear. The fad is catching on stateside as well!

Feeling like trying a hand at this ancient craft? Check out the Kanzashi in Bloom blog and new book- it's MUCH easier than trying to interpret Japanese instructions!

Giveaway:

One winner will receive this gorgeous fabric burnt orange maple leaf

Kanzashi pin/clippie/brooch!

Perfect for fall, it can be worn on anything or anyway you want!

Main entry (must be done FIRST):

Go to Chennapenna's Etsy shop and tell me ONE other item you love, that isn't the giveaway item! Make sure I have an e-mail address, with your comment, so I can contact you, if you win! If I don't have a way to contact you, you will forfeit your win!

Open to anyone who is a resident of the US.

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Contest will end on October 18th, at midnight. Winner will be picked by Random Number (random.org) on October 19th, and emailed. As soon as winner's info is received from winner,pin will be mailed to winner!