Changing Leaves Moon Kanzashi

Title: Changing Leaves Moon Kanzashi
Date: February 2010
Medium: Polyester In Various Base Colors, Fabric Dye, Faux Pearls, Hot Glue, Super Glue, Cardboard, 22 Gauge Wire, Bead Caps, Faux Stamens, Gold Elastic Cord and Plastic Jewelery Combs.

This is my contest for 's 13 moons contest! Our designs had to be something kimono related that fit our designated theme of 1 of the 13 native moons. My moon is the "Changing Leaves Moon." Here's the info on it:

Changing Leaves Moon - called “Waatebagaa-giizis” by the Anishnaabe (Chippewa/Ojibway) people. The Anishnaabe also refer to this time as “Corn Moon”, “Moose Moon” and “Rice Harvesting Moon”

This moon is associated with early autumn; namely the months of September and October. Depending on the year, this time may remain rather warm with cold nights, or cold may set in quickly. Storms are no longer strong, but rain can still be heavy. The fall colours begin to appear and frost becomes a possibility once more. The berries have been consumed by now and the bears turn their attention to eating acorns. They are getting big and fat by now. Male moose have grown large racks of antlers and they begin their rutting season. The monarch butterflies begin their southward migration. Meanwhile, the people continue harvesting their crops and drying their corn. Other tribes call this time: “Time between harvesting and eating indian corn” (Algonquin), “Yellow leaf moon” (Assiniboine), “Drying grass moon” (Cheyeene), “Snow goose moon” (Cree), “Time of much freshness” (Mohawk), “Little chestnut moon” (Muscokee), “When the plums are scarlet” (Sioux), “When everything ripens and corn is harvested” (Zuni).

My designs feature 2 combs consisting of:

1) Monarch butterfly surrounded by changing maple leaves (kaede), smaller butterflies (chou) and a snow goose. This represents the departure of warm weather and the coming of the cool weather.

2) Indian corn and dried grasses. This represents the colorful plants of the harvest and the joy associated with them

Total Time: Approximately 8 hours for both.

Current Status: Butterfly comb sold at Anime North 2010. Rice and corn comb sold at Anime North 2012.

Edit: My entry won the contest ! Thank you everyone for supporting me and voting! I'm so glad to see that so many people liked it !