Ping List:
{ Contest One: Spirit of Japan }
Vulpie, Amberwing, Starline
{ Contest Two: Be my Valentine }
Skylaforhan, Ladylamia, Amberwing, Vulpie, Starline, AliceHearts, Pixelfairy, Firegem1401, StormSerpent, Haleighb, Mikazukichan, Americantacos
{ Contest Three: Ancient Splendor }
Pixelfairy, Americantacos, Wolvesofdeltora, Firegem1401, Tsukikoluna, Haleighb, Starline, Xiaoyao8, Shadowanddagger, Nafariaandulin
{ Contest Four: Natural Wonder }
Nafariaandulin, Starline, Xiaoyao8, Firegem1401, Haleighb, Vivianne9, AliceHearts, Nafila, Cancerian, Dragonnadder
{ Contest Five: Spring Awakening }
Dragonnadder, Firegem1401, Nafila, Xiaoyao8, Gingerpaw, AliceHearts, Mikazukichan, Lavenderrain, Nafariaandulin, Malaya
{ Contest Six: Food for Thought }
Dragonnadder, Lavenderrain, Firegem1401, Nafila, Honeygaze, Starline, Vivianne9, AliceHearts, Malaya, Crazydinoz, Xiaoyao8, Grapejuice, Snowcrystal
{ Contest Seven: Godiva gives you Wings }
Xiaoyao8, AliceHearts, Starline, Grapejuice, Snowcrystal, Dragonnadder, Nafila, Malaya, Crazydinoz, Firegem1401, Lavenderrain, Fallensnow
{ Contest Eight: As Luck Would Have it }
Grapejuice, Nafila, Snowcrystal, Nafariaandulin, Dragonnadder, Fallensnow, Candytwins, Xiaoyao8, Trilli, Firegem1401, Starline, Midnightroses, Jeannine
{ Contest Nine: Hidden Beauty }
AliceHearts, Snowcrystal, Grapejuice, Nafariaandulin, Crazydinoz, Xiaoyao8, Jeannine, Dragonnadder, Lia123
{ Contest Ten: Anything Goes }
Nafila, Nafariaandulin, Fallensnow, Grapejuice, Jeannine, Lia123, Dragonnadder, Snowcrystal, Earthdoragonlover, Magyak101, Crazydinoz, GhostlyFours, Xiaoyao8, Littleruler27, Komppa, Wolfieimagine, Firegem1401, Hollybolly426, Dial
{ Contest Eleven: Hello Summer }
Snowcrystal, Firegem1401, Starline, Lavenderrain, Magyak101, Shimmerstrike, Crazydinoz, Picnic97, AliceHearts, Hollybolly426, Xiaoyao8, Lia123
{ Contest Twelve: Choose a Mate }
Crazydinoz, Magyak101, Mikazukichan, Starline, Xiaoyao8, Lia123, Wolfieimagine, Earthdoragonlover, Picnic97, Firegem1401, Jessiedabae, Lavenderrain
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Oh man why would you ever think of leaving Japan? I lived there for 3 years, and they were some of the best years of my life. The food, the culture, the people....too many things to love and miss about Japan. As such, I'll try to make 3 designs based on the 3 main things I miss the most about Japan. ;_;
 
This pair was based on the shrines that my mom and I would shop at early every Sunday morning (around 4 am). The temples are so quiet and peaceful because everyone is still setting up their lots. But this also gave me time to better appreciate the tranquility and beauty of these places. The bell wrap represents the ringing of the bells that awaken the gods as you make your wish, while the tribal markings represent some of the carvings on the woodframe and support structures (represented by the Candy Crown). And of course, how could we not forget about the infamous cherry blossoms that are originally from Japan. Granted, there are other colors, but pink fit the best for the flower petals. I guess you could say this design was based on the beauty and tranquility of Japanese shrines and temples.
 
This next pair represents the woodblock paintings that I enjoyed looking at whenever I went to shopping. Whether they were reprints or originals, there was a simplicity that I admired in Japanese woodblock prints and paintings. Granted, there are more colors than the ones I used, but this combo was the simplest yet the most fitting for the traits I picked out. The black also represents the calligraphy, which I found beautiful in itself. Granted, most of the kanji was taken from the Chinese, but the Japanese also have Hiragana and Katana which are original. No matter which is used, the calligraphy always looked elegant to me.
 
Of course, you can't leave Japan without a better appreciation for the food. If you're going back to America, good luck finding a place that gives off the same authentic vibe. My family and I have discovered that the "best" place, so far, is a Japanese supermarket all the way in New Jersey called Mitsuwa. This pair represents all three types of noodles (ramen, soba, and udon) you can eat in Japan while also incorporating the rice (white part of the mask) and the infamous sushi (salmon colored eyes and the green part of the mask). The candy necklace also gave the best representation of the fish cake that you can sometimes find in noodle dishes. I would have added more, but then this would become an even bigger cluster of deliciousness than it already is. |
