Today is the reveal day for Erin's Challenge of Travel Blog Hop! I was happy to participate and chose the country Japan. As you may know, Japan is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean - it's made up of 6,852 islands actually! The characters that make up the name Japan (kanji characters are the Japanese alphabet like ours are greco-roman) mean "sun-origin" and thus Japan is known as the Land of the Rising Sun. The Japanese name for Japan is actually Nippon. Japan has a population of about 127 million. You can learn more about Japan by using this wiki link!
Years ago - 2005 - I had the opportunity to visit Japan. I was with a former partner who was on a business trip, and I had the awesome opportunity to go along for three weeks! I was very nervous! It took me days to get over my jetlag (Japan is 12 hours ahead of us!) and finally I became uncrabby and was able to enjoy my trip! These are all photos I took while I was there (please do not share or copy them). The post would be too long for me to describe or tell you the story about all of them for this post, so I'll just caption!
I really really really loved my trip to Japan. There is not enough time in the day for me to share with you my photos and stories! I love the dichotomy of the country - the mix of ancient and modern, weird and proper, loud and quiet. I love how you can ride the fastest train and in a few minutes, you are in the country looking at rice paddies. It's really an amazing country and I hope everyone gets a chance to visit there someday!
So, onto the jewelry. This wasn't actually the project I was going to make. I ordered something from Japan and, alas, it did not make it here in time. So I quick whipped this little project up late Friday afternoon. It's Japanese to me for the following reasons!
I used Japanese washi paper in the pendant - beautiful floral pattern that reminds me of a kimono. I used pearls - everyone knows Mikimoto pearls right???? Well, these ain't them! But they are pretty and match the paper. And finally, Japanese delica seed beads. Of course you know Japan makes the most beautiful and precisely cut seed beads, right?
If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this necklace even better, I would love to hear them. And in the meantime, head over to Erin's blog for the list of all the other participants! Update - here's a list of participants, courtesy of Erin!
Years ago - 2005 - I had the opportunity to visit Japan. I was with a former partner who was on a business trip, and I had the awesome opportunity to go along for three weeks! I was very nervous! It took me days to get over my jetlag (Japan is 12 hours ahead of us!) and finally I became uncrabby and was able to enjoy my trip! These are all photos I took while I was there (please do not share or copy them). The post would be too long for me to describe or tell you the story about all of them for this post, so I'll just caption!
Buddha at Kamakura
Shrine at Hasedera
Mt. Fuji and torii gate in Hakone
Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
Fushimi Shrine in Kyoto
Shrine in Kyoto
I really really really loved my trip to Japan. There is not enough time in the day for me to share with you my photos and stories! I love the dichotomy of the country - the mix of ancient and modern, weird and proper, loud and quiet. I love how you can ride the fastest train and in a few minutes, you are in the country looking at rice paddies. It's really an amazing country and I hope everyone gets a chance to visit there someday!
So, onto the jewelry. This wasn't actually the project I was going to make. I ordered something from Japan and, alas, it did not make it here in time. So I quick whipped this little project up late Friday afternoon. It's Japanese to me for the following reasons!
I used Japanese washi paper in the pendant - beautiful floral pattern that reminds me of a kimono. I used pearls - everyone knows Mikimoto pearls right???? Well, these ain't them! But they are pretty and match the paper. And finally, Japanese delica seed beads. Of course you know Japan makes the most beautiful and precisely cut seed beads, right?
Comments
But you must share what arrives from Japan.
As to your trip - Wow. Glad it was long enough to go that far and have time to actually see things! It would be amazing to go there...Your pix are stunning!
I'm interested to know what you planned to make though too! Hope you will show us that one too some day!
P.S. The photos of your trip are fabulous! I'm totally jealous!
Your necklace is beautiful and I wouldn't change a thing. I love the thought you put into each component.
Thank you so much for letting me come along on your trip to Japan the sights are awesome. Your necklace is beautiful just the way it is. It deplics Japan well with all the beautiful pearls and the washi paper in the pendant.
Therese
How awesome that you had the opportunity to spend three weeks there! Thank you for the inspiring photographic journey to this beautiful land!