Kimono summer

Ah, the summertime, the warm breeze and dazzling sunshine... against katana blades and simmering fans. It's summer in Japan on SL and Geisha Dreams has released a new kimono for the summer and Hana Katsuraya has released a new kanzashi. Mizuiro is a part of the Sanpo Collection at Geisha Dreams. Also, if you're a group member you get a free sample of her new skins, one of which I am wearing in these photos. ^^ Both the kimono and the skin are from the creative mind of Aryanna DeCuir. Must haves!

Hana has released the new kanzashi, Karyukai. This quote is straight from her note card that comes with the kanzashi.

"This collection features some of the themes of early summer that are less commonly seen in kanzashi. Yuri (百合) or lily, is one of the most beautiful flowers of early summer, and depending on the color or species can represent a number of qualities in Japanese culture. The other kanzashi motif is a combination of nadeshiko (撫子), or dianthus, and yanagi (柳), or willow, layered on a parasol of metallic mizuhiki cord, and evokes an image unique to the geisha culture of the karyukai (花柳界), or flower and willow world." -Hana Hendrassen

All of her kanzashi are so beautifully detailed. She's an amazing creator.

Aoi and I are modeling these and he is wearing a sexy off-the-shoulder kimono from So What? We happened upon this little shop in the Catch a shooting star hunt! The kimono is called, ++ wa gi (black and red) I edit most my pics for artistic effect, the last one is unedited so you can see how they look in world. Enjoy ^^

Geisha Dreams

Hana Katsuraya

So What?

New Samurai release!

Aoi and I took some pics with a new samurai release kimono and a summer kimono. The samurai kimono is from Jugoya. Aoi is wearing the Bunmei (dots) style. It's 380L, but very authentic looking. I like the pleats in the hakama and the shirt. I left the last pic unedited so you could see it clearly. Very detailed and smooth looking. I have on the summer blue kimono from Giorno Brando. It's not a new release and you can find it at any GB location. Of course I'll give the main one at the bottom. Katanas are not included. Enjoy the pics, get the kimonos!

Samurai kimono: Jugoya

Summer kimono: [GB]

Milky Kimono Hunt

Milky has a nice kimono hunt going on, unfortunately, the last day is tomorrow. I have to say, it was rather difficult and we just happened upon the last card by chance. Go to Milkyhouse, buy the hud (for free), wear it and you will find you need to find 15 boxes, or cards. In order to receive the prize, it says you have to save all the princesses. There are three princesses, that they say, were kidnapped. There are also priests hidden in the cards that will hinder the hunt, and if you touch one of them, all your princesses will be taken away. Yes, we had to do this several times and it was frustrating, lol.

The hud gives you very few hints, so I suggest walking all around the sim, going to the neo-japan sim, and lastly, falling into the waterfall at the kimono center for the final card. You will have two blank cards upon completion of the hunt. Then, it will give you the landmark for the prize. Unfortunately, for us, the last "gift giver" landmark wouldn't work, so I just had to get there by finding it on the map. It was well worth the hardship of the hunt, though. You get a nice these nice kimonos! One for females and yes, one for males! I have a back shot to show the pretty red bow on the kimono. Katanas were not included in the gift, but the hat was. ^^

+Milkyhouse Kimono Hunt+

Together

I love wearing kimono's on SecondLife. It's even more fun to wear them with others. Here a few pics of me wearing kimono's with others of my role play and real family. You may recognize my kimono's. The guys kimonos are most from Milky House. Don't guys just look so handsome in kimono's? :) The top pic, Ame is wearing a miko kimono or priestess kimono and we're dancing geisha-like. The second I have on a GD yukata and my rp son has his kimono from Milky House. The bottom is my fiancee and I. Yes you can ride horses in SL. More on that later though ^^

Enjoy!


Milky House

First kimono

Ok, when you first go into second life. You are a noob. Your skin is noobish, your hair and your clothes. It's easy to spot noobies in SecondLife to those that have been there awhile. With that said, yes, I was noob and perhaps still a noob to veteran SL avatars. You begin looking for things to improve the way you look. Freebies are the first thing most people use in SL. Luckily, there are some nice designers that have free gifts to those that don't like spending money on the game. I've learned so many things along the way through this virtual place. This kimono was the first kimono I ever spent money on in world. I searched for a place that had the most ornate kimonos. Finally, I came across a kimono shop called Milky House. I thought it was elegant and beautiful and I still do. My fiancee is going to kill me for using these old pics though. Both of us have pretty noobish avatars at the time. *is going to hide from him* I wanted to show you how detailed the obi and dress were. I took some new pics of it today and here are some really old pics of my fiancee and I. Enjoy! *runs and hides*

Kimono: Milky House

Hime or Princess kimono

||= Outside the castle was forbidden for women, but the Princess was bolder than the women of her time. Testing dangers and pushing the limits, all for the sake of love. He was a samurai, born to nobility, and moving up in ranks to even challenge the shogun. She was young, and courageous and though the dangers were great, she left the safety of the castle down into the outlying village. Near the lake she knew he would be waiting for her. Her servant would have sent him the message. Even he risked punishment for seeing the hime without permission from her father. The moment their eyes met, all the danger and risks were like pebbles in the ocean compared to their need to be with each other. Closing her eyes, her slender fingers grazed over his armor into half clutched fists. She was joyous and sorrowful. Behind his ever present smile to her, she knew he was battle weary. The wars raged on and he was home only for a few days before she knew he would have to leave again. The village was quiet, and the cat tails that grew along the lake swayed gently as they held each other close. This moment wouldn't last, but they tried to make time stand still.=||

Gomenasai/sorry, I've been away for a bit, but now I'm back and ready to post something new. One of the prettiest kimono's I ever saw on Second Life is this kimono from Sweetaholic. It's the modern Hime or Princess kimono. It's so lovely and detailed. Even the fan is part of the outfit, how cool is that? You can purchase the skin, shape, eyes, hair, and accessories all at once at Sweetaholic. I will tell you this though; it is the very first version of this kimono and it received an upgrade, but I wanted to show you it in it's original form and show you the other later.

I have had more compliments on this kimono in world than any other. This is the hair and accessories that come with the kimono, the skin and eyes are from my inventory. If you really like detailed and bold kimono's, you'll be like me and go to Sweetaholic to see what they have new and old!

Kimono: Sweetaholic

Armor:

Shrine kimono

||-(the past) She knew going to the shrine at night was forbidden and dangerous. She didn't care, she didn't care what it took. She wanted to see him, wanted to be next to him. He was samurai and she knew he would be there. If she could only catch a glimpse of him, she would be happy. No matter what the perils lay between her and seeing him. Her eyes were bright when she thought of him. Her formal kimono would reveal to most her status, and increase her risk even more. She heard there was to be a meeting after prayers were given at the shrine. She hid behind red wooden pillar. The glow of the lantern softly lit her pink skin. They would soon walk past her. Armor clacking loudly, she held her breath. He removed his helmet as he passed by. Turning his head slightly to glance at her and smile. She bit her lip. Did he actually see her? She didn't know the answer, panic insued as she ran quickly back home. Her heart racing, the kimono rustled between her legs. She smiled to herself. She got her wish, just to see him, but even more, it appeared he had seen her too.-||



My fiancee and I, roleplay. I hope you don't mind me incorporating some of our story into my blog. Sometimes the kimono's just beg for a story to be told. Taking you back to ancient Japan and the times of the samurai. Brave men and beautiful women walking the roads and paths in kimonos of all colors.

Isn't this a great kimono. Sakura and black, a formal furisode hikizuri. There use to be a shop called Flower and Willow in SL. Unfortunately, it has closed, but there use to be some of the most precious kimono's there. Like this one for example. I hope the owner will reopen soon, but I just wanted to show you this one, it needed some attention. ^^

April is the time for Sakura Festivals, or Cherry Blossom Festivals.

Usually from March 25th to April 4th starts the beginning of many Sakura or cherry blossom festivals in Japan. Viewing blossoms is what the Japanese call, hanami 花見, or literally, "flower viewing". I'll talk more about Hanami later. So, April has many festivals that include viewing Sakura at various castles and shrines, they also have parades and people dressed in early period custumes.

Why don't we have festivals like this? lol Well, we don't for our country, but we do have many Sakura Festivals in the US that celebrate that Japanese tradition. Washington DC holds an annual Sakura Festival at this time; so does Philadelphia as well as San Francisco. You might want to try going to these festivals one day, because you will see many people dressed in kimonos! Children and adults all wear kimono's during the festival.

Washington DC National Sakura Festival (Washington D.C., Va.)

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (San Francisco, Ca.)

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (Philadelphia, Pa.)


There are a few other cities in the U.S., but these are the major ones. ^^ If you live in one of these cities, go check them out and enjoy Hanami!

In SL there more places for Hanami viewing, one of them is the Pluto Cherry Blossom Fesitval. It started March 27th and will last until May 1st. The trees are incredible and they have several places to take pics with poses. Hanami is much more enjoyable when you're with someone you care about. My fiancee and I took some pics there. Hope you like them ^^!

Pluto's Cherry Blossom Festival

I'm wearing Mare Sakura kimono and he's wearing Kabukokimono from Barerose Tokyo.

Gentleness

Kimonos aren't just for the ladies, men's kimonos are also very kawaii (cute) in SL. Milky has a few kimono's for the guys, they are some of the nicest in SL. Here is one of them ^^ The model is my fiancee, doesn't he make a yummy samurai?

Kimono: Milky House