Noelle's sashiko sofa throw finished ... and puppy reality check ... and homemade bread

It's a cloudy cozy Saturday here in North Carolina.  I have a crock pot dinner going, and bread dough rising, and an afternoon free for quilting. 

First things first though, after some "getting real" thinking, I've decided to delay (possibly forever?) getting a puppy - for all the usual reasons!  It was fun and thought provoking to read comments on this topic, on my last blog post - thank you!  When I really tried on the thought of just saying no to the puppy idea, I felt both disappointed and relieved, mostly relieved, even very relieved.  Alas!  and Whew! 

Anyhoooo in my pet-less townhouse I finished up the sashiko on Noelle's throw.  I'm real pleased with it and will bring it for show-and-tell tomorrow at guild meeting.  

This is the third of these sofa throws I've made so far, using Susan Briscoe's excellent guidance in The Book of Boro.  

Here's the top, photographed in the shade to try to capture the indigo hue: 

 

And the back: 

I add a few patches once the sashiko is finished - including David's family Kamon (crest):  

I love adding in some special pieces of Liberty tana lawn with the recipient in mind: 

Below, once of my all-time favorite pieces of vintage Katazome: 

Knife edge "hem" - 

In other news last week David taught a sushi making class for a group of adults (with and without intellectual disabilities) my niece Alyssa works with in her work with L'Arche.   My sister in law and I helped him.  A lot of work and a lot of fun.   

I just took my bread out of the oven!  It's a sourdough sandwich bread, recipe from King Arthur Flour.  I love that it combines a sourdough levain that you mix the night before, with a little active dry yeast, for an easy recipe, consistently delicious results.  I always add some whole wheat, wheat germ, and a bit of vital wheat gluten,  in place of some of the white flour.  Using a scale has forever changed the way I bake! 

I let it cool like this, elevated, to prevent soggy bottoms.  

Hope ya'll are having a good weekend in your own neck of the woods... 

x

Cynthia 

February already and more sashiko in the works

In January I finished Noelle's sashiko throw (no batting)... here are a couple of close ups and I will get photos of the whole thing this week when I give it to her! 

My niece Alyssa is making an improv "row by row" quilt for her sister and I'm helping with a couple of the rows - scrappy waves: 

And messy log cabin blocks - on my sewing/guest room "design bed" below - 

Another niece, Stephanie, had a baby shower and the food was set up so cute with a "book" theme... 

I forgot to get a photo of the simple baby quilt I made her!  It's nice to live 2 hours drive away now that we are in North Carolina.  I can't believe I've lived here three years already! 

Meanwhile our little local grand daughter Chloe sweet as can be here with one of the quilts I made her -  

Last week I basted another sashiko throw - this one for my brother and sister in law - here's the backing - and this time I'm experimenting using very thin batting in between the indigo layers. 

Basting went fast, easy with Netflix on my laptop - 

Per Susan Briscoe's instructions, I hemmed the throw right after basting.  Tougher to do with batting, however thin the batting is (Cream Rose). 

Two weeks ago Tommy and Camille went to Tokyo, and this week David was in Tokyo.  We tried hard to coordinate timing but it didn't work out so I stayed home.  

Here's Camille barely visible in a dish shop in Kappabashi (kitchen district).  

In other news...  after debating for a couple of years, it looks like we have decided to get a golden-doodle puppy (medium sized) in the spring (I put down a deposit).... Very exciting except for when I'm having second thoughts.  It is so nice to be able to leave the house without a care in the world.  And yet, I do miss having a dog! 

Hope all of you my far-flung quilty buddies are having a good start to February... 

xo

Cynthia 

Sashiko throw #2 and a new year

Happy New Year!  

A majority of our San Francisco contingent was here for a week at Christmas - Kaela's family of six including their Spanish au pair Laura.  And they got to meet their new baby cousin.  The house was filled to brimming and it was as fun as it was exhausting! 

I made a stocking for Laura - her first ever (in Spain they put out their shoes on the night of January 5th, for the Three Kings to fill) - 

We snuck off to the beach on the warmest day - 

Baby Chloe - so sweet - 

Christmas Eve dinner - 

Followed by our annual yule log cake:  

I gifted the sashiko throw to Kaela's family for Christmas - 

Made with new and vintage indigo collected over time, and some patches of floral Liberty tana lawn. 

I used the instructions in Susan Briscoe's excellent book "The Book of Boro" as a general guide.  No batting, and a knife edge finish. 

The back is also patchy: 

My home is almost "back", with laundry being processed non stop and Christmas decorations put away.  

Itching to get back in the sewing room!  One of my intentions for 2025 is to continue to find joy in quilting, and not get overwhelmed by too many projects at once.  How many is too many?? 

From my home to yours, wishing you peace - 

xo

Cynthia