Oh it is hot hot hot these days in Tokyo. Hot and humid. Indoor time. I continue to work on geneology every single day, and also try to quilt at least a bit every day.
My random Liberty hexies are coming along. Two inch hexies make big flowers!
While we were in Okinawa, one day we walked about half a kilometer down the road, to a glass factory, known for letting people experience glass blowing.
Here's David in the "sample" section - believe it or not, we could browse this area and pick out *anything* we wanted to make ourselves.
I say that loosely, because obviously it was more like we helped a little. It was so fun.
And a few days ago our pieces arrived in the mail. Here's David's little cup, with ocean blue - to hold these shells he collected (rocks are from his fly fishing trips):
And my chunky little vase or votive candle holder...
Meanwhile our lives are just so pared down. I am trying to stay positive, but I am so frustrated that Japan won't allow non-Japanese people to travel back and forth from abroad. I can see not allowing tourists (although I wish our college age son could come over), but visa holders and even permanent residents (even people who have lived here for decades and are married to Japanese people) are impacted. There are over 2000 people on the "Return to Japan Support Group" on Facebook.
Anyway, I really can't make a move until I know I can return to Japan, because I would never want to leave David here alone "indefinitely."
So, for now, it's lots and lots of texting and FaceTime with our kids, who are all doing well in the U.S. I just can't get enough of baby Charlotte Jane! I am trying to let go of expectations on the timing of when I will be able to travel to see her. Please tell me I won't miss her whole first year.
xo
Cynthia
Really smart to make those hexies larger. If you need more Liberty fabric,we might be able to make a date.I pray you will do better than I. My youngest granddaughter will be two the first of December ad I have yet to see her in person.
ReplyDeleteWe are all hoping that an effective vaccine can be found soon so everyone's life can go back to a true sense of normal again. Sweet little Charlotte has grown so much already! She's a total delight! Your Liberty flowers are so pretty too, if I were ever to make hexies they would have to be large, though it will probably never happen! Our last outing before the virus hit the U.S. was to the Corning Museum of Glass. Their glass blowing demonstrations were amazing.
ReplyDeleteI SO feel for you! I'm not willing to go to the States and not be able to return to Japan either. It makes me rather teary to think I'll be missing out on this important part of my daughter and grandson-to-be's life. The heat is wearing me down too so it is hard to stay bright and cheerful... I'm not getting much done these days...
ReplyDeleteYour glass pieces are so beautiful--what a fun experience that must have been! It sure feels like the Corona protocols are never ending. Hopefully we will have some normalcy long before Charlotte is a year old. She is a cutie!
ReplyDeleteYour glass pieces are so beautiful, what a fun thing to do.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Jane is precious. I do hope you get to see her soon. [My parents saw my children rarely, once a year at best; looking back I wonder if my mom would have wanted to see them more---she never said a word. Sad.]
I am not a hexie fan but so love Liberty fabrics. Blue and white Japanese fabrics would also make a stunning hexie project.
lizzy
you have Facetime which is amazing..... so you are not missing much....
ReplyDeleteWhat a challenging situation. It would be awful if you traveled to the States and then couldn't get back. Hopefully, things will change soon. Charlotte Jane gets cuter with each new photo. Love your glass blowing experience. I have pondered a overall hexie project and have seriously thought of using a large shape. I like how yours looks.
ReplyDeleteIt is all just awful..I feel like I am in prison...a nice prison, but still,so confined. I had an eye exam today...You would have thought I had gone to a birthday party, just to get out. I love your glassware...a lovely reminder of a darker time. xo
ReplyDeleteI am liking your large flowers.
ReplyDeleteGlass blowing fascinates me. That is fun that you got to "help" and I really like your finished products.
So hard to miss sweet Charlotte's early days, but it is a blessing that you can see her via technology if the in-person visits aren't possible. Let us all hope and pray a vaccine comes quickly and you are there to hold her and love her while she is still a babe!
Large hexies are definitely the way to go and yours are wonderful! Looks like your glass blowing experience was a big success. Love your little pieces :) Baby Charlotte is just the cutest! Hopefully you will get to see her soon.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry that you are unable to touch and cuddle with Charlotte. She's beautiful! I miss my 3 grandchildren terribly, especially the 18 month old. This pandemic has been a disaster in so many ways for so many people. Every day, though, I'm grateful for our health and I hang onto hope that this will be over before too much more time passes. Stitching helps!
ReplyDeleteYour hexies look so sweet. I'm sure the hand work is very soothing. Glass blowing sounds so very fascinating! Good for you getting an insight into how it all works!
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how frustrating it must be not to be able to cuddle sweet Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteWhen I've made hexies I've had to make BIG six inch ones or I probably never would have had enough for a quilt. I do like the sweet little ones better.
So you are now apprentice glass blowers? ;-) What lovely little objects you made. Sounds like it was a fun outing.
How hard it must be not to touch and squeeze her. LIfe is just so incredibly altered for all of us and for some of us like you and David even more.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to be able to experience glass blowing. Your pieces turned out beautifully. What a neat vacation memory!
Love seeing more hexies
Your hexies are so perfectly made! I'm looking forward to see how you'll put them into a quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that they let you (or help you) blow glass. My husband was a glassblower for a while. Hot! Your pieces look great!
It must be so very hard to not be able to leave Japan to visit family here in the States, and especially to miss seeing Charlotte when she's tiny. I hope they life the travel bans soon. She looks so focused and interested in whatever she's looking at. Adorable.
Love the glass blowing adventure. A perfect souvenir for a day out, I think. I think your hexies are coming along really nicely, and they all are so cheerful. Liberty Fabrics are the best.
ReplyDeleteSorry about having to text photos instead of holding the baby in your arms. So frustrating! I don't know when you'll be able to see her, but I do know my favorite age in babyland is between 9 months and 18 months--so much fun stuff happens then. Let's hope sooner rather than later!