New appliqué project, and fabric shopping again at last

I've decided to embark on an ambitious long term appliqué project, which is a free BOM pattern provided by Gay at Sentimental Stitches.   It's called Poppy's Polka Dot Garden.   I've heard of these wonderful BOMs from Gay but I've never done one before.   She is so generous to provide these pattern downloads.  

My first two blocks: 

I print out my patterns at the 7-11 (easy walking distance).  That was a process and David helped me the first time.  The proportions might be slightly off because I'm printing on A4.  

In my 25+ years of quilting, I've started something similar to this at least three times, all gung ho, and never finished.  

So, here are my laid-back intentions for my Garden quilt: 

• End result - a soft pretty quilt to actually be used and enjoyed 
• Very scrappy - all the greens, all the reds, etc.  Bright, dull, muddy, clear, just scrappy.    
• I will machine quilt it very simply (hanging diamond maybe) 
• Don't re-do any of the blocks

My background fabric is Kona Snow, which I ordered when I was in Texas and carried back here in my suitcase.  I have the hardest time finding a "good white" here in Japan.  

I wanted to get a few pieces of brighter fabrics to round out my stash for this project, so on Tuesday I ventured out to the fabric district (Nippori) for the first time in a very long time.   Destination: Tomato.  

I managed to get from my apartment, to Tomato, without touching a single thing.  The train was pretty empty.  I mean, not empty, but no one was standing, and I always had an empty seat next to me.  Masks, no one talking, the usual.  

The fifth floor of Tomato has a lot of precuts and yardage for quilting:  

They have these green carts you can use - very handy.  There were maybe five or six other shoppers there on that floor.  I brought my notebook with my swatches.   Precuts and yardage of American and Japanese fabric.  There's a 1 meter minimum for yardage.  I did get a meter each of one of these reds, that green, and a nice handful of precuts.  

And on the fourth floor, if I really wanted to go all-in with the Polka Dot theme, I could, (but I don't): 

I'm always conscious of the 1 meter minimum on yardage, for two reasons:  the amount of walking involved in this outing, and my lack of storage space in the apartment.  So, I choose carefully but I did get the green polkadot!  

In a different store, I picked up a few Tilda precuts, along with a couple small cuts of Liberty (minimum cut 10 cm) so that I can finish cutting out for my Hexie quilt. 

Then the somewhat ugly drab walk back to the train station, so happy with my purchases!   I really should be good to go, for a long time.  Listening to my music, one foot in front of the other.  

About a two hour round trip, not including shopping time.  Lots of walking.  Here's my view a block away from our apartment... almost home, almost home: 

By contrast... if you think I miss New England at this time of year (and driving along winding country roads to any of three wonderful quilt stores)  you are correct.  A photo from years ago of our front yard in Massachusetts: 

But, every day I count the blessings of living in Tokyo, which are many.  

A friend posted one of her favorite Lowell C. Bennion quotes on Facebook this week: 

"Learn to like what doesn't cost much.

Learn to like reading, conversation, music.

Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.

Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different...different from you.

Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.

Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of dogs.

Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house, and fixing things.

Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.

Learn to keep your wants simple and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.”

― Lowell C. Bennion (1908-1996) 

This has really stuck with me.  So gentle, mindful, wise.  I am contemplating my own "Learn to like.... in Japan" list.   Things I already appreciate (the food, simple apartment living) and things I can learn to like better (getting out for walks).  

I'd love to know what is on your "Learn to like" list.  I know something we all have in common is our love of creating quilts!  I am so grateful for my connection to fellow quilters, across the miles! 

Thanks for reading, and happy quilting - 

 xo

Cynthia