This is my world right now.
Streets aren't crowded, which is kind of nice and while walking, I really appreciate my Spotify music, books on Audible, and podcasts. I just finished listening to a really informative book called The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran.
Now and then we get these "health alerts" from the State Department. Common sense "Five Keeps" guidelines from the Governor of Tokyo, although keeping voices down is a challenge for some Americans, ha ha.
A word about blog comments. I enjoy getting to know you and hearing what you have to say. I really appreciate the connections with other bloggers that get formed over time, with the back and forth emails that happen spontaneously. For some reason now though I am just not getting most comments delivered to my email, which is frustrating because it makes replying via email in our usual way, more difficult. And in fact sometimes I get lost in all the emails anyway!
Last post, I answered comments directly on the post. I've seen it done that way by a couple of other bloggers and I like how all of us can see answers to questions, etc. Pros and cons. Either way please know I really appreciate your comments.
xo
Cynthia
Those hexies are so lovely. I can't imagine preparing paper piecing and removing the paper in the end. I just mark and sew. The scenery in your area is a lot nicer than here. I go out and pull weeds and sweep the street for daily breaks. I hear the virus numbers are going up. I have a number of in-person activities this end of the week and of course I wear a mask but I wonder how safe indoor or trains really are.
ReplyDeleteThe spike in Tokyo is a concern. I hope we don't have another shut down, but, I wonder about trains too....
DeleteYour tree is so charming and so are your hexies. Aren't they fun and pretty. This stage of assembly can be hard on the hands for sure.
ReplyDeleteI too try to get out and about each day. Not be able to walk much (still!) sometimes just a drive to the post office or a short errand is nice.
I miss comments now in my email too. Not sure why. I try my best to respond because like you I do like the interaction.
stay well my friend! xo
If I were to do this again, I would do some fussy cutting and make more deliberate decisions on the design. Your hex vex quilt is a great one.
DeleteYour hexie project is coming along wonderfully. Making hundreds of them is not on my bucket list, the wrists would never survive. Any hand sewing now is reserved for hand quilting with just a bit of applique. The comment issue is the same for many of us. I've heard that adding the first comment to your post and clicking on the "send all future comments to me" or some such wording will send them to your email. Maybe. What I've found is that some comments are showing up in the Promotions section of gmail so you can't just do a blanket delete-all until you've scanned them. No easy answer, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. Technology is great until there are problems, ha ha. I think hand quilting and a bit of applique is a wonderful priority for the hand sewing you do!
DeleteI've only made one hexie quilt and it's a small one. I love making the rosettes but sewing them together is another matter. Thanks for giving us a window on your apartment life in Tokyo. I tried to get out and go somewhere today but I had a flat tire - crazy.
ReplyDeleteA flat tire seems very "2020" doesn't it. I agree - making the rosettes is the fun part, ha ha.
DeleteThose beautiful Liberty hexies are like a flower garden. It can be hard on the hands, but before you know it you'll have it together. 🤞
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement Kyle! I'm *almost* half way done.
DeleteYour hexie blocks and your Christmas tree are stunning! I wish you a Merry Christmas even though I know it will be hard to not have family around. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteWendy, thank you! Very hard, but, this is 2020 after all! The tree is a small Ikea tree that we brought to Japan along with a representative subset of our ornaments. Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteI agree, I too have taken up again my hexi project, and do not ever plan on making another!
ReplyDeleteThey are very special! I can see why so many quilters start one, and put it away for a number of years before starting up again.
DeleteI still plod along on my second (and last) hexie project, when I can gather the motivation. It was such a relief to finish my first one this year--after the 22 years since I started it. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry you don't get to come home for Christmas, but the infection rate is crazy here!!
The "Five Keeps" are interesting. :)
I see you have the link to The Christ Child in your sidebar, too. I love that video!
Hope you can have a lovely Christmas in spite of not being with family. We will only have our youngest son with us. Thank goodness for technology so we can at least have virtual visits!
Janet, well it's wonderful you will have *two* hexie quilts! Yes it's such a lovely video - you really see the relationship between Mary and Joseph. I agree - virtual visits have been such a blessing this year! We feel very connected across the miles. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
DeleteYou live in such a lovely area and I hope you take the opportunity to go for daily walks.
ReplyDeleteLovely is the right adjective to describe your Christmas tree, too. Your home is looking festive.
As for the Hexagon quilt. It is a lovely kind of patchwork, but I agree it can be hard on the hands. Have you seen this article from Mary Corbet of Needle 'n Thread? https://www.needlenthread.com/2020/02/home-with-my-hexies-a-quick-tutorial.html
Thank you for the kind words Queenie. And thank you for the link. There are so many good tutorials out there which makes trying a new technique really possible. I have had good luck using a glue basting method, and the papers pop right out.
DeleteYour hexies are so lovely! I can definitely relate to how stitching them together can cause a toll on the hands.
ReplyDeleteAngie - thank you! I've decided to take my time, steady and slow, to get them done.
DeleteYour apartment looks very American to me but I am only seeing a bit of it. The outdoor pictures look very much like what I would expect of Japan. I am wondering how their winter weather compares to the area of the USA that you are from.
ReplyDeleteOur apartment is very Western in some ways, but the kitchenette, and bathroom are all Japan. Apartment walls in Japan are almost universally wall papered in white or neutral vinyl wallpaper. Winter in Tokyo is very very mild compared to New England, for sure!
DeleteOh, the Liberty Hexies will be so beautiful! I have made one quilt using only Liberty and it is elegant!
ReplyDeleteI get those alerts too... The 5 Keeps was an interesting translation. I think the Japanese was originally the 5 scenes to avoid...
Tanya, yes I always wonder about the translation department, so to speak:). I'm really in love with Liberty and have splurged on small pieces now and then.
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