Stepping Stones finish 2019, typhoon, baking

My first finish in Japan.  Another Stepping Stones quilt - to be given to a "graduate" of an orphanage here in Tokyo.  This is a "Helping Hands" project now organized by Japanese members of our church across greater Tokyo. Some of us Westerners help out year by year as we are able.  We started this back in 2012 or 2013 when I lived here the first time.  We team with the Franciscans, who provide a futon and a rice cooker to each graduate.  A Stepping Stones quilt is a nice touch and a warm hug as a young person begins to take "stepping stones" into independence and adulthood.

I started it in the US before we moved, so all of the fabric is from stash and Quilted Threads.

I like to include a butterfly print of some kind, since the butterfly is a subtle but powerful symbol of Christianity in Japan.

The pattern is Bonnie Hunter's free "Sticks and Stones" quilt and can be found here.

Very simple grid quilting.  Monofilament thread in the needle, walking foot.  Loving my Bernina 475QE - a small, solid machine, perfect for my space here, permanently set up in the living room.

For binding, this time I simply trimmed the backing to 1 inch, folded and brought it around to the front, stitched it down.  Fast and practical.

I pretty much take over our whole living space when I make a quilt;).

The green you see outside my window is Hinokicho-koen (koen = park).  We love the park for so many reasons.  It's David's twice daily dose of zen, as he walks to and from the bus stop.

I personally take a lot of comfort seeing the several giant old trees in the park.  Reminds me of home in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  Here's one of my favorites:

And imagine our dismay when we saw that it fell, during Typhoon Faxai Sunday night.

How sad, but what a good long life that tree had. 

On a completely different (and happier) note, you guys.... I figured out my mysterious Japanese combination microwave/oven! 

Banana streusel muffins, from King Arthur Flour, via NYT Cooking:

To give you an idea of the small space I'm working with, here is my drying rack! 

xo
Cynthia

MORI art museum, sashiko mending, Stepping Stones

We visited MORI art museum with Tommy before he left to go back to the U.S.  There was an astounding exhibition there -The Soul Trembles - by artist Shiota Chiharu.  Her work is just so strangely beautiful and immersive.

Shi

All done with red yarn!

There is an overlook of Tokyo on the same floor as the museum.  This is just a slice of a view of such a massive concrete jungle. 

I have three quilts going right now -

1.  David's indigo log cabin.  Pat of Amity Quilter sweetly sent me some fish fabric for it - thanks Pat!

2.  My latest Stepping Stones quilt (for Mormon Helping Hands) to be given to a graduate of an orphanage in Tokyo.  I'm at the quilting stage, which I love.  Simple straight lines with the walking foot.  Almost finished!

Loving my little machine, the Bernina 475QE, for sure! 

3.  And my third quilt is a simple mini involving circles and vintage indigo.  Almost finished with that as well!



I *love* beginning new projects but I'm forcing myself to keep my ongoing projects to three.  I just don't have the space for more than three messes at a time;).

However,  I'm always happy to be interrupted to mend something.  David and I are the "advisors" (mostly meaning that our apartment is a hangout on Tuesday nights) for the "Young Single Adults" in our church congregation, and one of them new to Japan, asked me to repair his jeans.  He gave me artistic freedom (or, at least I insisted on it, ha ha).  I used a spare Bear Paw piece as one of the patches. Vintage Japanese indigo, free motion machine stitching, and sashiko stitching.  So fun to do, and wabi-sabi in action. 

xo
Cynthia

Yokohama Quilt Festival, part three - Modern Quilt Studio, and more

detail, quilt by Nobuko Miyake

A few more from this fun show.  

I enjoyed the exhibit from the Modern Quilt Studio.  I love the color palette!

Three Cheers by the Modern Quilt Studio 

Frustrating as ever to not have the English text printed, when the text surely originated in English!

detail from

Three Cheers by the Modern Quilt Studio

Pacific by Modern Quilt Studio

detail from Pacific by Modern Quilt Studio

I loved this one.  It is so well balanced, with wonderfully colorful yet calm color palette, simple machine quilting.

Katsura by Modern Quilt Studio 

detail, Katsura by Modern Quilt Studio 

Inner Circle, Modern Quilt Studio

Detail, Inner Circle, Modern Quilt Studio 

And more from the main body of the show.  I absolutely loved this one by Nobuko Miyake!

quilt by Nobuko Miyake 

detail, quilt by Nobuko Miyake

I really like the attic windows setting.  Julie pointed out that the quilting patterns are reminiscent of sashiko:

detail, quilt by Nobuko Miyake 

detail, quilt by Nobuko Miyake

And this one by Korean quilter YangSook Choi: 

Blue World VII by YangSook Choi

I wish I'd taken a close up shot.  It is one layer, very transparent and airy.

There was a vendor area as well.  I have to admit I loved seeing a Bernina presence:

I hope this quilter wouldn't have minded me snapping this photo of "my" machine that I'm just so anxious to arrive in Tokyo!  Bernina 465QE for the win!

Last but not least, I adored this fun (FUN!) woolen quilt by Hiromi Yokota

Funny Cats by Hiromi Yokota 

detail from Funny Cats by Hiromi Yokota 

Carin asked me which one is my favorite.  Impossible question.  They are just so charming and sweet. 

detail from Funny Cats by Hiromi Yokota 

I mean, how cute and fun are these cats?!

detail from Funny Cats by Hiromi Yokota 

That's the end of this small sampling of some favorites from the festival. 

Back in real life, David and I have started looking for an apartment.  I loved stumbling across a really big old tree, in the heart of a busy Tokyo neighborhood:

Til next time,

Cynthia