Tokyo trip Days 6-8 - Nippori, Costume Museum

 

My Tokyo trip, continued.

Day 6 - a snowy Monday on my own.  

This was the day I planned for nothing at all, as a buffer.  As it turns out, it was a rainy, then snowy, cozy day.  I took the hotel shuttle bus a short way up the hill, to Meguro station, just to explore around there a little bit. 

There was a little mall area with multiple floors, with food stalls, a grocery store, a Uniqlo, a MUJI, and a neat little office supplies shop. 

Strawberry season.  I mean, just so good. 

Lots of pre-packaged Valentines Day gifts everywhere. 

Food stalls - 

Back at the hotel, I stopped in to the lounge for a little complimentary snack and to enjoy the nice garden view.  Hot cocoa and rice crackers with peanuts, and candied pineapple.  

 

Day 7 - meet-up in Nippori 

On a cold and rainy Tuesday I took the train to Nippori station and met Christina Y for a little fabric shopping and lunch.  First stop, the little shop that sells Liberty fabrics.  I only had one agenda item and that was to find some backing fabric for my Flower Garden quilt. 

You can get 10 cm cuts.  I just love coming here when I'm in Nippori.  The exchange rate was in my favor this time too. 

We took a little stroll around Yanaka, enjoying the quiet aftermath of Monday's snowstorm. 

Weather report - complete with outerwear suggestions;). 

Day 8 - meet-up with Carin and Julie! 

On Wednesday David and I switched hotels.  The new one was close to his work, much smaller room, but really nice view. 

And then I met Carin (QueeniePatch) and Julie (My Quilt Diary) for a fun outing to see an exhibit of costumes at the "Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum" in Shinjuku.  

So fun getting together at long last, post-Covid. 

Unfortunately, no photos allowed beyond this point. 

Afterwards we stopped into a little cafe for a snack and leisurely chat.  What a gift to be able to meet up with good friends in Tokyo.  My heart felt so full. 

xo

Cynthia 

Meiji Shrine on a beautiful fall day

A couple weeks ago there was a festival (sort of subdued, with the lack of tourists - Japan is still not open to tourists) at Meiji Shrine.  I met some friends there and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Not pictured are the many absolutely adorable children in their fancy kimono, being photographed.

At the entrance, an autumn display celebrating the harvest - with a ship made out of vegetables! 

A solemn procession of monks: 

A marvelous exhibit of ikebana: 

and chrysanthemums everywhere: 

I love spotting the Pawlonia kamon (family crest):  

Back home, I've not been doing much quilting lately.  I'm sort of stalled out.   I've been doing a lot of geneology, sitting at my kitchen table with the marvelous fresh air and sunshine streaming in: 

Cabell County West Virginia rural school class photo.  The tall guy in the back was my great-grandfather Garland Tennyson Brown.  We called him Pop: 

Last week in book group we discussed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.  I read it for the second time (actually, the first time, I listened to it).  I took notes and really savored it because it was my turn to lead the discussion.  I highly recommend this epic, beautifully written novel! 

And now we are reading The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns - much quicker read, really enjoying it too. 

xo

Cynthia 

Hands All Around progress, Koinobori, roses

Hello hello! 

I am making these big 12" blocks from patterns and wonderful history posted on Barbara Brackman's blog the second Wednesday of each month.   The stories follow the Alcotts of Concord, MA during the Civil War years.  Our old hometown in MA is just minutes from Concord, so I love this connection.  

Here are my blocks for March and April - 

Block 3 - Anna's Choice: 

I'm using a lot of tenugui fabric in these blocks.  

Each block is a variation of a Sawtooth Star.  

I love the following variation and could see a whole quilt from these.   Notice how fabric choice and placement really create two different-looking blocks! 

Block 4 - Eight Hands All Around 

The middle of the block above, is from a piece of shibori I dyed myself during a workshop at the Vermont Quilt Festival.... seems like ages ago. 

May 5 was Children's Day here in Japan.  I loved seeing so many  koinobori (carp streamers) flying around.  If you follow me on Instagram (CynthiaNanto) you might have seen my post and "story". 

In our local park there is an outdoor "gallery" on view, with so many creative examples of Koinobori.   They represent carp swimming and are a symbol of ... everything good that we wish for our children.  

It's always cute to spot 'Japan-glish' spellings;) 

This morning I joined two friends for a drive to Satomi Park, in Edogawa.  There was an infinite number of stairs to climb, to access the park, but then oh wow, what a rose garden!   

So here are some roses for us all, whether or not you are celebrating Mother's Day this weekend and no matter your feelings about Mother's Day (I know it's so fraught for some). 

This is Kaela's first Mother's Day with Charlotte. I'm so proud of her!    

My oldest daughter Noelle, who made me a mother almost 29 years ago!  Equally proud of this smart sensitive creative young woman! 

And the "baby" Tommy is almost finished with college!  The apple of my eye - and proud uncle - 

xo gratefully 

Cynthia