My brother's sashiko throw finished, and a little London getaway

 

Spring has started springing in sunny North Carolina.  It is so beautiful here. 

I finished the next sashiko sofa throw, this one for my brother and sister in law.  This time, I sandwiched the layers with thin batting ("cream rose").  

Front:

Back: 

Again I used a lot of vintage pieces mixed with new indigo, and some pieces of Liberty tana lawn.  After everything was sashiko-ed (quilted, really) I appliquéd some patches on to the front, for balance. 

A good way to use a small piece of vintage Katazome: 

Meanwhile David was on a long business trip to several cities and I met up with him in London for a few days.  It was such a nice getaway.  

So fun seeing friends Nate and Savannah and meeting their kiddos for the first time in Hyde Park.  

At Liberty, charm everywhere - 

These celebrity needlepoint kits were a hoot, tempting: 

Crochet flowers - 

Sometimes I want to chuck all my quilting stuff and do embroidery - 

My travel back and forth was happily uneventful.  David returned home a week later after more business travel and we both promptly got Covid which kept each of us laid low for a solid week.   Coming out of the fog now! 

I keep taking unintentional breaks from blog reading and certainly blog posting!  But not ready to throw in the towel just yet! 

Hoping you my quilting pals across the miles are doing well in this topsy turvy world.  

xo

Cynthia 

Sashiko throw #2 and a new year

Happy New Year!  

A majority of our San Francisco contingent was here for a week at Christmas - Kaela's family of six including their Spanish au pair Laura.  And they got to meet their new baby cousin.  The house was filled to brimming and it was as fun as it was exhausting! 

I made a stocking for Laura - her first ever (in Spain they put out their shoes on the night of January 5th, for the Three Kings to fill) - 

We snuck off to the beach on the warmest day - 

Baby Chloe - so sweet - 

Christmas Eve dinner - 

Followed by our annual yule log cake:  

I gifted the sashiko throw to Kaela's family for Christmas - 

Made with new and vintage indigo collected over time, and some patches of floral Liberty tana lawn. 

I used the instructions in Susan Briscoe's excellent book "The Book of Boro" as a general guide.  No batting, and a knife edge finish. 

The back is also patchy: 

My home is almost "back", with laundry being processed non stop and Christmas decorations put away.  

Itching to get back in the sewing room!  One of my intentions for 2025 is to continue to find joy in quilting, and not get overwhelmed by too many projects at once.  How many is too many?? 

From my home to yours, wishing you peace - 

xo

Cynthia 

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