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 

Project updates, and out and about

 

Last week I ventured solo to Tomato in Nippori, to find some fabric to try (heavy emphasis on TRY, because sewing garments is just not my thing) making a myself a tunic.  I've been having some issues keeping me from outings, but really trying to get back into my walking habit again.  

I chose out some inexpensive light blue cotton/linen - 

My pattern is from Grainline Studio and the instructions are very clear, for beginners like me.   Still ... hours and days later... I'd rather be quilting;).   I'm more or less stuck at this point because of a dart issue - no pun intended;).  I'm thinking of this as practice.  My mind has a hard time with 3-D things.  Quilts are flat - clothing is not;).  

And today my friend Julie W and I went to Sakurahorikiri, a washi paper and craft shop in Asakusabashi.  We drove and it was a short walk from the little parking spot.  I'm in awe of my friends who drive here in Tokyo.  Grateful, too. 

Isn't it hard to believe this is paper, not fabric?  I picked out two of two sheets for a little project.  

Only after returning home, did I notice on the map that we'd been very close to a shop called Cotton Family. It might be a good resource for ordering fabric online (!) at least from within Japan.  

Meanwhile, at home...  in the evenings I am steadily making progress on my hand appliqué projects... 

Poppy's Polka Dot Garden (free patterns each month from Sentimental Stitches)

And Barbara Brackman's  Ladies' Aid Sampler 

I've also decided to call it quits and go ahead and make a quilt top with the blocks I've already made from Barbara's Hands All Around pattern posts.  I'm alternating my stars with various blue and white tenugui, with some simple blue sashing in between.  It's going to be a simple graphic quilt and will hold good memories from Tokyo.   

I love organizing projects in drawers like this: 

My sewing area gets messy (here's some napkins waiting for ironing;)).... but I'm so grateful for it! 

Also grateful to quilting friends.... local (I'm starting a little "stitching with friends" interest group at our church)... semi-local over a recent Zoom meet-up... and long distance over blogging.  I know I'm not alone in just simply loving quilts!  

xo

Cynthia