Happy New Year fellow quilters.
David and I had a quiet Christmas and New Year's. FaceTiming with our children all together was a highlight. Hopefully they will be able to visit us here sometime in 2021? So far, the borders are still closed to tourists, even dependents (like college aged children) of "permanent residents" (that's us). It's not the best feeling that Tommy can't come "home" to Tokyo. Every day I'm thankful he has each of his older sisters a flight away, and great friends and extended family near him in Utah at school. We live by texting, phone calls, and FaceTime. David has yet to meet baby Charlotte and she will be seven month in a couple days. Sigh.
It looks like because of the spike in cases in Tokyo, we are on the brink of another state of emergency. In practical terms it may just mean shops and restaurants are asked to close in the early evening - nothing as strict as last spring. However, they are mentioning further tightening border restrictions, and the word "collapse" is being used to describe the hospital situation.
We just have to live wisely and hope the vaccine reaches us as soon as possible in 2021. My heart goes out to folks starting a new year in a state of grieving, or in a state of ill health due to COVID, or crushing financial difficulty, or crushing emotional isolation. What a time. We have to cherish what we have and help each other out.
I say it so often... but what would I be doing with myself, in this little Tokyo apartment, with David working from home just down the hall, without quilting?? I am so grateful for it in my life! I'm grateful to you for reading, for other blogs, and for the friendships made across the miles, through our blogs and emails. In some ways it feels like a virtual quilt guild. Or awesome pen pals!
I'm starting off my quilting year with FUN. I really do love making these improv log cabins.
This one is for a very special young family friend, Paulina. You know how some of your kids' friends end up feeling like family? I have been thinking I'd like to make her a quilty hug. So why not now.
The brief is UNSTRUCTURED (yay!), BOLD (ok!) with lots of DEEP PURPLE (time to shop!).
The time difference worked out so we texted back and forth to make quick fabric decisions in real time while I shopped at Tomato. It was so energizing!
And I discovered that Paulina likes red almost as much as purple.
We thought we were done, and then I rounded the corner to.....
Kaffe Fassett -
Perfect backing fabric:
Random logs, big blocks, so easy to trim up with my 12.5" square ruler. These blocks are such a pleasure to make. Making them feels like some great combination of play and meditation.
What else in '21? Are you like me? Do you over commit to BOMs, swaps, challenges?? There are always a lot of sew alongs happening. I thought about Kathleen Tracy's Schoolgirl Sampler (72 simple 4" blocks) which looks sweet and I have the book. I also thought about Cecile's curved piecing challenge at Patchwork Inspirations.
In the end I'm just going to bite off this much -- the following two BOMs:
Poppy's Polka Dot Garden (free downloads for two blocks, around the first of every month - from Sentimental Stitches, for 2021-2022). This started a few months ago. I am REALLY enjoying this appliqué. Anyone else? Someone started #poppyspolkadotgarden on Instagram. I think there are just two of us so far.
Barbara Brackman's 2021 pieced BOM, Hands All Around. Second Wednesdays. Louisa May Alcott, simple blocks, variations on Sawtooth Stars, need I say more? Barbara's posts are always so interesting if you like quilt history, and she has a great sense of humor too. (by the way Santa brought me the new edition of her encyclopedia - it's beautiful).
And, as much as possible but with no pressure:
Hoping to keep my quilting life balanced and fun this year - thank you for being part of it!
