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 

This and that in January

I have finished Paulina's top, all except the borders (plain deep purple borders).  For some reason, I always tend to procrastinate anything to do with borders. 

The borders have been sitting there for a week!  

What do I do, when I'm in quilty procrastination mode?  I start, or think up, new projects, of course. 

I really have it in my head to make Christmas quilts for my kids this year.  I have a lot of scraps from the stockings I've made.  

Kaela loves this tree quilt.   I started this Tree quilt in MA in 2002, and finished it the last time we lived in Japan, in 2012,  Kaela's senior year of high school.   

One thing led to another and I went shopping at Tomato for fabric to make a Christmasy Tree quilt for Kaela. 

It's really kind of sad - normally this would be the time of the Tokyo Quilt Festival, and all the fabric shops would be chock full of tourists.  

I found some good "tree" fabrics among the fat-eighths: 

And it was fun to text Kaela back and forth a little as we chose a border fabric from within the modest Christmas fabrics section (this is a Riley Blake fabric): 

Plenty of physical distance on the train (sat across from this dapper fellow)

The pattern for this tree quilt is from an oldie but goodie 2002 book called Favorite Quilts Fast and Fun by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan (side note - I've always wanted to make a scrappy bear paw).  My copy is in storage in NH.   You can get your used copy on Amazon for about $8, NOT the outrageous price (about $165) pictured here: 

So I'm adding this Tree quilt to my already too-long list of projects for 2021.  But, it's just so fun to start something.  

I'm looking forward to starting Barbara Brackman's BOM Hands All Around - The Alcotts at War.  Easy piecing, and Louisa May Alcott.  I love sawtooth stars -  so excited to get started - today! 

Meanwhile in handwork, I am steadily making progress in the evenings on my Liberty EPP Hexie quilt: 

So, as 2021 begins, I realize the virus is still rampant and actually more troublesome now in Tokyo than it was back in March.   Our church building has been rebuilt (adjacent to the almost-finished newly renovated temple) and our congregation is meeting here again.  It's much more convenient to us - about a 35 minute walk, or a quick taxi ride. 

We hadn't been to church in person since last February.  So we attended 9:00 am church in person the other week.  Still, I think we will opt for Zoom church sometimes, most of the time? all of the time?  

Meanwhile the joy of our lives is FaceTiming our kids... and Charlotte.... seven months old now!

It snowed in Austin the other day!  I just love this little bunny bear! 

And so winter goes.  We are here, they are there.  Our hearts are knit together.  

Today is January 20 - the U.S. Presidential inauguration and I have a lot of hope in my heart.  It will be happening around 2:00 am on the 21st our time, so I will have to catch highlights on the news tomorrow morning.  

I hope if you are reading this, that you have high hopes for your new year.  Thanks for reading! 

x gratefully,

Cynthia