Seasonal tenugui

We are back from Maine and I've been in "quiet puttering" mode which has included finally getting my collection of Japanese tenugui in order, so that I can swap them out more easily each month.  I clipped them in two batches on hangers, to store in David's office closet near the entryway.   Now I can easily rotate them. 

Seasonality is so important in Japan and I do love this collection!  It was fun to collect these over time, to loosely fit our American seasonal themes.  

Here they all are in batches: 

January - Fuji-san with snow and pine tree

February - plum blossoms

March - cat in doorway 

April - cherry blossoms 

May - Irises 

June - icecream cone 

July - Fuji-san with fireworks 

August - Furin (Japanese wind chimes) 

September - grapes 

October - fish and cat 

November - teacups with maple leaves motif 

December - birdies and snow 

The entryway seems to be a good place for them. 

Reviewing vacation snapshots... 

Trolley in Ogunquit charming and practical - 

Puzzle time! 

Charlotte loved the beach! 

I brought two quilts along including the blue and white tenugui quilt - peekaboo Amelia! 

Multiple ice cream outings - 

Tommy made us beautiful lobster rolls for our last dinner all together - (with hamburger or bean burgers for some of us).  I look forward to Maine lobster rolls each year!   Typically you can choose chilled lobster meat with a little mayo, or warm meat with butter.  

Two minivans, seven adults, three littles, road trip from North Carolina to Maine (with stops along the way) and back, lots of fun.  Sort of chaotic.  Good memories made.  Everyone stayed healthy!  Also, nice to be home again. 

xo

Cynthia 

Simple finish for the Tenugui Quilt... and Boston ladies visit NC

The Tenugui Quilt is finished, with a bubblegum pink binding, which I think is fun and works well with the pops of red in the quilt.   The backing is over 20 years old;).  I just had a lot of it and never could get rid of it! 

I made quick work of this quilt.  I just wanted to get it done, and I'm pretty happy with it.  I stitched in the ditch, and quilted a square in the middle of each star block, and just anything in the plain tenugui blocks. 

The true blues photograph well in the shade. 

Memories of Japan, again, in a very usable utilitarian quilt.  It was this time last year that I started our transition to North Carolina.  I guess after a year it's time to accept that we live here, lol.  A "55 degrees and sunny" day like today helps a lot! 

I think I will keep this quilt in the sewing/guest room upstairs for now. 

It can travel between that room and "the dorm":

Last weekend, I had a "Boston ladies" visit from three dear old friends, who came here from far and wide to  hold babies, and stay up into the wee hours talking.  So much catching up, all the emotions,  such a gift to have each one of them here.

Left to right, Natasha (Texas), Emily (Massachusetts), Alyson (Utah) and yours truly (ok ok, North Carolina it is!).    

I started tacking back the pink binding while they were here so the quilt will also remind me of that special weekend.  

We all share some sort of Japan connection.  Natasha, Alyson and I had lived there years apart from each other; and Emily just welcomed her daughter home from missionary service there.  It's just such a small world. 

xo

Cynthia 

Tenugui Quilt progress

Hello friends!  

So far this month, I really have been able to quilt more.  I am well on my way to finishing the Tenugui Quilt I'd started in 2021. 

All of the 12" star block patterns are from the Barbara Brackman block of the month "Hands All Around" -

I am using 9 star blocks in the quilt, along with various 12" cut pieces from Japanese tenugui (手拭い).  Tenugui is such a wonderful woven cotton.  It's great to add to quilts.  It's easy to work with, and washes up beautifully, getting softer over time.  

Many of the fun blue and white tenugui used in this quilt were collected on visits to the little iconic shop Blue and White, and to another shop Asa No Ha, in the same neighborhood of Azabu Juban where we lived ten years ago.   Finally I'm putting this tenugui into one dedicated quilt! 

This next piece was a gift from Julie (My Quilt Diary).  I love it! 

I'm using a new batting I've never used before.  I just had it around.  It is Quilters Dream Blend for machines, 70% cotton, 30% polyester.  All set for basting.  

I will quilt it simply and minimally I think.  I just want a very casual quilt that will get a lot of fun use over the years, and remind us of Japan.  

Speaking of tenugui, usually nowadays it is used decoratively. 

 I have collected enough to be able to switch them out every month or two in our entryway.  It's kind of fun to have something "seasonal" there.   Here's January: 

In other news, 

On Saturday David and I went into Durham to see the touring company of the musical Come From Away.  It was excellent.  Funny, moving, heart-warming.  An ensemble cast of 12 and a sweet raucous folky band.  A number of years ago they filmed the Broadway show and it's available on Apple TV+.  But you can also get the full gist of the story from the soundtrack and I highly recommend it!

I am still helping out at Kaela's, but not every day, and certainly not for 10 hours at a stretch;).   There was a major flurry of activity getting ready for their Au Pair to arrive!  Ina is Albanese-Italian, and arrived on Friday night!  Fingers crossed that everyone adjusts well.  

The babies, A & E,  at four months old are at the most kissable irresistible stage!  

 

So the first month of 2023 is nearly over! 

In addition to focusing on some health goals (related to just basic movement, mobility, pain mitigation) I am determined to read more this year, a lot more.  For someone who "loves to read", I just haven't read much in many years.  I'm not worried about retaining what I read - I just want to get lost in good stories again.   

I fully count audio books too.  I can listen while I quilt or do housework.   This means less TV, less compulsive "scrolling" on my phone.   

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.   It is just beautiful historical fiction, so imaginative and immersive.

Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeyset  by Annie Lyons - good story, well-told.  Connections, 'found family', death.  Listened to this one. 

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler.  Short, sweet novel with a quirky main character.  I used to read all of Anne Tyler's books way back in the day.  Listened to this one. 

That's all for today.  Thank you for visiting! 

xo

Cynthia 

January project inventory and Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!  That's Ellie on the left, and Amelia on the right, at four months.  I just can't get enough of these babies... and big sister Charlotte.   I'm still pinching myself that we have three grand daughters living so close by.  We have all made a good adjustment to living in North Carolina.  I think 2023 will be a much more settled year for us all.  Knock on wood? 

In 2022 I made three quilts - and all three were a joy from start to finish because they were baby quilts!  

Amelia's nine patch: 

Eleanor's nine patch: 

Goldie's one patch: 

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to MORE quilting time in 2023.  

Today I took an inventory of my "in the works" projects:   

1.  Japanese Tenugui quilt, with 9 star blocks from Barbara Brackman's 2021 Hands All Around block of the month.  Blue and white, with pops of red.  Currently working on finishing sashing. 

Cornerstones cut from scraps of tenugui: 

I did most of this in Japan in 2021 and now I just need more sashing and cornerstones: 

I am loving this quilt and it makes me long for Japan (which was inevitable!).  

2.  Ladies' Aid appliqué quilt in soft blues - from Barbara Brackman's 2021-2022 Ladies' Aid BOM .  I love these blocks!  Finished the last appliqué block the other night: 

3.  Poppy's Polka Dot Garden (from Sentimental Stitches) - ongoing hand appliqué, still working on the blocks, long term project, no rush, no perfection, just fun.  Check it out here.   I stayed up to date in Japan, and fell totally behind in 2022.  But finished this block recently! 

4.  Folky wedding quilt for Camille and Tommy - they are getting married in May, so the quilt will be "due" by their first Christmas married, next December;).  

While I had Tommy and Camille (I like to call them "the lovebirds") here at Christmas, we looked at fabric from my stash  - 

And we looked at lots of quilts and talked about what they want (folky appliqué, in all the colors, their themes, my corny design - challenge accepted!).  

We spent some time at Cary Quilting Company getting some quarter pieces and border fabric as a jumping off point. 

 I look forward to sharing the quilt here, block by block as I make it.  I'm sure I will call it "Lovebirds" ;). 

At home, auditioning fabrics and checking for contrast: 

And that's it for me this chilly January night.  David is in New Jersey on business for a few days.  

I can recommend a fun book I finished today.  The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman if you'd like a really well written cozy mystery with humor, and characters you will just love.   One of my goals for this year is to read a lot more and "randomly scroll" a lot less.   

Happy New Year all!  Thank you for reading!  Happy Quilting! 

xo

Cynthia