How are you all?

Book Review

2012-02-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

This week since the last Thursday was the most stressful, tense, and busy in this year because of the assignment of writing a book review for my history class plus usual assignments :(

Since my history professor is a half Japanese, her cousin's name is the same as mine, she somehow seemed to feel close feeling for me. She added a book "The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II" on the book list to choose a book to read from especially for me. She said all other books have 200 - 600 pages, but this book was around 120 pages. I think an audience for this book is a teenager. THANK YOU, professor!!

It was still HARD for me to finish the book. I took 8 pages notes reading the book, but had to squeeze my notes into 2 pages, double-spacing, 12 points font, 1" margins all sides, which there is not much space to write. She said the grammar and spelling are also graded, but suggested us to take the paper to the writing center at NOVA (free tutoring) for proofreading, and then we can get extra points on it. I don't know how many students in her class are around ESL level though, I appreciate her for adding the special treat for us. Also, I appreciate my housemate for helping me a lot. He has a huuuuuuuuuuuuge storage of knowledge in his brain and is very good at teaching in GREAT patience. Amazing.

SO, I am done with the book review. The tutor of the writing center who was familiar with the book I read told me that I covered the contents of the book very well. GOOD. I can sleep tonight :)

Writing a book review is still ongoing with the second one - have to read 2 books in the semester. I anyway picked up a few books for the second review, which has less pages, familiar to the topic, easy sentences and structures to read for me.

These are the final candidates.

I am interested in the thicker one "The Envoy", but the contents would include about military. The book is about similar story of Schindler's list. I've noticed that I really don't know anything about military even basic words for it since Japan don't have military. It is said in the constitution that we will never join war and never have military after World War II. Since I am not familiar with any kinds of military things, it makes me confuse when the contents include those. And also, this book has 50 pages more than the "Notes on Nightingale", which is a biography of her. So, I'm going to stick with Nightingale.

At one of close libraries, I found an interesting thing when I was looking for the books.

The library loans art prints! Each of them is in a frame. I think this is a good idea so that people can enjoy art prints free and change it when they are tired of one print.

BUSY January!

2012-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

January was really crazy! Correctly, probably after Christmas last year. I missed many segments that I had thought to put on my blog. Birthday lunch for me, gifts from Japan, visiting friends, visitors of cats, about new classes, panicking with the history class (continuous), new diet, friendship, appreciation, met my customer in person for a custom order, etc, etc, etc. Everything including both happiness and unpleasantness came to happen during this month were very meaningful and interesting for me. Life goes on, so I will leave those which already became parts my history. I took many pictures of these events though.

So, because of this crazy weather (?), I found a small cherry blossoms 2 days ago in my community. I hope we won't have snow so that they could survive longer.

Place mats + a table runner - custom order -

Table runner - white houses -
This table runner matches with this quilt.

Quilt - custom order -
I cannot think a good name for this quilt. This is a custom order quilt. The fabric I received from my customer were these.

She wanted to have random blocks for her quilt; the pattern was discussed prior. I thought just sew the 3 fabric given together randomly would be too busy, so I added solid colors that is similar to the basic given fabric.

Here is the result.

I seldom, probably this was my first time, deal with vivid colors and busy patterns for my original work. It was a little concern for me that if I could put them together well. I brought the quilt to my quilting group for show and tell, and many of the members gave me "Good Job!". So I hope my customer would like it.

Finally, my naughty boy has been so fascinated by squirrels.

He waits and waits at the window for hours to see his friend coming to eat peanuts spread by my landlord.

My landlord started spread peanuts for HIM to give some excitement and fun, but I am the one who have been actually having fun watching him being excited. He is cute.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

New Year's Day and New Year's Day Eve are very important for Japanese. I think it's like Christmas day for Americans. However, although I have been feeling the atmosphere of new year celebrations in Japan through my Japanese friends, I was feeling like those days were as normal days here because of American culture and time difference (Japan is 14 hours ahead).

I anyway cooked Toshikosi-Soba (images here from Google), which is a traditional meal for Japanese to have at midnight of new year eve wishing a long life. Soba is a noodle made with buckwheat which has long length. The ingredients that are put on Soba is in variety depends on which prefectures of Japan you are from. I am from Kyoto, which herrings are supposed to be put on Toshikosi-Soba. Since I couldn't find herrings at the local Asian grocery store, I used Tuna. I think I anyway could achieve the purpose of having Toshikosi-Soba.

The New Year's day!, which is supposed to be very special for Japanese, I went to DC to visit the American history museum. I enrolled the American history class for the next semester, I thought it would be good to have a little knowledge of American history.

What I really surprised at at the museum is that the expensive price of food in the museum!!

The sandwich I had at the cafe in the museum... priced $9.25 (+ tax). Other food like a piece of chicken, a piece of pizza were the same price. I strongly decided to bring my own food for the next visit. I wanted to come home before dusk, so I didn't have much time to look around in the museum.

Well, tomorrow would be the last day of the New year's holiday for many people. I have been having wonderful holidays. Hope you all enjoy this holiday until the last minute!!

Appreciations.

2011-12-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I started to receive happy faces, holiday wishes, great news about their family/themselves, Christmas gifts, and so on from my friends. Their hearts always inspire me to do things the best. I am very happy to be able to have those companies with them and to share whatever I have with them.

Here is one of the great news from my friend, Masko.

Her item is on this book! :D
I ordered the book at Amazon. I wish this book will make her famous :D

This is a birthday gift for my friend. I started to help her for organizing her studio a couple months ago, and she keeps providing me whatever she doesn't need anymore. I picked up some small blocks from them, and made this small quilt for her. I put a hanging sleeve on the back, so it can be used as a wall hanging as well. I sent her some pics of it for some reasons, she seemed to like it :D GOOD :D

Aaaaaaaaaaaand, here is my new quilt for girls.

I collected textured cotton fabric time to time to make a girl's quilt. The result (this quilt) wasn't quite what I had on my mind, but it's OK I think. I still have the fabric for another quilt, so I would try to make another one. I am now addicted to embroidered or textured, yarn dyed cotton fabric. I looked some on the Internet, and ordered them :D

All of my duties for this year were done today. So, I started a new project :D

Well, have a great Christmas to you all!

White Houses Quilt

2011-12-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

"White Houses on the Hill on a Sunny Day"

My friend said that "... elephants?".
I said that "... space invaders..."

I tried to express white houses on a hill on a sunny day with the sun. If the roofs of the houses were triangles, they could more looked like houses...
It took a little while to determine what quilting line pattern I would use for this quilt. I initially thought of using bunch of circles to express the sun. Then, I thought of sunbeam. I think it went well :)

I cleaned one section of my room today. I picked up those fabric from my fabric collection(!) to make a baby quilt a while ago, but I don't remember what the baby quilt was supposed to look like...

Ummmmm...., I think I have no motivation to work on this selection for now. Probably, someday, later on...

Christmas Treat.

2011-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas!
I don't celebrate Christmas because I am not a Christian. But, I love this Christmas atmosphere. Everywhere turns to be beautiful in this time of year :D

Little useful Christmas trees for cooking :D They are rosemary trees. I love to use herbs in my cooking. They add nice flavor to dishes. Also, it ends up adding lesser salt to them.

And a little treat to my housemates (cats)!

Catnip snack :D :D :D I got some other flavors, too.
Actually, I could say this is for myself. Sonny used to come to my room everyday at 4pm, which is the time for him to get hungry. But, they have to wait for being fed until my landlord comes home. Since a little snack had run out, Sonny stopped to visit me once he figured out that he cannot get the snack from me. What a smart cat :( It is kind of sad about figuring out that he actually doesn't love me, he just loves food. I enjoy the company with him very much, so I had to have the snack to get him back around me. Well. I wanted to believe he loves me. But, this is reality.

Another treat for myself :D I ordered bunch of brown fabric. I love brown. It is very convenient color to use anywhere :D I am supposed to receive other packages from other fabric companies :D Yees, I bought some more fabric and threads :D :D :D What a wonderful time of year :D

Happy Weekend.

2011-12-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a wonderful and pretty day!

I enjoyed the wonderful annual luncheon of the big quilting group, Quilters Unlimited, yesterday thanks to our leader of the sub group, Playing Outside of the Block. She volunteered to host the luncheon, and other members helped her. She always does unbelievably wonderful and lovely jobs for everything. I am very lucky for belonging to her group and be with such a great leader. All members must be feeling this way.

I had to go to my teacher's office to pick up the result of the final exam, so left the luncheon earlier. I am so relieved to be able to register the next level of English classes. Yeees, I passed the composition class :D :D :D I was so nervous about so many of my grammatical mistakes on my English essays at the beginning of the class. It isn't still clear about the uses of articles... It made me really anxious when I heard from other students that many students fail from the class. Anyway, I yesterday enrolled all classes planned in advance for the next semester :)

So, yesterday was a pretty sunny day. I had some time to take some pics of the quilts I made. Here is the second Japanese Antique Quilt.

I sewed all remains from the first quilt and the zabuton covers, made several large pieces, and cut them into approx. 10" squares. Then, added borders to them. I like the result :D

And here is my new quilt - "Kakine".

It is now listed on my shop. Since my Sunny Day quilt was sold recently, I think there is someone who likes this quilt as well :) Also, this monster quilt was sold to one library in PA. Hope many visitors would like the quilt :)

Have a nice weekend to you all! :D :D :D

New quilts

2011-12-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

I have been sewing, sewing, and sewing since my English classes were over :D I had the final exams and Christmas parties last week, it was kind of unsettling. I have got one result "PASSED" from the reading class :D Now, I am waiting for the result from the other class (composition).

The custom order of Japanese antique quilts is done. Although I still have another order from the same customer, 4 place mats and a table runner, I started to sew my original quilts because I wanted to change the mood.

One of the quilts is with these fabric.

I tried to express Japanese "Wabi-Sabi" on the quilt. The title of this quilt is "Kakine (a wooden fence)". I wanted to include the flower fabric in the quilt, and I actually did it. But, the looking wasn't what I wanted. So, I removed it, but couldn't give up to use the flower fabric for something and somewhere. So I made a small version of this quilt, a foot mat. The quilt is also already done. I am waiting for a sunny day to take good pictures of them.

Here is the second project. I wanted to express white houses on a hill in a sunny day. These are the blocks used for the quilt. The quilt top is already done. It is waiting for being quilted :D

What would I make next...? I have to organize the projects that are on my mind. I am so happy thinking of a month break from classes until beginning of January :D

Japanese Antique Quilt 2

2011-11-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

How is your Thanksgiving week?? Mine is so nice, peaceful, and relaxing. It's because I had a lot less assignments this week. So, I could enjoy sewing! :D

The first Japanese quilt (custom order) with Japanese antique fabric is done :D
My customer sent me some images of what he expects for the quilt, so I took one of the patterns from them. They look easy, but it was tricky. Although the quilt in the pictures looks more vivid than actual colors, the actual colors are muted.

I started to work on the second quilt order. The pattern is the same as my "Pastel city" quilt. I enjoy sewing all small pieces together, which are remains of this first quilt and the zabuton covers :D It's simply fun :D

By the way. I joined one thanksgiving party. When the participants were talking about the American economy and some politics, I could understand one thing this time. It's because I have learned a little about American history and American in my English class. I was so excited about it because I am always feeling like walking in fog when people talk, but thanks to one keyword that one lady brought up, the conversation in the party suddenly made sense to me. Wow. This experience was really, really interesting. I think I understood the attractions of learning something. It's hard, though.

Tomorrow will be the last day of Thanksgiving holiday. I will keep relaxing :D
Have a nice weekend to you all.

Japanese antique quilt.

2011-11-17T19:54:00.000-08:00

A several weeks ago, I received a custom order. The customer told me that he bought a lot of Japanese antique fabric when he lived in Japan 20 years ago, and finally motivated to do something with them. When we started to discuss about his order, it was only one quilt, around 80"x 80", but it turned out 2 quilts and 4 zabuton covers. Zabuton means flat cushions in Japanese. We use it when we do "seiza", which means sit on the floor folding the legs. I have seen only one American could do it though, he may be able to do it, too.

So, here are the completed Zabuton covers.

My customer gave me a wonderful feedback when he received them. I was so happy to hear that he liked them so that I can keep my taste for other quilts order.

I received really a loooooooooooooooot of antique Japanese fabric and an old blanket that can be reused for his new quilts. I think they are more than enough for 2 quilts. I am very happy to share my room with them :)

The last week and this week were/are very productive. Since I started to work on his order, my heart cannot wait to continue the work during working on some other things. I have quilting jobs thanks to my friends and homework assignments from my English classes. Actually, I need to work on his order standing up all the time since it is convenient.

1. Cut small pieces of fabric
2. Sew the pieces together
3. Iron the sewn piece
4. Add a new piece to the sewn piece (or cut fabric)
5. Iron the piece....

I can set a small iron table next to my sewing machine, and a cutting table next to it. It is more efficient to work standing up than repeating to sit and to stand up for every action. After 2 hours, my back starts to hurt. So, I think having other things beside of this order is good for me :) I can sit when I do homework and do quilting. I really appreciate he has never push me to rush for his order. He even didn't ask me when the next order can be done when he sent me a message of Zabuton covers. I am really willing to finish the 2 quilts by Christmas. I have 2 final exams after Thanksgiving, and a month break until the next semester begins.

It is so nice to have something that I can always look forward to doing. My time is used very efficiently thanks to his order. Keeping myself busy is very good, too :D

Another "getting there".

2011-10-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

I saw Ling-Ling after a long time. She looked fine except for her bottom body. She is a disabled rabbit who is taken care of my ex-husband. She was hit by a car after being abandoned and lost control of her back legs forever. She cannot hop. Many people suggested to put her down, but she didn't allow it. She is a big fighter, fights with everybody, wants to live. She has a very strong personality. I think it was 5-6 years ago, my ex was asked to take care of her for a while by the rabbit organization, and didn't return her to the organization after the "while".

My ex made a wheel chair for her, and still has been modifying it depending on her condition. She is happy with the wheel chair because she can chase after other rabbits :-p The wheel chair helps her a lot to move around and protects her from the mess of elimination.

As all the vet who took a look at her predicted, her legs are now almost fixed like tree branches since the joints are not functional anymore. The blood check which was done a month ago was very good and her organs are still functioning very well, though, we don't know how long she is last. Since my ex is very attached to Ling-Ling, I started to think about how he will be after the loss of her.

I receive a "I need your help" email from him when the wheel chair suit is needed to be modified or when she needs a new suit, which is attached with his wheel chair frame. He takes care of the hard ware, and I take care of her suit.

Her new suit looks much better than the old one! :D This time, I made a pattern and made some photo copies of it so that I can make the same thing again without having the pre-made suit with me. So, he can wash it more often. We still need to work on minor changes on both the frame and the new suit, but it is getting there :D

Here are the other posts about her made in the past, if you are interested in :)
My beautiful girl
Queen Ring Ring

Cooking Rice.

2011-10-25T13:18:00.001-07:00

I lately started to be attracted by cooking rice with a pot.

I hadn't cooked rice with a pot or a pan, always used a rice cooker. Japanese rice cookers are so functional as having a timer, multiple choices of what kind of rice is cooked, keeping it warm after cooked, and so forth. All I have to do is just pushing the switch with proper amount of water with rice in it and wait. No mistake of the result if the amount of water is right.

My friend showed me how she cooks rice the other day. She hasn't used a rice cooker. It was a little surprise for me to hear that she doesn't have a rice cooker, because having a rice cooker is common for Japanese and many Americans. Japanese eat rice as bread or potatoes here. I have never met a Japanese who doesn't have a rice cooker.

Cooking rice with a pot takes attentions and like a light baby sitting compared to cooking with a rice cooker. But, I can have more control and arrange the taste with checking the rice status while cooking. So, I think I like cooking with a pot better :D

I wasn't familiar with cooking rice with many ingredients except for water or chicken stock with a little veggies. Thanks to different cultures here, I learned there is not a proper way to cook rice. I can put anything I want in the pot. Very nice :D

Make up Dresser.

2011-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

I received an email from my mother asking me if she can give her daughter-in-law, my sister-in-law, my make up dresser that I have at her house. My make up dresser looks like this.

I bought it when I married to my first husband. Having this kind of dresser at home shows one of the married women's status in Japan. My mother also bought hers when she married with my father. I didn't have mine until my first marriage. I used to use hers by then. After I divorced my first husband, I brought it back to my mother's house, so she now has two dressers in the family room.

I had never thought whether my sister-in-law didn't have it. My brother and she bought (custom home) a house this year. They used to live in two bedroom apartment with 3 little sons. It was kind of surprise for me to know she wants to have it, which means she now has room for the big dresser in the home.

I am usually not interested in material things. I am not attracted by going malls for shopping since most of sales items are junks to me. When my mother wanted to clean her house 4 - 5 years ago when I visited her house, she asked me to throw away everything of my belongings since I didn't live there anymore. She wanted to use full space of the house for herself. I wanted to send some keepsake things to my home in the USA, but it was too expensive. I gave away some stuff to my friends, but most of them were abandoned and a little were sent here. I thought I cannot even afford to have memorials goods. So, I don't have anything in her house anymore. Especially after this event, I minimize my shopping, except for fabrics. When I have a lot of things, it makes difficult to move around. I don't want to have any special feelings for material things. If I leave this country and go back to Japan, all I take are my lap top computer and some clothes. I believe my quilting friends can take care of other things I own after that :-p

The dresser wasn't abandoned since it was big and valuable. I really didn't care what my mother may do with it later. It was kind of shock to me to realize that I don't have any special feeling for it as furniture, however as a spiritual thing. I emailed back to my mother saying "Do whatever you want. It would be nice for you to have more room in the family room after it was moved to her (my sister-in-law)." This is not sarcastic. I love my sister-in-law. I am happy when she is happy. Giving the dresser to her makes her and my mother happy, and probably my brother, too. The dresser turns to be from useless to useful. There is no disadvantages for all of us. There is no reason for me to say "That's mine" or "Just leave it there" or something to keep it in order to satisfy my feeling.

I just feel a little sad. I should have learned this kind of feeling is useless to move ahead. Well. I obviously need self-disciplines more and more... and more... and more.

New items.

2011-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have been working on making new items for my shop little by little though, I don't have time to list them up. Well... yes, I am just being lazy :( I prefer making things than taking pictures of them and thinking the descriptions.

The other day, I was working on these coasters at the quilting meeting.

One of the members of the quilting group liked them :)
So, it will be gone without appearing in my shop...

I am really thinking to list something up though.

The small cat pillows will be appeared soon since I got more than 10 orders from my friends. I took some pictures of it for my shop, but they were not good :(

Hope you all have a great weekend! - too early? -
Mine is supposed to be quiet since the last 2 weekends were pretty busy!

Smile :D

2011-10-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends liked the small cat pillow that I had made for gifts. I am very happy to receive some orders from them! :D

Here are more smiling kitties! :D :D

The other day, I found a little smiling on the floor at NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) library, which made me really smile!

I wanted to pick it up, but I thought someone after me may find it and smile. So, I left it there. I picked up someone's heart which hoped to see her/his friend's smile, instead. I really loved it!

This week was also pretty busy. One thing that really relieved me was one email from my customer. We had a little misunderstanding each other for the custom order (table mats and napkins). As a result, I was waiting for her reply before producing the items and she was waiting for receiving the item. About a month later, I received an email from her saying "Did you send the item already?".

After some emails exchanging and after the business was done, I received an email from her which said "Beautiful and well worth the wait! I'm so excited to put them on my table."

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!(>_<)

So, I am ready for busyness of next week! :D

Have a nice weekend to you all!

Getting there.

2011-10-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

I got the first "P" (pass) essay this week. My teacher said "You are getting there. Don't worry." One of my American friends also said, "Whatever your composition teacher is doing to you is working for you. I see less mistakes on your English sentences and they are making more sense." I feel a little comfortable now :) I will miss my composition teacher if I could pass her class - two months later.

I think I am kind of mentally exhausted lately since I have been trying new things. It is hard until getting used to them. I am really struggling. The classes are one thing, other thing is "swing".

It's kind of a long story how I started, so I don't give the details here. Well. I didn't know what kind of dance "swing" was until I had started it. I am uncomfortable to dance with unknown men. Students have to make one big circle to practice the dance, have to keep changing partners. The dance teacher keep telling us to look at the partner's eyes, not the floor. I CANNOT. Someday, I hope to have a day feeling comfortable to dance with a man. Then, I wouldn't be so stressed by swing. It's always interesting to find different view points through new experiences, though.

I made a little cat pillows this morning. One of them is a birthday gift for the one who has a gray cat, other one is for the one who has just broken up with her boyfriend. She also loves cats. I made the cat face with a big smile so that they might feel a little smile in themselves. I myself like to see a smiling face on something, I have a little Buddha made from stone which has a smile on it, when I feel depressed.

Anyway.
Have a wonderful weekend and the holiday to you all :)

Better this week.

2011-09-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

The homework on my composition class was increasing the amount, and surprised to see how thick the pile of paperwork is. Fun.

Fortunately, 30 errors, I got from the first essay, was decreased to 12 errors on my second essay. It means less work! :D :D :D My teacher keeps saying that "You guys still have 12 essays to work on! Keep doing the homework I give you will lead you to pass the class! Don't worry!" I want to believe her :(

She suggested me to write a shorter essay, which means less mistakes. But it's kind of hard to make it shorter when I have something to write. It is difficult for me to control the length of a essay. When I don't have much ideas of the topic I was given, it can be really short, but it would not be acceptable for teachers as a 5 paragraph essay. In an opposite manner, when I have a lot of ideas of the topic, I naturally cannot stop writing :( Organizing the articles I write and writing essays in grammatically correct English are obviously different skills :( The essay turned in this week became longer (5 pages with double line spacing) (>_<), which I may get more errors.

Well.
By the way, I saw something shocked me in the class.

One Korean girl brought her Korean friend to the class. He was reading a book.

"The last juror" written in Korean......, which students who takes the Reading class, which is the same of my class, are supposed to read it written in ENGLISH.

I was so shocked why I didn't even think of that! I think I can get it written in Japanese since the author is very popular. But at the same time, there is no meaning for her/him to take the Reading class when they don't read an English book.
Well.
I don't want to waste my money for tuition (it's paid from financial aid though). We pay expensive tuition for being educated, not for nothing.

I envy their idea, though. I wish I could be brave like him :(
I will keep working this week, too!

Okra

2011-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

I had the first okura from my little garden this morning :D :D :D :D :D
It was a baby ten days ago.

Here is my first edible (I hope) okra :D

I will eat it tonight :D
I am looking forward to sharing my okuras with my friend who always share her harvest with me. So, waiting for the babies grow one after another.

I made a little pin cushion with a little wooden coffee cup just before going to bed last night. It is very convenient to have such a little pin cushion next to my computer or anywhere to sew. Very cute, isn't it :)

Who told me the Washington D.C. is...

2011-09-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I think it was my English teacher in the Junior high school who told us that Washington D.C. is a part of the Washington state and D.C. means "a part of". According to her, the partial Washington state was moved to next to the Virginia state down to south so that the car's number plates have the name of Washington.

Well. I believed that story until today. Since I have been learning a little of American history in my English classes, I lately often talk with my house mates about American history, most are questions. They are very knowledgeable as being able to answer to my questions with extra related events and backgrounds. This is very interesting for me to learn how today's American society was born, how Americans became today's Americans. At the same time, I enjoy Japanese historical drama on-line VERY much so that I can link Japanese history and world histories. Thanks to our ancestors, today's societies were generated. Our world still has a lot of problems; but, much better than 200 years ago compared to unstable societies. As long as human nature is not changed, it will be never changed, histories will be repeated. But, thanks to the development of civilization, the belief of freedom changed the world a lot. I am very happy about this.

Anyway, thanks to my house mate, I could know the fact about Washington D.C. Since the Washington state was admitted to the Union after the D.C. was permitted as the capital of US in the constitution, it is impossible for D.C. to be curved from the Washington state :(

I wish I could see the English teacher in my junior high school, and ask her about this ;-p

Speaking of the English class of my junior, it was like military style.
The class was like :
She comes in the classroom, and tells us "Stand up!"
We stand up.
She asks us "How are you?!"
We answer "Fine, And you?!"
She says "Fine." and "Sit down!"
We sit down, and the class begins.

Funny. Ha ha ;-p

Long way to go.

2011-09-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

I received corrections of my first essay (for the composition class) from my teacher.
It made me sick.

Total three pieces of paper. The second paper is worse.

And, BIG "F".

30 errors have to be reduced to less than 10 errors to pass this class.

My composition teacher is very practical. I think her way is very good to make students work hard, also she is working hard for students. As one of the assignments, I have to rewrite this essay, and write the parts I made mistakes 5 times to memorize correct grammar. I do remember how I practiced "Kanji (Japanese characters adopted from China)" in my childhood. Just wrote them repeatedly so many times on a note book until memorizing them. And, if I don't want to practice hard, just don't make mistakes, which is making sense very much.

Big problems with the teacher are, .... it might be rude to say, but it's hard for me to read her handwriting, take a long time to analyze what she meant. And, she has an accent. Sometimes it's hard to keep up the class. Thanks to other students who speak up, she occasionally repeats what she said, and I can be with her.

OK.
Quilting topic next.

Here is my new quilt.

The title is "Sunny Days". I described Sun on the orange-yellow color, trees are in between of Sun(s), the sky is above, and the field is below. Not sure what I wanted to do with the white parts. I just thought it would be nice to have whites. Maybe it could be "hopes" :)

Pens!

2011-09-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

Writing letters with my favorite pen makes my day.

I am not picky at all for most things, but for pens, paper for particular cases, and tooth brushes.

I was happy to find my favorite Japanese pens sold in the USA, though... It cost $2.50 - $3.00, additionally they are not sold at local stores :( So, got to go online, which means shipping is added to the product price.

Using ebay is not my favorite since so many sellers don't do proper job. But because of the price, I thought I would take a chance...

Including shipping the cost per a pen was brought down to $1.25 :D I had to buy a bulk, though, I am so very happy that I don't have to worry about looking for pens for a while :D

Quilted Tote bag - Pastel Hand Dyed Canvas

2011-09-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

So, I made the tote! (Continued from the previous post)
Sewed and sewed like hell...

I made three totes in the same design.
The second one is this.

The third one is this.

When I started making them, there was something unique on my mind, though.
They ended up being ordinary bags which could be easily found at a souvenir shop of contemporary art museum... Ummm.....

Anyway, I made them. So, I will be away from the hand dyed fabrics for a while, and think something else to make.

Last night when I was doing my assignments of my English class, I started to feel like Coffee Cup shaped coasters with Japanese fabrics. I looked for Japanese Ume - plum flower - fabrics from my collection.
Here is the result.

I made those with Japanese Kasuri fabrics also. They will be listed at my shop soon :)

In the mess...

2011-09-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Since my classes started, I have been anyway doing what I have to do in order in busyness. Sometimes I get upset because of my poverty of organizing skills, but I am getting used to the routines for the classes, and things are settling down. My latest most concern is that I may eventually drop the classes since I have met 3 students who is taking the same class twice.... and, they are much younger than me... who are supposed to be able to do better. All I can do is anyway doing my best, though.

I cleaned my living space today, and found hair irons in a mess in the container. Since I seldom use them, it wasn't my priority at all to organize them. Anyway, I made drawstrings bags for them :D

So, I don't have to be frustrated to fight with the cords every time taking one of them from the container.

Now, thinking to make some tote bags that I have neglected for a long time with those materials.

I picked them up at give away section at the quilting meeting. They are hand-dyed canvas fabric.

I better do when I thought of it, because I never know what happens in future, may get very busy and have enough time to forget the project itself :( Ummm.

Pastel Cities

2011-08-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here are the new quilts, called "Pastel city". I've made 5 quilts - 3 cities and 2 apartments - last week ;-p They all are similar looking.

Redish borders - 44.5" x 51 -

Green borders - 41" x 47" -

And, "Pastel apartment"

I wasn't going to make those last week, but found my stash box for pastel color fabrics was quite full when I was cutting pastel colors fabric in order to make some kits of Japanese alphabet - Hiragana - quilt. Fortunately or unfortunately, I started to piece some of the leftovers from cutting, and ended up pieced all of them... Consequently.... they turned to be 5 quilts.

I thought I would later chop the scrappy big pieces made with stashes, my friend said "it reminds me of NY city, town houses or plats." So, I decided to just add frames to the scrappy piece. Since my friend mentioned "city", I named the quilts "Pastel city". I think it's pretty :) Also I am happy about one stash box became empty so that I can store more :D

By the way.
I have been passionate about cooking with paprica, ground turkey, tomatoes, and sour cream.

I used chicken last night instead of ground turkey since I didn't have it.

My friend kindly, generously shares harvests from her garden, I have been enjoying them! :D :D :D
When basil leaves and lime juice are added to this pan, it easily makes Thai taste cooking, and I love Thai and Indian foods :) I am so lucky to be able to enjoy her harvests~~~!

Summer classes.

2011-08-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Done, done, do~~~~~~~~~~~~~ne! :D :D
I took the final test of my Web design class today. The score was very good :D :D All I have to do now is just wait teacher's evaluation, and I don't think I will fail the class. The last week was kind of being in a vacation since I was sewing, sewing, sewing and a little study, but this week will be totally vacation! I do have some quilting jobs though, it is now very relaxing since I don't have to worry about studying.

However~~~~~, new semester will start soon - Next Monday! I will be really busy since I enrolled 3 English classes - 13 credits. Hope I won't be stressed out because of those.

The text books for the new classes are already here. My housemate initially always tries to find text books at the libraries, and this time he borrowed 2 kind of the books for me after I purchased a paperback online - he didn't know what books are used in my classes.

I didn't know John Grisham is a very well-known popular novelist. He found 30 copies at the libraries, and got a "medium-letters print" book and "large-letters print" book. I am going to use the large print book, and decided to sell the paperback to the NOVA bookstore ;-p - should make a little money. I love large print because it's less confused with which line I was following. Well, this book is very thick for me, so... I have to start reading in advance.

I will anyway enjoy this week! Hope you have a lot of fun, too! :D :D :D

Also, new quilts I had made in the last week will be listed in my shop soon! :)

Hangeul Korean Pillows

2011-08-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

They are done, and already shipped to the Korean adoption organization. Those pillows are for the auction that will be held in this October.

Each meaning of the Korean words are "Love", "Freedom", and "Gratitude".

I made 2 sets of the pillows. One is for the donation, and one is for sale. I listed them on my esty shop a few days ago, though... it apparently not catching people's eyes. I think the style of them are not bad, and its quality is good. Well, come to think of it, if I were a Korean, I wouldn't want this kind of pillows. It might be kind of embarrassing for Korean to have pillows written "Love", "Freedom", and "Gratitude" in Korean. Hope someone has a need to get those pillows someday! :)

Speaking of Korean words, The Chinese Phonic symbol quilt was sold today. I was a little worried after I heard the symbols are not used today, so I am glad the customer found it with her special feeling for the quilt. Thank you!

Flower Vase cover

2011-08-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

This week was kind of meditation week. Meditating, but sewing a lot as well - made 5 quilt tops, finished Korean pillows, cut fabrics for Hiragana (Japanese alphabet) quilt kits. My friend had been kindly listening to my expressions and I could improve my meditation more thanks to her. I appreciate her time for responding me.

One project I was working on was done, so I am ready to list it on my shop. I thought I might want to keep it for myself since I enjoyed process of creation very much.

Most of parts are made with wool felts made by me. I had so many knitting projects left in the middle, and they were taking room in my drawer. I decided to felt them since I wouldn't continue the projects.

I didn't know what this would be when I first started to make it. The base part (light gray) was originally my sweater. I was knitting a high neck sweater for me, and it was left for years without completing sleeves; the hole is for a neck. Luckily, I found the glass flower vase which was going to be recycled, and it fit perfectly on the neck hole :D So I thought I would make a flower vase cover filled with ornaments imaged flower fields. It would look very pretty when some real flowers are set in the glass vase :)

This week

2011-08-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Things went almost as planned at the beginning of this week, except for the Korean alphabet pillows for a donation.

Here is the charity quilt. One of my friends brought some leftovers of blocks to the quilting meeting for give away, so I picked them up without a specific plan. And, it turned out to be a crib quilt. I pieced the blocks; added inner borders and outer borders, and quilted it.

Back.

The crib quilts for my friend who is going to have twins, were done also. The baby shower is the end of August. I would like to keep how they look like in secret yet, until the baby shower will be over. My friend has already known I would make quilts for her – actually one of the quilts is upon my other friend's order; we share the gift; so I can say here that the quilts are done. I like the result – as I used one of my favorite fabrics :D I used the same fabrics and similar backings but different patterns for the quilts since they are for twins.

As for the Korean alphabet pillows -
I had 3 color schemes on my mind. One is this using batiks.

Others is this using solid.

And then, I thought pastel might be good because this donation is for a Korean adaption organization – for children.

Then, reconsidered how about natural image...?
And, started to work on it with natural - Green & Brown, though (>_<)!!

  I feel like I am not doing well with these... These are not what I had on my mind. Well..., I am going to see how it will turn out. I will post pictures when they are done...

  By the way.
  I asked my mother what she wants for her birthday. She said she asked my brother (her son) for one DVD set of Korean drama just in case of he might be hoping to get something for her, and he said “yes” laughing. So, she wanted me to get the scales since her very old one is rusted. I just ordered it online; she will get it shortly at her place. It's SO convenient to have the Internet! I can order and pay for it online (Japanese web site) using my credit card from the USA; she will just receive it at home in Japan :)

OK.
  This weekend was spent for studying of my class. I am going to finish the class earlier than the original end date, and will try to have a summer vacation!! Hopefully.....

Birthday Party

2011-08-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

I joined a little birthday party last night. It was a surprise party. The planner sent out the notice in the last minute, so we even didn't know we were going to get together until 24 hours before the party. I think she was also having a hard time with determination of the party since we had talked on FaceBook that the birthday lady doesn't celebrate her birthday anymore! Well, the birthday lady looked happy last night, so I think it was very good :D

All of participants couldn't be in the picture, though, Which feet belong to who? :)

And, What I brought for a gift is this.

A ornament crane made with fabric. (I took this picture before adding strings)
She somehow likes Japan, I think. So it made me to make this little (?) crane. I am glad that she said she is actually collecting ornaments :)

And, since they suggested me to make this as a sales item, I will do that :D It is flexible because it is made with fabric. The wings move when it is moved up and down.

It was a wonderful night! Thank you! :)

Additionally, I finally uploaded pictures I took in NYC on my Flickr.
NY / June 2011
I took more than 700 pics from this trip. It was reduced to approx. 450 - still a lot.
I looooooooooooved visiting museums - MOMA (the Modern art museum) and the Metropolitan museum. Life itself is a huge art - life makes history, history makes culture. whatever humans tried to shape or form or create something to describe something is an art. It's enormously interesting to see how other humans created something to describe something they wanted - there is a life in it. Seeing an art is seeing a life. Arts are everywhere, and museums have masterpieces of arts. I also love to learn a little piece of history through arts - my problem is I cannot remember what I learned, though :( Anyway, museums are worlds of dream. And, NYC was full of art!

New Scarf Project - 2

2011-08-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

So, it's done! and it was shipped to my friend.
Please check the previous post relevant to this post, if you would be interested in :)

I think it turned out pretty good. It is soft, comfortable to wear and washable at home (hand wash)! I expected to see more bumpy ridges, but it didn't happen. Maybe, 10 layers are too thick to make deep ridges? I will try to make it thinner next time when I make it.

I actually asked her being honest in the birthday card when her exact birth date is... Well, it's not nice thing to write on the card, though, I think she already knew that I forgot the date, but being nice to me. I am sure she will let me know her exact birth date when she will receive the package from me.

Anyway, hope she likes this scarf :) - Not for summer, though! Too hoooooooooot!

apron•ology - magazine

2011-08-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

I found a very exciting magazine "apron•ology" at the quilting meeting yesterday! I am so thankful for my friend who brought it to the meeting!

It shows many girly aprons!! (>_<) <-- Crying in joy
My favorite in the magazine is this!

I unfortunately don't have enough encouragement and braveness to wear this kind of outfit by myself; also I am not a dress maker, so would love to make a quilt like this! (>_<) <-- Crying in excitement

It would be so much fun, but would cost a lot.... Cotton laces are expensive, but don't want to use polyester laces because they sometimes irritates my skin. Quilts have to be used comfortably and conveniently - easy care - in my policy.
Well, may have to think about alternative ways to express this girly world. Anyway, I was inspired a lot by the magazine :D

And this!

I have been thinking to make something like this to carry my camera, cell phone, home keys and a bottle of water when I go for walk. I kind of stopped walking for now because the weather is now too hot to walk around outside, but when the weather is improved for walking, and maybe when I cannot stand to see my berry is growing too much.

Maybe, maybe, maybe hopefully, this week, I could make this apron since I am not supposed to be busy with quilting job this week. I at least would like to finish the small Korean pillows project and 2 crib quilts for boys this week, and optionally one baby quilt for charity with giveaway blocks that my friend brought to the meeting. My friend is going to have a twin (both boys) this October. Phew~~~. The baby shower is in the end of August :D

I will have fun this week, too :)

August! - Orange quilt -

2011-08-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's August, already. Time passes so fast everyday - I think I am saying this for years.

My mother's birthday is soon. I hope she won't say "I think I want a DVD set of my favorite Korean drama", and start to give me a long lecture of the drama... She now has bunch of DVDs; she said she will take them to the heaven when she will die, so my brother and I agreed to put them in her coffin, though. Come to think of it, she will be cremated and we cannot put anything extra expect her body in the box. Moreover, graves in Japan are so narrow and small, only a pot that contains her ashes and a little bones can fit in it. There is no room for the DVDs... Well, sorry mom, we will sell your treasures after you die. We don't have to think about it yet; she will make 95 :) - I feel like I am saying this every year as well as about the time.

Anyway, it's August.
A month ago, I was asked if one of my quilt that I had made for my friend can be a part of the banner of one blog. She said the banner is being up whole August. Here is the blog :D
Stash Manicure - Wantobe Quilter Campaign

The blog seems like very popular that has many sponsors. I can tell this because I have been receiving messages and comments through Flickr where the pictures of the quilt are since the picture of the orange quilt is up on the blog. It means many people visit there.

This quilt was made for my friend when she gave me her precious sewing machine. After my cheap one stopped working right, I didn't have money to buy good one. Then, she gave me the old but excellent metal body machine . It performed very well since she was taking good care of it. I had never had such a heavy good sewing machine, so it really impressed me. Compared to a cheap plastic body machine that I had used for years, the stitches are different; the sound when it is sewing is different; the presence is totally different; the needle movement really excited me. I still enjoy using it after I got my Juki machine later. I enjoyed making the quilt very much, especially sewing curves. I think I would like to try the same quilt pattern again someday :)

I am very happy that other people also liked the quilt! :)
Thank you! :)

Stretchy Sonny.

2011-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

This morning when we were having a breakfast together, my landlord was disappointing about she missed to take a nice picture of Sonny laying on her bed stretching his body as long as he can be.

So, I told her I have those! and will post them on my blog :D

Since her cats are our idols, they get our attentions every minutes.

I often find him sleeping on the floor like this everyday.

A life with cats is so much fun. Always bring me so much joy and troubles which is considered as fun :)

So.
I just finished taking Exam 2 of my class. The grade was better than Exam 1. Hopefully, I could be prepared to take Exam 3 this coming Monday, but not sure since I hold 3 small quilts to be quilted which are supposed to be done this weekend. Try anyway :)

Have a nice weekend to you all.

Matched pillow.

2011-07-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

The quilt for my landlord mother was done :D
The earlier story is here.

I wanted to place this piece on the center. "BEST GRANDPA in the whole world"

My most favorite pieces are these.

"I don't need your attitude." This was the front of a boxer.

"I have my own." And this was on the back.

I guess it's common for husbands to be told what to do by wives all over the world ;-p I feel so sorry for husbands. Nobody likes to be told what to do. Ha-ha. Be patient, wives. Love him and make him love you :) He would peacefully, willingly do anything for you with love. Money destroy everything, Love creates anything.

So, I found some leftovers of the quilt. And, I made a little pillow with them.

Front.

Back.
Very cute, isn't it? I felt like I would like to keep it since I had the fabrics for months and very familiar with them now :)

New scarf project.

2011-07-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, one combination of this yarn, which I keep a long time, and 5 layers gauze fabric, which I purchased in Japan a long time ago, came up on my mind when I was sleeping.

Each layer of this cotton gauze fabric looks like bandages. The quality of it is much better and more dense than bandages.
I made a baby blanket with this gauze fabric a long time ago. It makes ridges after washing. Looks like this.

Since the gauze fabric holds a lot of air in between of each layers, and it is very soft, I thought I would make a scarf with it.
It is now growing like this. It is all hand sewn.

I used small beads to hold the yarns on the gauze fabric, and coarse straight stitches to hold the front side fabric and the back side fabric, which are both the gauze fabric - it makes totally 10 layers.

After finishing stitches, I will soak it in water and dry to make ridges, and see what will happen. Hopefully it gives me interesting result.

Thinking to give this to my friend for a birthday gift who has never forget my birthday for 27 years. Her birthday is July. I feel so bad about I cannot remember the date after asking her twice. I am not brave enough to ask her the third time... So usually send her a gift around the end of July saying "Happy belated birthday".

Well... SO SORRY (>_<).

Dolls!

2011-07-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

The home party I was invited the other day was literally GORGEOUS :)
Two professional musicians were there. We all enjoyed their music. I appreciate their service for us. Moreover, I could have some conversations about the difference between reality and dreams relevant to artistic activities.

So! What I was surprised a lot is, dolls! collected by the home owner's wife.

Simply, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!", isn't it.

She showed me some quilts she had ever done, also. It was hand quilted!
She told me she will never make a quilt because it was too much work for her, though, I appreciate her to finish anyway one project that she had started. Many people would just stop in the middle and throw it away after years. Moreover, the quilt she had made was beautiful :)

Exam1 !

2011-07-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

I am taking an online class - Web Design 1.

The class requires students to submit assignments, at your pace, and 4 exams by the end of the class. Since I have some difficulties to understand the contents of the class because of English, - I have been submitting assignments in not a big delay from guideline schedule though -, I had been putting the exams behind. However. I finally took the exam 1 at the testing center at NOVA. The result was... 80/100. Not bad, but could be better.

This is interesting experience for me to take a regular classe in English. I actually have some basic old knowledge of web design, which I learned by myself in Japan. So, I thought it would not be a big problem, though (>_<).

When I read descriptions in Japanese, I understand it fully without thinking. I might be able to say the same when I do in English, but the deepness of understanding is different. I think my brain just take meanings only surface when I read it in English. It is very interesting to find myself that when I see the word, for example, "protocol" in English, my brain gets confused. But when I read it in Japanese "プロトコル", no problem! This way, whole text book has been giving me a little mess of confusions; as a result, all confusions go nowhere. It takes time to have whole linked world , and to make sense.

Even the text book is talking about what I already know, I feel like it is talking about other things. It takes a while to figure out it is talking about what I know. So, even once I thought I had understood, I get lost when it is described in another way.

I was so afraid of taking the exam. And as I expected, those confusions didn't give me high score. Anyway, it's done. And the contents of the first exam was really, really giving me a problem to memorize or to organize the knowledge in myself, I am glad to get it over with. Planning to take the next exam this weekend, finishing the class before the fall semester starts is the best for me, which is August 22 - the end day of original course schedule is September 19.

Always some discoveries when I experience something new. It's fun even if it is a problem because I am willingly doing this.

Latest Sonny :D
I love to see his expression "Did I do something wrong? I don't know what was wrong?" looking at me with wide opened eyes when I yell at him. He has been killing me with his angel attitude. I think he knows it. Naughty boy :)

Quilts for charity.

2011-07-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

My friend is in charge of charity for Joplin disaster.

She has been collecting quilts and other things that could help Joplin people, and sending boxes with full of stuff to there.

Since she is a quilter, she makes quilts; and I helped her a little.

Quilt top made by Beth, quilted and binded by me.
I enjoyed new quilting line to me :)

Quilt top made by Judith Newman, quilted and binded by me.
Again, I enjoyed quilting.

Thank you, Beth for doing this!

The moon.

2011-07-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

The moon the other day was so beautiful.
I tried to capture it in my camera, surprised to see the result.

My friend said "it's made out of cheese."
Yes, I agree :D

I found ants were SO busy with something!!

I am so curious what they were so busy with! Maybe a huge worm had passed away under the ground? Mysterious...

Couple Pillows.

2011-07-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

I made a couple of pillows. The brown one is a male, and the pink one is a female.

The back looks like this.
Used shell buttons and wax coated cotton strings for closure.

My initial plan for the pillow was only pink one.

I have had the pink stripe fabric for years, then the beautiful elaborate lace cotton fabric was purchased a long time ago for one custom order of pillow case dresses which were special for her wedding. Actually the lace fabric is good quality of cotton though, it was a curtain or drapes. So, I had to buy it in lots of quantities. Accordingly, I had this lace fabric for years, too.

When I lined up those two fabrics, I thought I can make a very girly pillow.
Then, I went to a quilting meeting next day that was held at fabric store, and found the brown stripes cotton fabric there. I thought the brown fabric and the pink fabric can be a couple. They both are striped pattern, cotton, woven, match with the lace fabric. I think they make a good couple :)

A little projects.

2011-07-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

I finally got an idea what I would like to make with these!

These are pieces of cut an antique quilt. My friend gave me them saying "I don't know what to do with them"; I also didn't know what to do with them ;-p

What I started to make with them is a little ornaments. It looks like a Christmas tree, isn't it?

This project gives me fun while I wait for boiling something (cooking). If you are a quilter, I think you will adore it :D

And, English alphabet quilt top is ready to be quilted.

I had made this in the last year, 3 tops at once. The first one was sold; the second one will be listed on my etsy shop soon - my "soon" is a bit longer than others; the third one needs to be fixed a little.

Then, the next new quilt!

The title of the quilt is going to be "Nature in Japan".
Not sure what it will look like after all, probably need more considerations...

There are many ongoing projects (>_<). I cannot stop having fun!

My most concerned project.

2011-07-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

My latest most concerned project is this.

My landlord father had passed away end of this March. I offered to make a memorial quilt for her mother, then I later got bunch of boxers that were worn by him. Some people in my quilting group were surprised to make a quilt out of boxers, but why not? The material of them are cotton, so there shouldn't be problems.

I have been learning a lot from this experience! They are cotton, but stretchy. I haven't made a T-shirt quilt though, I think this experience can be counted as one T-shirt quilt making experience because it would be very similar.

I initially removed all elastic parts, buttons and seams from the boxers. Then ironed them carefully not to stretch the materials, and put very thin interfacing on the back to make it easy to sew. And, started to piece them, though!

For me, it's so difficult to deal with vivid colors! Even more, the patterns on the boxers are big, which means they need to be remained as big blocks. The more it grew as a quilt top, the more I didn't know where it was going; it was going nowhere... I felt like getting totally lost. Only one thing I am glad about what I did is, adding yellow fabrics to it. My house mate said, "It's fun. It's OK. What's wrong with it?". I hope my landlord's mother would feel the same way. I added patriot fabrics (stars on navy blue) for sides borders in order to put this chaos together, and in order to gain some width since it was narrow and too long. So, now it looks much better (I think).

Since the materials are thicker than normal cotton fabric for quilting, like flannel, and the backing is expected to be the same materials as the front since her mother gave me more than enough of boxers for the top, I would like to use thin batting in between. Maybe flannel would be good. I feel like this quilt will be the largest one I have ever quilted. It will be HEAVY to move the quilt sandwich around on my sewing machine! - Remember, I don't have a long arm machine. Woo, exciting!! I cannot wait to see how I will feel after completion :D :D

Veggie gardens.

2011-07-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

I found bunch of veggie gardens in my neighborhood the other day.

This is a section of rental gardens offered by the county. People pay $65 per year; you can plant anything legal you want. Some people's gardens are well taken care of; even though most are full of weeds. I met one guy who really enjoy working in his garden and harvests from his garden.

Shiny Japanese egg plant! Looks SOOOOO delicious (>_<)!!I don't think I would try to have such a professional garden since I know how hard to take care of it. I do really admire the guy for his effort. He is cool!

Small pillows in Hangul

2011-07-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Holt International Adoption Agency (a organization of Korean adaption) asked me if I am interested in donating a Korean alphabet quilt for their auction, which will be held in October this year.

It will be beyond my capacity in my current activities circumstance to make a Korean alphabet quilt for donation, so I accepted to make a small item instead.

What I am thinking to make is decorative small pillows that have Hangul letters. I am not sure what color scheme is good for the pillows. Once I will make patterns for that, I would also like to try to sell the pillows on my etsy shop - make 2 at once, one for donation and one for sale -. I anyway have around a month for production, so I will play with planning for a while.

Although, I am occasionally asked to be connected to a Korean adoption organization because of the Korean alphabet quilt, I AM A JAPANESE. I cannot read Hangul. The quilt has nothing to do with any Korean adoption organizations. The Korean alphabet quilt is originally a custom made. Hangul to me is just symbols like Japanese to foreigners.

I have one Korean friend in the quilting group I belong to. (Her quilting ability is gorgeous. She study hard, learn quick, and smart. She is not slow like me, and has been improving her skill every day. Amazing! VA Quilting ) I asked her to write "love" and some other good words in Hangul. She said.... she doesn't remember Hangul well since she lives in the USA for 17 years. I live in VA for 7 years. I sometimes cannot remember Japanese words because I don't use it daily. It is very understandable, especially after 17 years living here. She suggested me to use Korean - English online dictionary. It's a good idea! :D Why didn't I think about it!?

So, I chose "love", "freedom", "appreciation/gratitude".

<-- "love"

<-- "freedom"

<-- "appreciation/gratitude"

I initially did PrintScreen the dictionary website in the largest zoom, saved the pictures of Hangul letters. I would then trace them with a drawing application (Adobe Illustrator), print them in reverse, and applique. Once the letters are traced, it is very easy to re-size, make them bold. Or, it might be interesting to see "hand-made looking" without tracing on computers; just print the pictured letters in enlarge and trace them by hand. I may want to try that.

I am looking forward to seeing what the pillows will be look like. Until I decide the color scheme for them, I will enjoy other quilting (and studying (>_<) ) :D

A Blanket Cushion

2011-07-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

My friend didn't care about throwing a new thick blanket away, so I took it...., though..., there was no place for it to store in my room. It was sitting on my chair for a while; Sonny seemed to like to sleep on it; I thought it might be good to use it as a big cushion on my chair.

Since I didn't have a plan at all for making a blanket cushion cover, and I was kind of dull tonight after studying almost all day; but, I felt like I had to make it tonight before becoming more dull. I didn't even measure the dimensions, though, I think it went well than I expected. It took three hours for completion.

Now, I am going back to study :( Tomorrow will be busy for other activities. Ummm...

Little segments.

2011-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Browsing my pictures folder on my computer, found so many segments of my life that I like to add something about.

A deer eating grasses at NOVA. Found her/him after my class.

Wanted to make something different for dinner. I thought it would be fun to make for my housemates as well.

My friends' dog. She is exposing herself too much. She should remain something as a dog....

Beautiful border line of mowing...

Glad I was just drinking coffee, in front of this sign, when I noticed it.

Dill flower. My friend gave me a lot of dill. The flower was beautiful. I wasn't sure if flowers are edible or not; it sounds like edible according to the research on the Internet.

Cute wooden coffee cup with a spoon. It could be one of my treasures.

Well.
Time to study, I guess...
See you~~.

Relieved.

2011-07-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Found this wonderful and successful flier at somewhere. Very attractive :(　Please check carefully to see what is good about it.

Anyway!
I attended my last English class - final exam - for the summer semester last night. It went well. Hoped to get 100% score, but things didn't go well as I expected. I think I was too busy the last few weeks. Since my Weighted Total is higher than 90%, I don't think I will drop this class. Well, I did my best, and I am ready to take next level classes :D Hope my brain holds what I have learned until the next classes will start. It's so hard to memorize things, but to forget. It's like money :( To earn money is so hard, but to spend.

I liked my English teacher at NOVA. It is too bad that he doesn't teach my level in this fall. I think I will enjoy another teacher though. I will miss him :(

This week, I have to catch up other course. Since it is online class and can study at my pace, I am one or two weeks behind. Waaaaa~~~.

Hiragana Quilt featured on blogs.

2011-06-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I receive an offer for featuring my item(s) on people's blog.
I am happy to know they liked my item, and appreciate for their kind offer for advertising it on their blog.

Here is one of them, Tomo & Edie.
They started to write this blog to introduce items relevant to Japan from Etsy. Since there are many Japanese sellers on Etsy today, they would find more items easily. I look forward to seeing them :)

Also, here is their Etsy shop. They carry beautiful Japanese goods!
Tomo & Edie

Thanks, Tomo and Edie! :D

On another blog, my Hiragana quilt was introduced here back in the Feb.
I'm surprised to realize that it's been already 5 months since then. Time REALLY flies :( A day or a week pass so FAST; I feel like I don't remember what I had been doing.

Anyway.
This blog is written by Hiragana Mama!
Hiragana mama
She is a bilingual mom trying to teach her kids Japanese while living in the United States.
Her entire blog has something relevant to Japan; it would be interesting for foreigners to learn about Japan.

Thank you, Hiragana mama! :D

-----------------------------

So.
I have a final exam next week.
Finally, my English reading class will be over; my Web class will be continued until middle of September. I really have to keep up with it after this English class is over.

The next semester (fall), I am planning to take 2 English classes (+ 1 extra). The summer was 8 weeks, but the fall is 16 weeks semester. Probably it would be easier with scheduling.
After this fall, I will be finally able to take college English classes!! Not ESL! Do you know what this mean? "NOT ESL"!!! Whaaaaao! :D I am happy about that, but feel a lot of pressure at the same time.

Well, happy Forth of July to you all :)
I will be studying though :(

New York

2011-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

I was in NYC the last weekend! WONDERFUL!!
My Japanese friend visited the USA from Japan, and she suggested me to meet at NYC since I hadn't been there, also she anyway wanted to make her first USA experience in NY. Everything was set up by her; all I did was just going there as directed. I appreciate her very much for giving me this opportunity! I have learned a lot through this trip, each trips mean a lot to me. It's been 4 or 5 years since I saw her last time in Japan; she has been my friend since high school. We, of course, chat, chat, chat, chat, chat, chat, aaaaaaaaaaaand chat! :D This is most important (also food...).

NYC was like Japanese big city like Osaka or Tokyo, so there were not many exciting things to us since we know how a big city look like; also, I am done with young generation which was interested in owning so many stuff. Even I have been trying to not have many things, it's hard to reduce belongings. What I got from this trip as keepsakes are those :D (and my friend brought some Japanese snacks for me as souvenirs)

I am a collector of pressed penny. Usually, it cost 50 cents (+ 1 cent coin), but it was $1 this time. Maybe it is because in NY. I found this in the Empire State building. Other coin was at the Statue of Liberty.

I started to check the pictures I took in this trip. There are more than 700... I will probably upload part of them on my Flickr :) My friends requested me to share them :D

After came home, I received a nice gift from another friend.

Basil! (my favorite)
I love you all (>_<) (>_<) (>_<)!
Thank you!!

Bleeding nephew.

2011-06-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Received recent pictures of my nephews from my sister-in-law :D

Well.
He is bleeeeeeeeeeeeeding.
According to my sister, he fell off from the deck :( But he didn't cry. Strong boy!

Other nephew was kind of shocked.

What I think looking at his head... he will be bald. His head really looks like my brother's. He will start to losing hair in his early 20s. So sorry.

Hope my brother could give him useful advices from his experience to delay becoming the bald head...

Still busy...

2011-06-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

The last weekend was super busy, but very relaxing without worrying about anything. I simply enjoyed it.

We had a community yard sale in the morning of Saturday. I was serious about finishing quilting 4 soldiers quilts during the yard sale, and they were done. So I could take off to my friend's place for a birthday party; then, left for another friend's place; and..., drank and drank, laughed and laughed ;-p Well, it was wonderful.

Here is my friend's cat. I thought she was dying when I first saw her.

And huge ant's nest ;-p
I am not a fan of ants, but when I saw them working for the nest, I really feel admiring them. Also, they are a symbol of summer; I like to feel seasons from nature.

So, I finally got a time to start a custom order quilt in between of my classes.
The text book for the Web design course is 1" thick..... better to start reading prior. And, English homeworks before the next class.

This week is busy, too.

Surpriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise!

2011-05-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

Since I had applied Financial Aid for my college education (English class), I was waiting a day to be awarded. And it came a few days ago. All tuition fees I had paid in the past this year will be reimbursed from Grant. NICE.

I enrolled Web design course additionally in the last minute, since it is FREE ;D using Grant. And, since each semester has a limitation how much I can spend, the free money will be gone if I didn't use.

Grant pays for text books, too. I don't have to look for used books at the lowest price anymore :D I have been actually holding one text book borrowed from a college library for my class. So, I can return it after class is over; and, I don't have to pay even a penny for the textbook; but, it is a bit inconvenient because the book is older edition. It is missing some parts compared to the new edition. So, I will buy NEW one! :D Wow.

I went to a college bookstore last night to buy a book for the Web design course. And found out that Grant can pay for anything in the bookstore except for food, clothes and textbooks that are not for courses I took. They carry all kinds of stuff; not only notebooks, pens and stationery, but also DVDs, Laptop computer cases, voice recorders, backpacks, fancy bags, carriers, printer inks, and some computer related items, blah-blah-blah. WOW. Really????

Then, they checked how much I can spend at the college bookstores for summer semester, it was $1,000. WOW. Really?????
But all I needed was the textbook for the Web design course, and I didn't have anything else I wanted to buy. Also, I was almost like heart attacked person, my brain didn't understand why we are allowed to get items which is really not necessary for your class. They said "Software is not available to pay from Grant". WHY? Software is necessary depends on what class you take. I will need Dream Weaver for the next level of Web Design. Doesn't make sense at all.

But anyway, I got some bunch of copy paper, notebooks, pens, and something. I will go back to the bookstore to get some computer items :D
I appreciate very much for the system paying for tuition fees and textbooks, but the government is really wasting money by letting students buy those unrelated items to classes :(

Busy and Productive week.

2011-05-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

Last week was busy both physically and mentally with quilting, errands, activities with friends. After having busy days, I did have a peaceful and quiet, most importantly productive Sunday yesterday. I did quilting most of hours, two customers stopped by for picking up quilts and dropping off new quilts for me to work on. I also enjoyed cooking meals :)

Since my ESL summer class starts this week, I have been required to read text books in advance... which makes me nervous. It is very interesting to discuss about the contents of the books with my housemates, but I get frustrated a while later after talking about it because of a lot of knowledge makes me feel like I get lost, and cannot go anywhere.

Learning is hard! I didn't realize it until recently. I thought I like to learn, but become very lazy when I see my text books. And I end up going back to quilting job putting the books aside making excuse "This is my job to earn money...", because quilting is much easier for me than learning English.

By the way.
I watched 3 DVD which are biographies of artists.

Andy Warhol / Roy Lichtenstein / Jackson Pollock

Arts mean if you like what/how artists described their world. It is one of ways to feel the artists through their art works. I don't particularly like their works though, to see someone's biography is very interesting, especially artists'.

And then, I watched Japanese drama which is also a biography of Japanese most famous artist Taro Okamoto. It shocked me. Really shocked me. Again, I don't particularly like his art works, but the way he lived his life shocked me as I got a headache after watching the drama. My brain couldn't breath for a while, I feel like it is clogged. He passed away about 10 years ago, I am so sorry for myself about I didn't know about him when he was alive. I knew his name, but my impression about him was "strange man" that time. It's tremendously too bad he is not existed anymore.

Anyway.
I know my super busy weeks have begun. I have to keep quilting before thinking...

So, see you later :)

Summer~~~.

2011-05-10T12:09:00.001-07:00

Summer.
Summer is coming.
Ants are so busy for nesting and storing food everywhere. They are a epitome of hard worker. I need to emulate them :(

I felt greens and summer yesterday helping my friend weeding her yard, and watching thousands and thousands of tiny tadpoles swimming in her pretty pond.

It was nice.

Beloved Piggy.

2011-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

This piggy is somewhere in my area where I live. I don't know if this piggy is a male or a female, I intuitively feel... he is a male.

He is a very beloved pig by the resident who own the house and him. His costume is changed for every events. This time, he was celebrating the easter, but his costume was all greens decorated clovers when the last time I saw him. He was in Christmas mode for a long time though. The bunny ears he wears now looks like a well hand made by his family. He must be an idol of the family.

How cute.

Signs and fliers.

2011-05-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

My English class was over for this semester! :D
I have a 2 weeks break before the next class starts.
Woo!
But my teacher suggested me to get textbooks for the next class earlier and start studying it in advance since the summer semester is short.

Since my class was over, I started to work on sings and fliers for the community activity. We are going to have a yard sale at the end of this month, also a pot luck a while later of the yard sale. I got some compliments from the neighbors on a sign I had made for "Spring Clean up" event :D

I like to design some sort of advertisement, such as fliers, post cards, business cards, etc. I used to work for advertisement agencies for years in Japan. I really loved the job, even though overtime work was often required.

Anyway.
Look at this :)

It is an old edition though, my friend gave this to me~~! Happy~~~!
When I was working for the advertise agencies, the companies really didn't want to buy this kind of art clips because it is expensive!!
Well, usually it's hard to find exactly what you want, even from the 600,000 art clips on the 29 CDs, but it's very convenient for making fliers :D

So, I am going to explore this for our community yard sale fliers and signs :)
Fun :D

Bumpy Quilt - as "Vege Garden Quilt"

2011-04-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here is the bumpy quilt I had been talking about in the last few days :)

Since the colors remind me of vege garden, I name this quilt "Vege Garden Quilt".

I wanted the back to be unique, and wanted to play. So it became like this...

For the straight quilting line, using a walking foot is common though, I somehow don't like it because of noisiness. My sewing machine (JUKI TL-98) has a feature of foot pressure adjustment.

I set it at the lowest pressure, and quilted with normal sewing foot. It beautifully worked :)

Now, the weather is for planting veges in your garden. I got some vege seeds and ready to ask my landlord for letting me use the part of her backyard where she let me do the last year :)

I have a friend who has a little beautiful garden deck just for her cooking. Every time she invites me for lunch, she picks up some veges and herbs from her garden. I would love to have such a garden for me, too (>_<)! So, this is my challenge for this spring - summer - fall.

Quilting in a hot day.

2011-04-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a hot day to quilt.
The quilt I had worked on was big enough to cover completely entire of my lap, I was glad the quilt had polyester batting. It would be heavy and warmer if it had cotton batting in between of the top and the backing.

The bumpy quilt I mentioned in the previous post was done! I am glad to see something different. Unfortunately, today is not a good day for picturing it because of the weather :(

Yesterday's evening, I found a little babies in bok-choy (qing-geng-cai) when I was cooking! Each leaves had a little baby in the layers. HOW CUTE!!!

Speaking of bok-choy, I have had delicious baby bok-choys just deep flied in vegetable oil ,without any coating like crumbs, when I visited China. I thought it was easy to cook at home, but couldn't have the same result after cooking some times. It was very good with beer and also with usual meals. I would like to try with other kind of oils when I find baby bok-choys next time :)

Bumpy Quilt.

2011-04-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Very nice weather today. A little windy though.

Starting to make something... I mean, "something" is a quilt though.
It is going to be bumpy and very simple.

Hope it will be done in today.
See you later :D

Colors.

2011-04-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Just a note of happiness.

Fabrics I bought the other day.

Found nice color scheme when I went to shopping after purchasing the fabric above.
I think this is a table runner sold at somewhere a shop.

Surprised myself when I found these have the same color scheme.
It made me happy :D

New quilts - 1960's - maybe - 41x54

2011-04-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

The blocks I had been working on (please refer to this previous post!) became quilts!
Here.

They are lap size, I believe.

Since I made 29 blocks without making a plan, 11 blocks are left after making 2 quilts. 4 of them were used for a table runner (in progress), I don't have a plan for other 7 blocks. 29 wasn't a good number for making blocks, though, the black fabric I used for the center of the block made 29 pieces, and I didn't count how many pieces there were.

Here are the details!

These are the same quilt (should say very similar), but have different quilting pattern. I love to see how quilting makes a quilt. Depending on quilting, the quilt change the impression.

Here are the backs!

Which one do you like better??

I like the results how the blocks turned to be a quilt.

By the way.

The big unexpected quilt top which I showed in the previous post, if you checked it, was turned into strips.... it means, I can make more quilts in this pattern.

I am thinking to make it with other colors instead of beige next time. Wooo, FUN!

Different?

2011-04-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

The last Thursday night was hard.
After busy afternoon, I had to change a topic of my essay homework that I had been working on, which was supposed to be submitted Saturday in the class.
The essay isn't supposed to be a big deal as my teacher said "Don't take your time longer than 2 hours"; it is 5 paragraph Argumentative essay with any topic you would like. Actually I had spent longer than 6 hours for the ruined essay :( I might be taking it too seriously about writing homework essay, though, since the teacher really doesn't care about contents students write. He just needs to know if we are following the right essay style and English composition. However, I think I like to write. Even this little essay for English practice is one of my works.

To finish my essay, I had to drag my housemates into my problem of writing essay. I appreciate them always carefully listening to me whatever I say. They strongly suggested me to change a topic to something easier to write about, when the essay was almost done.
The problem getting stuck was that misunderstanding of definition of one word that I was using in the essay. Thus, I lost the direction in which I wanted to go, because the contents of the essay became not making sense to me anymore.

After working for vocabularies a little to refresh my brain, I started to work on a new essay drinking... The title is, "After Ruining an Essay". Argumentative essay has to have Pros. and Cons. for the topic in it. I wrote about which is better that rewriting it with a new top or modifying the old one. Since I got something that I want to write about; it was done in 2 hours.... phew....

My teacher apparently a guy who has a sense of humor. He gave me "Very Fun!!" with a smiling face for my essay about "How to kiss" in the past. So, I expected him to accept this essay also :)

And, it was.
He said to me that I have a sense of humor, correcting my new essay laughing. And, he added "You are different."

When I hear this word about me from people, I feel a little confuse. This is not the first time to be said; I was 10 when I got the comment for my first time. Since then, many people said to me the same though, I still cannot figure out what is the difference between people and I. Additionally, I have never thought I have a sense of humor; I am always serious. Two of my friends said to me in the past, "Your existence itself is a joke!" Well? One of reasons I like to drink is because I can be free from serious ...

I have asked one colleague in my 20s' to write a report about what is the difference she felt about me. She agreed to write it in a week, but what she wrote about was how much she likes me instead. I feel like what my ex-boyfriend said to me is the clue to find the answer. "Your affect stopped developing around you were 10 years old. I would love to know how it happened." In a way, I recognize being like a kid; but, I don't think I act like a kid :( Hope someone can explain me about it in future :(

Anyway, I am having an exciting and fun weekend - still continuing.
Hope yours is good, too :)

His Dangerous Toy.

2011-04-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, he brought this to me.

It was still alive a bit, half dying, half alive...

Here is the video I took.

You are such a big entertainment, Sonny....

Enjoy :D

Sunday Morning.

2011-04-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Good start....... for Sunday....

They must have energetic active night with a lot of fun last night. I wonder why I didn't notice that storm; must be in deeeeeeeeeep sleep.
I want you to share that energy with me, my adorable boy....

I got to torture him :D
He doesn't like to be kissed and hugged, so torturing him is a great pleasure for me.

Love you, Sonny.

What's this....

2011-04-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I opened one of my drawer for fabric stashes. There was a bag of full of stash, which was given by my friend almost/more than 2 years ago. They are old print, probably from 1960s. Looked for soft light gray in my room which may go well with the old prints, but didn't find. The last Monday's quilting meeting was at a fabric store, so I looked for light gray, but couldn't find. Donna kindly and generously gave me a nice neat looking light gray though, felt like it wouldn't go well with them and quantity wasn't enough for what I wanted to do. I feel like I may end up using it somewhere though.

So, AGAIN I looked for soft nice printed BEIGE which I couldn't previously find, so I knew I don't have... but tried again.

Well.... so I took solid soft beige and started to grow blocks :D
Here they are.

Sew, sew, sew and cut, cut, cut making strips and sew, sew, sew again.
It's fun.

While the first "sew, sew, sew", I noticed I did too much "sew". So, here is an unexpected big quilt top from the first sew though.....,

What's this....
I don't know what to do with this...
Probably it won't be sold... Too boring... (>_<)
I like it though.
I should put some small accents in it and cut more sew more, but not after added borders.
I am not sure how I want to quilt it. Very simple, simple line may work with variated thread, or swirls as usual, but...

Last night, I went to CVS for some reason, and took a look at cards there.

Flowers may work! Flowers garden on the 60s print!

But the quilt size is big. It would be more than 80x80. HEAVY to move it on my sewing machine. I am not sure if I have such a patient to quilt with small quilting pattern.

Well, let's see what happens. I may end up chopping it up again. It will be a long trip....

Wonderful day.

2011-04-12T21:44:00.001-07:00

Today was soooooooooooooo wonderful, just wonderful, really wonderful in any meaning.
I want to appreciate everything around me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Entrance Ceremony

2011-04-11T06:03:00.001-07:00

My 2nd nephew entered elementary school.
He looks a little nervous. I am very sure he will be very popular in the class, but too naughty for teachers, who is just like my brother. My adorable, adorable boy, cannot stop wishing him a lot of fortune.

New Quilt - 3 -

2011-04-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

So.
They are done though.
Turned out VERY ordinal.
Well.
There.

I made 3 quilts from the 40 strips. Cut 2 strips from each 20 kinds of fabrics, sew them together, and cut them into blocks, added frames or sashes or whatever it is called.

I'm a little disappointed that the plants quilting pattern didn't work out well on it (the first picture), it kind of too busy with a combination of vein pattern...

Well.
I will try it again with another one. Thinking to do it with white x oranges and orange variegated thread! Not sure if it works or not...

I'm done with my homework this week! I'm going to have a fun day with sewing and outing tonight! :D 5 of lap size quilts are waiting for me to be quilted; hopefully 3 should be done in today, then play with some other things.

Have a great weekend :)

"Funiculi, Funicula" vs "Oni no Pants"

2011-04-01T09:14:00.001-07:00

"Funiculi, Funicula" (music)

"Funiculi, Funicula" Lyrics

Most of you know this song, don't you.
I had known this song only in Japanese version until my friend pointed out the difference between the original and Japanese one. This song to me is for a kid; I learned it when I was a kindergarten, but the original one is very cheerful and gorgeous!

I have no idea why Japanese changed the lyrics to about .... Monster's panties....
Interesting.

Here is the Japanese lyrics. I translated it into English; so, there might be some better expressionｓ though, anyway.

"Oni's panties" -- Oni means Japanese monsters.　Author unknown.

Oni's panrits are good
It's strong, strong

It is made out of tiger's fur
It's strong, strong

It's not worn out after wearing it 5 years
It's strong, strong

It's not worn out after wearing it 10 years
It's strong, strong

Let's wear Oni's panties
Let's wear Oni's panties

You, and you, and you, and you
Why don't we wear Oni's panties
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oni (Japanese monsters) look like this :)　Here.

New Quilt - 2 -

2011-03-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

So.
I thought I would make 2 kinds of quilts using the same fabrics in different design, and cut 2 strips from each fabrics.
However.
However, however.
I still think just sew strips together would be just boring.
Then, how about adding one specific fabric in between of each lacy girl fabric strips team?

I like light green for it :)

Oh no. This green is too bright. It would kill lacy girl team when all are sewn together. But I don't have lighter and soft green than this fabric...
How about white-on-white fabric, then. White-on-white fabric also has lacy girl atmosphere.

Well. Looks better than the light green, but this is too bright also. It doesn't blend in to the lacy girl team. I would like to try beige.

Looks good. But, solid is too boring... Why don't I have beige something printed on?!

I anyway dropped the first design, which is just sewing strips together, and started to sew the strips without making plan for the next step...

Continue :), because I need to finish my essay homework :(

New quilt.

2011-03-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Made this place mat yesterday.

And I thought I would make a simple lap size quilt in this quilting pattern in a day. Looks like this (below).

Greens or Blues borders would be interesting, but how about "Lacy dreamy girl" color scheme? And, collected fabrics are here.

Well......., started to feel the first design may not work for a result what I want. Just borders with those may be too boring. Still not sure about it since they often change atmosphere at each procedures, when it is a quilt top, after it is quilted.

So, how about this way?

And, I have to have a problem with finding suitable fabric for the frame with the lacy dreamy girl team.

Well, the quilt will not be done in today :(
Maybe, make two quilts in each design would be fun to see the results.
Awwwwww, homework is waiting for me though....

Birthday Boy & Girl on Mar. 27.

2011-03-28T16:46:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was their birthday! :D
Tried to take a picture of them being together, but they didn't give me a pause.
Since I have a permission to give them wet food every Sundays, I got some cans food for them for a birthday gift. 2 cans were fed for the special night, (usually one can) I think they liked it :)

Happy birthday, Sonny & Chloe :)

Donation.

2011-03-23T07:49:00.001-07:00

I'm too slow for things to do :( Maybe, if I have an organized brain, things are so easy to get done. And what I need to do dairy is simple enough to deal with, nothing difficult, "Don't complain, Don't make excuses, JUST DO IT!" things.
And another things making me energy down is because of feeling so sorry for my friends who lost her father, who hasn't been feeling well, who has a mother being not good, my sister-in-law has been having difficulties in her life, my best friend in Japan is in bad situation at work, etc. Every time I see the way that my friends fighting to deal with problems, it let me learn. Well, I am again making excuses for not doing things.

Anyway.
I finally got an idea of how to make donations for Japan Relief through Red Cross.

I'm ashamed to say, this is my first time to donate to Red Cross, so I didn't know how to do.
I would prefer to donate to Japanese red cross since the disaster happened in Japan. I was wondering why my Japanese friends who live in the USA say "Donation to American Red Cross".

I checked online how to donate.
I would like to use my credit card to donate, but only bank transfer is allowed to deposit directly on Japanese red cross, or have to go through third party (WorldPay) to use credit cards. Also, contributions given to foreign governments are not tax deductible. OK. maybe that's why. Since I live in the USA, to donate to American Red Cross is the simplest way.

So I decided to donate 20% of my sales to American Red Cross for "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami". I think I don't have to blame myself anymore for not doing anything for them. What I can do for the world is really tiny, but nothing (I hope).

Cherry Blossom!

2011-03-22T11:09:00.001-07:00

Didn't notice until a week ago that cherries are blooming everywhere. I usually look forward to see Sakura (cherry tree) blossom, though. Since every day passes so fast, I didn't realize now it is time for Sakura.

The weather is getting warmer and warmer, time for a walk! Spring walking brings me a lot of fun to find interesting things outside :) I used to enjoy walking with Angel (a dog) who passed away last spring. I miss her very much...

Chinese Phonic Symbol Quilt.

2011-03-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the quilt top of Chinese phonic symbol quilt that I have been working on. Finally the top is done :) I am now waiting for a reply from my customer to know her preference of fabric for backing. This quilt should be done as soon as I hear from her! :D

When I first heard from her about ordering "Chinese alphabet quilt", I was afraid to think of how the alphabets are complicated to do applique each of them.

Come to think of it, I am not sure about Korean though, Japanese Hiragana (and Katakana) and English alphabets can be also meant as phonic symbols. They all show the role of pronunciations; and the combination of those alphabets make words. Big difference between Japanese/English alphabets and Chinese phonic symbol is, Japanese/English alphabets are used for writing in as-is; but Chinese phonic symbol is only for phonic, they have other characters for writing.

I would never know about this if my customer didn't ask me for the custom order. They really grow me smarter :) Thank you! :D

A hot day.

2011-03-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

The last Friday was a hot day like beginning of summer. I enjoyed warm breeze from the back yard, Sonny and Chloe had been staying beside the door staring at outside for hours.
It was a busy day making donations for Japan relief event.

Those donations were already shipped to my friend who planned the event for Japan, if you live nearby the event place in NY, Please stop by! Hope she can collect a lot of money from all the donations.

The moon was big that night, my friend told me the next day (Saturday) was the biggest in the last (or next?) 80 years. Unfortunately, I have missed it :(

It was a niiiiiiiiiice evening to take a walk. I wanted to show you all the pictures of the moon :)

Fundraiser for Japan!

2011-03-18T10:55:00.001-07:00

Fundraiser for Japan!

My friend oktak decided to organize a sale for Japan relief!
This Saturday (3/19) and next Saturday (3/26), she will sell bake and craft goods at her girl's school to raise funds to send to the Red Cross. Many of crafters are donating items for sale for this project.

BAKE & CRAFT SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF
BY THE FAMILIES OF P.S.183

Time : March 19 & 26 (Sat) 10am - 3pm
Place : 67th St. Market (bet. 1st & York Ave.)

RAIN OR SHINE!!

All proceeds will be donated to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund of the American Red Cross.
Donations of baked goods also welcome. Please drop-off by 10am both days.

If any of you kind crafters would be interested in donating free items for the fundraiser, please contact oktak! > info@oktak.com (Aki)
I am going to make some coasters for donation, also some drawstrings bags from my shop will be donated. If you're in NYC, please drop by!!!!

Thank you!

Artificial Owl

2011-03-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Since the weather is very nice in the last few days, I enjoyed walking in the early evening.

I was so excited when I found something looked like a big bird on the tree, but I found it is artificial owl when my camera gave me a magnified picture. I was so disappointed to see it wasn't a real one, but at the same time, impressed by the person who put the owl on the branch of tree. How many people can think of putting artificial owl on the branch to surprise people??? I appreciate his/her effort for that.
FUN, isn't it.

Quilting meeting.

2011-03-17T13:49:00.001-07:00

I attended a quilting meeting today after almost a month. I didn't
realize I was away from my quilting friends such a long time since I'm
so comfortable staying home... I know I should get out of home more
often though. Sometimes my quilting customers/friends come to visit me
to drop or to pick up a quilt, some ladies drop me a line "We've
missed you." when I missed a meeting. Probably that's why I didn't
feel like I am away from them. I appreciate them for thinking of me.

Today's meeting was a big refreshment for me. Quilting ladies talk
nice, funny, delight, which gives me energy. I wish I could speak like
them someday. It was the first meeting after the disaster in Japan. It
was kind of surprising for me to know some ladies remember I am from
Japan, even them I haven't had a conversation before gave me a hug or
asked me about my family in Japan. I am not contributing anything to
this big group which has so many members, just be there sometimes not
always, but some of them still remember me and talk to me kindly. I
appreciate them very much for letting me be in such a heartwarming
atmosphere every time I attend the meeting.

I started to make coasters with Japanese fabrics. They have adorable
Japanese print on it :D So CUTE, aren't they :D

And, working on Chinese phonic symbol quilt (Custom order). Making 2
at once, so one will be listed on my etsy shop when it's done. I would
like to see if there is someone who might be interested in purchasing
it other than the customer who gave me the order.

OH, got to do English homework, and tax preparation, too :(

2 Treasuries at once with the same item!

2011-03-14T21:26:00.001-07:00

WOW. Surprised to see my item picked up at the same time in 2 treasuries! Additionally, I just listed this coaster set today :D

underwater circus guest starring the chickapug

Created by longwinterfarm.

Random Connections

Created by FlourishBathBody.

Thank you so much!! :D :D :D

The last week.

2011-03-14T08:50:00.001-07:00

Thank you very much for your concern about my family and my friends in Japan. My family lives far from the disastrous area, and I don't have friends who live in the area.
I have many feelings for/related to the disaster in my mind, but I keep myself speechless. It doesn't mean I don't care about it, I don't know what to say. All I can do is just wishing them to be recovered as soon as possible. It will take years and years, but it will be recovered someday....

OK. Move on.

I got a cold in the early last week. My body is trying to be better, but staying in the almost same condition for a week, since I don't take enough rest to defeat the cold. Although I thought I might have to stay in bed all day today after some abuses to my body with weekend activities, unexpectedly I am feeling better. A lot of vitamins might be working.

My spring break was over. I need to check blackboard to see if my teacher posted assignment or not, but I am afraid to check....

I appreciate to be able to have these peaceful life.

Treasury - Sake

2011-03-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sake! by Fodon on @Etsy http://etsy.me/e07PwG

Kind of surprised to see Japanese Sake world @Etsy.
My Sake bottle drawstrings bag is included here :)

"Sake" is Japanese rice wine. I personally don't drink Sake often since I was in Japan. It is hard for me to tell what I don't like about Sake, probably it is because of my stupid experience in my early 20s when I didn't know how alcohol engulf humans ;-p You know what I mean if you enjoy alcohol. Most of you go through this experience and learn how much you can drink, I guess. I prefer hot sake than cold sake, but hot sake has too much fragrance as I sometimes cough when sipping it. I was kind of exciting when I found "sparkling sake" here. I hadn't seen sparkling sake in Japan, and the taste was pretty good. It became my favorite item to take to a party to share :)

About my bag.
When I got this Sake fabric in Japan, I love the texture and the atmosphere of print. I thought this would be very interesting for foreigners. So, I bought large quantities. The price was also pretty good, I remember it was approx. $3/yd. And then, someone told me after I bought it that something related alcohol doesn't give American a good impression because of their major religion. It was a looong time ago, so I now know people in the USA enjoy alcohol. The sake fabric seems not to impact people here, but I still like it :)

"Something with flowers and leaves..."

2011-03-07T11:25:00.001-08:00

My customer brought a beautiful quilt to be quilted. Her request for quilting line pattern was "Something with flowers and leaves if you can do that."

I draw the line on the paper first to determine if it looks good matching with the quilt, and thought it might work on it. SO, I tried! What do you think??? I think it went well for this quilt :)

InCultureParent.com

2011-03-03T08:24:00.001-08:00

This morning, I found one email from this website InCultureParent.com

.
It was "WOW" to me, because they said in the email that they would like to introduce my Korean alphabet quilt in the section of Language on the front page! (Don't know what month it will be yet) They are also going to include my etsy shop in the article. My answer was of course YES, I feel so sorry for myself about lack of my English skill to write formal letters.

I stopped to produce an Korean alphabet quilt because it is time consuming, I wanted to do some other things than making the quilts like a factory. Since I was sometimes asked about if I carry a kit and the pattern with instructions of the quilt, I decided to sell it. There are so many quilters who can make their own Korean alphabet quilt in their taste. It's not much difficult even if you are a beginner. You just need to have some patient ;p It would be nicer to have your own taste quilt made with family's love than just buying from me.

I might again start making the quilt for sale for people who has no way to get a completed quilt, however..., I do have many other things that I want to do. I seriously need 48 hours in a day or I need to train myself to move around quicker and learn how to organize things in my brain... Wo!

I recently got a request to make a Chinese alphabet quilt. It should be appear on my blog within a month since the due is in this month. Well, my shop is going to have 3 kinds of foreign alphabet quilts, which is Japanese, Korean, Chinese. I really didn't expect this will happen when I first started to sell a Japanese alphabet quilt. We never know the future, do we?

I found one interesting article from the website InCultureParent.com!
It is talking about difficulties for Japanese to make sound "R" and "L". I think most of Japanese went through this experience, as I also did. ha.
Careful With the "R"! Japanese Language Mistakes

Enjoy :)

After months...

2011-03-02T08:29:00.001-08:00

The sewing machine needle has broken after MONTHS. Thank you very much for lasting long time and putting up with such hard jobs I made you do. It is time to change it to new one...

Midnight Cowboy

2011-03-01T07:40:00.001-08:00

It's a famous movie that I hadn't seen. I knew only the title and I thought Clint Eastwood is the main hero in this movie, but it wasn't. I think my brain naturally link to Clint Eastwood, when I hear the word "cowboy". ha ha. I think many of you have seen this movie.
Since my housemates enjoy movies, I often have opportunities to watch movie with them. In this movie, Ratso played by Dustin Hoffman was incredibly great as I cannot forget about him since then.

He has a very good heart, but his life didn't work out well, living in an abandoned building in NY, by himself, being sick, dreaming to live in Florida. He dies in the bus going to Florida at the ending. Joe Buck, who is the main character, played by Jon Voight who came from Texas in cowboy style, helps him to take him to Florida.

I asked my housemate, "Do you think Ratso was happy to die in the bus in uncomfortable small seat instead of dying at home?" wondering Joe Buck could use the money for taking Ratso to a doctor instead of going to Florida.

"Well, he didn't have a "home". He didn't have anything at home. He died in hope which was his dream of living in Florida. I think it was better for him to end his life in the bus than dying in the abandoned building."

Then, I thought of myself, the question came up on my mind means I would like to die at home. It's because I somehow have a home where I can live with dependable people. That abandoned building could be his home if he had someone who he can trust to live with. It might not work this way, but he could make a home by living with Joe Buck until he finds a right woman to share the life. "Home" means not a building, it is where you can live with a person/people who you trust. Well..., he was sick and anyway couldn't live in long future... So... I think it was the best ending for him as my housemate said.

OK.

I am going ahead to writing a 4 paragraph COMPARATIVE essay, which is my homework, after quilting a quilt a little. Since I have been learning grammar and practicing writing essays, it is getting interesting in writing English sentences. I think writing this blog could be one of English practice. SO, I am studying even now. ha ha~. Hope my composition skill improve a lot after the class.

See you :)

Monsters Quilt in progress

2011-02-24T06:45:00.001-08:00

I received a request from my customer for my Monsters quilt the end of last year. We discussed about the quilt, and she let me make it upon my creativity. One thing she was particular about was using Japanese fabrics. Considering the quilt is for a boy, I tried to stay on "boy taste" but Japanese, and those are made out of the custom order. The monsters are kind of weired, but since they are monsters, so I think being weired is right for them.

The quilt top is actually done, and I love the result. Since this quilt is for a boy, I used many "zakka" looking fabrics. If this is for an adult, it could be traditional taste of "Japanesey". I think that atmosphere is interesting also.

I am ready to put together the backing. I will post the completed quilt when it is done :D Hopefully, within a week!

I have to spend most of today for doing homework unfortunately. I have been thinking what topic is good or motivate me to write for an narrative essay since this Monday. I thought I would write about my volunteer experience, but now thinking about "How to kiss" to write. If it would not work by this evening, I will go back to the previous idea.

Treasury : Warm me up buttercup, wool socks and a hot cup of tea

2011-02-23T07:11:00.001-08:00

Very Springy Treasury from Etsy.

Warm me up buttercup, wool socks and a hot cup of tea created by saffronfields.

I am honored to see my yellow cushion is included in this treasury.

Very cheerful, isn't it :)

Speaking of Treasury, I have been thinking, thinking, and thinking to create my treasury for a looooooooooooooong time, but never happened so far. My item is often included in someone's treasury (thanks!!), and I love to see it! This is one of great ways to share your favorite with people :)

Batik fever.

2011-02-23T06:16:00.001-08:00

I think Batik fever has been attacking me again. The last attack was in fall, 2009, I think. When this fever attacks me, I start to buy large quantity of batik one after another. Hope this attack wouldn't last for a long time :( Probably, next attack would be a year or a year and half later.

I thought the 2 batiks in the last picture would be good to use for a Japanesey quilt. Cannot wait to use it!

And thinking to make a simple red batik quilt with those that you see in the first picture, and with white solid. It will be FUN~~~~~~!

Vocabulary quiz.

2011-02-20T16:32:00.001-08:00

Every week, I get some handouts for homework from my ESL class. One of them is "Vocabulary Practice". The teacher gives a story in a few sentences and we have to finish the story using the words given by the teacher.

The story of this week is this ;

In order to eliminate the aliens that were attacking the city, Doctor Max had to demonstrate to his intellectual colleagues that his weapon was more powerful than his previous invention. His colleagues granted him the opportunity to implement his new device, but would it deceive the aliens?

And the words given are ; intuitive, prohibit, exclude

I started to write some sentences starting with "intuitive" (alternative forms are acceptable to use, like "intuitively").

Dr. Max intuitively knew his new weapon would work for deceiving the aliens from study.

Then, my housemate said,
"Dr. Max cannot INTUITIVELY knew the weapon would work because he already studied them, even he demonstrated to his coworkers his weapon. He is trying to make it work to eliminate the aliens. Intuitive means you have some strange feeling on something without knowledge or facts or proof about it. For example, you feel like a person is telling you a lie but you don't have a reason why you feel that way, ....... "

OK. Then, how about "The aliens INTUITIVELY knew the human beings will counterattack."

"Well, that sounds better. Continue."

I again started to produce other story with the new subject of "the aliens".

The aliens intuitively knew the humans would counterattack. They also could realize the humans would produce weapons since they expected the humans would get together at the area where they are now.
This planet had been occupied by the aliens for centuries before the humans were created. They excluded the area from the attack to protect their God since their ancestors built a shrine under the ground. Even any of aliens were prohibited to get in the shrine until all other creatures become extinct.

My housemate continued to give me corrections....,
"It doesn't make sense to me at all. Where the Dr. Max and his coworkers gone? Why suddenly "humans"? The aliens cannot REALIZE the human would produce the weapons, they have already made one and making better one. How did they figure out the previous one didn't work? Isn't it because they tested it already? What does "the aliens expected the humans get together at the area where they are now" mean? The humans are already in the area, this sentence is talking about future. The aliens are now attacking the city, right? Why "Planet"? What does "Even any of aliens" mean? What do you want to say with this phrase? Just say "All" is fine, isn't it.... ", etc, etc.

We laughed, laughed, laughed and laughed, and explained everything I had on my mind to make all sense though, it's hard for me to rewrite the sentences after all these mess.

I had been working on this vocabulary quiz since this morning, and it was already early evening when my housemate started to pay attention to my homework.

Well, I think I can rewrite all stories made up with my imagination to make it sense, but I have to put it on a piece of paper, there is not enough space for that. Moreover, this practice is for vocabulary. I cannot take more time for this homework :( I have to write one 4-5 paragraphs narrative essay this week again. (plus, grammar homework)

Well...., it's fun, I think....

P.S. I got "pass" on my first narrative essay that I submitted last week :)

Frozen Wine

2011-02-18T11:29:00.001-08:00

Forgot to take out the wine bottle left in freezer for hours, and this happened.
The taste wasn't changed because of frozen, I think, still it was enjoyable.

My friend found old bottles in the cabinet and we opened some. One was already ruined, turned to be vinegar, but this vintage (? almost 30 years old) wine in the 3rd picture was GREAT!! Mellow and fruity! This was my first time to try vintage wine.

Wine always add nice taste to a good time, isn't it :)

Children's Home Adoption Celebration

2011-02-12T20:20:00.001-08:00

Saturday, March 5, 2011 / 1-5pm
University of Minnesota Fieldhouse
1800 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis

I received one message from a volunteer lady wondering if I am interested in donating my Korean Alphabet quilt kit for silent auction, to Korean adoption festive which is held in March. She offered me to send my business cards for business promotion so that people who saw the auction could contact me later. So I made the business cards for only this festival. My original business cards doesn't say anything about Korean alphabet quilt, however, since this festival is for Korean adoption, I thought I would put Korean alphabet quilt on it as a main product. I am interested in what bidding price people put on the kit, hopefully the volunteer lady will let me know after the festival...

Enjoying to draw notes.

2011-02-10T08:36:00.001-08:00

Found myself I have been having fun to "draw" taking notes.

I don't remember since when, I like to use a ballpoint pen to write something down. For me, it is not supposed to be a pencil or mechanical pencil, or a pen, to write down, it has to be a ballpoint pen. If the ballpoint pen is made in Japan, I am really happy. The pen should be a free gift from a company that was used for business promotion. I think I have never purchased a ballpoint pen when I lived in Japan, because I always had a free gift pen anywhere.

I think a thick pen is popular in this country. Many people use 0.7 for mechanical pencils or sometimes 0.9, but to use 0.5 is common in Japan. Accordingly other kind of pens are too thick for me, also ballpoint pens. It might be hard to find a right ballpoint pen for me after I spend all pens that I brought from Japan. I may have to ask my mother to send me some from Japan ;-p or just get used to use a thicker pen.

I feel like it is like drawing a picture or playing piano when I write something with a ballpoint pen even it is letters, especially when there are a lot to write. I enjoy to see a little history later how I wrote it, and made a mistake, since I cannot erase it. I have to accept everything how and what I wrote on the note. It is like a life, isn't it.

2 Quilts and some...

2011-02-04T11:53:00.001-08:00

2 quilts and one set of place mat, individual mat are ready for sale though...., I don't have time to take pictures for listings and the weather is not perfect for taking pictures...

Since I started taking an English class at community college, my life got much busier. I didn't expect this much assignments, still being in confusion. I am learning how to write essay in English, and learning grammar. It is interesting to learn English in proper way with some text books by a professional teacher, I am now remembering how I studied in Japan when I was a teen. I have been doing something for my English little by little every nights, taking class is a lot different from just studying by myself because there is a due. You really need to push yourself harder, which is very good. To start something new is exciting and some fear, but I believe I know better how I can enjoy and deal with it than when I was younger.

I am looking forward to seeing improved English skill in myself after this class is over. Really.... (>_<)...

Cloud pillow

2011-01-27T14:52:00.001-08:00

Made a cloud shape pillow.
Thinking to make a small mat (maybe could be used as a place mat? a snack mat?) with the same pattern, it might be prettier than a pillow.... :D

"My husband".

2011-01-24T19:42:00.001-08:00

Found one interesting thing today thanks to my friend, Terri.

When we were talking about my divorce, she asked me why I call my husband "my husband", not by his name. She also continued she was wondering about that for a long time, since she knows my situation and there is no problem to understand when I talk about him called by his name.

Well, my husband is still my husband since we aren't divorced yet, still I am his wife legally, even though we are legally separated for more than an year.

According to Terri, in this culture, when I call my husband "my husband", it sounds like I still have some feeling left for him. Because "my husband" is only one specific person who is in emotional relationship, but it sounds like just a person if you call him by his name because it's just a name and there are many people who has the same name, so, "my husband" is closer relationship than "calling him by his name".

Well, in my culture (Japanese), it is totally opposite.
We don't call people by their first name until we get to know each other well and get to in closer relationship. I call my best friends by her first name, but call other friends by their family name. It never happen in Japan to call your boss by his/her first name, but Mr./Mrs./Mis. --- or by a title. So to call a person by his/her first name means being in closer relationship.

"My husband" is just a way to call him formally in public, there is no other meaning to me. So I will call him by his name from now on when I talk about him. Although I feel like it is strange...

Very interesting, isn't it???

Japanesey Traditional style quilt.

2011-01-22T17:49:00.001-08:00

Finally, new quilt.

Kept thinking of making this, took a while to find right fabrics for this quilt. Since my friend gave me her Japanese boro style fabric about 4 years ago, I was thinking what is good to make with those fabric. I am glad I waited to start the project until I find the batik that go with.

It is interesting to see how "boro" can be an art in foreign country. I think "boro" and "traditional Japanese culture" can be related as kind of art, but original "boro" in Japanese means "dirty", "old", "wear and tear". I don't think my quilt is dirty, old, wear and tear, but I can feel how "boro" and "traditional" can be connected each other.

Hope this quilt will find a good home.

Kyoko

Place mats - Japanese garden -

2011-01-21T08:50:00.001-08:00

I would say "everybody" who enjoy crafts have some uncompleted projects left in your craft room for a long time. We call it "UFO".

I don't remember how long this UFO was left, but I remember I was going to make a small pouch or a drawstrings bag with the piece. And then, it was left again, then tried to make something else, and they were left again for a long time. Since they were already quilted pieces when I found them, I decided to turn them out place mats. I am now relieved to see I finished one UFO.

The light green and white checkers pieces were already there, so I made brown solid part later, then connected 2 pieces together with the batik border. I had wanted to try to make "reversible quilt" by method of connecting quilted pieces afterward, I think this was a good practice, and I think it went well :)

Kyoko

Japanesey place mats.

2011-01-21T08:02:00.001-08:00

Ummmmm.
Sew pieces of Japanese fabrics, made a big piece, cut it into smaller pieces, added frame and turned into place mats. After quilting, it looks cozy :)

More pictures are available here...
Japanesey Simple Quilted place mats - set of 5 - purple
Japanesey Simple Quilted place mats - set of 4 - navy blue

Making more place mats in other designs, it's fun to work on place mats because it's like making many quilts and can get it done easily since it is small.

Kyoko

Birthday gift from Japan.

2011-01-19T11:27:00.001-08:00

I have a friend who doesn't forget to send me a gift for my birthday every year. I think it started since I met her, so... it's almost 30 years (!!!). She didn't stop our gift exchange even after I moved in the USA, so it is still continued. Our gift exchange doesn't cost much, since we both like stationery, and Snoopy (Peanuts). Her birthday is July. It's always fun to pick up something for her little by little preparing for her birthday. Since she works for eye glasses company for years, she always includes a piece of glass clean special fabric in fancy pattern for my eye glasses :)

Kyoko