What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Hello, friends!

You may have already read or heard about the tour group I’ll be leading to Japan with Opulent Quilt Journeys this coming May. Our tour had been sold out, but due some very unfortunate health circumstances, we’ve had three spots open up just recently. This is a very rare and thoroughly exciting opportunity for YOU to join us!  You can bring your husband / sister / mother / friend / significant other, or if you want to join the group as a single, no problem! You’ll be made to feel more than welcome and we’ll personally take great ...

I am beyond elated to share that I will be your US host on a 10-day trip to Japan March 2-11, 2022! Here’s a link to the complete PDF Brochure which you can download or print, but I’ll post each page here in the photos. Originally, this trip was to have been in January 2021 but was cancelled due to COVID. It was rescheduled to January 2022 to coincide with the Tokyo Quilt Festival, but that looks like it won’t happen either so we are now in March 2022. BUT, I think the March itinerary is EVEN ...

In the summer of 2019 I visited the Daruma Yokota thread dyeing factory in Kyoto, Japan. As our wholesale company, Orimono Imports, is a distributor for the brand and our retail shop, Kimonomomo has sold their thread for several years, I was hoping to learn more about the dyeing process and brainstorm some new ideas. In both regards, the visit was a resounding success.

Kyoto is typically hot and humid in summer, so much so that I always get blisters on my feet, no matter what kind of shoes or sandals I wear. With all the walking I do it ...

I have finished another UFO! This one dates from 2018.

My April goal was to turn this kokeshi panel into a cushion. I made it originally as a humidicrib cover with fabric remnants I had bought in Japan, but when the hospital advised that they did not want any more humidicrib covers, I changed the plan into a cushion.

I was so happy when I found the Japanese scrap packs.

I hand quilted it during April and early May, wearing a hole in my thumbnail in the process. Despite the wear and tear on my hands, you cannot easily see ...

Welcome to October's New to Me link party.

And breathe. And relax. And just enjoy being in the moment. Enjoy looking at this quilt I made several years ago, must be about 15 years ago,  for my daughter.

Hiroshima

Taxi drivers polishing their cars while they wait for fares, lace seat covers bright white in the sun.

Crows cruise the sky over Hiroshima. It’s a strange sight. Ominous to me, nothing new to the locals.

Promenade of Peace is a tree-filled, narrow park between hotels, offices, and a main road. It has a cool stillness and fresh breeze. Quiet in the midst of rush hour traffic.

Blisters on my feet again. Fewer than six miles today and still I am sore. Onigiri and dango for dinner. And some fruit.

No shrines except for a few, and those ...

On the Ginza line heading to Asakusa

Trains are efficient, clean, and feel more spacious than the Underground, but not as smooth as British trains. Prices aren’t bad. BART could learn a lot: Destinations are shown lit up on a sign above each door. Racks for baggage above seats. A little song plays before doors close, a different tune at each station, plus a warning chime on the train.

Weather is mild and warm. Second day for a dress, but I would happily wear kimono if I had the time.

1:30 pm – In a park by the river ...