I am back.
One big move across the city. Five weeks without the internet. One month of exploring a Japanese-style quilt show, an African-American quilt exhibit in the Shiseido gallery in the heart of Ginza, bicycle rides to a shop and atelier called Homspun, a breathtaking quilt show in the Tokyu department store in Shibuya, some fabric shopping in my new local craft store–the main Okadaya shop in Shinjuku, vintage clothing, kimono and antique browsing in Shimokitazawa, and most importantly, a lot of off-line family fun with my daughters and a husband whose commute time just got cut in half.
As for crafting, I have followed through on my promise to myself to work on current projects and hopefully see them completed sometime this year. Hexagon patchwork, hand quilting, Christmas stocking stitching, and girly-girl dress sewing. It has been a great summer.
So yes, I still say summer. The crippling 33-degree-Celsius temperatures are expected to last two more days, and then finally, finally, some relief. Such is life in a semi-tropical climate. Also one reason why I do a lot of sewing, a lot of layering with handmade dresses/tunic tops, and almost zero hand knitting these days.
Still reading? Awesome. Would you be interested in a free copy of Simple Quilts by Yoshiko Jinzenji mailed to your door from me? I thought so. Just leave a comment to this post. You can say anything, or if you would like, tell me if there is anything about life in Japan/crafty life in Japan that you would like me to write about sometime. I will draw a random number on Sunday at noon, my time. Good luck!
35 responses so far ↓
martha Bilski // September 20, 2007 at 12:57 am |
Hello! You don’t have to send a book:) just hello
kelly // September 20, 2007 at 1:57 am |
yippee! so glad to hear the move is behind you… I just know it’s going to be a huge bonus to have that much more time with family all ’round.
anyway, good to hear from you! don’t send me the book though – I already have and love it!
Noa // September 20, 2007 at 2:04 am |
Hello there! Happy to see you’re back. Your blog is pure pleasure for someone like me, fascinated by Japan and suffering from a terrible addiction to japanese craft book. I don’t have a specific question or area of interest: just keep blogging, and I’ll be more than satisfied! Cheers from Canada!
P.S. If nobody wants the book, I’ll be happy to “unburden” you! ;oP
Mariko // September 20, 2007 at 2:37 am |
Dude! Sounds like you are already MOVED in! I thought you were moving to Chiba, but no, you’re near Shinjuku now? You sure get around!
Amy // September 20, 2007 at 3:09 am |
I love your blog and your work..especially knowing you have a love for hand stitching :) Welcome back, I’m glad your move went well and you can’t beat “family fun!”
Donna // September 20, 2007 at 3:34 am |
Good to see you posting again! I really enjoy your posts about Japanese pattern books for girls clothing, they’ve helped me make some good choices. What a relief it must be to have the moving over with–and how nice that your husband’s commute is so much shorter now.
Sally // September 20, 2007 at 4:02 am |
Hey welcome back and congrats on the move! Love those Japanese quilts – they really have a unique style. I’m a hand-quilter too, you can’t beat that look.
meg // September 20, 2007 at 4:15 am |
I have been lusting after that book! I just started hand quilting myself–it is a lovely (and long) process. And I’d like to know why there is such a french obsession in Japanese crafts and fabrics.
marisa // September 20, 2007 at 5:48 am |
Thank goodness you’re back! I was missing your posts so very much. Glad your move is back. I also have an interesting question for you. I’m dying to get my hands on this Japanese book called Quilt Party. Have you heard of it? I cannot get any Japanese/American book shops to order it for me….so I’m sort of looking for a Japanese exporter or some ideas on how I can get a copy. If you have any handy ideas for me on folks who do this sort of thing, I would be eternally appreciative! In any case, welcome back, and keep up your awesome work!!
cathicrafts // September 20, 2007 at 5:56 am |
Glad to see you are back! How is the Dear Jane coming along? I’m hoping to get block 100 quilted this week!!
Maud // September 20, 2007 at 6:40 am |
Hi, I’m a new ready, and I’m glad to see you back! I like your postings a lot, and look forward to reading more in the future.
jacqueline yeo // September 20, 2007 at 7:02 am |
Oooooo i love japan! :) love to see your stuff too…. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Rita // September 20, 2007 at 11:58 am |
And you´re not JUST BACK!
You are back with a bunch of delicious japanese sites and great quilt exibitions :)
I wish I had those exibitions in my country…
Megan // September 20, 2007 at 3:16 pm |
Congratulations on the move! We moved back in April and I feel like I’m still unpacking…
One question I have is about where in Japan (Tokyo) to get great fabric and crafty stuff. My husband and I were there in May and I made my way to Nippori, but I really had no other ideas besides that. The travel books all seem to neglect that very important “other” activity – craft shopping! We hope to go back to Japan in the next year, so I’m working to put together my list of places to visit.
Thanks!
jane // September 20, 2007 at 5:31 pm |
I would I would! Glad you’re back!
Sara // September 20, 2007 at 5:46 pm |
I love your Baby Jane. I hope you are still working on it. I am doing a hand-pieced one also. I envy your access to those lovely Japanese fabrics. I have used some of your pieced blocks as wallpaper on my desktop.
susan // September 20, 2007 at 5:57 pm |
So glad you’re back and the move went well. I would like to see more information about the wonderful Japanese fabrics with (maybe?) a source to buy them. Love the quilt in the picture.
Natalie // September 20, 2007 at 9:00 pm |
I’d like to second Megan’s suggestion for resources on where to go craft shopping in Tokyo. I’m also fascinated with Japanese fabrics and would love to know where to get affordable fabrics in Tokyo.
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this blog – I’ve been looking for exactly this kind of info for ages!
Leslie Shiner // September 20, 2007 at 11:56 pm |
My heart jumped at that quilt, so glad to see you back-wow, did she make that on her break? was my first thought but really, you have been busy setting up a new home, what was I thinkin’…any new baby janes?
myra // September 21, 2007 at 12:09 am |
Welcome back! Thanks for the links too. I really love the circus quilt from the 2006 Quilt festival.
Margaret // September 21, 2007 at 3:16 am |
Welcome back … I wish I could cut MY commute in half! Just continue showing us your lovely work, and I’ll be thrilled.
Meredith // September 21, 2007 at 10:26 am |
Welcome back. Your hiatus gave me a chance to read your older posts. I have not yet actually seen in person any Japanese quilting books, patterns or magazines. Glad you enjoyed your time away from blog land. I think breaks are a great idea. Enjoy your journey with DJ.
michellegiacobello // September 21, 2007 at 10:41 am |
Welcome back! I’ve been checking in from time to time……. Nice to know you’re settled and happy. :)
I would LOVE to know, since there are so many fabulous styliish hand-made clothing and crafts books that come from Japan – are the children better dressed over there on the whole? Or is at just some sort of fabulous cult activity?
carolyn // September 21, 2007 at 2:32 pm |
yay you’re back!!!
hillary // September 22, 2007 at 12:03 am |
hooray!
Alex // September 22, 2007 at 1:01 am |
Oh, you went to all the exhibithions? I had free tickets for the one at Seibu but could not go… hope you will tell something about it!
Nice you are back!
Ali // September 22, 2007 at 8:18 am |
hello! way to get the delurkers out :) I can’t think of a question right now, but I find your blog fascinating and love the pictures of teh clothes you make for your kids
stef // September 22, 2007 at 1:03 pm |
Thank you for the exhibition info, maybe I can make it to the one in Ginza. I’m just another lurker, dropping in here quite often lately..
EL // September 22, 2007 at 1:08 pm |
De-lurking for utterly selfish reasons (who wouldn’t want a beautiful free book?!) – but also to say I’m glad you’re back too. Going to NY soon – anyone know a good store to buy Japanese craft books?
Willow // September 23, 2007 at 6:05 pm |
Welcome back! I hope you enjoy your new place. I meant to post earlier but didn’t get the chance. I would be interested to know how you feel about the tradeoff between quality and price in Japanese crafting/sewing supplies. Is it all just more expensive, or are you satisfied because things are of much better quality? Does this impact your sewing and crafting decisions, and how so? I’ve noticed even Japanese stuff (like, say, Clover crochet products) are way cheaper here in the US than the price listed on the back of magazines.
Yvonne // September 25, 2007 at 2:04 pm |
I love seeing your recommendations on Japanese books for childrens’ clothings. Based on your post in May this year on those books, I have bought them all and love them!
Sabrina Fisher // September 29, 2007 at 12:28 am |
Your blog makes me so happy. I lived in Japan as a teen w/my family and absolutely loved it! I’ve always wanted to go back and now I feel like part of me has.
I’ve loved your book reviews and actually picked up several of them and am enjoying them so much!
I’d be interested to learn if sewing and indeed crafting is something the “young” of Japan embrace. Knitting in mega hot here and sewing seems to be staging a comeback. I wonder if this is an international trend.
Thanks for the awesome blog!
Glaucia // September 29, 2007 at 1:57 pm |
Welcome back!
I was really missing your posts!
I wish you and your family a colourful, peaceful, happy life in your new home.
I like to see all these sewing, embroidery, patchwork books you have. Here ( in Brazil), unfortunatelly, we can´t find good publications on this and most of time I have to import books. We do have many people crafting all kinds of crafts, I can’t understand why the publishers don’t believe it could be a good deal.
If it’s possible, I´d like to read something about sashiko… the stitches, the theads used, the patterns. It´s so beautiful!
Thank you so much!
Hugs from Brazil
Cristina // October 2, 2007 at 8:08 pm |
I’d love to see a weaving workspace in Japan. Have you been to http://www.rickettsindigo.com? Vicariously experiencing traditional indigo techniques through you would very happy-making. Happy housewarming!
Susan // October 18, 2007 at 6:39 pm |
Yippee your blog is back! Your posts are very inspiring. A tutorial on the gorgeous Liberty print doll quilt you made would be welcomed by me, Happy moving in.