How I remember Nara, Japan (A photo series)

Contest submission for bittersweet's photo contest found here.

Simple Quilts are so hard!!

So with making a quilt in mind, I had bought 1 meter of 6 different, coordinating fabrics. Since some of these fabrics are pretty large scale, I wanted to do a simple quilt pattern that would allow you to see the fabrics. Well playing around with Microsoft Photo Editor and Powerpoint (my computer is having trouble running Photoshop) here is what I got.

We'll call this #1. Based on one of Maritza's doll quilts

#2 - Loosely based on the Half Moon Bay quilt I did

#3 - Who doesn't like squares and linen? I guess like looks like another one of Maritza's too!

#4 - similar pattern found here by googling "simple japanese quilt". Actually, I like their original pattern quilt a bit...

#5 added on after I added the link for #4

So what do you think?

In Stitches: August + a forgotten Japanese Goody

So after totally falling off the wagon for July's In Stitches project (I promise I'll get it done someday!!) I've finished August's a couple days early! Woohoo! Good thing it's probably the easiest project in the entire book. Anyway, here it is.

It's the square potholder. Can't decide if I really like it or not. Like June, I used insulbrite instead of the batting. Haven't tested it out yet, but I've used insulbrite for other potholders and it keeps the hands much cooler than regular old batting.

I think it turned out ok. I did not participate in the theme, Happy Hands, mostly because I just remembered at this exact moment and am too lazy to get my camera out and take more photos. Lets just say that if I did Happy Hands, it would be taking a Totino's frozen pizza out of the oven. God I love those things.

I was super excited last night when I realized I forgot to share something I bought in Japan! This is the lone Japanese book I bought there. It translates to (literally, my Japanese is not good enough to catch those nuances): Adult Couture, Dress, Smock Blouse. If you're interested, the ISBN is 978-4-579-11149-7.

This is the cover. I looked at so many books, and this is the one that I liked the best every single time.

The patterns remind me of Built By Wendy, but distinctly Japanese. I even got bf to say "Oh yeah, I can imagine you in those clothes. Seems like something you'd like". This also may have been a result of standing in the craftbook section of the book store for half an hour, refusing to leave until I found a book I really really REALLY liked.

There's a lot of great patterns in here. I just have to find time to sew! If things go according to plan, I'm going back to school on Wednesday for my Masters of Science. I guess no more being a couch potato while buying more quilting books and fabric...

Japan Goodies + more

Wow it's been a long time since I've been back, and I still haven't posted my japan goodies! (Sara, if you're reading this, some of these fabrics may make their way into your mailbox... let met know if there is one that especially catches your eye!) My cousin kindly reminded me that it's been forever since I've posted... so here we go!

Some new fabrics. The green one is destined to be a Japanese bandit hankerchief for Chris. The flowered one will probably be a shirt for me, and the last two most likely will turn into a quilt someday...

Cute fabrics. I've seen a lot of these on Superbuzzy. My favorite is the alligators.

Chris wanted me to make a Japanese quilt, but all of my fabrics were too modern for him. He selected these ones for a more Japanese-y quilt

And here are more goodies! The dragon is the mascot for the Chunichi Dragons, who we rooted for at the baseball game in Nagoya. The deer bag and the owl coin purse we bought in Japan because I was sick of carrying a backpack around looking like a tourist... I love them both!

Here are some fabrics I bought from a fabric store that is closing soon. The Kaffe Fasset one will probably become a One Block Wonder quilt. Hope it looks nice! I almost feel bad cutting up the fabric because it is so beautiful...

And lastly, here is my completed embroidery for week 2 of Crafty Daisies' learn to embroider! Hurray!

Back from Japan

I'm back!! I'm also exhausted. Here's a few of my favorite photos from my trip. I have to say that fabric shopping was fun, but really, thanks to superbuzzy, a lot of the fabrics are available online. I enjoyed it, but unfortunately for Chris it was like torture. I did bring back a book and some fabrics though, so I'll share those with you soon!