Wool Felting

I hope that your weekend was as nice as mine.

My sis and her husband visited . We relaxed and did a little shopping for fabric. At Prairie Queens quilt shop we picked up a bit of dyed wool to fuel our latest addiction of wool felting.

This is a the cover of a little needle case I threw together. It took no time at all. If you have some recommendations on where to get supplies for this sort of addiction on the web - I'm all ears!

Quilts Japan, Patchwork Quilt Tsushin, and sister visit

I'm just counting the moments until my little sister arrives. She and her husband will visit us for the weekend.

She made this block for me, her applique is awesome.

Ok, so the post you've all been waiting for....

So you wanna subscribe to Quilts Japan? or Patchwork Quilt Tsushin? Frankly, I don't blame you. I have subscriptions to both.

If you live in the U.S. - here's what you do:

1) Call Kinokuniya (408) 252-1300
2) Ask them to subscribe you for $75 + $30 shipping (current cost 9/2007)
3) Visit your mailbox expectantly every day

The $105 includes 6 issues. If my calculator works thats $17.50/issue.

If you're in Europe, I think you can go here and get some help to order them.

Oh, and 1 more thing...if you like my below post of fabric from Repro Depot, I also encourage you to also visit the "sale" section at Super Buzzy right now.

These fabrics are on SALE!!! and they support 1/2 yd cuts....thanks Kelly for the head's up!

Good to know there are so many options for us Japanese fabric junkies! Cheers to Super Buzzy and Repro Depot!! Can I sign over my entire paycheck?

Repro depot - Japanese children's fabric

If you have not had the chance to check out repro depot's Japanese imported fabrics, please do!

Their animal fabrics are so cute it might give you a zinger.

What's a zinger? I'm not totally sure, but my husband gets them when he puts something sweet into his mouth and says it's this shooting funky sensation. Have you had a "zinger"? Can it exist if wikipedia doesn't know what it is? I'm not convinced that I've ever experienced this strange and unusual phenomenon.

Ok, so coming soon a post on exactly how to get a subscription to Japanese magazines if you live in the US, and perhaps some advise for our European friends.

Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #140

When I get a new Japanese quilt magazine, I get very excited. Chuck Nohara even contributed this time.

I got the email from Kinokuniya book store and rushed over there to pick up my latest fix, as I usually do.

As a quick review, this issue has tons and tons of log cabin patterns. Court house steps, sunshine and shadows, all the usual settings along with some very different ones as well.

On p.45-46 Chuck Nohara has a spread of some blocks she designed, along w/ a URL that somehow relates to her work.

Anyhow, it you love taupe fabrics, Chuck Nohara, and or log cabins, this issue is the one for you.

A bird on the t-shirt...

..is better than in the bush? Not sure how that old saying goes...

Anyhow, I got this adorable Japanese craft book, and it had a very cool pattern for a bird. ISBN 978-4-413-00893-8

I decided to embroider it onto an old t-shirt for practice.

I'm sorta looking for more Japanese embroidery books. Any recommendations out there?

It's an antique children's sewing machine!

Well, thanks for all the creative guesses.

This item neither peels apples, nor shaves ice. It was built in 1910 and is an antique children's sewing machine by Singer.

Bonus points for Amy of Ibby Quilts. She is the only one to guess correctly what the object is.

Pleeeeeeeese check out her amazingly cool blog, these embroidered buttons she makes are to DIE for!

My little sister got this pint-sized sewing machine as a birthday gift from our parents about a month ago. I'm thinking...did they put the wrong name tag on that gift? That is so cool! She'd better keep a good eye on it!

In other news, it did rain today. The outdoor quilt show at Alden Lane nursery did still hang quilts but they were hanging inside their buildings instead of out in the garden. I didn't drive all the way there to see it.

Maybe next year we'll get some improved weather.

Brain teaser

A quick brain teaser for you.

What is this? Any ideas? Answer coming in next post....

And while you're at it, what are you planning on doing for fun this weekend?

Another plushie?

This is a picture of the bunny I made back around Easter time. The pattern is of course from Wee Wonderfuls.

Yesterday I got a shipment from Grayline Linen. I finally broke down and got some of their very pretty and also affordable fabric.

I'm thinking another bunny or some sort of other plushie animal out of linen would be very fun and adorable.

Anyhow, if you haven't ever ordered any fabric from Grayline, you may want to check them out. I loved the work of Ruby Crowned Kinglette - amazing work with linen...and decided to snap some up.

The hankerchief weight is so delicate and beautiful. I also got a bit of the Warsa version which is thicker but has a beautiful natural quality to it. It would make a lovely bag or curtain.

Happy 33

Today is the 33rd birthday of my darling husband.

My hope is that he has a wonderful day, and that this coming year is even more awesome than the last.

I'm still amazed after knowing him for almost 10 years that such a strong, kind, and loving person would find me and decide to stay with me forever. He is the sort of man that I would have dreamed about being married to if I understood that there are people this generous in the world.

From the bottom of my heart, Happy Birthday my sweet, and thank you again for being so supportive of my blog. From helping me find typo's to changing the baby diapers so I can post, I would never have the time for this endeavor were it not for you.

xo

Applique goddesses

On Saturday, I visited the quarterly meeting of the Applique Goddesses of Silicon Valley.

One of my amazing applique girlfriends took me with her.

It was their business meeting where they discuss direction for the group and other things that will go on during the coming quarter.

The best part was looking at their scrap book. They do a lot of very very pretty work. I decided to join, so I guess I'll be going to some dedicated quilting sessions about once a month.

That will be a cool way to get a bit more work done and to meet some very sweet ladies.

I am IN!

Last night I came home to 2 letters from PIQF.

Looks like they accepted BOTH of my quilt submittals for their show in October. Wow, that's a cool surprise. I wasn't really expecting them to take me.

If you plan on going to the show, my quilts are entry #'s 3120 and 3121.

Anyhow, that sorta made my weekend, so I'm walking on air now.

We also went out to dinner at Maru Ichi (if you're ever in Mountain View, CA - it's worth checking out) and stopped at Therapy, an adorable gift shop on Castro St.

They had the cutest bags there, I picked up the Happy Camper one to keep my quilting projects in. It's very strudy.

Pearl of a Purl

I cannot stop shopping at Purl. They have the cutest fabrics on earth.

If you live in NYC or So Cal, you can visit them in person...oh to do that someday...

This fabric is linen, and was a gift from my parents for my birthday last month. I'm thinking placemats or something. Anyhow, it's lovely. Just the feel of it makes me smile.

Ok, going a bit nuts with the sidebar of links these days, but I cannot help it. There are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to many cool blogs out there.

My latest cool discovery came through a link at Lynn's Craftsew (I read this blog ALL the time - it's awesome). Her sidebar includes a link to the i heart linen blog. It's beautiful too!

Welcome to our ool

Tonight, we had our first ever swim lesson.

It reminded me of my childhood friend's pool. She had a sign that said "Welcome to our ool. Please help us keep the P out."

I'm wondering of all the thousands of kids that cycle through that swim school, how many of them actually observe that little rule. After dunking my own head, perhaps I don't want to know the answer.

Over at Wee Toes and Noggins blog - it looks like Wendy has broken down and bought her first Japanese fabric. Her creation is so adorable, you really should check it out.

Above is the 2 yr old block - signed! Another 14 to go and we'll have a quilt.

Media mail

I heard from the jury team at PIQF today.

It seems that I erroneously and accidentally sent my application to them via "media mail" instead of U.S. Postal Service 1st class.

This mysteriously takes twice as long and also happens to cost twice as much. Hm...how very very odd. I'll have to ask my postmaster cousin about this one. What in the world is this strange class of mail? Have you heard of this? I didn't request it, yet my application package went this way anyhow.

Lucky me, the jury team will still consider my entry (accepted or not, it's still unclear right now) but it was very kind of them indeed to consider my very late entry.

On a day like today, September 11th, I always remember that morning 6 years ago when my parents called me to tell me to wake up and turn on the TV news. This day will I'm sure be studied in history classes by our children. I pray that we somehow navigate our way to peace and human rights for all who share our planet.

Goodie Bags

I hand carried so much fabric home from my trip to Japan last winter that I'm still finding new and unexpected uses for it.

This adorable kid's print was whipped into goodie bags for the dozen or so children that attended the 2 yr old birthday party.

I cut 7 inch wide fabric, put a huge seam in the top, and ran some cords through to make a simple gather at the top. After writing each name on the sides, and throwing a few cool things in, we had some funky cool bags for our little guests.

Putting the cords in was much easier this time because I used a hemostat that my sister gave me.

Party time!

Wow, what a cool party.

2 yr olds, water-lovin kids, grandmothers, single folks, married lovebirds, and enamored newly-weds all attended and managed to have a blast together.

What an awesome bunch of people. I think the BBQ by my husband was the big highlight. He knows how to throw a shrimp on the barby.

The octopus cake was a huge hit. All the kids wanted the eat an eyeball. It looks sorta crazy, but it tasted good, and homemade is always best in my book.

Our friends and family really made the day spectacular. Hard to believe our "baby" is 2.

The fun's almost starting...

This morning there are some very strange clouds in the air because we had some huge fires in the hills above San Jose, CA last weekend.

This makes for some red-looking light peeking through my curtains. I used it to photograph the "Happy 2nd Birthday" block this morning. The "2" itself is actually more purple than anything else.

I used that freezer paper method again, and silk thread by YLI to applique it down. It's my favorite thread for applique. It literally disappears.

We'll be asking the party guests to sign the block on Saturday, so really looking forward to all the fun. My mother-in-law is arriving today, and most of the other guests arrive tomorrow. The fun's only just around the corner!

Last year's block

This is the block that I did last year for our son's birthday. Picture of this year's blank block coming soon!

I just used Word on my computer to type giant numbers, and enlarge them to like 100 pt font or something. After printing them out - one number per 8.5 x 11 in paper, I then traced them with freezer paper, and attached the paper waxy side down on the right side of the fabric. Then, I turned the edges under, did a bit of applique, and there you go!

At the party, I asked all the guests to sign with a pigma pen.

I hope all of you in the US had a very nice long weekend, and that your Labor Day was nice. My Labor Day was certainly full of labor (rather than rest, as it was originally intended when it became a holiday in 1882). I spend some time sewing up goodie bags for the party, and offering painting advise to my husband - "You missed a spot!"

Is summer officially over now? If so, I'm sad it's gone.

Almost 2

PIQF requires a full shot as well as a detailed photo for the entry, so this is the detail on the airplane quilt.

I quilted it (boldly!) in a medium tan thread, rather than white, so the stiches really POP.

A little confession here, as well as a warning - if you're a Japanese fabric addict - please don't visit Repro Depot's Japanese import section. Danger...warning...seriously cute fabrics here.

I cannot fit any additional fabric into my office, but I bought a tiny bit anyhow! Eeeek!

Well, our little "baby" will be 2 in about a week.

In preparation for the big party, I'm making a few little things...photos soon!