Work in Progress Wednesday

The Tale of Genji progress

Cross Stitch and Buttons

I have a not yet started new project, but I am ready to start one with everything in my new basket.

Basketmaking Afternoon

Saturday, I met up with friends for a crafty afternoon making baskets. This is the third time we have done this together, but the first time to do it together at the shop. (Previously we made Santa baskets, and square baskets - I use mine for holding scissors.) This is the website for the business. We each chose and paid for the basket kit we wanted, in addition to the 600¥ shop fee, which included a cafe drink (I had a latte), help from the staff, and use of the tools in the shop. The shop has examples of each basket that we could look at, as well as the Japanese directions with pictures that came with the kits.

This blue basket is my chosen kit.

Our next planned get together will be a festival in February.

Update -

Another finish (basket maker on the right above)!

Monday Morning Star Count

 Three more 16 mm - total eleven. I think they are so cute!

Iwakuni Castle and Ropeway

I arrived a few minutes before 9 am and was able to take the first ropeway of the day. It only took a few minutes.

After getting off the ropeway at the top, it takes about 15 minutes to walk to the castle.

Historical notes from the J-Castle website -

Iwakuni-jo was built by Kikkawa Hiroie in 1608. Just a few years later in 1615 the castle was torn down to comply with the Tokugawa law of "one castle per province." The current reconstruction was placed a little bit closer to the front edge of the mountain so it could be more easily seen from below and to give visitors a better view of the valley from the castle.

The inside of the castle is a museum. This was one of my favorite castles of the trip.  It had so many interesting things! 

The view from the top

After taking in the view, I headed back down the mountain on the ropeway, across the bridge, and back to the train station to go to the next place.