The Non-Birthday Dinner

One of our friends here isn’t keen on celebrating birthdays, so his wife organized a non-birthday get together with friends at Bombay Blue, his favorite local restaurant.  We enjoyed getting together with friends, even if we weren’t officially celebrating.

Work In Progress Wednesday - Arizona

I finished Arizona and worked in New Mexico a bit.  I finished a few more of the state names in the inner border.  I started stitching the country's border in the north east, but made a counting mistake around Maine that will have to be unstitched and fixed, unfortunately. 



I really like this piece and am glad I pulled it out again to work on after two years in the drawer.  Here is a small section of the chart to show that the cross stitches are not always lined up on top of each other and sometimes they are two threads by two threads, sometimes one by two or two by one, or quarter and three quarter stitches.  It does take a bit of concentration with the small details (it is so easy to make a mistake), but it is very interesting.

 

 

QueeniePatch posted a reminder that today is World Embroidery Day. How are you going to celebrate embroidery today?



 

2015 Smalls Stitch A Long - Miniature Christmas Tablecloth

Stitched on 28 count linen, with one strand of cotton floss for the cross stitch and two strands for the blanket stitch. The size is six inches by seven and a half inches.  I don't have a table, but I think this will be the proper size to drape down over the edges.   I wanted to make some matching napkins, but I ran out of time.  Maybe I’ll make them later.

Linking up with Heather of Stitching Lotus, the hostess of the stitch-a-long.

Take a Stitch Tuesday - #2 The Buttonhole Stitch

Here are my buttonhole samples - with the bugle beads and in sets of three and one.

You can join TAST at anytime. Check out Sharon B’s stitch instructions and see the samples of other stitchers here.

Monday Morning Star Count - A Few More Leaves and Some Flowers

(I've added a page to my blog, showing all my epp projects. Check out English Paper Piecing Projects to see how much I'm fun having with this!)

I added a few more leaves to the tree (individual chain stitches with two strands of cotton floss). 

I did a few flowers with yo-yos and buttons.

On one of the orange pattern fabrics, I made flowers with lazy daisy stitch (crewel wool) and French knots (#12 perle cotton).

I added some pink seed beads and a bee button.

I have many more ideas and hope to have the time to work on some of them this next week.

 Linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts and Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches.

Summer Festival Parade and Fireworks

Our town held its annual summer festival and we went to see the parade with our friend Alicia. We had great street side seats.   It’s a very colorful affair with many beautiful yukata wearing residents.

Two nights later we took our folding fish chairs to our garden area at the edge of town to watch the fireworks.

 

We are fortunate to be able to enjoy so many festivals in Japan!

 

Denmark Cross Stitch Bookmark Finish

I received this little bookmark kit when I attended the Denmark Cross Stitch Show.  It worked up quickly and was a perfect little gift.

35 is the New 40

Frequently, I see job advertisements in Japan specifying only people under 40 can apply.  Recently I’ve seen two job listings that require the applicants be 35 or under! 

We, Kamifurano Board of Education, are recruiting an Assistant English Teacher as follows:  …
Applicants must:
have a valid residence card or alien card (with Instructor's Visa)
possess at least a Bachelor's degree or equivalent educational training
speak English as his/her first language
…
be 35 years old or younger

 

Hokusei Gakuen University Junior College, Department of English
Title of position: Lecturer (専任講師), fulltime
Qualifications:
…
Under 35 years of age (regardless of experience) and the willingness to continue employment for a long period of time with a focus on professional development (The age limit is set relative to regulations found in “雇 用対策法施行規則第1条の3第1項第3号イ”).

 

Star Wars and Bare Bear Beer Festival

We had a big long day Saturday in Sapporo. We walked 20 minutes to catch the bus to Sapporo, then took the subway to the end of the line, then rode a city bus another 15 minutes to the Sapporo Art Park, where the Sapporo Art Museum is located. 

Currently the museum is hosting the Star Wars Visions Exhibit. I’m not a big SW fan. I’ve seen two of the movies – in 1977 and in 2005.  Ted knows more about it all than me.  It was an interesting exhibit, with costumes and props, movie clips, paintings, and all things Star Wars.  I think I’d like to see the movies now.  Maybe we’ll rent the DVDs.  Photos weren’t allowed in the exhibit but we could take a few in the lobby area.

 

After the Art Museum, we got back on the subway and headed to the Hokkaido International School for the Bare Bear Beer Festival, which is a fundraiser for the school’s scholarships. In the park on the way to the school, Ted couldn’t resist riding the motorcycle again.  Mind you, this is before he had any beer.  I wouldn’t let him get on it after the festival.

 

We saw someone we met at the barbeque party and met a few new people.  It was a nice crowd of people. The festival had 43 kinds of beer and some food. We tried two kinds of beer and ate paella, vegetables, oysters, and later popcorn.

 

There was also musical entertainment.  The three bands we saw played some “old” music from our high school and college days, so that was fun.  We even danced!

 

It was a long day, but we had a good time.  I think we’ll probably go back to this festival next year.