The Ferris Wheel and Mt. Fuji

Seven Finished Fobs

I've been working on these off and on for a couple of months now.  I've made many in the past.  While each one takes a long time to stitch, they are small and can be carried around and worked on in the "nooks and crannies" of time while waiting or between other things. The finishing and beads need to be done at home. So, anyway, I have seven finished fobs to be given as gifts.

Today is World Embroidery Day!  What are you working on?

Flower Friday

Lone flower at the edge of the beach.

2016 Smalls Stitch A Long - Butterfly Coaster

This month's small is a cross stitch insert in a plastic case.  I bought two of these little kits a long time ago.  The price tags say Frank's and they were $1.50 each.  I stitched this one using my choice of colors.  I don't know what I'll stitch on the other one or if I will stitch the other one.  

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

Work In Progress Wednesday - Mean Green

This week I worked on the green block some more. I like how it is coming out.  

I pinned all four blocks to another wall quilt to see them all together.  I won't be using this color for the sashing, but it gives me an idea on how it might look.

Baby Ducks and Little Crabs

Every day I walk by the stream near my apartment and I am always on the lookout for "real live nature".  I was rewarded with this family of ducks.  There were eight ducklings, but they were on the move and I couldn't get them all in one picture.  

I also saw a young woman catching little crabs.  She didn't want her picture taken, but she did let me take a photo of her bag of crabs.

Monday Morning Star Count - Something New

I have an idea for something new and have begun cutting fabric!

Ryugeji

This beautiful place is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment. There is an entrance fee of 300 yen, but I would have paid more!  I highly recommend visiting Ryugeji!  It was established in 1670 by Priest Nisshin, a nephew of Oman, a concubine of Tokugawa-Ieyasu.  

This small museum has many old things on display, but not being able to read Japanese, I can't tell what they are.

The 1,100 year old cycad and the 300 year old cactus are national treaures.  

I wandered around the paths and enjoyed seeing the gardens, the buildings, and the view.  

There is a literary monument of Chogyu Takayama. The inscription on the grave is from one of his writings: "Obviously we should transcend the present".

The small pond is gorgeous.