Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine - Nagoya

Hachiman shrines are dedicated to Hachiman the syncretic Shinto/ Buddhist god of warriors and the divine protector of the nation. Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed this shrine as the patron, tutelary shrine of Nagoya in 1610. The shrine was destroyed in World War II, but rebuilt in 1957.

Work in Progress Wednesday

New start - beady fobs. I had this piece of linen that I didn’t want to go to waste. It is perfect for making a few fobs. I think it is long enough to make about five fobs. These first two use DMC 106 and DMC 94.

New start - neckties hand stitched together with invisible thread.

Then I added some decorative stitching along the seams.

Blackwork progress -

Fuji Sengen Shrine - Nagoya

I wanted to visit this shrine because it has the same name as the famous shrine in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture. (Shizuoka Prefecture was formerly known as Suruga Province.)

This is what Wikipedia says about this shrine -

The Fuji Sengen Shrine (富士浅間神社, Fuji Sengen Jinja) is a Shinto Shrine located in Osu in central Nagoya, central Japan.

History

The shrine dates back to 1495, when a portion of the god of Sengen Shrine in Suruga Province  was solicited to come down and be worshiped. Preserved there is the Yugai-kyakutsuki no tsubo (lidded-and-legged urn), which was found at the nearby ancient grave mound of Nagoyayama. The current shrine buildings date to the Showa Era.

Back at home - yesterday’s view of Mt. Fuji from my apartment -

Monday Morning Star Count

I am getting very close to finishing with the quilting. I have the binding ready to finish it.

The Quilt Show Class

Friday, I went to a quilt show in Shizuoka City. I will post pictures from the show at some point. I want to write about this now, because it is still bothering me. 

When classes are offered at quilt shows, I like to take one. I like to learn new things and also have the opportunity to interact with other people. I signed up for a class to make a little appliqué zipper pouch. The class fee was 3300 yen and included the kit. There were two choices, a reddish purple flower kit and the blue one I chose. Here is the picture from the kit.

As soon as I sat down, two class helpers ripped open my kit and started arranging the precut pineapple fabrics on the blue background. Meanwhile, there were three Japanese women who were working with no helpers. I kept telling the two “helpers” I could do it myself. They pinned the pineapple pieces to the blue fabric, and I noticed they pinned the pieces to the back side of the fabric. I tried to show them it was the wrong side of the fabric to no avail, so I unpinned and turned it over. The two of them together started pinning the pieces to the small piece of blue fabric and I could hardly see it because their four hands were in my way. I kept telling them that I could do it and that I wanted to do it. When I finally could see it, the pineapples were crooked and not centered. Next, one of them had a needle threaded, picked up the pinned fabric, and started sewing! By then, I had had enough. I pulled out the needle and thread, gathered up my kit and left. Of all the classes I have taken, I have never had an experience like this. Did they think I was totally stupid and inexperienced because I am not Japanese? No one was helping the Japanese women in the class. I am still angry about this.

2025 Japan Census

                             

Every five years the Statistics Bureau runs Japan’s census. It covers everyone in Japan, not only Japanese citizens. Beginning with this year’s census, the government has no longer made it optional. You must return your questionnaire by October 8th or you can be fined up to 500,000 yen! I understand it is important for many reasons, including resource allocation, disaster planning, public services, elections and democracy, and economic and social research. 

I found my packet in my mail slot. It could be done online, but I chose to do the paper copy (with the help of google translate), filling in the ovals with a pencil. The packet included a postage paid envelope, so I mailed it right away. I would have done it anyway, but I especially didn’t want to risk being fined.

Friday Finish - Blackwork Hoop and Fireworks Felt Pins

The hoop, fabric, and felt for the backing came from Daiso.  Quick, inexpensive finish.

I made four little fun fireworks pins.

Osu Kannon - Nagoya

Osu Kannon is a Buddhist temple in central Nagoya. The temple was originally built in Gifu Prefecture during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333), then moved to the current site by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612 after the original temple was damaged by flooding. The main object of  worship is a wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

As I approached, I was surprised to see how close the houses and surrounding buildings were to the temple.

I climbed the stairs and had a view of the site.

Work in Progress Wednesday

Beginning a project with neckties - I know it doesn’t look like much yet.

Blackwork progress - this project has become hard to put down. It is so fun to see it grow.

Stitch Group Sunday

Sunday we met to work on our blackwork pieces. The small stitches can be challenging and require a good deal of concentration. We each have had to unstitch from time to time.

I love seeing stitchers help each other!

This blackwork project is called Box of Delights, designed by Elizabeth Almond. Each stitcher is deciding which and how many “Delights” to stitch.

I’m stitching a different Elizabeth Almond design, and will post a picture tomorrow (WIPW).

Tea Time

Monday Morning Star Count

This seems to be my main project every day. It is large and kind of heavy, hard to keep it on the laundry pole with the clips! I get one side clipped and the other starts to come undone.  I think you can get the idea.

Well, since last week, I’ve quilted the hexagons on two sides and started on the third. It’s progress, but still quite a bit more to do.