Shizuoka Quilt Show 2025, part 1

I attended the Shizuoka Quilt Show a while back and hadn’t posted the pictures yet. I’m traveling now, so this is the perfect time to post the quilt pictures.  I took a lot of pictures, divided into five posts.

This was the fifth year of this show. In the past it was held in a department store and was quite small compared to this year’s show, which was held in a large exhibition hall.

Work In Progress Wednesday

 Linda Driskell Hardanger progress

The Tale of Genji progress

Stitch Group Sunday and My Birthday

My stitching friends are incredible. They are so good to me.  

We met on Sunday to work on our biscornu fobs. They finished the cross stitching at home between last time and this get together.  We needed to attach the beads, make the cording (also known as guru guru), and put the two sides together with the cording and stuffing to make the fob.

We look like we only stitch, but we also have a lot to talk about and I learn many things.

Please notice the pins worn by the stitchers on the right. The bell is bargello and the maple leaves, Brazilian embroidery, made at earlier get togethers.

The two center fobs were completely finished at this get together and the other two had just a little more to do.

Next, birthday cake and pizza made in the wood stove.

They treat me like a queen - my favorite carrot cake, homemade pizza, even tabasco! They also sent me home with pizza and cake to eat for days.

They also gave me wonderful gifts in addition to the fabulous party.

I am fortunate to have met up with these stitching friends and thankful that we continue our friendship and stitching over nine years, so far! I appreciate them more than they know.

Monday Morning Star Count - Small Hexagons

I found some smaller hexagon shapes that I hadn’t used much. I cut some fabric from the “Crumbs” box (fabric scraps less than 2 1/2 inches wide) to fit the smaller size hexagons. I have an idea for something new. 

This shows the size of the cut fabric and three finished 16 mm hexagons. My usual size is 26 mm hexagons.

Bear Insurance in Japan

Bear sightings, attacks, and damage caused by bears have soared in Japan this year. Practically every day there is something in the news about bears. Bears enter grocery stores and other businesses with automatic doors and cause damage. In tourist areas with bear sightings, the lodging facilities, campgrounds, golf courses, and other leisure services have had to close, causing loss of profits.

This month, the Japanese insurance company, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Company will begin selling policies to tourist businesses that cover profits in the event they are temporarily unable to operate due to bear intrusions. The policies will offer coverage for loss of profit  caused by reservation cancellations when facilities are forced to close due to bear intrusions, as well as covering the costs of installing electric fences to prevent future incidents. Up to 10 million yen will be paid out on the condition the insured business publicly announces the facility’s closure and shows proof, such as surveillance camera footage. The insurance premium is expected to be 100,000 to 500,000 yen per year, depending on the scale and location of the business. 

In September, the  company also began selling a policy that provides coverage caused by stray bullets during emergency bear shootings in populated areas.