Work In Progress Wednesday - Small Progress

I worked on this two evenings this week and made a small amount of progress.

Take a Stitch Tuesday - #13 Satin Stitch

The satin stitch is not one of my favorites.  It’s so hard to make it look even and smooth.  I’ve done one small leaf and that’s enough satin stitch for now!

You can join TAST at anytime. Check out Sharon B’s stitch instructions here.

Monday Morning Star Count - Stitch Group Hexagons

The stitch group has moved from bargello bell ornaments to hexagons. I’m glad they are finding them as addicting as I am! Small bags, table mats, coasters, Christmas ornaments – they have all kinds of ideas.  I’m working away at the hand quilting on my big quilt.

 

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

Blackwork Stitch A Long - Part 6

Since my last post, I have completed fillings 7-12, using colors of silk thread.  I like how this is coming along.

 

The charts for this project allow for all different sizes and number of fillings.  If you’d like to join us, leave me a comment and link to your Box of Delights post.

Check it out for yourself:

Kim at Wisdom With Needle and Thread

Box of Delights Free Pattern at Blackwork Journey

It Seems Like Everyone Knows Me

We live in a town with about 25 foreign residents. We can’t just blend in.  I walk a lot and frequently have people ask me or even email me things like – “I saw you walking near the post office, where were you going?”, or “I saw you coming out of the store, what did you buy?”  I’ve even been stopped by the police because I don’t look Japanese.

At the Mushroom Party last week, I met someone who said to me – “I know you.  You take Japanese lessons where my sister-in-law teaches and I often see you walk by my house in Higashiyama.” Even though this kind of thing often happens, I was still surprised.  The sister-in-law was my teacher last year and Higashiyama is a section of town near the section I live in and I do walk in that area!

Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido and the fifth largest in Japan and many foreigners live there. Last week I went to a post office in Sapporo that I used to go to frequently, but I hadn’t been there in a few months.  When I walked in the door, there were two men clerks at the counter, but a woman ran from the back, saying osashaburi desu (something like - long time no see). She knew my packages were airmail, small packet, to Amerika.  I was amazed.  She must see a lot of foreigners and she remembered me.

Sugoi desu ne!

2015 Population Census in Japan

Every five years the population census is taken in Japan and includes foreigners (like us).

The paper census form looks like this!

 

Being unable to read it, we opted for the online form in English.  There were about 12 questions, asking our names, ages, address, what type of housing we have, whether we are employed.  I can’t remember what else, but it was very short. The preliminary results of the census are scheduled to be released in February 2016 followed by detailed results by the end of October 2016.

Annual Mushroom Party 2015

The International Exchange Society’s annual mushroom party and potluck was held last Sunday.  Normally it would be held in the forest, but because a bear was seen last month, the forest is closed, so the party was held in the visitor center.

 

Besides the Japanese members of the IIES, there were foreigners from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa at the party.

 

 

After an introduction and welcome, the eating began.  The mushroom professor picked many kinds of mushrooms and assured us they were all safe to eat. We had mushroom tempura and mushroom miso soup.

 

 

A meat barbeque was also cooked up with many kinds of meat, udon, corn on the cob, kabocha, and maybe some other things.

 

Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the potluck food items before the eating started.  We brought a fruit salad.  Zucchini bread, scalloped potatoes, raw veggies and dip, onigiri, Champon rice with chicken and ginger, and sponge cake were among the pot luck items.

 

It was great to get together with old friends and make some new ones. (If you are interested, I wrote about past mushroom parties here and here).

Work In Progress Wednesday - A Few More Beads

 

 



Yukimushi!

Yesterday afternoon while walking we saw many yukimushi (snow bug).  Locals say snow follows soon after the tiny yukimushi appear.  Let’s hope not!

 

 

Take A Stitch Tuesday - #12 Barred Chain

The barred chain is a new stitch for me.  I tried out a short seam on the pink block and added white seed beads.

Next I tried out the alternating barred chain on the green block, adding sets of three seed beads.

You can join TAST at anytime. Check out Sharon B’s stitch instructions here.

Monday Morning Star Count - More Hand Quilting

I’ve really been working on this a lot.  I have one row of flowers all around the outside and several rows of flowers on one end still to quilt.

 

After the hand quilting is finished, I’ll add the outer ring of hexagons to create the flip edge.

Linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts.

 

Blackwork Stitch A Long - Part 5

I have stitched the first set of six fillings and am using silk threads from my stash.  Each filling uses just a small amount of thread, so this project is perfect for using leftovers from other projects.

 

 

The charts for this project allow for all different sizes and number of fillings.  If you’d like to join us, leave me a comment and link to your Box of Delights post.

Check it out for yourself:

Kim at Wisdom With Needle and Thread

Box of Delights Free Pattern at Blackwork Journey

The Alphabet Club - C

(For the full story on what this is, check out The Alphabet Club.)

My “C” word is Chisaii, the Japanese adjective meaning small.  I’ve been stitching some miniatures, just in case I ever have a doll house again.  Here are some of my finishes.

 

Check back on the first Saturday of next month for my “D” word.  You can read about the “C” words of the other participants here.