Work In Progress Wednesday - White Heart and a Few Flowers

I last worked on this a couple of months ago, before my surgery. After working on it this week, it is now ready to be made into an ornament.  It's hard to see in the photo, but there are little beads between the kloster blocks.

I'm adding some random woven flowers to one section of the bag. I want it to look kind of wild.  We'll see how this progresses.

Shichi-Go-San

In Japan, today is Shichi-Go-San, a special day for children aged 7, 5, and 3 to celebrate their growth and well-being.  It is not a national holiday, so it can be celebrated around November 15th. Children visit the shrines and are dressed in kimono, many for the first time.  Three year old girls also wear a padded vest, hifu.  I took these photos when I was at Sengen Shrine recently.

Monday Morning Star Count - Triangle Number Two

I have the second triangle put together and will soon be finished with the flip edges.  

Here is the first triangle, if you missed last week's post.

Linking up with Sarah at Sarah Did It! and her Help for Hexie-aholics.

Thank You Kim!

Kim at Wisdom with Needle & Thread is celebrating a big birthday this year by sending out 60 RAK's (You can see them here).  How nice it is to be included in her gift giving!  She does some amazing porcelain painting (not sure if that is the correct term for it) and beautiful miniature dolls.  If you don't already know Kim, pop over to her blog and check out her wonderful work. 

She sent me a fantastic hand painted porcelain piece (the photo doesn't do it justice) and a stitch kit and fabric and threads.  Her package is a bright spot in a gloomy day.

Happy Birthday and thank you so much!

Daidogei 2016

Daidogei is a big annual international street festival event in Shizuoka City that began in 1992. I attended last Sunday with two of my friends. We took in several of the shows and walked around.  In the middle of it all, we took some time for a pizza lunch at my favorite pizza place in Shizuoka, Napoli's.  It was really a fun day.

He drew a horse, then turned it upside down and it was a man!

This duo with the bicycle was my favorite.

How Do I Feel?

I feel good.  I've had some nausea and diarrhea, but it hasn't been bad.  I made it through Round 1 and today start Round 2.  So far so good.

Shibori Gift

I received this wonderful sampling of shibori fabrics as a gift.  They are so beautiful!  When I get around to starting my hina ornaments, I think I will incorporate some of these fabrics into them.  

To learn more about Shibori, check out the World Shibori Network.

Work in Progress Wednesday -Starting Bag Construction

I've been doing more thinking than constructing, but I want it to be good, so I have to think about it first.  Here is the woven piece folded over and laid out with the handles (nothing joined yet).  

I picked apart the sleeve of a kimono to use for the lining. I like the sparkle design.  I cut out the lining - the bottom is the fold on the right. 

I thought I would add a pocket inside, but this fabric is very difficult to put a needle through.  I'm still thinking about the pocket.    Maybe I'll actually start the construction by next time.

A Big Happy Birthday

The stitching blog community is such a friendly one.  People from all over the world connect and support each other.  One of our blogging friends, Shez, had a big birthday this fall.  Secretly, another blogger, Fiona from Bubzrugz contacted friends of Shez from around the world.  Each of us made one small "Polaroid" block (each block is surrounded by white, like a polariod photo) and sent it to Fiona, who put them all together to make a beautiful birthday quilt. This is the block I made.

The finished quilt is gorgeous!  Here is Shez opening her gift.

Incredible quilt!  Happy Birthday!