Friday Finish - Ten Finished Fobs

Yes, I have finished all ten.  

Four were made with the same base thread.  

Six others were made with a different base thread.  

They all look different with different top threads and beads. 

Started 2018, Finished 2019

I've made many of these as gifts over the years, but I still have the very first one I made.

Oh, the Onsens!

Soaking in hot hot water - What could be more relaxing?  I went to the onsens every day! 

This one has an indoor bath, clear water, and costs 300 yen.

This one has both an indoor and an outdoor bath and costs 300 yen.

This one was 500 yen and had an indoor bath.  It was my least favorite. 

This is a free outdoor co-ed onsen.  Bathing suits must be worn here.

You have to walk down these steps to get to the bath.

This one was my favorite. It has an indoor bath and a gorgeous outdoor bath that over looks the ocean. The entry is 500 yen.

This free foot bath was near the sea and had a great view.

If you love soaking in the hot baths, this is the place to be!

Finish It In 2019

I really like starting new projects, much more than finishing them it seems. My plan for this year is to finish the things I start, and hopefully finish some previously started projects. I got this idea from Leonore who blogs at Needle, Pen and Sword, who is joining her friend Magical, who blogs at Magical's Quilts and More. 

So, anyway, here is where I am starting this year --  

new projects 

Flapper Cat Cross Stitch ornament 

Dream House Flower Thread Cross Stitch 

previously started projects 

Beady Fobs - I have two more of the recent 10 I have been working on to finish.

 I'll add to this list as I go, so check back next week. 

Hachijo Jima Vacation

What a great vacation I had! My plans were hiking, soaking in the hot springs, and stitching.  

The weather wasn't great, but it was fine with me. I stitched or went to the onsen when it rained and hiked when the rain stopped. Every day the wind was ferocious. There was a bus that went by every two to three hours.  I didn't want to be tied to the clock, so I walked everywhere and didn't take the bus anywhere. 

There are two main road circles on the island and numbered signs are posted every 500 meters, so it's hard to get lost if you stay on the main roads.

I stayed in a charming little place and ate fresh fish and local vegetables.  It was a slow relaxing week. 

As soon as I can go through my photos, I'll post about what I did and where I went.  I recommend Hachijo jima highly!

Mt. Fuji greeted me when I returned home!

Monday Morning Star Count - Week 35

Year Two of the temperature quilt  

Week 35

December  23 - 29  

52, 52, 46, 55, 55, 45, 48

I stitched the hexagons to the backgrounds while I was away.  I have the week numbers paper clipped so I don't get them mixed up.  Maybe I'll get these sewn together by next week.

Sarah at Sarah Did It! is continuing to host us on Wednesdays, so please check out the temperatures around the world.  Feel free to join in! 

I am reporting the high temperature each day.  My Year Two temperature/color (Fahrenheit) scheme remains the same: 

100 + Brown 

90-99 Red  

80-89 Orange 

70-79 Yellow  

60-69 Green  

50-59 Blue 

40-49 Purple 

30-39 Pink 

20-29 White 

10-19 Black  

Fob Progress

Before leaving on my trip, I worked on the fobs. I was able to finish eight of them and have two more that still need to be put together.  I plan to finish these two as soon as I get back.

The People's Choice SAL - New Starts

 Jo at Serendipidous Stitching is hosting a Stitch A Long the first Saturday of the month, with the topics chosen by her readers.  This month's topic is New Starts.

Details on these projects coming soon!

Friday Finishes - Pin Cushions

First, a cathedral window pin cushion that I made as a gift. 

Top and bottom.

I also made several more little cup pincushions.

The Weather is Fine

As I was walking in the morning, I came to a corner with an elderly man serving as the crossing guard for elementary school children. 

I said Ohayo Gozaimasu (good morning) and he responded with the same greeting.  While waiting for the traffic signal to change, I could see him looking at the lights and his lips were moving. When the light did change, he escorted me and the children across the street and said to me, in English, "the weather is fine".  That really made my day!

Vacation Stitching

I always bring three projects on vacation, just in case. This is what I decided to take to Hachijo Jima. I want to attach this year's temperature hexies to their background, and I have two new cross stitch projects that I plan to start.  One is a house picture using DMC flower thread and the other is an ornament kit. I hope to show progress when I return.

Winter Vacation

Happy New Year! I'm spending my new year holiday on an island that is part of Tokyo Prefecture, but is quite a distance from the city of Tokyo.  I'll tell you all about it when I return.