Monday Morning Star Count - New Fabric!

Queenie Patch has generously sent me all kinds of Japanese fabric pieces!  What a great gift!  I have already started cutting it for hexagons and have five basted with many more waiting to be basted.  Thank you so much!

Linking up with Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches.

Fujisan Hongu Sengen Shrine and Shiraito Falls

Last week, two friends invited me to do some summer sight-seeing. It was a full day and I had a great time with them. In the morning we visited two of the 25 sites that make up the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Cultural Site.  On June 22, 2013, UNESCO recognized these 25 sites as having cultural interest. Mt. Fuji has inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries. 

First, we visited Fujisan Hongu Sengen Shrine.  This shinto shrine is located in the city of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture and is the head shrine of 1300 Sengen Shrines. There is a distinctive two story gate tower that was originally built in 1604 with funds donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu and is now registered as a National Important Cultural Property.  The large pond on the shrine grounds contains a spring and is protected as a National Natural Monument.

Next we visited Shiraito Falls and Otodome Falls. These falls are part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and have been protected since 1936 as a Japanese Natural Monument.  Shiraito Falls are listed as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.

I'll continue with a report on our lunch and the afternoon adventure in a couple of days!

The Alphabet Club - I

This is another Alphabet Club catch up post.  My "I" word is isshiki, the Japanese word for complete set.  To illustrate my "I" word, I'm posting some sets of stitching tools that I've made.

Linking up with Chiara at the Grey Tail.  Check out the posts of other Alphabet Club members!

Beautiful Jewelry Set

The wife of my rock and roller student gave me this beautiful jewelry set she made in the purse set with a very kind note.  I love them!

Fabric Postcard Exchange with Lin

Lin in France, who posts at St. Victor Quilts,  suggested a fabric postcard swap with me. Take a look at her blog and the beautiful quilts she creates!   I hadn't done a post card before, didn't know what it was all about. 

She sent me this beautiful professional looking card. 

I tried to make something Japan-ish.

Thanks, Lin.  It was fun!

Work In Progress Wednesday - A Little Crooked

Stitching done, now to make it into the door hanger....

Gokoku Shrine Lantern Festival

Late Saturday afternoon I took the train to Higashishizuoka, in search of Gokoku Shrine, where I heard there were many paper lanterns for Obon. I wanted to see the lanterns after dark, but I needed to go before dark to find where I was going.  

Not only were there lanterns but a whole festival at Gokoku Shrine!  There were many food booths and a stage with benches in front of it.  When I first arrived there were two children dancing on stage, followed by many older women dancing with fans and umbrellas.  After awhile it was too dark to take pictures, but there were many dances.  

Leading up to the temple were thousands of lit paper lanterns.  It was amazing to see them all.  

After the fireworks, I walked back to the train station and made my way home. I plan to visit this shrine again in the daytime another day.