Weekend

Last weekend was a very busy one for me. Two social activities! I don't know how I coped. The first was with my favourite little boy - provided courtesy of Nickerjac who has not been at all well. I am always so grateful to friends who provide me with little people to play with. They (the little ones) are so much less judgemental when I decide to be a dinosaur for a while or win the grand national.

I was quite amazed to see one of these in  the Park.

I am not saying it is the exact same one as appeared in Herne Bay playground circa 1983 but it must be a close relation, and I've never seen one anywhere else. The pelvic thrusting necessary to get it to move was probably good for my back too. However, after no less than two playgrounds, a McDonalds, several buses and an ice cream I was shattered and regretfully dropped him back home. Then later that day my littlest sister arrived Chez Byrne to stay the night and eat one of Pooch's roast lunches on Sunday.

While looking for my first-past-the-post picture I found a couple of others I'd been meaning to share. When I wailed to Pooch that I had discovered Pepsi Max was not sold in Japan (SERIOUS issue, people) he told me maybe I'd take a liking for the sweat they drink instead. Sweat. I assumed he was joking.

No, I didn't taste it. Then finally on this, the day of my sister's birthday, I give you Jasmine who is rapidly becoming the little scientist I intend to mold her into. You can tell from the outfit.

Another small child provided for me by someone else. My little niece models a handknit cardigan and hat. The cardigan is shaped a la Pigeon Street circa 1985 and has side buttons. The matching hat has two of the worst pom poms the world has ever seen on it. I know not about the jeans but the shoes are a source on controversy.

Pooch, you will not be surprised to hear, is not so good with babies. He likes children once they start doing stuff but until that point he is uneasy. It is fortunate I do not have a hankering for my own since Pooch would be a positive hindrance during the birth and during the first 18 months. He would need gas and air throughout. However, I do my ex-wifely duty by buying things on his behalf for the children of friends which he can then hand over. The kermit shoes are one of these items. My sister frequently talks about how they are her favourite item of Jasmine's wardrobe and how wonderful and thoughtful it was of Pooch while all the time I sit there hiding my tooth grinding behind my rictus of a smile.

Japan Part 2

One cannot go all the way to Tokyo and not check out the craft side of things. At the very least I needed to find out how availability and prices compared. I wasn't disappointed. My first stop was Tokyu Hands. Pooch was the one to hear about this and had been there before. This gives you an idea of what is on offer.

It was all pretty cool with lots of yummy things. This took me back to my childhood.

Then there was fabric - not a huge selection but some nice ones.

I was also surprised how much leather was available.

And this caught my eye!

Isn't it beautiful?! They also had a little bit of yarn but overall nothing really leapt out at me. It was kind of like John Lewis - all very orderly and well chosen. It wasn't until we got to a place I'd seen online that that changed.

The place in question is Okadaya. It was AMAZING! Unfortunately they didn't allow photos indoors although this photo on Flickr is of one aisle on the yarn floor. Yep - whole floor. When the life doors opened and I saw it I felt I'd found a new home. I felt a bit frantic that I didn't have hours to spend there and had to tear around all the floors. It was all nooks and corners and so many types of crafts and so many variations. Delicious. I managed to come away with just this...

3 balls of each for a shawl, and these:

I have already made the heart one which is for a swap. The other is also a present but I suspect the recipient would prefer to make it themself.

Lastly there was one less successful outing. I had heard some time ago of a button museum in Tokyo and so I looked it up and resolved to go there. It was quite off the beaten track, it was pouring with rain and howling with wind and Pooch and I were both tired. Pooch was a miracle worker and got us both there despite multiple set-backs. This is him when we arrived.

Just to clarify he's wiping his eyes after crying with laughter because of all we'd been through to find it and the sign behind him says the museum is closed for renovation.

Such a shame.

So thus concludes my tales of Japan. It was an amazing few days and I'm looking forward to spending more time there in the future.

Japan Part 1

I was in Tokyo last week. It was a real eye opener. There were lots of subtle cultural things to pick up on as well as some downright insane things. For instance - they stand on the left on escalators!!!

How mental is that?!? But actually it was really good. It was a fact finding mission with the odd touristy thing thrown in. One beautiful escapade was to a fairly minor garden in the general scale of things but still a pretty decent size - say two football pitches? 

It was extremely odd to be in so beautiful a place with all these sky scrapers and traffic around you. You could zone it out though, and it certainly was very soothing. And soooo Japanese. 

It was a very useful trip for me. I took in as much as I could and made quite a few observations that will help me prepare for a potential move there. One is the weather. We were on the edge of a cyclone for two days and it POURED with rain. 

Umbrellas are a key part of everyone's outfits and are carried everywhere. Then there is clothing. Pretty much any style of dress goes but it always seemed to be demure and neat. Cleavage is a no no and it's not like I wave my potatoes around the whole time but a number of my tops I happily wear to work will not be suitable for general wear. Then there is the humidity. It was hot for the second two days and when it is warm it is amazingly humid so lots of cotton is called for. The outfits in which I can rock the what's-that-in-the-distance-pose in are currently limited. 

Then there is the food. Sushi I'm down with. Choosing which fish will become that sushi...

Er nooo. Wimpy I know but we all have limits. Ice cream? Yes please! Sweet potato ice cream?

Er nooo. Pooch loved it though. And it is best not to develop a melon craving. 

Melons are very expensive - watermelon especially. I'm talking about £12 for one of those pictured. They are commonly gift wrapped and taken as a gift when you are invited to someone's house for dinner. 

Tokyo is an exceptionally noisy city. London doesn't come close. It has all the neon and videos of Piccadilly Circus but they all have audio attached. 

Then there are trucks driving around advertising boy bands with their latest single blaring out. 

Then the tube stations all play jingles when doors are opening, closing, trains are arriving, leaving and so on. 

That is a lot of competing noise. Fortunately though I am not bothered by any of this so it is all looking good for the future. 

Part 2 of this will include what I expect you will find least interesting - a small matter of craft shops..!

Swap Sign Ups

I am somewhat bleh with jetlag after getting back from Tokyo yesterday but before I post properly about that I have news of two sewing swaps you can sign up for.

1. Super Swaps: A surprise item made with embellishments such as buttons...
Buttons? I'm in. This is done through the Flickr Group Super Swaps. Sign ups open until 30th June. This is my inspiration mosaic for it.

2. Modern Scrappy Bits: Mug Rug, Coasters or Cup Warmer
Sign ups close on Thursday. My views on cup warmers are not as well known as those on guerilla knitting and have never generated any death threats but I have indicated a preference for one of the other two. You also send a FQ worth of quality scraps. No inspiration mosaic for this one but a cat picture instead.

Finishes

When I found out the Japan was possible I made a list of projects I wanted to finish before I left. I can now cross two more off that list.

Back in early September I had sewn the pieces together from a jelly roll. Today I got them out again and decided that instead of strips, I needed squares.

A little cutting and sewing and there you have it! I kept it really simple because I want it to be used and the fussier a quilt is that more in awe people seem to be of using it. I just used a simple cotton polka dot on the back. No quilting. All done. 

Before I sewed the pieces together I did take the opportunity to take the kind of photo I have admire on other blogs.

Isn't that beautiful? I think unbacked patchwork would make a lovely alternative to a net curtain.

My other finish is a project where I wanted to make 'something' with the selvages I'd been hoarding. At the same time I started lining them up I found out...I am going to Tokyo on Tuesday! So I decided on a project bag. 

This is a close up of the back. There were a few fabrics where I used an inch or so of the pattern as well as the selvage and I'm really glad I did that with this spool fabric. 

This side is not exactly centred. Ahem. 

The frame is a 6" or so one and I will add a wrist strap but I need to find the right thing to use. 

So yes - Tokyo on Tuesday! Only for a few days to see how it is and Pooch is coming too which I am very happy about. But what project to take with me? I am back on with Mum's lace shawl and now have the metres of edging to add. That might well be one which comes with me but I'm also wondering about a bit of sewing. Might be handy for if I wake up with jetlag but don't feel awake enough for lace knitting. 

Quilty Deliberations

I am very lucky to have both sewing and knitting in my life. When I get stuck with one I can switch to the other. I am currently stuck on the patchwork front and so have picked up the shawl I was making for my Mum's birthday. In March. It's currently got over 600 stitches on each row so is leaving me an alarming amount of time to think about my patchwork problem. You see I have been collecting fabrics.

I have had them ready since February but I just can't make a decision about what to do with them. They do not speak to me.

Ne pas.

I have so many ideas. I think that is the problem. Goddamn Pinterest. Not really I love you. My current favourite is this:

But...it just doesn't seem right. Other times I think maybe spools.

Or should I let the fabrics speak for themselves and just go with something blockier?

Or...should I just find something else to make while I'm waiting for certainty to strike? I could make one of these.

I have a pile of selveges. But maybe more like this shape.

Oh I don't know. I do not seem to be in a decisive mood. Cue my favourite graffiti.

Say It With Flowers Bloghop - Welcome!

Many thanks to our hostess for organising this. Read on to see what I made of it and for a little giveaway!

I love seeing what people make on Flickr and noticed a group gearing up for a year of makes based around a gorgeous new(ish) book called Patchwork Please.

I also dug out some packs of 4" charm squares I got on ebay years ago in lots of flower prints. I made a baby quilt from them and always meant to do another but it sits in pieces as yet unfinished. I still had a lot left though. 

Sooooo, I allowed inspiration to dictate and with many a change of mind along the way I give you my new embroidery case. 

I used the same linen as the cushion behind it - one I made for the Dresden bloghop. I followed all the measurements from the pattern in the book but changed a few details such as the square of felt which is supposed to be more of an actual needlebook. But it's not like I use a huge number of needles in embroidery so I kept it to just the one rectangle and sewed it down flat after pinking the edges. 

The front has hand appliqued petals on it. 

Plus some really bad HST's! I used that technique when you sew two charm squares face-to-face all around the edge and then cut them into quarters. And starting with a 4" charm square you end up with very tiny HSTs! 

My other half and I are planning a move to japan for a year with his job. It means I am hugely destashing which includes rediscovering things. There are lots of bits and pieces I have stashed away waiting for a 'special project'. But now I have to get rid of so many things it is time to use or lose all of those things and it has led me to a revelation:

So when I came across this beautiful cermaic button my Mum gave me a few years ago I knew it was perfect and needed to be used. 

I am *really* happy with this project and yes, it will be coming to Japan with me!

And now for a giveaway! Leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning two 4" charm squares of each of the fabrics shown in that first photo - that's 34 squares for you to play with! You have until midnight UK time on 5th June to enter. And remember to leave your email address if you're a no-reply blogger. 

Now quick! Visit all my fellow quilters to see what special projects they have made for today's day on the bloghop. 

Marla’s Crafts

Hanging On By A Thread

Moments

Tied Up In Ribbon

Made By Me In Red

Nanny’s Nook

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Cindy’s Crafty Creations

Meadowbrook

Oo La La - Care Package from France

I picked up a parcel from the sorting office yesterday evening. I then got on the wrong bus home which takes twice as long as the other one and which in any case got held up for half an hour extra by six royal navy boats complete with saluting crew going into Canary Wharf dock through an area usually covered by a bridge which had been raised for the purpose. So imagine my delight when I grumpily slumped on the sofa and wrestled it open.

See those chocolates? Real belgian ones. I adore praline shells. So much so in fact that last night I invented a device in my head that no house should be without. Because when I have opened a box I am pretty much incapable of letting it out of my sight until it is finished. Much like a cat with a sausage. My invention is a time-lock kitchen cupboard. Or I suppose a tupperware would do. But one which you couldn't open for a set period of time after you'd closed it. That way I could force myself to wait an hour between chocolates. Or at least 10 minutes. This actually doesn't exist - I have googled and come up empty. 20 hours later and there are still 4 left. This is a new Byrne record.

The arrival of this care package (form my lovely cousin) coincides with the finish of the cushion cover I have been making for her since I got back from a visit in March. Inspired by this window...

...I bring you the cushion!

The front was english paper pieced and hand sewn.

A few of the fabrics were peacock-based and one had these huge peacocks on.

I fussy cut a square with one on to base the back around then wonky log-cabined it.

It will be going in the post to them next week. Aurevoir coussin!