A Delightful Gift

Yesterday morning I received a parcel from Jenni in Australia.  I knew what it was immediately, see "blogger bearing gifts" and opened the parcel in great anticipation.  This is what I found:

As well as sending me a gorgeous kimono Jenni had included some lovely handmade items and the kimono was in its original wrapping.  This is lovely Japanese paper which has a fibrous texture and seems to have threads through it.  I want to do something with the paper but don't know just what yet.
The kimono was much more lovely than I expected.  Jenni's photo on her blog (which is actually a better photo than mine for showing the whole kimono) led me to expect a turquoise and cream or grey fabric but it is actually much more silver in colour, really lovely.

I've taken a few photos to try and show you the fabric and also the amazingly neat handstitching:

The kimono is unlined and a lightweight fabric and I'm going to wear it as a summer robe for a while and really enjoy it.  I now need to keep my side of the bargain and parcel up some goodies for Jenni in exchange for the kimono.  I'm sending some of the fabric I bought in Tokyo and some other surprises, so watch out for the postman Jenni.  Isn't blogging great?  I cannot imagine this swap happening in any other way, thanks Jenni.

I recently bought this book in my quest to learn more about Japan and Japanese culture. 

 I'll share some gems from it when I've read it but at the moment I'm catching up with my reading of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts novels, far more suitable for a hot summer's day.

New Quilter

I had a great time at the weekend - went with my sister to her LQS (having persuaded her that was a much better idea that the nearby craft supermarket if she wanted expert advice and specialist items!) and got her started.  She bought a Very Hungry Caterpillar panel and is going to make a border for it with English-pieced diamonds in blue, orange and green batiks, it'll be stunning.  She's going to start on Lynne Edwards' sampler quilt book at half-term and has various ideas of things to do with all the Christmas fabrics she saw.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how she progresses.
She lent me the latest Jennifer Chiaverini and we're both waiting for the new one on 3 November :)

Elm Creek

Oooh, our lovely postman brought me "Elm Creek Quilts" and "Return to Elm Creek" this morning.  Lots of lovely quilt patterns by Jennifer Chiaverini and Nancy Odom linked to Jennifer's 'Elm Creek Quilters' novels and beautifully illustrated.  I wonder which one I shall start with?

Bountiful gifts and a new convert

I spent the weekend with my parents and Mummy is starting to have a bit of a sort out...I am the delighted recipient of these jars of buttons, aren't they gorgeous? At the moment I'm just admiring them, all colour-sorted in their containers but I do think I might have a go at making some jewellery with some and will definitely use some in a future quilt project or two.

The next goody bag was from my sister who has just holidayed in Florida. She brought me home this wonderful selection of fabrics and I have a plan for a rainbow quilt in square within a square blocks. I started talking about quilting with her and it turns out that she has ALL of Jennifer Chiaverini's books (which she buys in America) and was willing to lend them to me. Here they are in my sewing room, I started the Quilter's Apprentice last night and am on chapter 9! Jane had bought herself some fabric and wanted to know where to start with an English pieced-patchwork project so she has begun working on Grandmother's Flower Garden with hexagons and promised to start her own quilting blog. She found lots of helpful information on the internet including Wendy Harbaugh's very helpful tutorial at http://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/2007/03/tutorial-on-english-paper-piecing.html all in all, a very successful weekend, plus, hopefully Jane and Mummy are going to the Quilt Show at Hever Castle this weekend while I'll be at the Harrogate show and we're intending to go to the forthcoming V&A exhibition together if we can find something to amuse the menfolk!!

Great week

I had a great time away in Norfolk last week and, among other things, managed to get my Lynne Edwards' (book 2) Sampler Quilt top finished. I'm only doing nine blocks as that's the right size to go over the sofa but I think I'll do the other blocks eventually, it's a great way to learn.

While I was away I joined the Dayspringers Quilting group in North Walsham. What a great group of very friendly people. Lots and lots going on, they had a mini workshop making a pin cushion with Brenda, Ros led the block of the month which was Strip Rail (from Lynne Edwards' first Sampler Quilt book), there was a library, fabric sales and a raffle. I came away with French beans in the raffle and borrowed Jennifer Chiaverini's "An Elm Creek Quilts Album". I've never thought about reading novels about quilting before but I finished the first book in the album, "The Runaway Quilt" (about the Underground Railroad) and it was a brilliant read which I would heartily recommend to anyone, quilters and non-quilters alike.

While mooching round North Walsham I found a traditional haberdashery shop - I thought they'd all vanished off the face of the earth. Brilliant. And of course I made a visit to Sew Creative for a few things!!

My birthday today so I think I'll do a little sewing before my daughter and grandson arrive for lunch :)