Japanese Sewing Terms

Marissa at Quilt Otaku sent me to Jennifer at Moving Hands who will be attending Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2010 at the Tokyo Dome and posting photos for those of us unable to attend.  Looking at Jennifer's blog I found her fantastic list of Japanese Sewing and Pattern Terms, what a great resource.

 布:  fabric

I needed to install Japanese on my computer to read it properly (all I was getting was little boxes with numbers in them).  This was easy:  Control Panel - Regional and Language Options - Languages - check box to "Install files for East Asian Languages" - Apply
The Tokyo Quilt Show is on from 15th - 23rd January 2010.

Something Fishy

I just wanted to share my lunch with you!  This is totally off-topic but I am really impressed with my nearest  supermarket, Asda, today.  I'm not a fan of supermarkets, preferring to shop in small, local shops when I can but found myself in Asda today and decided to try their fresh fish counter. 
Did I want my fish in a normal bag or an oven-ready package?  What?  Well apparently there have been adverts on television but I haven't seen them. 
For no extra cost I could have my fish in a bag that goes straight in the oven (full instructions on the back) and could have a choice of butters and slices of fresh lemon included.  What a great way to encourage people to eat fish which is so healthy.  Well done Asda!

Shibori Dragon

This is not a recommendation but I have just found this website Shibori Dragon and they have a good range of Japanese fabrics, kits and patterns.  They have the Sylvia Pippen patterns I have been coveting too. This is from the website home page and I think I will be exploring the site further, particularly when (if) the UK pound gets a bit stronger:

Shibori Dragon ®
Your complete source for Asian Quilting Fabrics,
and Wearable Art with an Asian Flair.

GORGEOUS ASIAN FABRICS, TRADITIONAL JAPANESE
FABRICS AND SASHIKO FOR ALL YOUR QUILTING &
SEWING PROJECTS.

SPECIALIZING IN SASHIKO PATTERNS, SAMPLERS,
THREAD, NOTIONS, FABRICS, KITS & BOOKS -
We have the largest Sashiko selection on the internet!
 

To read our latest on-line newsletter, just click on the envelope.   
 

11124 Gravelly Lake Drive SW
Lakewood, WA  98499

Shop Phone: (253) 582-7455

E-Mail:  shiboridragon@juno.com
 

Getting Ready

With a month to go before we set off we're getting quite excited!  We're making sure we've got tickets, passports and money - what else do we need?
We leave from Heathrow on 11 February and our first stop, after a flight of 12 hours and 55 minutes, will be wonderful Singapore.  We're staying in a different hotel from usual, we'll be at the Strand for four nights before heading onwards, a further 7 hours and 30 minutes, round the world to Sydney where we'll have a brief stopover, staying at the Victoria Court for two nights.  This will give us a chance to explore the harbour area and decide what we would like to do when we return for a longer stay at the end of April.
From Sydney we have a short hop of just three hours to New Zealand, and we'll arrive in Auckland on
19 February.  We'll be in awesome NZ for just over two months and will be exploring the South Island, right down to Fjordland, as well as visiting NZ friends and rellies. 

We hope you'll keep in touch with us while we're away by checking this blog and posting your comments.  I'll publish each new post on Facebook too for those of you who use it.

Happy Birthday Bonni

Thank you to everybody who helped me to come up with a name for my lovely Singer sewing machine who's 81st "birthday" is today, it was on 9th January 1929 that her serial number was allocated.  This morning I gave her a service and a dust and a brand new needle and started my first project - a little Sweet Treat Bag from a Moda Honeybun pattern (sent to me for Christmas by my GGCS partner, Sal).  It is so satisfying to be using such a great machine and if the snow keeps coming and the power cuts out I'll still be able to stitch.  Mummy told me how my grandmother used to take her hand sewing machine outside and sit in the garden and stitch.  Sadly this isn't her machine but it has been Mummy's for a long time (she's not sure where it came from originally).  The only problem I've encountered is that I miss having both hands to guide my work but at such a gentle pace I'm managing.

So please say hello to Bonni.  I wanted a Scottish name as she was made in Scotland and Bonni means "pretty" or "charming".  Michelle set me on the right path when she suggested the name Vivien after Vivien Leigh who starred in Gone With The Wind - Bonnie was the pretty little daughter of Scarlett and Rhett and GWTW is one of my favourite books/films.

Friday Night Sew-In

 Bobbi and Heidi are hosting a Friday night sew in which sounds like a lot of fun so I've decided to join them (even if I'll start and finish before they do unless I stay up very late here in England and go with their time zone).
The "rules" are here but it's all about having fun and getting a lovely block of time to work on crafty projects (it doesn't have to be quilting) on Friday 15th January - that's next week!
I shall be in my very cosy dressing gown (and cashmere socks) and with chocolate nearby and a nice cup of tea, or two, spend the evening working on...
you'll have to look at my post on Saturday 16th to see what I achieved.
There's even the chance of winning something in a giveaway, what more could anyone ask.  So, are you in?

The more it snows, tiddley-pom

This is the fantastic photo from space taken by nasa and being shown all over the place today - television, newspapers, twitter etc etc so I thought I'd share it too.  It was taken yesterday and shows our amazing white out - the Big Freeze!  We're in the middle of a blizzard here in Lincolnshire as I type and I think the forecast is for more of the same.  All the local schools are closed (the children are really, really upset!) and, more unfortunately, a lot of roads are blocked due to accidents.  I'm very fortunate that the fire is blazing and I don't have to go out.  Please keep warm and safe if you're having winter and to all Southern Hemisphere bloggers - please send us some of your warmth!

Isn't She Lovely?

This is my very exciting acquisition - a vintage Singer sewing machine.  It was sitting in the guestroom when we stayed with Mummy and Daddy over New Year and I was allowed to bring it home.  To say I am over the moon is putting it mildly, I think it is an incredibly wonderful thing.
I did a little research at sewmuse and from the serial number:  Y6390437, found that my machine was made in Kilbowie, Clydebank, Scotland in 1929.  Wow, it's 80 years old.  The serial number was in a batch of 4,000 alloted on January 9th 1929 and the class/model number is 16K.

My gorgeous machine works but is fairly dusty as you can see.  As it is her birthday in two days time I will give her a lovely dust and polish and then do a little stitching with her, I can hardly wait!

Welcome 2010

Happy New Quilting Year!

This image from the fireworks in London last night is taken from the Guardian website.  I thought the fireworks were stunning and for the first time ever thought it would have been fantastic to have been in the city for the start of the New Year.  I had a good time, with family and friends,  and time to reflect and I send my best wishes to you all for a peaceful 2010 in all ways.

What Christmas Is All About