AO, Japanese bento style quilt

送信者 mini quilt

Although there are many Japanese quilt, I always feel itchy. Yes, I can smell a Japanese scent, but not my taste. Too chic.

Last year, my friend, who is Japanese staying here for long time and started learning quilt, asked me to design a Japanese style quilt. She said she hadn't bothered her origin at the beginning of her life in this country, but had got admired her own background. So, she wanted make her own Japanese quilt not big, not difficult, but lovely.
I totally understood her feeling and designed for not only her but also me.

I call it bento style quilt as a joke because the black frame looks like bento box.
For me, the black frame means my great-grand father's antique shelf that was always forbidden to touch by him. I could just take a glance from the door. In the shelf, there were some antique potteries. it seemed a treasure box for me.
I picked up blue unconscious, but it may come from his blue plates.

The treasure was never inherited. Now they are in the show case of a museum.

This "AO" is one of two quilts of my Japanese quilt. AO means blue and I picked two blue fabric which color are, I think, more Japanese-ish.

Quilting lines are inspired from Sashiko, Japanese traditional quilting technique.

送信者 mini quilt

This sashiko pattern is called "blue ocean wave". One of the most popular pattern.

送信者 mini quilt

Double stripes. Not so major one but I like it.

I will upload another quilt within a couple of days.

small wall pocket totes

送信者 small projects

I want a small bag to hold small staff. I always lose something on my computer desk, especially flash drive and cell phone.
I found a cute site, Jcasa handmade, and she offered a wonderful free project just I was looking for. Those bags are cute, but too much for me. So I made more simple ones.

The size of body is 5" x 4-1/2" and handle size is 12" x 1/2".
Make a patchwork 11" x 5" in size and fold half, sew the sides. Attach the same size of lining and a handle. That's it. Simple.

The organizers are there on the wall. But still a big problem remains.　How can I keep tidying my staff in my mind before taking three steps which is enough for me to forget everything?

Florabunda 10

送信者 Applique quilt

Tenth block. Two more left. I really enjoy this BOM.
The fabric of flowers is the same one of the First block. I didn't like black lines on it, but now I found that it is very effective in this design and I should try any design of fabric for flowers.

It is time to prepare for border setting.
I bought orange fabric with small white flower on it. I can't wait cutting and setting them all. But, I know I need take a deep breath. Don't rush. I have remained the 11th block intact.

Next update will be soon, I hope.

mini Christmas quilt

When I look for some scraps for nine patch project, I found some Christmas fabric. I kept them all together and waited the season. Now, it is time.
I don't want to make a big project anymore in this year, so I pick up some small blocks for the quilt.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

The block size is 4-1/2".

Winter stands

Frosty Jack has came this morning. In Japanese calender, yesterday was the first day of winter. It is not real winter, but it means that it getting colder and no hot day anymore. But that calender doesn't seem to match NC's fall. The leaves of maple outside turned color red and yellow. They are gorgeous!

I finished my fall quilt in the last weekend.

送信者 My quilts

Machine or Hand. Which is faster than the other? At least, I enjoy hand quilting much more than machine quilting. My sewing machine doesn't seem like me at all.


My progress of other works;

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

My son's quilt needs binding. I have to go Jo-Ann for binding fabric. I wonder what color will match to this quilt.

送信者 My quilts

Sunflower quilt. Still quilting.

送信者 My quilts

Can you see the stitch line?

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Two small Japanese quilts. I made these patchworks last winter and completely forgot about them. I found them when I cleaned my drawer last week. Blue one, almost finished quilting needs a bit more stitch on border and binding. I just finished quilting on one of block of red one. As this one is a good decoration for new year, I am going to be serious for this.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

90 nine patches project. I made up to 65. 64 are in this picture. I will make the blocks in this year and assembling and quilting shall be a next year's project.

florabunda 9

送信者 Applique quilt

Finally, I caught up with this BOM. I mean, I finished this block before new one uploaded. When I saw this design, I thought this could be a dahlia. So picking up colors was so easy that I felt I don't change my mind not like the last block, florabunda 8.

Still I have a lot of TO-DO-List. But I'm not good at avoiding temptation of new projects and I found very cute fish applique quilt in Erin's blog, One piece at a time. Thanks Erin, give me endless needle work. Quilting other projects, I am wondering about the color options of fish. I can easily imagine how much my kids love the fish quilt and ask myself I should make two. How happy time it is!

Anyway, I am sure I should finish one of project working now before diving into deep sea.

leaves on a pumpkin patch

送信者 My quilts

Last night was very fun. My kids applied small leaves on my patchwork top. They loved to help me to make up the final decision. " And, mommy, it this for me?" Sorry, kids, it will be on a wall of the entrance.
The leaves are just ironed on and need to stitch around the hem. I need a few more days to stitch by hand before making sandwich. My sewing machine is not good enough, neither am I, to do machine-something. OK. Easy going.

Fall quilt; Jacob's Ladder

The other day, I borrowed an old Quilt magazine in 2003 fall. I was interested in the wedding ring quilt pattern in that issue and found a cute mini quilt. It was a variation of Jacob's Ladder, not nine patch but four patch.
I have some fall fabric that I bought 5-6 years ago for another mini quilt, well, I don't have to buy any extra fabric.

Procrastination is the thief of time.
When I want to do, that is the day to do it.

Still I have a lot of undone work, I started this project.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Now center block has done. This is 12-1/2" sq. size. Hopefully will assemble the borders till tomorrow and apply some appliques.

Florabunda 8

送信者 Applique quilt

Finally, I made up the eighth block. It took longer time than I thought I could stitch. For me, blue flower means star flower and bell flower. Especially I love Japanese star flower in fall. When I was a kid, there were some star flowers in our backyard and it made me sad. I don't know why I felt like so. The flower looked very naive and fragile and I might to be scare to break the beauty.
I tried to recapture my image of star flowers, but I don't think it was successful. Anyway, this block looked good and the color combination is not bad. OK. I am satisfied now.

The next block will be a pink flower and it will come up soon.

Making your templates

There are many type of template material. You can find various plastic template sheets in Fabric store. You can also find recycled materials in your house,too. One of example is a cardboard stacked inside the Fat Quarter that you bought. Here, I show you how to make your template using the cardboard.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

As a template is a duplication of a printed pattern, you need to photocopy the original sheet.
Other supply list is below; cardboard, Glue stick, Paper scissors, Sharpie(fine line marker)

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Cut your copied template sheet bigger than cutting line.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Glue it on a cardboard and cut on the line of cutting line (solid line). Be sure cut INSIDE of the line.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

With your template, trace the line on the other cardboard.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Cut the trace line. This is a cutting size template.
Also, cut your first template on sewing line (dashed line) . This is an actual size template.

Keep Going!

Basic quiltmaking supplies

As there are many of textbook for quiltmaking,  this memo must be feet for a snake.  But we can slither along the old-fashioned methods. 
This memo is basically for ladies in the quilt class of International Friend Club in Durham, NC, who don't have sewing machines and special supplies for quiltmaking. 

Old fashion is still active in our era.
Let's enjoy.

First of all,  you have to prepare things in this list.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

1. Fabric
        For a 16" wall quilt, you needs at least 5 fat quarters (FQ, 18" x 22" piece).  3 for top and binding, 1 for border, 1 for backing.
2. Needles and Pins
        If you buy some, pick "applique sharp" for piecing and "between" for quilting.   Longer pins are very helpful to hold pieces together.
3. Fine Scissors
        You need 2 pairs of scissors; for fabric and for paper.  Better to have another for thread.
4. Threads
        All purpose thread is for piecing and hand quilting for quilting.
5. Batting
        Many kinds of batting are provided.  Low loft polyester batting may be good for beginner.
6. Templete material & Marker
        Cardboard and plastic templates are convenient.   You can use number 2 pencil for fabric marker.  7. Rular
8. Iron & Ironing board
9. Thimble

Optionals;
. Quilting hoop
. Rotary cutter & cutting board
. Quilting tape
. Ripper

Where my inspiration comes from

送信者 Applique quilt

Florabunda 6.   Just one more block is left to catch up Erin's pace.

When I pick up fabrics for this series of flowers, I always recall my memories of Japanese wild flowers.  Wandering around low and high mountains was one of my recreation when I was a college student.   In summer, I used to get a job of house keeper of a lodge in mountain range and spend for 2months.  Under the blue sky, or in the white fog, there were many wild flowers blooming.  I loved to check the name of each flowers.  The best memory is a few days trip to Bijodaira highland with my boy friends, now my husband.  We walked an almost abandoned  path.  We met nobody in the path but little bugs or many, many of wild flowers.  Quiet world.  Just with my love.  How sweet it was.

Unfortunately, I left all photos of the trip in Japan.  We didn't think to stay here such a long time.  So, the memories are kept just in my poor gray noodle and I have to pull them out my old drawer in my head. 

The flowers of my applique are not same as real ones.  I know that well.  Applique world is a sort of fantasy.  I enjoy to make up my flowers.  But I also know where my inspiration comes from.

Sunflower Quilt

I am working on Sunflower quilt.  This was inspired by the tour de France.  I kept this work undone for 3years.  Always I got bored to continue when the races were closed.    But.   Thank you for exciting races and beautiful sunflowers!  Finally I made up the top part.

送信者 A box of my things 趣味の箱

Ah, this photo is not the latest one.  Just center part. 

With my children,

Honestly, I am not good at writing, but better than speaking.

These days, my life is getting stranger than ever because of my kids habits.  Although they grow up with Japanese parents, they are more comfortable to use English than Japanese.  It's OK.  At least this moment.   My kids are 4th and 2nd grader in coming school year and they are really smart to be successful in their school life.  The problem is that I wanted them to learn Japanese as same as English.  Their Japanese level is far behind from same age of Japanese children.  I think it is pretty difficult for them to catch up them.

So, for the first step, I speak Japanese to them as possible as they content.  Now, my crooked life has begun.  I speak to kids in Japanese and they reply in English.  This situation get my English loose.

Oh, No.

I live in USA and I lost my English skill?

I have to do something.  I want to catch both hare.

I am not good at writing.  Then, I may brush up my writing.    With my kids, I shall keep write my journal for my favorite staff.