An anniversary give-away for my blogging friends

Little did I know, or even imagine, a year ago when my son suggested scanning my paper diary and putting it on a blog, what the consequences would be. I could see that the paper book is beginning to fall apart. I could also understand that my kids wanted to see what I was up to.
I knew very little about even the basics like posting a picture and still have not figured out how to get those pictures and writing arranged the way I want them. Beyond my own children, I had no idea of what a "follower" might be and "comments" were what family members wrote about cute pictures of the little ones.

So, my friends, you can see this past year has been a steep learning curve but every step of the way, there has been a dear blogging buddy or a caring child to give me help, coaching, assistance, or a shove in the right direction.

Even my non-quilting readers have commented to me on what caring, compassionate, and supporting people quilting bloggers are as indicated by their comments. Truly I have been richly blessed by you all.

So, as my first anniversary approaches, I have been giving thought as to how I might thank my fellow bloggers and followers. It is not my intention to gain more followers ... I have no idea why people choose to follow other than by how I might decide and I have more than one way of following...

I have gathered together a few things that are very Japanese. I googled Japanese taupes and found pictures of what the internet says they are and the first item in the package is a set of 100 ten cm. square "taupe" fabrics. I also selected 8 rolls of traditional Japanese prints in shades of tan/brown. I'm not sure the size but about 12"x 10 or 12". Then there is a set of ten pieces of "kasuri". They are around 13"x 9", and my personal favorites. The thread is indigo dyed before being woven into the designs and the ones I have selected are the more traditional patterns. These days they are valued highly by Japanese quilters and since they are not being made so much any more, are becoming harder and harder to find without buying antique clothing and cutting it apart. The last items are two printed panels. One is a welcoming cat panel with two cats and the other, the twelve animals of the oriental zodiac.

On my blog anniversary, which is on July 23rd U.S. east coast time, I will draw a name from among those who are interested and send a package out. If you are a follower, I will put your name in the "pot" twice. Please let me know if you are interested in the drawing. I wish I could afford to send more to thank you all.

A run on runners

Too many years ago to remember when, I was teaching a quilt-as you-go class at my church Women's Society and also at the Tokyo American Club. It was a series of nine or ten weekly classes and included selecting and purchasing fabrics and supplies, marking and cutting, piecing and applique, preparing for quilting, quilting blocks, joining blocks, borders, and binding.

The students were, for the most part, wives of ex-pats living in Japan for a few years and looking to make a quilt using Japanese fabrics and patterns. I had drafted patterns for making 12in. blocks that could be made into any size from lap quilts to bed covers. I encouraged those women to pick a realistic size so they could go through the steps and complete their project. I have many photos of finished quilts and their proud makers.

During this time I usually made a demonstration quilt. Most were single bed size. A few were double bed size and still being used on the "guestroom bed". Some were donated to the church for raffle and some are still hanging out in the closet.
The Ohio star runner was a small demonstration piece. My coffee table at that time was an irregular slice of redwood stump and did not lend itself to runners of any kind. Moving back to our smaller home, the stump was replaced with a real coffee table originally purchased for my Mother-in-law. Out of the box came the runner, a bit small for this table but happy to see the light of day.

Last year's Jan/Feb issue of McCalls Quilting Magazine had a pattern for the heart banner. Thinking that would make a nice table runner I dragged out my stash and changed the pattern around to be made by hand and use a pieced background. (didn't have enough of the fabric I liked) When I saw the Quilting Gallery's Weekly Theme was asking for Valentine quilts I decided to give this runner a bit of exposure. I have only won one contest in my entire life (not a quilt contest either) and don't expect this effort to get more than one vote but it is fun to see what others are making and check out the links to their blogs.

Looking around at all the neat runners you guys out there in blogland are making, I was forced (or shamed) to make a runner for Fall and also the Holidays. Now I have a bit of change on my coffee table and we have come full circle. I have discovered in this tiny house, the coffee table is a good place to put quilt projects. I like small take-along work and have lots of ideas running around kicking in my brain.

This final runner is one I made for Tanya who so kindly made one for me with the Chinese characters for Fukuda and the verse from Psalm 128.2 "..Your fields will produce, and you will be happy..." (I wanted to add a link but it is not working so check my blog list) Anyway, when I was putting my box of batiks away, I came across a long-lost tin of food prints and it seemed to me that, if not my fields, at least my closet had produced and Tanya should get a cut. Thus, a bit of food for her table and some cats to guard it. Not that she doesn't have plenty of real life cats. As an interesting aside, when my son set up my diary into a blog, he went somewhere on the Internet and put some links on the side to do with quilting. Tanya's was one of those so she has been on my blog as long as I have ... perhaps longer since I didn't get involved at all until I returned to Tokyo at the end of the summer.

I wonder if you quilters and bloggers out there have any idea of the part you play in not only my quilt life but my daily life too. Thanks for your in-put, your inspiration, and your encouragement.

Book Cover 2010

For the 2010 Women's Conference I was asked to make a book cover for a prayer book as a gift to the speaker.

Asked to choose "Distinctive Japanese" fabrics. I selected Kasuri from my stash. Dying the threads before weaving seems to be an extreme exercise in faith in that, what was intended matches the result. I was able to pick up a floral weave at the Tokyo Dome Quilt show and finished the cover with a hand crafted butterfly from Hinoki wood. 5" x 7" X 1" Were the dimensions requested. Never having made a book cover before, I made a practice cover for my old bible.

Paul's "Big Boy" Quilt 2008

Started in April as a carry-along project, I went through my stash of greens and blues. I assembled 3 sizes into a 5" block and those were again combined to make a 10" block.

Designed to be sewed together, they just didn't work when laid out on Sue and Pete's living-room floor in June. At Sue and Cyndi's suggestion, the navy sashing and a blue+green border were added and Kimie helped with the arrangement during her July visit.


It didn't look like much of a "kids" quilt so I decided to use the zodiac animal towels for the reverse side. Paul made a trip to Ginza to pick up a dragon for the top border since little Paul is a dragon. To make the backing large enough I added a strip of dragonfly yukata fabric.

The idea is to have the family members sign their names and birthdays on the animals. I drafted the quilting design and made the templates. The idea was to have and interlocking pattern. I hope this will make up for his baby quilt which had become too small now that he has a big bed. 76" x 86" (193cm x 218.5 cm)

ASIJ Quilt 2008

Cherry Blossoms in the Moonlight, completed and hung at the ELC February 26, 2008.

Since the auction date was chosen earlier than other years, we three, Me, Kendra and Jacqueline, met in June and discussed plans to make a smaller quilt designed to be hung on the wall.  A 4 panel screen seemed to be a good idea because the panels could be worked on individually and joined at the end.  We met again at the end of September and word was sent out to enlist helping hands.  Piecing was begun October 23, first cutting and arranging the background fabrics.  By Christmas break, the aplique had begun. There were a lot of petals both silk and cotton. Jacqueline did the embroidery on each flower.

ASIJ Quilt 2007

Again Kendra, Jacqueline and I sat down to plan the projet.  The theme of the "Blue Dragon" had been chosen by the Auction Committee.  We through we would try a free style and I sketched out a plan.  After piecing the small sections we met to arrange them using a large piece of pink paper marked with a two inch grid.

This process made more work for the three of us but we were able to keep the volunteers busy.  With spring break coming, we began to get concerned about completing the quilting in time to hang the quilt so Kendra called a few all day sessions.  We met again at her house to finish marking the border and a good turn-out made quilting and bias turning go quickly.

I quilted the dragon and background on off days.

Completed 4-9-07.  The lucky bidder was Montana Griffin ar 1,2000,000 yen!

ASIJ Quilt 2006

Design planning in October '05 with Kendra Mortganaturn and Jaqueline Wein, we decided on a Japanese Blue & White theme.

We also decided to go for a queen sized quilt thinking it might go for a higher price.  Once the pattern was decided on we shopped for fabric.  The pictures were made mostly of fabric from mine or Kendra's stash.  By December the diamond blocks were pieced and we began the applique.

Once basting was done I brought the quilt home between sessions and quilted the diamonds with crest designs then the picture blocks and corner on the border and added a binding and a sleeve the last day, finishing February 28th.  The quilt was hung in the stairwell at the ELC for a few weeks.  It went to Yasuko Kent, one of the quilters and raised a whopping 700,000 Yen!

ASIJ Quilt 2005

Kimino Quilt 2004

Yukata Kaliedescope 2003

Star Crossed 1999

Japanese Demonstration Quilt 1997

CWAJ Group Quilt 1996

Japanese Demonstration Quilt 1996

Ohio Star too far East too long

Class Quilt 1994

Class Quilt 1994

Class Quilt 1992