Another square-in-square finished!

So today.... just in the nick of time (we travel to North Carolina tomorrow to see lots of family - yay!), I finally finished tacking back the binding on my niece's graduation quilt - yet another raw-edge applique, square-in-square quilt (by request!).  Washed and dried it, and with a little daylight left, enlisted my girls to help with a quick snapshot:

Pictures taken before I trimmed all the bits of loose thread from the raw-edge applique:

I used lots of fabrics purchased at the City Quilter in NYC in colors requested by my niece... plus scraps of Japanese linen, silk, and whatever else I had on hand.  I finished the whole thing in Japan, save tacking back the binding.  (Did I ever even live in Japan?  In many ways it seems like a faraway dream, after only one short month away.)

I think I could use this Japanese brown linen polka dot in every quilt I ever make:

And speaking of using brown... I really enjoyed a recent guest post over at Elven Garden on color theory -  here  - by Alison of Little Island Quilting -  Her colorful scrappy quilts are just wonderful and her theory really resonates with me.  Hurray for brown... for not necessarily using a whole designer line of fabric at once... for considering VALUE... in a nutshell, hurray for scrappy!

And now... it is after midnight!  How did that happen?  With an early flight tomorrow... I... must... pack (not exactly my specialty!).

Details from Kazuko Yoshiura's sashiko quilts

As promised, here are some detail shots of several beautiful quilts displayed by my sashiko teacher, Kazuko Yoshiura, during the Izukougen Art Festival.

All of the following photos show Yoshiura-sensei's original, hand quilted work:

The white piping really helped show off each section:

I love the energy of the red fish as well as the beautiful pieced background:

Another striking quilt here: 

Sashiko meets Log Cabin barn raising:

And we oooed and aahhhed over this boro-inspired piece: 

You already know I'm a fan of sashiko, raw-edged applique, and homespuns.  So, yes, I was swooning over this!

Nearly a week later, and I'm still thinking about these quilts, all the sashiko inspiration, and the fun I had joining in with some very nice Japanese ladies from my sashiko classes.  I blogged about the day here and you can read all about sashiko here. 

Yet another raw edged square-in-square

This quilt, which I began back in October, has been finished for awhile but really needed a good solid washing and drying, to "tatter" the edges of the raw-edge applique.  I finally got a chance to borrow use of a friend's American-sized washer and dryer, which made the task possible!

David wasn't around so I just had one helper to take a photo outside - what a goofball!

Come on, Tommy, hold still so I can snap a few close-ups!

And because this was raw edge appliqued I then spent an episode or two of White Collar,   trimming and picking out stray threads.

It is now finally ready to send to David and Janette.  Yay!

M's college quilt, and Hakone

I'm making a college quilt for my niece and sure enough she wants the same design that my daughters wanted.  Oh my goodness!  Here we go again!

Miss M sent me an email with some color choices and inspiration images:

8", 5", 3 1/2", and 1 3/4" squares - all raw-edge machine appliqued for an eventually frayed and tattered look.

I am drawing from my stash of Japanese scraps, some neutral linen and muslin, shot cottons, and lots of "modern" fabrics purchased at the City Quilter in NYC and Quilter's Way in MA.

 These colors aren't true but I'm so busy these days I have little chance for daytime photos.

This afternoon I finished piecing the first half.  Most apartments here in Japan are wallpapered with white textured vinyl... ours is no exception - so with a little washi tape, voila! Design wall.

If I were making this quilt for a wee toddler or preschooler, I would quilt and bind it as is - I like the proportions.  But for a college student it needs to double in size!  I have the rows all set to piece.

On Friday, David, Tommy and I took a daytrip to Hakone - by the end of the day, we had enjoyed various views of Mt. Fuji and had taken subway, bullet train, train, cable car, ropeway, ship (!), and taxi.  Lots and lots of walking too.  It was a sunny brisk day - just a great outing and if you are a local, I highly recommend it!

Open Air Museum:

Hey!  by Shin Yamamoto, 1992

Park in Rome, by Toshio Yodoi, 1976

We hiked (walked really, up a long series of steps) up to the summit of this inactive volcano crater, which had erupted 3000 years ago and still emits sulfur steam - ya, it smelled terrible!

Once at the summit, with any luck you have a great view of Fuji-san.  Ours was somewhat obscured by clouds; we saw it but you'll have to take my word for it that it's somewhere in the background of this photo!

And for 500 yen you can purchase a steaming packet of eggs which have been hard boiled in the sulfured water.  The shells turn a beautiful matte black - reminded me of soapstone.

Legend has it that eating one of these eggs will add seven years to your life.

To me, that's time to make at least seven additional quilts:).

Another Millie quilt

Believe it or not, I'm making another Millie quilt, this time for my brother D (well, let's face it,  mostly for my sister in law J)....

At first I thought this would be a good color scheme.....

But quickly felt it really needed some pops of red....

Easy piecing (messy, thready):  

8" base squares in mediums and darks.  

Raw edge machine applique - first 5" squares, then 3 1/2" squares, then 1 3/4" black flannel squares.  

The blue ticking is old - it was my Mom's.... and the dragonflies are Japanese.  

Lots of texture - linen polkadots and vintage kimono silk: 

Rows are all pieced, pressed and numbered: 

And I'm getting there: 

J asked for a quilt like this a few years ago.  She is one of those rare non-quilters who really loves and "gets" quilts.  My brother is a fine carpenter and appreciates hand made items.  At that time I was just about to start teaching fourth grade full time, and there was just no way (do you ever get asked to make a quilt, and you think, you guys have no idea how much time and expense goes into making a quilt!)... but now I finally do have the breathing space to make her one and I'm glad to.  I'm less good at making quilts on demand.  

Here in Japan I work just two mornings a week, and do some volunteer work, but I really am enjoying lots of time for creativity!  It helps that we live in a very small apartment with none of the home-maintenance chores we deal with back home in Massachusetts!  As quilting goes, I am living by "make hay while the sun shines" because when we return to the U.S., it's back to real life... and surely less time for quilting!