Summer 2013: Quliters' Friendships

:: { James Town, North Dakota}::

 { Such lovely and sweet quilt}

 {A}

 { over hundred different prints in this special quilt}

{such cozy and sweet quilt arrangement}

 {Elnora's hand & my hand} 

 ::{ Nippori, Japan}::

 { White Cloud, the Buffalo from N.D. }

 {Ayumi, on the left; me, on the right}

 { Same quilt, but different location}

{ Finally arrived}

Allow me to share very special friendships and story with you. You might want to brew a cup of tea, get a few some sweets ,  just rest and hope you'll enjoy this post as much as I write it.

The virtual quilting community is so very special to many of us. Over the years, I have "met" so many of amazing quilters, sewers, and crafters.  These friends are generous, kind, encouraging and so sweet. I can't find better words to write about the friendships that you have extended, truly touched and special.

Over the year, I have loved to read your emails, comments and interacting with you via {Flickr}and at {1/4" mark}. Slowly some of you have shared a bit of your personal life stories with me { and thank you for the countability} and a little more about different life experiences that you and I encountered. I love get to know you personally and share a bit this and that with you!  Oh, yes not all the life experiences are great and sometimes, life is a little upside down and under our control. I confess there are much more to learn and take time to make pauses if we need to. Many of your wise suggestions and encouraging words have helped me in many ways. It is beyond what I could ask for!! 

My very dear friend, {Elnora}  and I met via Flickr. She is so sweet and talented! Beyond sweet, let's say! She is always so sweet and her emails are always encouraging and helpful with my problems and questions. Along with her many years oversea experiences that made me feel so closed to her when we first started "talking".  As you know,  many times in this blog I have mentioned Elnora is like a sweetest aunt whom spoils S like no one.  We have exchanged  many emails time to time, but never text or talk on the phone. Later on, we exchanged phone number and I text her to ask for help on the trouble airline tickets. She was so helpful and made phone calls for me to ask her friends for more helps. Then we finally have our first chat on the phone... oh boy.. was I not nervous?! My tongue was twisting... oh dear... it was so nice to hear her's voice, so soft and sweet and it is REAL! We talked so much! Fabric, sewing, and the trouble with the airline and much more...

Between our exchanged emails I knew she was making a baby quilt for our dear mutual friend, { Ayumi, Pink Penguin}. Each time, in our exchanged email she shared a few snap photos of the baby quilt that she was working on.  I love her perfect fussy cuts for this quilt. Each fussy cut is thought out and Elnora takes her time to process each of her handmade project. Later on,  I mentioned that I will be in Japan and have arranged a meet up with Ayumi and I would love and happy to hand deliver her quilt to Ayumi. We have had few arrangements about her sending the quilt to my N.D. address, but when she mentioned she will be visiting her relatives in N.D. in May around the time that we were moving. It took a few days for me to make sure we could drive down to meet up with her.

Since it was the last week of S' schooling and I've checked with her teacher with the academic activities that day. I decided to withdraw S at noon from school and we drove down to meet up with Elnora. There was so much rainy days before she came and I was so worry about the weather! The drive to James Town was perfect and smooth after so much rain. It was like a filed trip that S and I taken together. We've never been to any other cities in N.D. other than the city we lived and Fargo where we occasionally go shopping for some authentic Asian food. 

S was wowing over the greatest Buffalo Monument on top of the hill in James Town. She was glad to see the olden days' post office, barber shop, fire station, etc. When Elnora and we met up, she gave me a big and warm hug and so did S! Our time together was so fun! We went to the Buffalo museum, so S could visit the Buffalo and read about the histories. 

After we left the Buffalo Museum, Elnora show us the baby quilt that she made for Ayumi! All these snap photos that she sent to me are puzzled together in real life. There's a lot of fabric stories between her and Ayumi that they shared. Elnora went through some of the fabric stories with me, so very touched friendship.  I love the fussy cut of {A} for Ayumi.  There are so many special prints that cut with special effort to make this baby quilt warm and cozy!  Not sure if my words have used properly for the touched feeling that I have.  We spent a very sweet, special and just fun afternoon together. I think if we both got sewing machine by us that would be even better! Some tea, homemade cookies, laughs, fabric talks, maybe even fabric shopping somewhere?.. Next time, shall we?  How we wish our visit could be longer, but the drive home is a little bit long.  S and I depart the city and return to our home.

On our way home, S napped and while sitting on the driver seat I slowly recall the moments that I just had and the meet up with my very first virtual sewing friend in real life and the super special friendship mission to Japan that I committed. ... oh.. we didn't tell Ayumi! This was a top secrete!! Even I had emailed Ayumi with our departure date before our internet disconnected. I was as quiet as I can be! 

When we arrived home, the first thing I did was set the quilt on top of the suitcase. The next morning,  I rearranged the suitcase and it fitted perfectly.  When we checked in our luggage at the airport, I was so worry!! Felt so worry,  what if the suitcase got lost in the transition, maybe I should have carry it with me.Thank goodness everything went well! Even 3 out of 4 luggage have been opened by the security. Everything that I set inside of the suitcase was there! I bet they were wondering why so many fabrics, books, and sewing tools in each luggage.  When we arrived our hotel room the first thing I asked S was help me to get the suitcase open. I checked once, twice, and just wanted to make sure the quilt is in the original condition. It might sound a bit crazy, but it is a super precious quilt that I carried with and I was trusted by a very dear friend to bring another friend a very warm and personal present.

Meeting Ayumi in real life is so special and almost so unreal to me. As many of you already know that she is expecting and the date is coming so soon! We arranged a meet up in the Tomato Fabric Store awhile back. She looks perfect as a mama to be. She is so comfortable to be with just like what she expresses herself and her works in her blog.  I feel I am  alike a big fan meeting the super star; I was so so nervous I must confess!!  We went for lunch in the local restaurant and had great visit about our trip in Japan and our move in the states! She shared some of her process while she was writing her book { Patchwork, please}. It is a great and such lovely book with lots fantastic projects and of course, I love her fabric arrangement as always.

Later on we went to a coffee shop where we could sit and visit. I thought that would be a perfect timing to present the quilt that I brought for her.   Finally, I could let the cat out of the bag. I am good at keep secrete, but it is hard sometimes. I am so anxious to hand the baby quilt to Ayumi  and so anxious to write back to Elnora that the quilt has been safely delivered. The excitements I have had.. oh dear.. am I too chatty about this?

When I handed the quilt to Ayumi, she was so surprised and unexpected with this baby quilt that Elnora made her. Oh dear, she shared with me that she had no idea that Elnora was making this baby quilt for her. She was so wordless of some moments. I quietly waited for her to look through each block and fabric prints. We together looked through the fussy cuts and cute prints. S and I told her some prints that we learned from Elnora. Ayumi shared that she have seen some of the images from Elnora, but she didn't know that it is for her.

There were joy tears from her and I knew that the quilt and friendships have deeply touched her soul and heart. I am so glad my small act made this quilt and friendship extra special. We look and look at the quilt and we chat more about the quilt and talk about the friendship. 

Thank you, Elnora, for trusting me to hand deliver your special quilt that you made for Ayumi. I am so honored to be part of this friendship and surprise!! {Oh.. I love your extra large zippers bag that you store the quilt}. Best of best, I could match your face and voice when I read your email.. :)

It has been a so fantastic trips that we have taken and met ups that we made with our special friends. Thank you, Ayumi for travel to meet up with us. Oh boy, I did worry about you.. I forgot how I was when I had S in me and I was slightly nervous for you~ Wish you all my best of best~

Let the journey continues...

xxc

Summer 2013: Journey in Japan contiues...

 { post}

 { on the JR East train}

 { a mini van sells bread}

 { Kamakura, Japan}

 { S' first meal in Japan}

 { my first meal in Japan}

 { sea world}

 {splash}

 { sea turtle}

 { waiting to pat the small sea turtle}

 {mount. Fuji, can you see?}

 { Take a look}

 { temple}

 {Asakusa}

{fortune telling}

{before worship}

 { what is good? can I have two??}

 { S caught typo, orenge} 

 { Japanese traditional sweet bread, so so so delicious}

 { S was a pink lady for the day}

 {sky tree tower}

 { most spoiled treat: a short latte in 350th floor}

 { She was brave!}

 { cakes in Japan are delicate!}

 {complex train tracks}

 { S, the explorer}

 { spot taxi in Japan}

 { can you see the someone's reflection on the telephone booth?}

 { Flowers are everywhere and pretty}

 {a great trip to worship the Buddha}

Did you have a nice tour down here? I hope you enjoy the moments that we have had in Japan. We always have first few days full with busy schedule in Japan. That helped the jet-lag and just make our body ready for the new place. 

S loves the train rides in Japan, but rush hours seem much for her. We tried to leave our room early enough, so we can get on the train with less crowd. Our trip to Kamakura was fabulous. My dear college friend picked us up from the train station and we rode together on the train and it was so helpful to have someone translate the signs and explained the histories for us.

The mini van sells the bread is something that I used to seen when I was S' age. The van came on our street and ring the special bell. We always get some sweet bread or treats for the afternoon treats or for next morning breakfast. S asked me if I  have seen a van sells bread, I replied, yes! There were used to have many different vans, cars, motorcycles even bikes selling food on the street when I was at her age. It was so much fun and memorable to see one again. Mom used to give us a few coins and let us run downstairs to catch the car.

The trip in Japan was full with fresh food and sweets. We have tried many new food this time and really love how they tasted. Asakusa, Japan is a great tourist place to visit. We followed the custom wash our hands before enter the temple to worship. S tried the fortune telling again this time, so did I. The temples in Japan are mostly over hundred years old and so peaceful when we enter. The colors of the space is so calm. Yes, it is really comfortable! Everyone were whispering and murmuring their wishes and so did I.

We waited in lines a lot! Mostly for food! According to my friends, if the line is very long for restaurants or food stands/shops that mean it is a very tasty place.  We waited outside in a hundred year old Japanese traditional sweet bread shop for 45 minutes.  The shop people kept come out to tell us the shop opens at 9, but S and I insisted waited outside. We felt quiet proud to be the first set of customer for the day. The sweet bread was soft and the apple pie crust texture was so crispy. I slightly... greedy think that I should have gotten two instead of one.  We both spoiled ourselves and got soft ice cream as well.

Like every tourist, we joined the big crowd and visited the sky tree tower. It is the newest landmark in Tokyo area.  S was most excited about the speed in the elevator that goes up the 350th floor. Unlike her, my heart beats were fast running when we were in the elevator. Seeing the screen number going up.. 4.....10...200...234...344...345...346....350..

When we first enter and view the outside from the windows, S' first question was there are no backyard in Japan and the land is well occupied by houses. We spotted a large park and thought it might be the place children play and ride their bikes.  The houses are so closed to each other especially viewing the city of Tokyo from 350th floor. The view is so stunning and breath taking! 

We have felt in love with Japanese food, culture, and people! The country has great mixture of Western and Eastern elements. Most of the time, I have asked S not be afraid. It is not a big problem if you can speak the language. People around you will be helpful, but cautious the people you meet. On our trip, we took two small trips to the book stores.  I asked S not to go far out of my sight. We both dig in the subjects that we loved! She found a book for herself and I didn't. I flipped through so many sewing books and knowing our suitcases are full I decided not to get more books for myself... { but how I wish..}

On this trip we have enjoyed meeting friends and having resting time together. Oh yes... I believed you alrady know how much S loves the full attention from mama and the adventures that she is taking so far. One step a day give us a little room to breath and reflect.

The raining season starts in Taiwan and we have enjoying the rainy days... oh dear it cools off the air~ Best of all, raining season in Taiwan is perfect for sewing time... Dad and I are heading to Flea market this Saturday early morning. I hope to find a few things there.. mainly a sewing machine...

xxC 

Summer 2013: Journey in Japan

 { on skyliner speedy train}

{Arakawa, Tokyo}

 {telephone booth}

 {temple}

The departure flight we took in Dallas to Japan was full. The flight hours was actually shorter than it scheduled. Within 12 hours flight, I took a short nap, watched three movies, then a longer nap. S did so well this time. No air sick and thankfully she slept most of the flight time. I always look forward the meal time, not the food, but the coffee. It feels like a big treat after having not much coffee time for so long. Oh yes, coffee and movie are nice combo if you ask me.  I have wished some homemade cookies or cake to go with.

Landing in Japan is alike going to to a different states, but in a completely different language and culture. This is second time S and I stopped by Japan on our back to Taiwan. We have loved this short pause after the our big moving away from N.D. We rest  in a home stay style suit that I rent. The room is floored in Japanese traditional floor, tatami.  The smell of the dried grass is so nice! We hung our daily towels outside in the baloney to dry. I have missed this part of lifestyle: hang clothes outside and allow the sun takes care of it. We woke up in the middle of the night and wonder around at 6 in the morning... the Eastern and Western differences have just started... Shall I keep going.. allow me...

As my friend suggested,  we took the skyliner speedy train into Tokyo metro area. It is perfect for us with large luggage and exhausted body. It takes 36 minutes to reach Nippori station where we stayed. The train is comfortable and so smooth. On our way into metro area, the sight outside of the train window is so fabulous. The combination of tradition Japanese houses and modern houses,  the farmland and the houses are living together. I am guessing they have been living closely for hundred years.   We spotted some family gardens near by the houses and some elder lady were taking care the crops, how we wish we could walk there and ask for some garden fun!?

Japan is a very neat country to be! People are nice, especially the elder gentlemen and ladies. They love help people. I must admitted most of the time, I guess what they were trying to tell me and I used very limited Japanese vocabularies to get around. Thankfully it has worked well!!

Can you tell how much S love the telephone booth in Japan?  Correct me if I am wrong. I haven't seen any telephone booth in the states.  Telephone booths were very easy to find 10 years ago in Taiwan, but now it is hard to find one. Whenever we saw a telephone booth she asked if she can go in and ask a photo.  Oh yes, it is very new for S to experience it.

S and I walked everyday in Japan. We love seeing the signs around the shops. Aren't they fun and cute?  Each shop is so inviting with their shop sign and display. Arakawa, Tokyo is rather a traditional neighborhood, what do I mean traditional; my word of tradition means it carries the old days construction in the buildings and kept is original. The closeness of the each house and the wooden construction outside of each building that has been weathered. The neighborhood carries its own histories and stories.  The houses that have renovated have added some modern feature in it. It keeps the houses going. Almost the idea of vintage feedsake and modern fabric that work together. The chemistry between the old and new have deeply inspired me... Do I dare to say this is what I have wish S to experiences as well?

The electrical lines/wires are everywhere that crossed around the allies. The poles around the streets reminded me of my childhood when I visited grandma in the countryside. Each day, our walk is slow and in our slowly paste. We took our time to enjoy the places that we walk by and people we met.

Will continue journey in Japan posts....

The blogger setting in Taiwan is all in the traditional Chinese font. I have accident removed some comments, really sorry. I have reset the setting and it is up-to-date now, so it won't be a problem for now on.

xxc