Random: The Last minutes

 { Tova for S}

 { She loves this chestnut print }

 { how could I resist??}

 { drawstring bag: front}

 {drawstring: back}

 { drawstring bag made with inexpensive muslin}

 {great for quilts}

 { as always, S loves be part of mama's doing}

 {made over 10 different sizes of drawstring bags}

{ she was busy in that last minutes doing}

The last minutes before our move was bitter and sweet. I shall skip the bitter part for now, so I can catch up the new lifestyle post here in Taiwan with you. When S asked for another Tova top with her favorite print, chestnut I could not say no! She has a little affair with handmade clothes that I made for her. It makes the outfit extra special when she puts it on.  The fabric is rather soft! She loves the softness and the color in this print. I waited the last minutes to make the top. Thankfully, it fits her perfectly!

How would I resisted DS new collect at Joann's? I probably went back to the store twice a day and three days the same week. I knew I have to get them before they are gone. I love the new collection and oh please don't let me know there are newer collections have already out and about. I might be a little upset! I store fabric stashes in my dear friend, Carol's house. She is so kindly offered one of  her closet to me when I approached her. All the boxes of fabric are safely keep at her home in Iowa. Oh, that makes me so happy and I knew that she will ensure they are happy. She is an amazing quilter as well.

The scrappy drawstring bag was made to give a very special friend that I have been known for a long time. I have a bit of hard time to think what to make for her in the last minutes of makings and doings, but I knew that something simple and me would be a perfect gift! The gifts have been given and I think she is happy!! I shall share more about this...

I have different yardage of muslin that I used for my school's work. I think over 30 yards in 3 years. In the last week of packing I used most of the muslin and made different sizes of drawstring style storage tubes for quilts. I simply roll the quilts into tubes then store them in the drawstring bags. They are perfect for the purpose of archiving and storage.

Here is how I make drawstring style storage tubes:
Measure the length of your quilt after your roll into a tube then add 3 inches on the top for the drawstring bag. Use {French Seam style  drawstring bag} for the top closure. However, since I was in the last minutes doing. I used the overlock to closed the seam allowance and it work nicely as well.

Finally, {1/4" mark} is settled in! Still a bit this and that need a work on, but for now S and I have started our normal weekending. She is fully back to making, creating, and as well as her music. Our second weekending is almost here! A trip to flea market as I mentioned last and a special celebration with my family as the MFA diploma has arrived and I really can call myself completed and an official, no schooling for a little while.

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