The quilt is now living in the French countryside where two cats kindly allow my cousin/big sister and her husband to live with them. Vive La France!
Saturday 31 May 2014
Il Est Arrivé!
A couple of weeks ago I finished this lovely item.
It is roughly single bed sized and was not quilted since I wanted to leave it quite flexible and bouncy, plus not interfere with the texture of the fabrics. All of them are traditional japanese woven cottons with this lovely, soft, textured feel to them.
The binding was 3" strips of leftovers. Can you see the blocks? They are like cat faces, with the ears of one shaping the chin of the next. I cut out rectangles for the faces then sewed squares to the corners. It all required a bit of planning to get the right ear patterns with the right faces. Then on the back...
The back fabric was a thick cotton with this awesome cat pattern on it. I was so happy when I found it in Nippori - which I'll be doing a post about in the next day or two. It is the best place for fabric shopping and is where the cottons came from in the first place.
The quilt is now living in the French countryside where two cats kindly allow my cousin/big sister and her husband to live with them. Vive La France!
The quilt is now living in the French countryside where two cats kindly allow my cousin/big sister and her husband to live with them. Vive La France!
Friday 30 May 2014
Too Hot to Handle
I am melting. You see this:
Screenshot from my phone. Last night's "low" was 20 degrees. 20! That would be a nice "high" temperature in London. And the humidity isn't even that high yet. I may actually expire. Or just melt like that hard done by witch in Alice in Wonderland. Or the Wizard of Oz. Whatever. Too hot. My sister screeched at my complaining on Skype yesterday when I said I didn't feel it appropriate to put the air conditioning on yet. I'm British! We didn't conquer and downtread large parts of the world with air conditioning. We did it wearing flannel vests. So I'll just sit here and complain instead.
All this sun avoidance has given me a lot of sewing time so I have been getting on nicely with the voodoo doll of my sister, eventually to be given to my niece. She has a face.
The blue pen vanishes in water. She now has hair.
Before she even had hair she had her first outfit.
I feared the dress looked a bit too much like a hospital gown so added an elasticated waist and some pom pom edging around the collar.
All patterns have come from this book:
...which you can buy here (no affiliation) or on Amazon. You can also buy e-patterns individually. I've submitted a review to the site but I don;t know if they'll publish it. Essentially this is a wonderful book if you know how to sew garments. If you are a beginner or inexperienced sewer you'll have no trouble with the doll but some of the garments have steps missing, presumably to make the text fit the template. These don't matter so much if you know the basics of what you're doing but to a beginner they might be rather disheartening. If you can sew and want a handmade doll with a handmade wardrobe then this is 100% the book for you.
I was shopping for bits for the outfits when I met up with Natalie from The Yarn Yard on Monday. We had a lovely time shopping at two of the largest craft shops in Shinjuku - Yuzawaya and Okadaya. I picked up red pleather for the doll's rain boots, denim for her dungarees and oil cloth for her rain coat, as well as a variety of trimmings.
We had lunch at a Choco Cro although we were very restrained and had a savoury. This is an actual Choco Cro which I picked up yesterday and managed not to eat until I got home.
It's a small, straight croissant cone filled with nutella consistency chocolate goo, although without the hazelnut. They are rather nice and seem to go down a storm here.
I have a few more posts to catch up with since it's too hot (did I mention it's hot) to have my laptop on all the time. Poor thing keeps overheating. As, in case I haven't mentioned it, do I.
All this sun avoidance has given me a lot of sewing time so I have been getting on nicely with the voodoo doll of my sister, eventually to be given to my niece. She has a face.
I was shopping for bits for the outfits when I met up with Natalie from The Yarn Yard on Monday. We had a lovely time shopping at two of the largest craft shops in Shinjuku - Yuzawaya and Okadaya. I picked up red pleather for the doll's rain boots, denim for her dungarees and oil cloth for her rain coat, as well as a variety of trimmings.
I have a few more posts to catch up with since it's too hot (did I mention it's hot) to have my laptop on all the time. Poor thing keeps overheating. As, in case I haven't mentioned it, do I.
Monday 26 May 2014
Shibuya at Night
I imagine all tourists go to Shibuya at some point since it is extremely japanese. There are dolly girls dressed up as dolls at 109 which is a huge clothes shop for teenage women, with another one for men nearby. There are huge Pachinko parlours full of very loud noise and tinging of bells and balls. There are department stores, cinemas, a huge Tokyo Hands (a kind of John Lewis) and umpteen other things. There is also the Shibuya Scramble - said to be the busiest crossing in the world. Apparently up to 3,500 people cross at peak times. And since peak times are 8am to 10pm that means most of the time.
I was there on Friday night to see Captain America 2 at the cinema. This is a small part of the crossing (which goes at least 16 different ways across, I think, 6 different roads at a junction) while people are starting to gather ready for when the lights change.
>
Just as they start to cross.
Much better photo than mine via creative commons licensing.
If you've seen oxford circus on christmas eve or been leaving Wembley at the end of a match you might think that would compare to the mass of people but it doesn't quite come close. You add in the noise from all the neon screens (unlike somewhere like Piccadilly circus they're all playing music/talking at the same time) and the light pollution from all the signs plus any smells from nearby restaurants and food carts and it is quite uniquely Japanese.
One thing that does seem universal though is buskers.
This quartet were playing some big band tunes from the fifties and the small girl on the left was doing all the swing moves and clearly calling the shots, backed up by the three larger guys.
However busy it gets I've always felt safe in Tokyo. I have been very used to a busy London, having lived there for 16 years now, but there you always kept in mind that there were pickpockets and muggers about. Here, there genuinely doesn't seem to be that problem. Plus if you get some tall Gaijin like me (5'7") sitting in front of you at the cinema, you can always take one of these cushions to give you a boost.
Awesome.
My review of Captain America 2? Pretty good stuff. It ties in with "Marvel Agents of Shield" the TV series which I was totally hooked on for the last few months and so added some extra clarification to the rise of Hydra (Hail Hydra! except not really). Scarlet Johannsen was the Black Widow again and I thought they were setting her up to have a huge crush on Cap but it didn't go anywhere - I think maybe they're working towards him being gay.
Not really but wouldn't that give the free world a funny moment. She was a lot more animated than usual (she's been so bland in everything I've seen her in I don't get her popularity, apart from "that photo" of her bum of course) although the make up department seemed to have given her this weird tango tan to go with her orange hair. It really didn't suit her but then who am I to judge considering I don't tan at all.
Pooch mentioned yesterday that young japanese women have a fear of getting freckles in the sun, hence their extensive use of parasols and finger to shoulder UV gloves. Since I am now sporting my full summer allocation of the good stuff I can only imagine they look on me with great sympathy.
Or possibly fear. Pooch meanwhile has a fairly decent tan and has developed what he calls "Wayne Rooney freckles" on his arms claiming that they look like the ones on Rooney's forehead. Since I refuse to have his name on my search history I have no idea what he is talking about, but he does seem quite downcast about it. Poor Pooch.
I was there on Friday night to see Captain America 2 at the cinema. This is a small part of the crossing (which goes at least 16 different ways across, I think, 6 different roads at a junction) while people are starting to gather ready for when the lights change.
>Just as they start to cross.
Much better photo than mine via creative commons licensing.
If you've seen oxford circus on christmas eve or been leaving Wembley at the end of a match you might think that would compare to the mass of people but it doesn't quite come close. You add in the noise from all the neon screens (unlike somewhere like Piccadilly circus they're all playing music/talking at the same time) and the light pollution from all the signs plus any smells from nearby restaurants and food carts and it is quite uniquely Japanese.
One thing that does seem universal though is buskers.
This quartet were playing some big band tunes from the fifties and the small girl on the left was doing all the swing moves and clearly calling the shots, backed up by the three larger guys.However busy it gets I've always felt safe in Tokyo. I have been very used to a busy London, having lived there for 16 years now, but there you always kept in mind that there were pickpockets and muggers about. Here, there genuinely doesn't seem to be that problem. Plus if you get some tall Gaijin like me (5'7") sitting in front of you at the cinema, you can always take one of these cushions to give you a boost.
My review of Captain America 2? Pretty good stuff. It ties in with "Marvel Agents of Shield" the TV series which I was totally hooked on for the last few months and so added some extra clarification to the rise of Hydra (Hail Hydra! except not really). Scarlet Johannsen was the Black Widow again and I thought they were setting her up to have a huge crush on Cap but it didn't go anywhere - I think maybe they're working towards him being gay.
Not really but wouldn't that give the free world a funny moment. She was a lot more animated than usual (she's been so bland in everything I've seen her in I don't get her popularity, apart from "that photo" of her bum of course) although the make up department seemed to have given her this weird tango tan to go with her orange hair. It really didn't suit her but then who am I to judge considering I don't tan at all.
Pooch mentioned yesterday that young japanese women have a fear of getting freckles in the sun, hence their extensive use of parasols and finger to shoulder UV gloves. Since I am now sporting my full summer allocation of the good stuff I can only imagine they look on me with great sympathy.
Sunday 25 May 2014
How I Ended Up Following 113 Blogs
The dangers of Bloglovin - I seem to have ended up following (and keeping up with) 113 different blogs. It's all too easy to click that "follow me on bloglovin" button when I come across an interesting post or to add the url into bloglovin itself and click "follow". The app means I tend to read posts when I am on the metro since the whole underground system in Tokyo has a 3G signal (as far as I can tell).
There are some blogs I have been following for years. Nickerjac, Knitting on the Green, Six Skeins Under, Jane's Probably Knitting and A Dress a Day are all old favourites while others, like Barbara Brackman's historic quilts site or Supergoof who blogs in (I think) Dutch, are ones I've come across through Pinterest or bloghops. Foreign language blogs are no issue since I use Chrome and therefore google translate pops up offering to help whenever I look at them.
However I found them, the full list of 113 is below (and I see it includes my own, which naturally I never miss a post on). The links go to Bloglovin (since that is the only way I could export them) but then you do have a direct link to the actual blog on that page plus a snapshot of the most recent posts. I've put a plus (+) next to the ones I can distrinactly remember reading good posts on recently. I'm sure some are not being kept up to date but then that is something google reader did which bloglovin doesn't - tell you the date of the last post.
There are some blogs I have been following for years. Nickerjac, Knitting on the Green, Six Skeins Under, Jane's Probably Knitting and A Dress a Day are all old favourites while others, like Barbara Brackman's historic quilts site or Supergoof who blogs in (I think) Dutch, are ones I've come across through Pinterest or bloghops. Foreign language blogs are no issue since I use Chrome and therefore google translate pops up offering to help whenever I look at them.
However I found them, the full list of 113 is below (and I see it includes my own, which naturally I never miss a post on). The links go to Bloglovin (since that is the only way I could export them) but then you do have a direct link to the actual blog on that page plus a snapshot of the most recent posts. I've put a plus (+) next to the ones I can distrinactly remember reading good posts on recently. I'm sure some are not being kept up to date but then that is something google reader did which bloglovin doesn't - tell you the date of the last post.
Saturday 24 May 2014
Latest Cat Interlude
I had an unfortunate experience at my usual Cat Cafe on Monday. I don't want to discuss it. However, having had my belief in there being no such thing as a 'bad cat' severely shaken I decided to give that bunch a break and go back to Ebisu. My first visit was back in March and it was a bit busy. This time it was just me for most of my hour and proved a very pleasant interlude.
These two (below) were curled up together last time.
I thought the original one would object when the other tried to get in too but no, they were very happy together and it was so sweet when they were cleaning each other. They both had such long fur that sometimes they were cleaning themselves instead.
Beautiful blue eyes.
This little one was all playful and rolling around.
This one kept nudging the bowl until the water slopped over and then happily drank it from the floor.
This one still fascinated me with his/her amazing fur.
I was able to stroke her this time and could see the fur next to her body was white, only changing to black nearer the tip. I've never seen that before and she is so beautiful! I can't help wondering what her parents looked like.
And then of course there was Bruiser. Still as angry and pissed off as he was in March and still reminiscent of Phil Mitchell on Eastenders.
He kept coming and sitting near but not next to me wherever I was, and staring at me. I decided he wanted my attention but didn't want to look like he did, so, risking my fingers, I tentatively gave him a stroke.
His fur is as thick as any sheep fleece but as soft as velvet. It was like stroking a very deep, expensive rug.
It lasted for about 4 minutes. I was just stroking his head when he went to bite me. Ah well. One has to maintain one's reputation so I didn't take it personally.
The best possible shop to have outside a cat cafe is a shop where everything is cat themed.
My faith in cats, even cats like Bruiser, has been reinstated.
This little one was all playful and rolling around.
And then of course there was Bruiser. Still as angry and pissed off as he was in March and still reminiscent of Phil Mitchell on Eastenders.
The best possible shop to have outside a cat cafe is a shop where everything is cat themed.
Tuesday 20 May 2014
My Love Hate Relationship with Shrink Plastic
When I was young we did not have shrink plastic. We did have Blue Peter telling us that crisp packets got small in the oven and could be used as keyrings, but that was as far as it went. I only remember noticing shrink plastic in my teens and didn't have any use for it at the time. In my twenties I saw the occasional craft project using charms made from shrink plastic and I felt my time had come. That was when I learnt to love the shrink plastic, while it began its committed hatred of me.
I could have been a contender! But the more I desired the effects of shrink plastic, the less it happened. I invested in printable stuff and it burnt (BURNT) without shrinking one iota. I got on OK with the stuff you draw on but it just wasn't what I wanted. I retired from the field and slunk away into the darkness to allow my broken heart time to heal.
Then came yesterday.
I was meandering around a Mano Creare which is a chain owned by the Okadaya group (my favourite craft shop is one of theirs in Shibuya) and I saw...there...hanging nonchalantly on the display...shrink plastic. It was quite miraculous that I noticed it since it is naturally in japanese but somehow my shrink-dar was on the alert (perhaps it had been all these years) and here was a packet of the good stuff. It even had a picture of my printer on the front! A sign! This time it would be different. This time I would print on that plastic and it would be awesome. It would work. I'd be a God. Maybe.
Goddamn sheets are too goddamn small for my printer to work with.
After about 90 minutes of effort I managed to achieve this:
The picture is just itching to flake off so I need to find some varnish asap to sort it out with. The rest of the sheet got mangled so my idea of giving my sister a keyring type brag book of her ickle daughter for her birthday is out the window. Unless I draw pictures of her.
I'm no stormtrooper when it comes to drawing though.
I need to learn to leave the plastic to the professionals and stick to what I'm good at - the hexagons. Hence the state of the sofa.
I have a bag in mind with large wooden handles. We will see what appears.
Then came yesterday.
I was meandering around a Mano Creare which is a chain owned by the Okadaya group (my favourite craft shop is one of theirs in Shibuya) and I saw...there...hanging nonchalantly on the display...shrink plastic. It was quite miraculous that I noticed it since it is naturally in japanese but somehow my shrink-dar was on the alert (perhaps it had been all these years) and here was a packet of the good stuff. It even had a picture of my printer on the front! A sign! This time it would be different. This time I would print on that plastic and it would be awesome. It would work. I'd be a God. Maybe.
Goddamn sheets are too goddamn small for my printer to work with.
After about 90 minutes of effort I managed to achieve this:
I need to learn to leave the plastic to the professionals and stick to what I'm good at - the hexagons. Hence the state of the sofa.
Visiting the Jindai Botanical Garden and Jindaiji Temple
Japan is the least ethnically diverse place I've ever visited, but at the same time it is still quite unusual not to see a few other gaijin about on my travels. But this morning I saw not a single one from 9am to 2.30pm. The reason for that is that I was at an attraction that is just far enough from the city centre to deter the tourists despite how beautiful it is.
Although it was actually really hot and humid as well. That could have been a factor. Again, I was too late for the azaleas but just right for the roses. Having taken pictures of so many last week I took it easy this time.
But then there were also Peonies. I am very fond of Peonies.
And Rhododendrons...
And of course there were the forested areas, including this beautiful stream.
The sound of the water over these rocks was so idyllic.
I stayed there for ages listening to them and watching the water. There were some big koi pootling about there too. There were other areas planted with different varieties of maple tree which are at their best in December but still beautiful now.
Plus another area with different types of bamboo. This one with an extra outer layer was pretty amazing.
And I almost forgot this:
Wonderful! And more of the huge koi clustering at the surface.
Next door to the Park is Jindaiji Temple which as a building isn't particularly distinct from any other Temple, but the buildings and other shrines around it are very interesting. There were two that were especially moving. The first, don't laugh, was some kind of pet memorial/cemetery. There were *thousands* of pets being commemorated here.
Other cubbyholes had tins of favourite food in them. I was really moved! Outside was another shrine I couldn't get a decent photo of, but to one side were all these origami cranes.
I hope whoever made them had their wish fulfilled.
At the Temple, there were these amazing huge flowers at either side of the front entrance.
The fan of straw and Bonsai tree must also have some significance but I have no idea what that could be. The incense burner was quite large and has a special health significance.
I watched for a few minutes and could see people cupping the smoke in their hands and rubbing it on whatever part of their body was ailing them. Finally, there was the saddest part of the whole visit - the shrine to lost children, specifically those lost through stillbirth or miscarriage.
All the wheels moved slightly when there was a breeze and someone had left a very small pair of children's shoes on the table. The little figures on the right are capped and bibbed in red and represent those children who have been lost. I can't imagine going through something like that but it is heartwarming, even to an atheist like me, that there is somewhere for parents and family to come and pray for them.
Next door to the Park is Jindaiji Temple which as a building isn't particularly distinct from any other Temple, but the buildings and other shrines around it are very interesting. There were two that were especially moving. The first, don't laugh, was some kind of pet memorial/cemetery. There were *thousands* of pets being commemorated here.
At the Temple, there were these amazing huge flowers at either side of the front entrance.
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