Name: Yuko From: Japan About me: I am a mum of 4 years old boy, love cross stitching and taking photographs! I have been studying English now, so please over look my " funny English " :D
Hi everyone, it's been so long since I posted last time. To be honest, my Sweetie has been hospitalized, and so I'm with him 24 hours to look after. He has got blood poisoning (septicemia), and the due to get out of hospital was today, but he still have slight fever, so he couldn't get out of his bed... Sorry now I don't have dictionary with me, so I don't know whether you can understand what I'm writing or not...
Well, so I'm not closing my blog nor quiting cross stitcing!
We will be back soon! Please fingers crossed for us!
Token of Friendship - Rose Pincushion & Egg Candle
Hi, it's been a while since I finished to make something. It's small though, I'm satisfied with it. I wanted to stitch and make something for my new friend A. in return as she gave me Birthday present.
I heard that she doesn't do sewing etc..., though I made a pincushion with rose design. I added lots of lavender in it, and stitched on 40ct linen with DMC#310.
Unfortunately when I took these photos, my camera had many of Sweetie's finger prints on the lens, so the photos are not clear at all, though... But I'm now happy that I found why the camera had been something wrong.
And also I made and added someself made egg candle and presented to A., too. It's very easy to make, and it's so lovely! If you would like to know how to make it, I would take photos of how to make, later! It makes me so warm while it's lighting.
Here is the photo that the candle is lighting, photo below!
こちらが灯をともしているときの写真(下）です。 ちょっと分かりにくいですね・・・
Recently when I pick up Sweetie, Sweetie doesn't want to come home soon, so I have to wait more than an hour at the Kindergarten. But it's so nice to have mama friends! So while kids are playing, we are chatting a lot!
Here are some photos of my mini-roses that I bought at first sight love! All my potted mini-roses wothered and died before, so this time I care of them very much, hope they last long!
On the last Saturday, postman rung the door bell and he had a box for me in his hand! It was from my dearest friend Nina in Hungary! I was told from her that she sent me a parcel, so I was so pleased and happy that I could receive it safely!
Once I opened the box, her parcel smelled very fragrantly. There were Marcipanos (Marcipan) and a parcel that was wrapped with chocolate picture paper! I was so thrilled to open them, especially the one was wrapped with chocolate paper!
I always think that the parcel from abroad smells so nice always, but how about from Japan, my friends? Do they smell soy souce??
Wow, she spoiled me again, she sent me hand dyed linen by her, hand dyed threads, and very lovely wee chart (w/buttons) from Heart in HAND that the title is "friendship endures", how nice it is! And I shouldn't forget, of course I don't forget to share you her perfect work!
中には、彼女が手染めした薄いピンクのリネンと、手染め糸、Heart in HANDの小さなチャートと、忘れてはならない彼女からのステッチのプレゼントが入っていました！
Isn't this ornament so sweet?! She stitched from CCN's one of series "Cupcake" and added three Spider Web Roses on this ornament as she likes it, as well as I do! As always her work is so perfect and very neat, I want to show you her works IRL! And from all her items, we smelt so nice, Sweetie was like a dog, he kept saying "Where does this nice smell come from" and kept doing sniff-sniff (lol)!
凄く可愛い～、さすがニーナ！彼女のステッチの綺麗さ、お仕立ての完璧さは本当にいつ見ても見事です！ CCNのシリーズのカップケーキをオーナメントにしてプレゼントしてくれました。 元はお花のデザインなのかな？3箇所をニーナの得意で大好きなSpider Web Roseで刺しあります。
On the back side, she stitched "Happy birthday Yuko" and added heart charm, how sweet of her! Thank you SO SO much Nina, as always you care of me, and your warm and kind heart!
I love her sweet heart, it touches me always, Thank you Nina! As soon as I have got time, I want to stitch wee design that you gave me!!
Here they are, Marcipanos! Yummy yummy photo, isn't it?! I've heard of just a name of Marcipanos before, but haven't had them before.
When Nina sent me exchange piece, she added lovely elephant shaped Marcipanos for my Sweetie, but we couldn't eat him, he is still there in our dining room! But this time, we couldn't resist to eat them, I cut them and we ate them all together!
Mmmmm, Yum! We were very satisfied very much, they were so nice with coffee! My auntie came when we were eating Marcipanos, then she ate them and she also said "Yum", so we shared some for her, too!
But there is still some left, he he he from now I will have them with coffee again!
Today, I found beautiful Cosmos on the middle way of Kindergarten, so after I came home I took camera out and took this photo. I have a single-lens reflex camera, but have never used it before, so I should read a manual and take more beautiful photos!
P.S Flower photos that I posted on the last post werer not daffoil!!! My mum laught at me so much, it's called Rain lily! Sorry for my poor knowledge, lol
Hi, nowadays I'm quite well, maybe because I could make new friends and the weather is getting cool, I think! But I had been in stitching slum for a long time, whatever I started stitching, I couldn't concentrate on at all. Then started new design and stopped... So I looked for something small in my stash and found these designs!
Here is "#3 Hope Perches" by The Sampler Girl, luckily I had recommended threads, too so I could start soon! But recommended thread was quite different than the sample photo, so I changed birds colour. I stitched on 32ct Belfast Vintage country mocha.
I have completely recovered as I could finish "#3 Hope Perches" soon, and so I started another design by "The Sampler Girl". Here is "Sarah's Spring Sampler 1765", it was so fun to stitch and I became liking "The Sampler Girl" more and more!
Isn't this lovely?! I'm so looking forward to finish this!! I stitched on 32ct Lambswool with DMC threads.
上の"#3 Hope Perches"を刺し終えて、すっかり気分が良くなったので、"The Sampler Girl"の小さめチャートを攻めることにしました！ こちらの図案 ("Sarah's Spring Sampler 1765") はすごく刺し易かったし、可愛くてとても気に入ってしまい、ますます "The Sampler Girl" が好きになりました。 お仕立て（？）するのも楽しみです。
And the last one is "Jane Austen Book Bag", I wanted to make bankbooks bag with this design and fabrics, but I couldn't make it with my sewing ability... I stitched on 32ct Flax linen with DMC threads. On the sample photo, a girl is wearing blue clothes and have pink flower, but I changed them opposite as the fabric I wanted to use was based pink.
そして最後に、小さなステッチを・・・"Jane Austen Book Bag"です。 本当は、通帳＆カード(振り込みカードなど・・・）バッグを作りたかったのですが、何しろ測ったりするのが嫌いで、ミシンが苦手な私には技量が追いつかなく、あえなく断念しました。
Now I think I could get out of slump of stitching! Thanks, Tanya for such lovely designs!! I have been working fall design now! But I found that my dear friend is stitching Christmas Village by The Prairie Schooler which I had been wanted to stitch for a long time, so I may start it with her, don't know yet, though!
Today we went to an Art and Craft Museum in our city as my mum's friend's teacher's ceramic art exhibition was held there, and we've got a tea-ceremony ticket and had green tea with his works of tea cup. Green tea was quite bitter, but Sweetie had it and liked it and he was a very good boy then! Oh you certainly are Japanese!
After that, we said good-bye to mum's friend as she had to go to discussion of her teacher, and also we wanted to go to Shosha-zan (Mt.Shosha) as there was an event at the mountain, and I wanted to visit my friend who was helping her friend's work today, so we off to go up there. お茶会の後は、母のお友達を別れ私達は書写山へ向かいました。 ちょうどこの日、私の友達がお手伝いをしているイベントがあったので楽しみにしていました。 まずはロープウェイに乗って山へ向かうのですが、私、お恥ずかしながら地元人なのにこれが初めての書写山でした。
Here are some photos of the view from ropeway, aren't they nice view of country side?! The red flowers on the first photo is cluster amaryllis. To tell you the truth, shamefully I had never been to Shosha-zan and Engyo-ji temple where the filming of Last Samurai was held. First of all, we had to board on ropeway to get to the mountain, and after we got off we had to walk so many kilometers... We should have board minibus... I understand why Tom Cruise appeared by his own helicopter for filming, lol こちらは、ロープウェイからの眺めです。この辺りは自然に囲まれたとても静かな地域です。 さてロープウェイを降りてからは、マイクロバスか徒歩か選ぶのですが（勿論料金が変わってくるので・・・）、徒歩を選んだのが大間違いでした！ 歩けど歩けど、円教寺にはなかなか着かなくて、本当にこんなに山道を歩いたのは初めてという程でした。 運動不足もいいところなので、人よりそう感じたのかも知れませんが、本当に大変でした。
Here is a photo of us on the top of the mountain! whew... By way of precaution, I'm not pregnant (lol), recently many of people asked me "Oh, second baby??" , "If are you pregnant??" LOL It's just I'm getting chubby because of the side effect of medicine!!! Sweetie asked me "What's this mummy, your tummy is like a water melon!!" Mummy was shocked by what you said, Sweetie!!
Here are some photos of Kannon. There were so many Kannons both side of the mountain path, though I took these two photos of Kannnon that I liked their face, they seemed very peaceful, I thought.
途中、円教寺までの道のりには、両側に沢山の観音様や、お地蔵様が奉納されています。
その中で2体、綺麗なお顔をされているなぁと思った観音様の写真を撮りました。
名前はやっぱり忘れてしまいましたが・・・
Here it is, finally we could arrive to the Engyo-ji temple, but when we arrived, the event which I was looking forward was finished... Oh no!! What was that tiring mountain path!!! Silly me, I should have checked the time schedule!!! So we reward Sweetie with a soft ice cream, and I had milk (lol, because I wanted to have coffee though, it wasn't cold at all!).
On the way back, it was a bit easy to go down, and there was a bell so Sweetie and I tried to toll it! It was very nice sound, Sweetie was a bit surprised by a loud sound!
On the way back I took a twig that it will be used for cross stitch finishing someday, and maple leaf. Next time I want to visit inside of Engyo-ji temple by all means! But of course I will take a minibus next time!!!
A few days ago, my new friend A. who is Sweetie's friend's mum gave me beautiful Birthday present!! Sweetie entered the Kindergarten in July, it means he entered 3 months later than the other kids, but every children are so sweet and kind and so are their mums!
I didn't have any friends near by when I was in Yokohama and Kamakura, but after I came back to my home town, I got very nice friends through Sweetie! A. is a women I admire, she is so fashionable and so beautiful and so sweet person. She gave me this pale purple dried Hydrangea and same colour hair accessory as a present. How beautiful are they?! She already knows what I love! :D Thank you So much A. for your kind heart!
Today I bought new nail varnish to match the hair accessory that A. gave me! I added ribbon seal which is for nail on my nails, how are they? Aren't they cute?! Sweetie saw this and said "Mummy, you are cute! :D ", Thanks Sweetie, so you are and I love you!!
Today was a day of Kindergarten visitation. I was so excited to see how Sweetie spend time in the Kindergarten! He was so lovely, they sung some sings, danced, etc... I was so happy to see him in other children!
The other day, teacher told me that Sweetie picked his green peas and passed to next girls bowl while she and a teacher were looking the other way! (lol) He is so picky, but other girl found it and told to a teacher about it (lol), and he had to eat them after all... Teacher told me that he seemed quite sad, LOL!!
After visitation, we mums practiced to dance with our kids on a sports day in October. And after every things finished, A. and M. and I went to restaurant to have Italian lunch. M. is also a woman I admire, but both of them are so familiar and so warm person, so I could talk a lot to them that I had never told to anybody, they could listen to me so much, Thank you A. and M.! This is who I really needed, I think!
I'm so happy that I could have wonderful friends around. It was quite stressful that I didn't have friends around when I was in Kamakura, so... Thanks friends!!
By the way, Sweetie is getting be a big boy, he couldn't touch even sand because he didn't like to get dirty when he was a bit more small, but recently look at the photos!
Tarara~! He is having much fun with sand or mud to play! This is how children should be!! He learnt so much at the Kindergarten, too, so recently he is so happy and so I am!!
I have finished three small stitches, though mum's sewing machine has got problem now, so I can't do finishing work at the moment, so now I'm stitching fall design. When the sewing machine has got well, I will finish and share them, of course!
Hi! It's been a long time since the last time I posted, I was in stitching slump and also didn't open my lap top much these last few weeks, somehow... So sorry for friends that I haven't been able to reply you, haven't been leaving you comments, etc...
By the way, today is my Birthday, I turned 35!! If 35 rounded off, it becomes 40!!! Ghhh
As I may have mentioned before that I (we) don't like whipped cream much, so we bought roll cake as my Birthday cake, and added chocolate plate and 3 + 5 candles!! :D The cake was so yum, Sweetie liked it so much. Actually Sweetie blew candles, he sung a Birthday song for me, but he misunderstood that his birthday came again (lol)
As President Obama said to avoid piggie flu, sing "Happy Birthday" song twice, so we are doing it, so he loves Happy Birthday song.
Yesterday, my dear friend Nanako-san sent me SPECIAL birthday present for me!!! Look at this, she stitched and made it into a cartonnage box!!! How gorgeous! Can you imagine that this stunning box which was made by your best friend is placed just beside you? Romantic, isn't it?
And also she added so many ribbons and so many beautiful clothes inside! How generous she is. Nanako-san and I've met online and haven't met IRL yet, though we both really want to meet up someday in our life!
One more Birthday Present is from Mum, this lovely shoes! I loved the last pair of this shoes (different colour), though they were shapeless very much as I liked and walked so much, so Mum presented me new pair! They are so comfy and so soft, from Koos. Thanks, Mum!!
Here is Sweetie's video when he was playing baseball in the garage, but look at him just "soon" the video started!!! Poor Sweetie, though we couldn't resist to laugh!!! He saw this video by himselvs and he was also laughing very much!!!
Last but not least, thank you SO much for everyone who sent me Birthday wishes by e-mails, through e-cards, messages, etc... I really appreciate for your kindness from the bottom of my heart!
A month ago, I've received a big parcel from Canada, it was from dear Dorothy who is a quilt designer. Look, compare to my glasses, you will be able to imagine how big this parcel was! She so generously sent me so many fabrics for cross stitch and hardanger that she doesn't use anymore, because of her neck problem.
I was so surprised to see inside, there were SO many fabrics and stitch bands, etc... oh my gosh! There were also some printed Aida that I had never seen before!
Linen band with trim (see photo below) is so lovely, I should think a lot how to use this!! I think handmade bag with this linen band would be so lovely, ohh I wish I could use sewing machine well...
Dorothy has told me, this was just a first try as she sent this by SAL, so it took about 1 month to get here, and she has told me there was another box to send me!!! I was so touched by her generosity and kind heart, because she can send these fabrics to friends in Canada or US, so the shipping fee doesn't cost her so higher than she send them to me in Japan, but she thinks of me as a recipient to receive these fabrics. How can I express my appreciation for Dorothy, if I could I wish to visit you in Canada and say Thank you in person!!
And yesterday, the second parcel has reached me safely!!! It was as big as the first one, little boy was so thrilled to open the box with me (he loves postman!)!!
Look at these fabrics, there were so many beautiful fabrics in there! Do I deserve these wonderful treat??? I am asking myself so many times... Thank you SO much Dorothy for your kindness!
She also added many of lovely charms for cross stitch works! Thank you, Dorothy! Here are some of her UFOs, she gave up cross stitch because of degenerative discs in my neck, so unfortunately these lovely designs have never been done. I wish I could have more time, or more hands (lol) to finish them instead of her!
As I mentioned in the beginning, she is an artist, talented quilt designer! If I could quilt, I will definitely buy the pattern from her and would like to make a tapestry of Santa!
There is a banner in the left hand side of my blog, click the banner or the links, you can visit her blog and also you can buy the wonderful pattern from her directly!
Thank you SO SO much Dorothy for your warm and generous heart. I really appreciate for you from the bottom of my heart!
I received an award "Your BLOG makes us SMILE" from my dear Carol R. Thank you Carol, yours also makes us smile and happy!
Now I have to pass this Award on to six of my favourite blogs and tell the blog owner why I chose them. They, in turn, have to pass this Award on to six of their favourite blogs (but not to everyone who reads their blog - you must choose six). So here we go and in no particular order: (sentences were borrowed from Carols blog :D)
1. Loreta : She always choose sweet and beautiful designs and perfectly done! And I love her professional photographs, too. They feasts my eyes always! I love her sweetie!
2. Dovile : She also choose very beautiful designs and her stitching and finishing is always perfect
3. Dany : I love her taste so much, she makes always sophisticated things!
4. Nina : She does beautiful and perfect works always, and she is a lovely and sweet person!
Long time no post! My USBs didn't work at all, so I couldn't use mouse and do photo edit at all, and it's now summer holiday, so my nephew and niece came to stay over to mum's home and so I was bit busy and tired!
A few days ago, I've got a parcel from USA, it was from Jolene. Jolene left a comment that she fell in love with my scissors and asked me where to buy, but I don't know where to buy and I had two same pair of scissors, so I presented her with some goodies.She told me to pay, but I don't know the cost of these scissors so we decided to exchange something.
She is so kindly added LHN chart which was kitted up, and some over dyed threads, kitchen towels, and linen, beautiful fabric which I really love, and beautiful bracelet, and pinwheel for Sweetie!! Do I deserve this??? Thank you SO much Jolene for your generosity and kindness!!
Here is a photo that Sweetie spins a pinwheel! Thanks Jolene, he is enjoying it so much, as well as my nephew and niece!
Day one of my brother's family came, kids asked me to out to shrine to catch cicadas, again as I thought!!! My SIL is now pregnant so she stayed at home and this time my mum and I went there with kids. I love to see that kids relates with natures so much, so I was so enjoyed to be with them in the nature!
While they are catching cicadas, I took Sweetie's photo! Recently he pause like this! so cute! My nephew and niece are so sweet, even they catch cicadas, they gave it to Sweetie first, then from smaller to older. They are so kind, they love Sweetie and Sweetie loves them so much!
After we caught cicadas, we let them go from mum's garden! This time we got 13 cicadas all together! Well done kids!
Mum and I were nailing at night, Sweetie found it and said want to try to do it for my nails!! I let him do it, but look at the photo, uhhhh as I thought!! lol
Here is Sweeties LEGO's work, it's beginners block (Big one), but but!!
My mum's friend gave phone call and she told her that she has old but so many LEGO. Her grand children are all girls, so she doesn't need them anymore (LEGO are her son's), so she told mum to gave them to Sweetie and nephew! Mum came back with this truck (basket? I don't know how to say it in English), with full of LEGO!!!! Can you believe there were a heap of LEGO! No wonder my nephew and Sweetie excited to choose them!!!
At night we did fireworks, it was so beautiful, actually almost every night we are doing fireworks (very small one) with Sweetie, though! Kids seemed so enjoyed and so I was very happy! :D
Now I'm working secret project, so can't show you what I'm stitching, but soon I will!
Hi how are you doing? I'm doing so so OK, it was hard raining day today and I was sitting on the chair almost all day long, but my weekend was great!
Yesterday, mailman left a big box by the side of the front door, and it was from Marina (no blog) from France!! She is my best customer (lol), she always buys charts from me (from my Sale and Trade blog), in spite of she bought many charts from me this time, too she e-mailed me that she will send something typical French things to me!
Look! What I received from Marina is here... (Chip'n Dale dolls are Sweeties favourite, and he again added them for my photo shoot, lol) She sent me "defil en aiguille", BonneMaman'sGalettes which is my FAVOURITE!!, sweets, hand dyed threads, felt owl, her cross stitched small bag and her 5 years old daughter's drawing for my Sweetie!
This is also that Sweetie lined and placed presents for shooting! Her daughter's drawing is so well and lovely! Thank you Marina and sweet daughter!
In the small bag, there were so many buttons, charms, ribbon, etc...
How lucky I am! Thank you SO much for sending me surprise presents, Marina!! I really appreciate for your kindness!
And today postman rung the door bell, and it was from dearest friend Nina in Hungary! What a surprise! She sent me her beautiful works for me!
She sent me her beautiful and lovely strawberry fob+pincushion, and Fimo pins which was also made by her.
Look at them, how sweet they are and how sweet of you, Nina!
She also made this beautiful butterfly thread keeper by Fimo, how talented she is!
When I told about this to my mum, she was absolutely surprised!!
And these beautifully dyed threads also by her, they are so beautiful, I'm thinking how and when I use these beautiful threads!!
Thank you so much Nina for your kindness! I'm so touched by them, and really appreciate for you always!
Hi, I re-framed my KazukoAoki's "Rose is a rose" (=薔薇はバラ色）. Mum's wasn't re-framed, just as it was, but when I found this rosy fabric at craft shop, I couldn't resist to buy it and this idea just came into my mind!
Is it a bit fussy? I wanted it to be a bit more prettier, so I made it into like this. When I saw mum's, it's also simple and beautiful, so I just sew it easily backside to whenever I can change mind and make into the original. I took photos without glass, so it seems a bit weak, but if added glass it's beautiful IRL.
When I took this photo, I've got three mosquito bites, oh no! Japan is a very humid country, so there are so many mosquitoes... I often hear that people are stitching just in front of the lake, but no mosquito, etc... How about your country???
My PC is funny recently, I'm scared if I should buy another new one again??? Now I can't use mouse, actually usb port etc... and I lost some true type fonts, so I can't see any words when I leave you a comment... or when I edit my HTML... I should ask my husband to send me fonts.
I received an award named "PREMIO blog deOrodedehilsolylanas" from Pilar from Spain.
I translated her blog and this Award's name, though couldn't understand what award it is (lol). Just knew it's a gold award. Thank you Pilar for this award, I'm so honored to receive it!!
Take care and have a lovely weekend! Happy Stitching!
Design : from Book "バラと暮らす”(=Bara to Kurasu) Fabric : 12B Fremme Linen Thread : DMC
Hi, I've received a sweet e-mail from Nancy that my Birthday Present for her has arrived safely to her! And fortunately, it has arrived on her Birthday!! Happy Birthday dear Nancy!
This is what I made for her Birthday, when I saw this design, Nancy's face came into my mind, and so I decided to stitch this for her Birthday! I stitched this and made it into a basket lid.
I had a nice white painted basket in my stash, so I checked stitch count, it was perfect, so I added stitched piece to this basket! And added organza lace around the edge, it's quite neat and clean, isn't it?
Here is back of the lid and inside. When I think about Nancy, always dark red comes into my mind, and so this was stitched red and white, so I used this dark red rosy fabric for the back of lid. And I added my favourite SAKURANBO (cherry) tea from Lupicia in it!
I also added beads on the stitched piece, but I was hurry to send it out, so forgot to take close up photos... I'm so happy that Nancy told me that she loves this and another goodies that I added, too. I hope you had a wonderful dinner with your family, Nancy!
Now it's half past 2 am in Japan, but Sweetie cried very much tonight, so I woke up and since then I can't sleep at all, so I'm still up!
Yesterday we held a memorial service on the sixth anniversary of our grandma's death. So a relatives gathered at mum's home, and we had nice time!
After memorial service, kids were running around in the home, and seemed they were having great fun!! My dear cousin came, too with her son, but they had to go home earlier, so after they left, my brother's family and Sweetie and I went to shrine to catch cicadas, as kids' request.
But it was just after raining, so not so many cicadas were there. My brother is tall so he could catch cicadas for each kids! :D I couldn't catch any... nobody else couldn't either...
We were prepared, but we've got so many mosquito bites.... yuk! I've got about 7 bites... Everyone was saying "itchy, itchy, itchy!!!" (lol) as looking for cicadas! This photo above is lovely, isn't it?! Now as seeing this photo, I want to stitch CCN's "Boys and Bugs"! :D
Here is Hydrangea which is my favourite flower, I took in my garden. Next issue is Tomato Diary!
Now we have got more than 15 tomatoes and they all were so delicious.
It's not big, not petit, but medium size, and about 2 days ago Sweetie has tried to harvest them. We told him to pick red one, but he's got mistake, he picked green tomatoes, too (lol)
Here they are! They were so delicious, how can I say, it tastes RICH, yes richer than tomatoes that was sold at supermarket! I couldn't believe that house tomatoes are such delicious, I'm sure I will grow it at my house, too!
Today, we let my nephew and cousin's son to pick fresh tomatoes! They seemed very happy and fun! We gave some for my brother's family and we ate some!
My mum already divided some roots for replanting, and gave the plants to my aunt and my SIL. Their tomatoes is growing little by little, I heard today! :D I have never thought that veges garden is such fun! I hope this memory is kept in Sweeties mind for a long long time!
Take care and thanks for your visit! Happy Stitching!
About a week ago, I went to a big art and craft shop and bought some frames! And I framed Kazuko Aoki's "Rose is a rose" (<= I just named it in English, in Japanese ”薔薇はバラ色(bara wa bara iro)”.
As you may know that I stitched this piece for two, one is for mum and another one is for myself. We bought the same frame and now she is hanging on the wall in the bathroom.
Here is mum's. There were blank area both top and bottom so as always I added laces. I added different laces for mum's and mine, I like mine (lol)!
Here is mine, I added a lace which was given by Arcadia in France before! It's so beautiful lace and I love it! I added some close up photos of laces below...
Here is mum's...
And this is mine!
Which do you like?? :D Now I have been working on two CCN designs! I have so many WIPs, and have to organize, but even I wrote them on the notebook to organize, I couldn't... Because a beautiful French design just have messed up my plan, lol I can't resist to start it, but have to be patient for a while!!!
Take care and have a lovely weekend!
Thanks for your visit and thanks for purchasing from my Sale and Trade blog!
Bye for now,
Design : Book "バラと暮らす" ("Bara to kurasu") by Kazuko Aoki Fabric : 12B Fremme Linen Thread : DMC
I've added some stash on my SALE & TRADE blog. And I'm going to add more and more from now on. Now I have added some Braid, Rope, Ribbon (good for pinkeep!!), etc...
Please visit there and if you are interested in, please contact me without any hesitation! Thanks!
I received an award from Nina! Thank you Nina for your kind heart!!
Take care and have a lovely day! Thanks for your visit!
From a week ago, Sweetie is going to Kindergarten! In Japan a new term starts from April, Sweetie was going to another Kindergarten in my area, but as my physical condition was very bad and weak in Feb and May, we came back to my mum's home. I payed all money for the Kindergarten, but they couldn't refund it, well c'est la vie...
By the way, recently most of kids go to Kindergarten from 3 years old, so even we went to parks nobody is playing... so Sweetie wanted to have friends. So I asked the most nearest Kindergarten from my mum's home, soon the director accepted him to go there! They are very kind and nursery cost is very cheaper than the city one where I lived!
City Kindergarten where Sweetie was going to was very strict, let mums make bags etc and everything and all the size was decided, etc... but this Kindergarten where now Sweetie goes is very free, so we very like it so much. Teachers are so nice and kind, gentle, everything is great!
This Kindergarten doesn't need any handmade bags, etc... but I wanted to make something for Sweetie, so as Sweetie loves rabbit, I choose this pattern from gazette94 and stitched to make a bag! Actually I just stitched, and mum made it into a tote bag! :D
Here is a photo of us go to Kindergarten by walk, the Kindergarten is placed only 5 minutes by walk! Sweetie is a very good boy to exchange greetings, his voice is very cheerful and loud and so teachers always praise Sweetie, and so I'm very proud of him!
At the moment, he comes back at noon as trial, but from August he will stay there until 3 pm! It means my stitching time will be secured!! Woo Hoo! But Sweetie hates veges and fruits and to take a nap, so I'm worried about school lunch and nap time...
I hope he will do the same as other children do! :D
As you may know that I've joined Biscornu Exchange (Japanese group) and here is what I made for my partner Miya. I received an e-mail from her, so I share what I made. But I received wonderful Biscornus from her, so I so hesitate to show mine... >_<
This is freebie from French site, I thought it would be very lovely as there were my favourite Spider web roses! I also added beads as chart recommended, and I found a green button in my stash, so I added it on the center of it.
This is the back side of the Biscornu.
I added my favourite light milk pink button on the center on this side.
I thought this is a bit quiet, so I used over dyed thread to sew two pieces together, I hope it got to make it bit more cheerful! Thank you Miya for this wonderful exchange.
And thank you for your visit and comments! I really appreciate for them all!
Today the summer festival of our little town was held at the shrine where is placed very near by my mum's house. The weather is so humid and hot today, but very fine day for the festival!!
We often go to this shrine especially in the summer to catch cicadas with kids! This year I must go there again and again with Sweetie, I'm sure!
There was a big ring which was made by thatch (It is called "Chi no wa" in Japanese), and it is said that you went through this ring as like write "8" three times, you can drive evil sprites out!
This is the signboard of how to go through "Chi no wa" And we went through like the signboard and went to the center of the shrine to pray!
The most biggest event for us were this and that (photo below)!
The first scooping goldfish for Sweetie!! He couldn't scoop any goldfishes and me either (shame...). But neighbours gave us 4 goldfishes, thank you an old man (Ojisan)!
Here is catch yo-yoes! Sweetie could get 4 yo-yoes! Well done!!
Actually neighbors tried to let him catch easily, that's why! Thank you again!! Sweetie seemed so happy to do these kind of games!
And when we were going back, fire engine was there in front of the shrine to train!
He was so happy to see fire engine so close.
A member of fire fighters told Sweetie to board! Sweetie was a bit nervous, and when I said him to pause to take a photo, he did "4" with his fingers, it means 4 years old, why? Was he very confused?? (lol)
When we were going back home there was a flower field which was made by townsfolk, I liked this Hydrangea, isn't it beautiful??
And just in front of our house, we found a beautiful blue dragonfly! As you may know that I hate insects or bugs, but this time I thought it's beautiful, and I wanted to give Sweetie chances to catch it! This dragonfly didn't escape from us at all, he flied around but soon he came back to us. So I told Sweetie that he wants to play with us! I thought so, and so does Sweetie!
Sweetie touched him, and seemed SO happy!!!
Sweetie was talking to him, "Mr. Dragonfly (Tombo-san), Let's play together tomorrow, too, OK? and please come to my garden, too!" It was so sweet to hear! :D
Finally we came back home, whew the weather was too fine, I was quite tired. Here are 4 goldfishes, I put them in the water plant as it is (in the plastic bag) which is our old and big goldfish's home, then 2 hours later we let them in the water. I thought if the old big goldfish try to attac them?, but she/he didn't! Good girl/boy!
Japanese humid and hot summer will last long, whew! I wrote we are livint without air-con on the last post, though today we switched on!!! In the hot summer, I become to like Tatami or Igusa-mat (which is Sweetie is lying down in the photo) that is quite cool!
Hi, how have you been spending your summer? We are having very lazy and cozy time at mum's home, can't believe that we have been living without air-con at present, even though the temperature is very high enough!
By the way, I was going to post this last night, but I was too tired and fell asleep earlier than usual so here they are, here are stunning Biscornues from Miya! I joined Japanese Biscornu Exchange this summer and Miya was my partner. I 'm lucky enough to be her partner as you see these wonderful works of her!!
She told me in the e-mail that this orange one she made was too big than she thought, so she made another one for me, how kind of her! She used over dyed threads for both Biscornues, how beautiful they are!!
This is stitched by one over one, ohh I can imagine how tough it was, but she told me it was fun to stitch as thinking of a partner! It's stunning, I'm speechless!!
This photo is a backside of them! As same as the face side, they are so beautiful!! She also added some lovely ornaments for me!
Thank you so much, Miya!
She also stitched my initial and made it into a tiny pincushion! How lovely this is!
Thank you so much Miya for these wonderful presents and exchange! I really appreciate for them and you! She hasn't received mine yet, though I'm so blamed myself because my Biscornu is so poor...
I so hesitate, if it's possible I don't want her to receive mine, lol
Take care and have a lovely weekend! I will edit some photos of today and will post them later!
First of all, I had recommended fabric (some counts of Lambswools) in my stash, but I want finished piece to be look antiquity, so I tried to dye with weak coffee (I just soaked, not boiled this time) and baked in the oven.
Here is the result of the fabric, some parts were almost burned, but most of parts are edges, so I felt relief when I saw the result. It was quite thrilled to check how it is while I was baking the fabric!!
Here is my progress of Mary Wigham SAL at the moment. I'm working on 40ct Lambswool (self dyed and baked) and I changed some colours to become looking like a sample photo. I think the linen colour is a little more darker than the photo in the real life.
I was quite looking forward to start this, but a slight misstep made my feel very tired, as i'm stitching on 40ct, I can't see where I made miss stitch at all... As you may know or see some parts are still blank, yes, the top left motif, I don't know why but I made miss stitch this motif so many times, and I ended up that I give up and decided not to stitch this motif for a while. Most of people are stitching this symmetry, so I will frog and will stitch it to be symmetry again.
And... white flower that was recommended to stitch "White", I changed thread colour a bit grayish, but it doesn't show up at all, so I'm now thinking to frog it and change the colour.
And here is Tomato Diary again! Now they are growing so nice and big!! They have more than 10 tomatoes now!
I think the biggest one is about 8cm width. I hope they will grow and be bigger more and more!
Here is another photo, one tomato has red colour finally! We were so happy to see it and of course we wanted to leave it more, but sweetie couldn't resist to pick it!
But even after we picked it, it turned into red day by day, and we ate it tonight!
It was not sour at all and it tasted quite good!!
Can I make another silly billy diary?? lol Today sweetie and I made mud pies (mud balls?) together in the garden, and here they are! We are going to make them more harder than now and shinny.
So I will take photos of them and will report how it will be, huh don't want to know? (lol) Forgive my silly billy reports! :D
Take care and have a lovely day! I have lots to post and share, so write soon!
I received a lovely mail from my cousin about the Birthday present, so I feel happy and relief that I heard that she loves it so much! She will come over here in the summer holiday, so we are very looking forward to spend time together!
By the way, here is my new finish! Very tiny lovely rabbit! This is a sweetie's favourite (also my favourite) book, "The Velveteen Rabbit (digital library)" by Margery Williams Bianco, illustrated by Komako Sakai ( I LOVE her illustrations!! ), and I red on my friend's blog that someone patterned this rabbit for cross stitch, so I left her a comment to give me the pattern, too.
This was patterned by jojo, she kindly gave me a chart and now we are e-mailing. jojo sometimes left me comments here! Thank you, jojo for this lovely pattern and comments! :)
It was so fun to stitch this tiny rabbit, once I saw the pattern, I wanted the stitched piece in this dark rich brown frame, and when I counted the linen that I wanted to stitch on, it was perfect for this frame, so I was very happy and couldn't resist to start to stitch!
I didn't have (actually I couldn't find) some recommended threads, so I changed a bit, but it's still lovely, isn't it?! I stitched on 28ct DMC lavender linen, and added lace ribbon around the edge.
Actually this lace is velveteen ribbon, but velveteen parts were hided back on the frame, shame... I showed this finished piece to Sweetie, he loved it so much and hugged it! :) lovely boy!
Hi! Recently I haven't been able to surfing net like before, instead of it I have been stitching much more than before!
Now I'm working on Mary Wigham and some other WIPs. The end of this month is my dear cousin Akiko's Birthday, and was going to stitch this design for her, but I wasn't in mood to stitch LHN nowadays, so I was going to give up to present her this year.
But, this year is an appreciation year (which I decided), so yesterday I decided to start again, and finished this last night! The frame and mat was already bought, so what I had to do is just iron and frame it.
The last time I stitched this design for my friend's Birthday, I choose different frame and pale green mat, though this time I choose lavender mat and very simple frame.
I think this frame is much better than the last one, simple is the best??? What do you think? I will stitch this design three more times (lol), for my mum, another cousin, and for myself! I have already bought frames and mats for this design, and mum's and mine are the same as the frame that I presented for my friend. But I might change if this simple frame looks better than the last one!
Here is some close up photo of stitching and frame and mat.
I really like this design, so I'll never think it's tiring!
This design is so lovely and so I can't wait to hang it on the wall in my room!
I will stitch a bit and iron my WIPs and will show my progress of them.
Hi, the other day, I asked my husband to send me clothes, I don't know why (and he said he doesn't know why, either...), but he sent me winter clothes and Tass's baby wears... I said just "clothes", but why! How can I survive in this humid and hot summer with winter clothes??? lol
So I bought reasonable plain T-shirts a lot and did "re-make(?)" them!
Here is a black T-shirt and my favourite one! I printed antique postcard on iron print paper and put it on with laces and button! I sew them very roughly with zig-zag stitch, so once I washed this, the edges will look more used and I will like it more!
Here are what we bought, includes mum's T-shirts at Uniqro.
Here is a Beige one, I also like this! A photo is a bit lighter, IRL it's a bit more darker and nice and chic!
This one, I printed French postcard and added lace and button! lovely, isn't it?!
And this one... I printed Lilly of the valley, though it didn't show up much, I think. I don't know if they will be fine once I washed, will see!
I also sew on lace and some buttons.
Here are for mum. My mum does Hula Dance, so they are for her lesson clothes! Mum's class mate asked me to print some for her, too. hahaha I thought this would probably happen!
Of course, I asked my husband to send me SUMMER clothes!! LOL
I think I will show you some progress of my WIP on the next post!
Recently I haven't been opening my laptop at all, as my mum doesn't like me to play with PC, so the time when I can use is while she is out and after she slept, lol
So, just a quick post and also no stitching post. I have been working on Mary Wigham SAL and also some WIPs! I hope I can show you some photos of them in a few days!
Here are some photos of Sweetie playing with soap bubbles!
These photos was taken in the last month, now we can't bear in long sleeves!!!
I've got a lovely e-mail from Staci that she has received her PIF gift from Japan safely! It was just in time, I was always remembering about to make her a PIF gift, but I was thinking what is good for her...
Then I remembered that Staci has red and white things in her bedroom, so I decided to make something redwork! This design is from Renato Parolin, and I fell in love with this design, actually this design has three motifs, one is "Peace" and one is "Love", and the last one is "Joy". Here is a photo of backing fabric which I choose for this ornament. I want to make three of them for myself, too!
Here are some close up photos...
And...
Recently Sweetie has interests in taking photos, too, and when I was taking this Staci's ornament, he brought these toys to add to, as I always add some objects for the photo! lol Sweetie, I think you don't need a hammer!!! hahaha
Oh I was almost forgetting to put this photo on! Here is another "Peace"!
She is a 2 months old Labrador that my neighbour has decided to have recently! Her name is "Peace", she is so lovely and they often let us cuddle her! :D Oh I miss my dog... how cute these eyes! So innocent!
Take care and have a lovely weekend! Happy Stitching!
I've just finished Kazuko Aoki's design, "薔薇はバラ色" (= Rose is a Rose?). I stitched the same design for two, one is for myself and one is for my mum. It was so fun stitch, I really became liking stitch her designs so much!
This real pink roses are from my mum's garden, actually they were blooming beautifully at neighbours garden. Last year we were talking about them, and then an old man who own these floweres in his garden gave us some sprays of this rose! This year they bloomed in my mum's garden, beautiful, aren't they?!
The ground area, there was written to double cross stitch, but I didn't get it, so I just have done normal cross stitch!
Thank you so much for joining my Giveaway, and thanks for lovely comments for winners! Margaret, Rowyn, I will send your pinkeeps in a few days!
Take care and have a lovely day! Happy stitching.
Design : Book "バラと暮らす" ("Bara to kurasu") by Kazuko Aoki Fabric : 12B Fremme Linen Thread : DMC
Finally I could manage stitching and finishing Nina's Exchange, whew...
We had been talking about our private exchange since the last year, and she sent me wonderful exchange in April, but I couldn't make anything nice, I have never failed such many times before, then took time until send it out recently...
As you know, Nina is so talented and I've received wonderful works of hers first, so I was very hesitating to stitch and make something for her... you know what I mean?! I was going to stitch sewing case by Lavender Lace, but there were so many specialty stitches, and also one over one, and I failed so many times, so I gave up!
Next time, I decided to stitch and make sewing sets by French designers, but the almost whole stitches were one over one, and I gave up again, as I can't do it... Then decided to make this tin designed by LHN for her, but you know, again I made careless mistake on it, and so I decided to stitch one more piece... I have never failed so many times like this time before!! There must be BIG frog still on my shoulders!!
So here are two tins for her and for myself because I decided to complete mistaken one for myself. I know Nina likes pink, but the design is based on light blue, so I added light blue flowery ribbon around the stitched pieces, and added pearl beads on four corners.
I also made a fob and pincushion for her.
Uhmmmm, it was too much, too fussy? I was a bit worried about this, but I received a sweet mail from her, and she told me that she loves everything, so I'm so happy and feel relief now!
Here is mine, I will post how I failed and made mistake on hers and mine, though I added small ribbon charm on the mistaken spot to hide it.
This exchange had also another highlight, we exchanged our countries spices! Her fiancee Tamas wants to try Japanese spices, so I sent her many of spices of our country and also instant miso soup, etc...! I hope Tamas and Nina will love them!!
Thank you so much Nina for this lovely exchange!!
Here is a Strawberry Diary, we (actually sweetie) picked 5 pieces of strawberries this time! This photo was taken on 5th of June, now strawberries are taking nap (lol), there seem not so many left to grow up... Hope they will grow up more and more and let us taste again! :D
There isonly one day left two days left for GIVEAWAY! I changed the deadline to 14, June (Sunday) Japanese time. So please join in this drawing!
Anybody can join in, who has no blog, quiet follower, friends, 日本の方（日本語読めます！）, first visitor, etc... everybody can join in!If you join in this GIVEAWAY drawing, please leave your comment or message to their posts!
If you'd like to be entered for this pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing!If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
If you'd like to be entered for this pink pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
Thank you SO much for participating for this GIVEAWAY drawing! There are so many people is joining this GIVEAWAY and I'm so happy and having fun to read your comments!! It's always so much fun to read comments especially from first visitor or quiet followers!
Take care and Thank you for your visit!!! Happy Stitching.
Hi, how are you doing? I have been feeling gloomy nowadays as the weather is also gloomy and dull...
I have finished Private Exchange for Nina, and PIF for the last participant of round 1 : Staci, and sent them out, so feel happy that I have no commitments, I have been stitching what I want!
I bought KazukoAoki's book and had been stitching a design for two, one is for myself, and another one is... as you probably might know, for my mum (lol) This is very beautiful design and I fell in love, as well as my mum.
When I gathered threads, there were almost no threads in my stash, so I went out for buying threads. Her design is very natural and so beautiful, so I like it! I'm going to stitch other designs from her book later.
Here is a tomato diary. The left one was taken on 28, May and the right one was taken on 5th of June! It's so fun to observe them. There are about 5 tomatoes on the tree! Hope they grow more and more and will turn in red!
There is still some days left for the GIVEAWAY! I changed the deadline to 14, June (Sunday) Japanese time. So please join in this drawing! Anybody can join in, who has no blog, quiet follower, friends, 日本の方（日本語読めます！）, first visitor, etc... everybody can join in!
If you join in this GIVEAWAY drawing, please leave your comment or message to their posts!
If you'd like to be entered for this pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
If you'd like to be entered for this pink pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
Thank you SO much for participating for this GIVEAWAY drawing! It's always so much fun!! Especially to read comments from first visitor or quiet followers!
Take care and Thank you for your visit!!! Happy Stitching.
I have been taking and keeping photographs of flowers which I have been taking while I take a walk with Sweetie.
Here they are, they are very beautiful, I love how I process these photos! I lost link of the site for free download of photo editor, but next time I found it, I will link it.
There is still one more week for the GIVEAWAY! I changed the deadline to 14, June (Sunday) Japanese time. So please join in this drawing!Anybody can join in, who has no blog, quiet follower, friends, 日本の方（日本語読めます！）, first visitor, etc... everybody can join in!
If you join in this GIVEAWAY drawing, please leave your comment or message to their posts!
If you'd like to be entered for this pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing!If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
If you'd like to be entered for this pink pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
Thank you SO much for participating for this GIVEAWAY drawing! It's always so much fun!! Especially to read comments from first visitor or quiet followers!
Take care and Thank you for your visit!!! Happy Stitching.
This week the weather here is dull and gloomy... so I don't feel much well, and seems like big frog is still on my shoulder... Whatever I stitch, I make miss, and am frogging so many times...
Here is some photos that Sweetie is playing at the small park. At first he couldn't do anything (he is a bit clumsy type, lol), but recently he daring climbs playground equipments, sometimes I feel fear seeing him, but boy should be like this!
Go Sweetie!! Be strong and brave, boy!!
What I like about him is, he always say "Hello" with big voice! And then go into a circle and make friends!
Here is carefree mum, stitching while he is playing. Recently Sweetie is interested in taking photos, as he is seeing me taking photos a lot. So guess, who took this photo? Yes, my Sweetie took this photo of me stitching! He is a good camera man for me! :D
There is still one more week for the GIVEAWAY!I changed the deadline to 14, June (Sunday) Japanese time. So please join in this drawing!
Anybody can join in, who has no blog, quiet follower, friends, 日本の方（日本語読めます！）, first visitor, etc... everybody can join in!If you join in this GIVEAWAY drawing, please leave your comment or message to their posts!
If you'd like to be entered for this pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
If you'd like to be entered for this pink pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
Thank you SO much for participating for this GIVEAWAY drawing! It's always so much fun!! Especially to read comments from first visitor or quiet followers!
Take care and Thank you for your visit!!! Happy Stitching.
How much do I love Lilly of the valley??? lol I fell in love this danybrod's design so much, and one made into a heart shaped ormament which I gave my mum already.
And another one, I stitched on linen band is made it into a tapestry (banner?) !
I so really love this, if you don't mind me saying, I think it's perfect to me! I attached organza ribbon to tie bunch of the flowers, and also added wood button for the pocket.
Here are some photos...
I normally make triangle part (pocket, I mean) on the back, though this time I wanted it to be a pocket on the stitched side, and added wood button! So I can put scissors in it, etc...
I really love this, thanks dany for this beautiful pattern!!!
By the way, there is still one more week for the GIVEAWAY! I changed the deadline to 14, June (Sunday) Japanese time.
So please join in this drawing!
Anybody can join in, who has no blog, quiet follower, friends, 日本の方（日本語読めます！）, first visitor, etc... everybody can join in! If you join in this GIVEAWAY drawing, please leave your comment or message to their posts!
If you'd like to be entered for this pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
If you'd like to be entered for this pink pinkeep, please click (here) or photo to leave your comment or message!
Of course you can join in for both drawing! If you would, leave your comments for both, please.
Thank you SO much for participating for this GIVEAWAY drawing! It's always so much fun!! Especially to read comments from first visitor or quiet followers!
Take care and Thank you for your visit!!! Happy Stitching.
After that, we said good-bye to mum's friend as she had to go to discussion of her teacher, and also we wanted to go to 
Here are some photos of the view from 
Here is a photo of us on the top of the mountain! whew...
Here it is, finally we could arrive to the 
On the way back, it was a bit easy to go down, and there was a bell so Sweetie and I tried to toll it!
As I may have mentioned before that I (we) don't like whipped cream much, so we bought roll cake as my Birthday cake, and added chocolate plate and 3 + 5 candles!! :D
Yesterday, my dear friend 
And also she added so many ribbons and so many beautiful clothes inside!
I was so touched by 
One more Birthday Present is from Mum, t
I was so surprised to see inside, there were SO many fabrics and stitch bands, etc... oh my gosh!
Now I have to pass this Award on to six of my favourite blogs and tell the blog owner why I chose them.
While they are catching cicadas, I took Sweetie's photo! Recently he pause like this! so cute!
At night we did fireworks, it was so beautiful, actually 
This is also that Sweetie lined and placed presents for shooting!
Actually neighbors tried to let him catch easily, that's why!
And when we were going back, fire engine was there in front of the shrine to train!
A member of fire fighters told Sweetie to board!
When we were going back home there was a flower field which was made by townsfolk, I liked this Hydrangea, isn't it beautiful??
Finally we came back home, whew the weather was too fine, I was quite tired.
Japanese humid and hot summer will last long, whew!
Here is a photo of backing fabric which I choose for this 
She is a 2 months old Labrador that my neighbour has decided to have recently!
Here is a tomato diary.
Here is some photos that Sweetie is 
Go Sweetie!! Be strong and brave, boy!!
