PIF (Pay It Forward) FOR Elisa

I can't believe, it's the last day of the year tomorrow!!
In Japan we clean the whole house at the end of the year, but this year I didn't do anything...
I was just mentally and physically tired (is this just excuse?? lol), I haven't been able to stitch much nowadays.

By the way, I heard that the Elisa has received the PIF gift safely, so I can share some photos what I made for her.
I was quite not sure what her tastes are, but light blue flashed into my mind when I thought about Elisa, so I bought a bit antique blue basket and stitched an angel in blue.

And I trimmed the basket lid and the stitched piece with shinny light blue gathered lace.

The back of the lid is also covered the same fabric that I used for the front.

I red that Elisa liked this and some goodies that I sent her, so I now feel relieved!!

3 PIFs done and 3 more PIFs to go!

I should tidy up my stitching stuffs soon, and have to try to concentrate on making 3 more PIF gifts!!

I decided to visit my PIL on the new years day with my husband and son, but I asked my husband not to stay there long time... otherwise I will get sick, mentally!!
I should visit shrine near by to buy a talisman before I visit them!!

Please fingers crossed for me!
And have a Happy new year, everyone!!

Thanks for visiting, and let's talk soon in 2009!

Design : Freebie © Casamia
Fabric : 32ct Belfast Linen (Ivory)
Thread : DMC

Finished as : Basket lid

Merry Christmas! - Blessings Be Thine Framed

Just in time! I've received an ordered frame for "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs a few days ago!
So soon after I received it, I framed it.
How is it? I think it turned out beautifully.

There is glass inside, so it was quite difficult to take good photos, though these photos show the linen colour (40ct vintage pear) justice, photos of this last post didn't show the linen colour justice, I think.

How is this frame? It's a bit different from how I imagined, but it's OK, I think it's still beautiful!
And the cost was very reasonable, so I will order another frame from this online framer again.
But my husband again found a big frame shop near my place, so I want to go there and want to see what they sell!

Here is a small Christmas decoration which I stitched about 2 years ago.

This year I couldn't decorate home for Christmas much as I was away and quite busy...

So next year I really want to decorate home very Christmassy, of course with some Christmas stitched items!

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year!

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Design : "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs
Fabric : 40ct Vintage Pear
Thread : GAST

"Joyeux Noel "Free chart @ Echevette Dominique A.

Thanks A Lot, Aunt Carol!

Yesterday when we were going out, I found something big parcel in the mailbox, it was from Carol R. to my son Tass.
I guessed it's Christmas Pressie for Tass, so I hid it soon but he found it and said "I'm sure it's mine!" (lol)
I told him "No, it's only rubbish (sorry Carol!), not parcel nor present!" but he didn't accept what I said, he kept saying "It's mine, it's mine! Please open it now!!"
And he also said "If is this from Aunt Carol???"
(Yes, you are right... but how do you know? Why? You can't read alphabets nor even Japanese, though!)

I think he saw the alphabets on the parcel, and must thought "English = Aunt Carol".
He didn't give up, so I asked him to open it on the Christmas day, but he doesn't understand what the Christmas is yet, so he said "OK, so I'm going to let Christmas stop now, so let's open the parcel instead!" and he was going to turn off the switch of the Christmas tree, LOL
He thinks if the rights of tree have been turned off, the Christmas has gone! (lol)
My mum and I laughed so much, but at the same time we were surprised how he getting grow so fast!

I opened the parcel carefully and it was wrapped beautifully by pretty light blue paper.
And inside was, Radio Control BMW MINI!!! wow!
He doesn't know yet, hasn't seen Radio Control car before, so it's his first Radio Control Car, and it's his favourite MINI!!

I tried to let the car run to show him, and it was so fun!
He was extremely excited and when I saw his face, he had full of smile face and his eyes were shinning!!
My husband AJ also loves Radio Control car (he is like a child), so when I told him about this story on the phone (he is still away for business trip), he sounded exciting to play with Tass.

Thank you SO much Carol for thinking about us always!
We really appreciate for your thoughtfulness and kind heart!

Tomorrow, only two of us my son and I will cerebrate Christmas, but it will be fun!
Take care everyone, and thanks for visiting!

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2009!

p.s. Dear my friends, so sorry that I haven't been replying you yet...
And also sorry that I haven't been commenting you much recently...
I will write you a little by little, but this time of year is quite busy, so please forgive me!

Molto Grazie, Claudia!!

Yesterday was a mail day, a postman rung the door bell and said it's an express mail, but I was not sure what it is and from who... but when I opened the door, I found that the postman was holding a big puffy envelope from Italy!
It was from dear friend, Claudia!! Just look at these beautiful presents from her!
I was just overwhelmed!!

She added so many goodies for me and for my son Tass as well, they all are very beautifully wrapped, so I hesitated to open them for a while!

Please look at this fabulously beautiful mini pillow made by her...
I was just speechless... and was so touched by her stunning finish...

Colours are so soft and so beautiful, and she added pearls and ribbon at four corners.
And it smells so nice as well!!
I have never seen such a beautiful finished work, when the first time I've saw her work, I was speechless I remember, and this time again!

Her works are always so perfect!!! Thank you SO SO much Claudia for such a wonderful Christmas present!!

She added some toys and scissors which is for kids for my son!
It's the first time for him to have scissors, and he wanted to try to use them so much.
He soon learnt how to use them and here is a photo!
He so enjoyed to cut papers!!

Claudia also included a piece of paper which her daughter (I call her "little princess"!) drew herself, her mum and me!
It's so sweet and well drew! Thanks little princess Melissa! xx
And molto grazie mille per Claudia, I really appreciate for your thoughtfullness!!

We also have got another parcel, it was from Fiona, and the parcel was to my son!

My son was so excited to open his parcel, he loves parcels!! (lol)

It was an album of our memory photos in Karuizawa, and they were so nice!

Thank you so much, Fiona!
We are looking forward to seeing you more in 2009!

My mum is going back to her home tomorrow, My son and I will miss her so much...
He LOVEs his grand mother (my mum) SO much, so I'm so worried and I'm sure that he will cry a lot to say good bye to her...
We are telling him that grand-ma is going to work tomorrow, so he is thinking that she will be back soon.
I hope he still believes it, and won't cry when she leaves...

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

I'm Back! AND Birthday Present FOR Carol R.

Hi everyone! I'm finally back from mum's home, and I brought back my mum with us to our home for 1 week! :)
I had very cozy and relax 2 weeks at mum's home, it was so nice chance to have unexpected holiday with her!
I realized again that I like country side... I don't like crowded place, much...
I will report my country side life with some photos later, today I share stitching photos which I made for Carol R.'s Birthday!

I know that Carol loves Quaker, so I found CHS's chart (one of Sampler House) in my stash and took them to my mum's home with me.
Here it is, I made a flat fold for her.

I stitched on 40ct newcasthle linen (flax) and used DMC.
I changed the Initials to her's and mine in navy, and added 08, too.
All Initials were stitched on 1 over 1 on 40ct, it was soooo hard to stitch!!

I added dark brown braid around the edge, and added organza(?) ribbon on left top with wooden button.
I also added dark brown thin ribbon which shaped leaves at the support on the back.

I used grey rose fabric for the back.
I forgot to take a photo of backing fabric, though Carol has some photos of this on her blog, if you would like to see. :)

Actually this wooden button was my son's favourite (he likes small spherical things), so when he saw that I added this button on the ribbon, he was going to take it back!! (lol)

He was almost going to cry, so I gave him another wooden button :D

By the way, Thank you so much Dovile, Sally for the sweet Christmas cards!
I wish you all will have very merry Christmas!

Thanks for visiting and Happy stitching!

A Corsage

Nothing special about stitching, I still have been suffering from backache (I went to see a doctor!) and have been very tired somehow, so haven't been stitching at all these days...

Before I left for our trip, I've just made this corsage to put on my shawl or bag.
Not good photos, though! It was very easy to made!

My husband is away for business trip for one month, so my son and I am going back to my mum's home for about two weeks!
I'm yet not sure if I take this lap top to her house, because mum said that her Internet connection doesn't work well...

So I might not be around for about two weeks, if I didn't take this PC there.
If I didn't, I won't be able to "see" you all for a while, so until then take care and have a lovely days!

and... Happy Stitching!

(edited) --- I decided not to take this lap top to my mum's home, so I won't be able to reply to your e-mails, post here etc... so see you 2 weeks later!

Short Trip : Day 3 in Kiyosato, Yamanashi

Short Trip : Day 3 (22 Nov, 2008) in Kiyosato, Yamanashi.
We had plan to visit to toy and picture book museum in Karuizawa, but I heard from Fiona that Kiyosato (Yamanashi Pref.) is not so far from Karuizawa, so we just changed our plan, then we started to go to Kiyosato where I wanted to go one day!

Actually I was sleepy and was almost going to sleep, but AJ woke me up every time when the beautiful scene appeared to take photos.
These mountains are called Yatsugatake, they had snow on top and looked very beautiful!!

Fiona told me that in the middle of way to Kiyosato, there is fun farm called "Takizawa Bokujo (farm)", so we tried to go there!
Here it is, Takizawa farm! It's like Western farm, isn't it!

Just after saw this tractor, my son wanted to ride on!
Here is a little farmer!

Even in the very cold weather, my husband wanted to try to taste fresh ice cream there, lol
I can't believe his big appetite, as always...

I also tried to ride on a tractor, like a child...

There were some farm animals, sweetie said "what's this smell??? it's stinky!" (lol)

But soon he became friends with goat.
The goat licked his hand and he was so excited, but most excited part was... when he saw that goat had sh*t (lol, sorry, I don't know exact and correct word of it...) just in front of him!
He so laughed to see them in person! That was funny!

After Takizawa farm, we drove up to Kiyosato, and here is the view from Kiyosato.
Can you see the Mt. Fuji far behind???

Here are some photos of Seisen-Ryo in Kiyosato.
The view from there was nice, but not so interested in other facilities (only my opinion, though!)...

There are some restaurants, accommodation, factory of jam and bread, etc... also a farm.

We drove down to around the station and ate Soba, but it was not nice... (lol)

Then we really missed Kastanie's meals...

Around the station, there were very quiet, most of shops were closed and I even felt sad atmosphere...
Because the winter is coming???

On the way home, we could see Mt. Fuji again.
Anyway, we drove back to our home safely, thanks to hubby.
It was very very nice trip! We would love to go there again to see them!

As soon as I arrived at home, I realized how tired I was.
So now I have been recovering, actually I have backache from the last day of our trip, so I will go to see a doctor tomorrow.
I hope it's just a muscular pain...

Thank you for your visit and thanks for your comments!

I appreciate for them a lot.

Take care and Happy Stitching!

Short Trip : Day 2 in Karuizawa, Nagano

Short trip : Day 2 (21, Nov, 2008) in Karuizawa.
We stayed at House of Karuizawa, and our room was like this.
We were planning to stay with Fiona during the day (the first day), so booked this room just for bath and bed, so my husband suggested me to find more cheaper hotel, like business hotel (lol), though I wanted to stay small pension or cottage in the woods, so I just decided and reserved this room! :)

But to be honest, being with a little child, it was a bit inconvenient for not to have a bath and toilet in the each room...

This is a beautiful scene from the dining room in the morning.
It was so nice and fresh morning!! How romantic to have breakfast as seeing such a beautiful scene!

In the morning haze, we played a lot in the nature, just beautiful, isn't this?

This is the pension where we stayed and me feeling morning breeze(?), actually it wasn't breeze, it was really windy and cold day!!

My son was so excited to play with fallen leaves, he carried a bunch of leaves from here and there again and again, saying "I'm working hard now!!" :)

Just looked up, there was a beautiful autumn sky.

I walked around in the woods, it was so romantic and I was so impressed to be there.

Beautiful autumn colours, I looked down and took a photo of my feet. I like this shot!

After we left our pension, we went to big outlet shopping mall, and bought LEGO for my son, Jeans for hubby, and I bought some clothes. We were not supposed to go there for shopping, so we couldn't buy more...

And it was a SO windy and cold day, my son was almost crying so we finished shopping soon and after that we went to Fiona's restaurant again.

Restaurants in the outlet mall were full of people, and we didn't want to spend money for not good food, so we decided to go to Kastanie again, even though we had plan to go there for dinner, too!
(Food's photos are on the previous post...)

Here is the wine (from South Australia) that Minoru and Fiona presented us as early Christmas present!

How sweet of them, we were so impressed by their warm hearts!!
I couldn't drink because I had to drive down to the hotel, but my husband was satisfied by it and seemed so happy!

Here is a photo of my best friends, also a best couple!

We had to leave Karuizawa next day, so we hug and said good bye...
They were so nice to us, thank you so much for them from the bottom of our heart!

We will be back to Karuizawa as soon as we can!

I will report about Day 3 (our last day), later!
Thanks for visiting, and thanks for your comments!!

Take care and Happy Stitching!