Kyoto, Golden palace, Nijo castle and Yuzawaya.

Wednesday saw us leave Shinjuku to catch the train to Shingawya, so that we could catch the bullet train to Kyoto. The trip by train took 2 1/2 hrs and was quite enjoyable,  I managed to get half a Lucy Boston done, yay! Only 2 more to go and I will have completed 56. We arrived at 1 pm and got a cab to the hotel, checked in and then went out to explore. First stop was the  Nishijon Textile Centre, on the edge of town, here in the centre we saw, Kimono 's being modelled, silk painting, gorgeous brocades, scarves and handmade purses. A delight to see how the fabric is weaved and also a display of gold leaf applied to the finest silk. 

We then watched the sumo wrestling for 1 hour and progressed onto the Nishiki market, before we walked to our booked dinner with waygu beef, this in itself was a challenge to find the restaurant and DH was ready to give up after walking up alleys and trying to find the place, with Japanese speaking and limited english,  and our Japanese being nil, although the Japanese are very helpful, it was very hard to understand. I had the name of the restaurant written down on a piece of paper. Our booking was for 6.30 pm to 7 pm and just when DH said he was going back to the hotel, a young man from a restaurant pointed us to the restaurant , we finally arrived at 7.30 pm, shoes off and guided into the room, where we had to cook dinner ourselves, pick the price...7,000 yen ($70.00) and the best waygu beef was prepared for you cook , not the best meal so far, but at least we experienced true Japanese traditions, served by kimono dressed waitress.

Thursday we used the local buses to get around, first stop was the golden palace! an absolute must see! then onto the Nijo castle! very impressive building! what was amazing about this castle was the nightingale floor! when you walked on this floor! it did sound like nightingales singing! it bought back many memories of the early ninja movies we used to watch? the shogun lived in this castle and was guarded by the ninja's. Then what would Kyoto be without a visit to the Yazawaya store, although this store was not as big as the Shinjuku store, the range of fabrics were not as vast, I did mange to get 6 mtrs of Japanese fabric for a backing of a quilt that I am doing for $27, also lots of linen bias and other goodies. I left DH in a British pub with happy hour, so that I could have a happy hour to myself, maybe went into nearly 2 hours, but he was happy.

Our chef, preparing the waygu beef.

Our waitress

Our waygu beef.

The Golden Palace.

Nijo castle

Japan and shopping.

My first day in Japan, Tuesday.  Monday evening at 5.20 pm, we landed at Narita International airport. It was pitch dark and cold, Japan is 2 hrs ahead of us in Oz. We caught the Narita express from the airport to the Shinjuku area and our intentions were to walk to the hotel, believed to be only one kilometer, on exiting the Shinjuku station from the east, we found ourselves on a Main Street with five intersections. DH also known as Daniel Boone said we would go this way, and pointed to a street, after a 9 hour flight, a 2 1/2 hr train ride and getting up at 4.30 am, I was not in the mood for walking endlessly up and down streets to find our hotel, so promptly got a cab. The cab ride was 10 mins and the walk if we would have known which way to go would have also been 10 mins. Of course, now being familiar with the area, we now know where the station is located, so will walk tis time as we are off to Kyoto tomorrow.

My goal today was to go to a shopping centre called Takashimaya Times Square, inside this shopping centre is a place called Yuzawaya, which is a bit like an upmarket spotlight at home. The whole 11th floor is dedicated to this shop. I found out about this store by reading an earlier edition of a Quilters  Companion. Liuxin Newman had visited Japan and wrote a column about Japan, in particular this article was about this department store being a craft lovers delight. I was not disappointed and it was very hard to contain myself, 2 hours later and DH wandering about and passing comments. I made a decision to not buy a lot as I would be hauling it all over Japan and made a vow, on our return to Shinjuku in 4 days time, Yuzawaya would be visited again. The stores do not open before 10 am, but this I itself was not a deterrent as whilst we were waiting we were bowed at and presented warm tea. I did mange to buy 4.2mtres of fabric as there was not much on the bolt and felt that it may not be there in 4 days time. I also purchased some sashiko thread and "d "rings for a bag that I am making, the fabric is Yuwa and my little shopping spree set me back $37.

Gourmet delights.

Shinjuku Station, South exit.

Takashimaya, Times Square.

Yuzawaya 

Fabrics galore!

Today we travelled to Kyoto and had a little Japanese culture.

Kimono being modelled.

Some Sumo wrestling, we were amazed at the number of western men competing and training as Sumo's.

Holidays and another quilt show.

Today, Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a sewing day and to also visit a quilt show, this does not happen very often as I usually work every weekend. My social events are virtually nil due to working most weekends. Christine Book teaches patchwork in Camden once a month and today as I am on holidays I went to one of her classes as well as having the opportunity to visit the Campbelltown Quilt show which is being held on Saturday and Sunday. The  quilt show is being held in the civic centre in the centre of Campbelltown. The quilt show was very well represented with trade stalls and a great sales table. I purchased 4 great American quilt magazines from 1994 to 1996, these magazines are a great buy as they have patterns for all antique blocks, appliqués and paper piecing. I will share some of the quilts from the show which took my eye. My next post will be from Japan as I leave Monday to enjoy 9 days sightseeing which will include the Yokoharma Quilt festival.

Elaine Farriers version of Jane Austin, the centre is coloured and embroidered, redrawn by Chris Book

Another quilt by Elaine Farrier, a Chris Book design, Row by Row. note it is completed lengthways.

This quilt by Adrienne Blair took my eye as it was completed in reproduction fabrics, pattern by Megan Carroll.

The quilt was called

John Hewson's bird's, check out the centre.

Just love the border.

This next quilt is a miniature completed by Robyn Dye, called Baltimoe Beauty and Bluebells.

I could not avoid the glare of the lights, a close up of the bottom flower.

The above quilt called "Joy" was a whack and stack made by Bridget Wilkinson, it looks like it has been fussy cut but it is a layer of 6 fabrics stacked on on another to get the design, what great fabric.

A close up of the fabric used.

Another Row by Row quilt, made by Dale and designed by Chris Book, photographed in Chris Books class in Camden.

Getting things in order.

Oh Well, I have finally got my act together, and stopped doing selfies and commit myself to a few presents that I had promised myself that I would make for some friends. This week I achieved a great deal, so feeling quite pleased with myself. I had a friend who had a baby on the 17 th September. When I heard that she was pregnant, I bought a kit for a cot quilt and was going to have it made and ready to give to the baby when she was born. Not too bad....only 6 weeks late with the quilt, Jemmima was born on the 17 th September.  I also promised a library bag for one my colleagues little girl, as she started school this year and I had the best intentions, but always seemed to be caught up in what I was making for myself.  The bag was worse in the delay, as her first year of school has nearly finished, the embroidery for her name was completed very early in the year.  After a good talking to me from me, I dedicated these days off, to getting my act together and just do it. The quilt from beginning to end took me a whole day, so all of Monday was dedicated and in the afternoon, I had to go down to get some veggies for tea, so I popped the quilt in the mail and got a delighted phone message on Wednesday, yah.... For Australia post.quilt.

As you can see, the fabrics were a mix of satin, flannels, cottons and plush, not easy to sew.

Little Jemmima looks great snuggled in the quilt, I need permission from mum! before I post some photos, she looks gorgeous wrapped in the quilt.

The library bag that I made was more of a universal bag, that may be used for shopping as well, I embroidered Lily's name and made the bag out of this great American Jane fabric, "Dick and Jane"

I will also give you a sneak peak at my selfie quilt, will reveal more when it is finished being quilted.

Don't I have great legs!!!

Bush Fires, design board and upholestry.

What a devastating week with new fires being ignited in our beautiful Blue Mountains and lower regions of Lithgow. My heart goes out to all those people who have lost homes and been devastated by the fires, loss of pets and personal belongings. We in the Hawkesbury area considered ourselves to be blessed and owe a great debt to the rural fire service and the wonderful firefighters involved in fighting the  fires, rescuing people, animals and homes. In Windsor Downs on the 2nd November we are having a community garage sale and a stand will be available for goods to be donated and the money raised will be donated to the RFS.
I have been a bit busy over the last few weeks, finishing off projects and thinking about the next. My DH finally got his act together and my design board is now finished and it is quite large as I am known for mostly doing large quilts. My motto is... if you are going to do a quilt you may as make it worthwhile and make it large enough to cover a queen size bed. I suppose doing it this way there is more cost, time and materials involved, but I really enjoy the process, so will push on.
My latest quilt that I have just finished measured 3mtrs by 2.2mts, I was not feeling so great about it being so big, when it took me four days to sew on the binding.
Our family night for the next 10 weeks has moved to tuesday night beacuse our two youngest family members are doing "box and burn", a fitness program. This week I decieded to have a ploughmans lunch for dinner, so the week before I pickled the eggs in preparation for dinner and for dessert we had brandy baskets filled with chocolate mousse and fresh fruit. For the dieters there was a diet version, but mostly opt for the gourmet version.
This week I also covered some second hand chairs  with a great cotton drill fabric, I was quite pleased with the result...what do you think!.

The commencement of my design board being fixed and made sturdy  by DH.

  Finished and flannel tablecloths attached.

A sneak preview of my next project! On my finished design board.

These are the chairs that I purchased and covered, love the fabric and how they turned out.

My black and white antelope fabric. 

Gourmet Tuesday

My ploughmans lunch and dessert

Spring has sprung and my flowers are blooming, what a pity about the dry weather, little rain and bush fires. I will need to water, but how the garden would bloom if we had a little rain.

On Tuesday the 22nd October, Chris Book and I went into Quiltsmith in Annandale, boy ! we had not been there for quite awhile and was overwhelmed with the selection of fabric available, but  I was very good and only bought what I thought I needed. On the way home we had lunch and then went to Patchwork products and did a bit of damage there with the purchase of fabrics, I was very pleased with my purchases.

Quilting Retreat, Enjoyment and new projects.

This weekend I attended a retreat in Katoomba, hosted by Karen and Brendan Kirk, who own The Stitching Post in  Katoomba http://www.thestitchingpost.com.au/ , it was a wonderful couple of days, eating, stitching and meeting new people. the event was held in the Katoomba Christian conference centre. On Saturday the hours were 10 am to 4 pm and on Sunday 9 to 3 pm. I had booked quite early in the year for the retreat and had planned to have a weeks holiday at home, then stay overnight in the blue Mountains, where DH would travel up in the afternoon on Saturday and join me and stay the night. What I did not plan very well was my accommodation, I left this a little later, feeling that  I had plenty of time, but unbeknownst to me, the Leura garden festival was also on the same week, so

accommodation was sparse on the ground. I finally got some accommodation at The Katoomba Guest House, through Wot if, very comfortable, but one did not read the fine print and soon found out upon my hubby's arrival, when he checked in, that we had shared facilities and it was actually a backpackers accommodation, my DH had great delight in sharing this news with me, when I joined him at the RSL after the retreat, did I read the fine print..no I did not. We dined at "Pins" in Lurline St and I must say we were delighted with the menu, service, food and would recommend it as a place to dine, it is located in another gorgeous guest house, that is familiar in Katoomba.

http://www.pinsonlurline.com.au

Entree, salmon with a cream cheese, chives,capers and a rosti, yummy.

Tony had pork goyza and below was our shared dessert, lime and ginger crème brule'ei

After dinner we made our way the guest house, climbing three sets of stairs to get up to the entrance and then 2 more flights to get to our room, I finally saw the room, clean and tidy, and the facilities were down the hallway, oh well I say to myself, you can do this for one night, I must say other than no bathroom in our room, the room was dated but clean and tidy, the bed was comfortable and had clean sheets, other than it being noisy with doors banging and people chatting it was not too bad, my DH and I had a crackle, because if we would have stayed any other night than a Saturday night we would have paid a third of the price, and as plain as day on a sign outside the door, was marked BUDGET accommodation. The delight in the showers were the William Morris inspired tiles, could not resist taking a photo.

William Morris inspired tiles.

Now time to share about the retreat, the teachers present were Marg low, Michelle Marvig and Vicky Porter, Janelle Wind could not make it due to a health issues, but we were lucky enough to get three of her patterns in our goody bag. Each teacher had supplied two patterns and as Karen was kind enough to show us a preview before the class, so we could get some of our stash organised before the retreat as well as purchase ready made kits for each project, very convenient. Also included in our bags was a pin cushion and wallet, made out of coordinating fabrics, a nice little touch and much appreciated, as there was 72 people at the retreat and everyone got one, a lot of work, I used my wallet for my hexagons, thank you also for the gift.

The projects, displayed above, on the first day I did Vicky's Xmas table mat and on the second day, commenced Michelle's cushion, lovely in red, but I did mine in blue.

Lovely to catch up with Marg again, hanging behind us is her lovely Sarah's sampler block of the month quilt.

http://www.marglowdesigns.typepad.com.

We were table number three and had a great  group  of girls, Colette travelled from W.A, lives near Margaret River and Mandy, Janette and Sharnee, came from the Lake Macquarie district. And Sharon lives in Blaxland and attends classes at The Stitching post. The tables were decorated with white Xmas trees and displayed on them were brightly coloured glass Xmas trees made by Brendan, a gift to us all, very much appreciated, thank you Brendan.