Stash from Japan and family news.

After returning from our whirlwind tour of Japan and arrival to home, I had time to reflect about our trip and how much fabric I had purchased. First let me share with you my stash from Japan, when is enough fabric enough!, don't you just love what wonderful designs are out there and the never ending supply of such wonderful  fabric designs. Ohhh the time that I need to get stuck into making a few creations with them all.

My long awaited Xmas present arrived, on order for six months, as they say all good things come to those that wait. I felt very spoilt at how my car was delivered.

Our other wonderful news is that we are going to be grandparents, our oldest son Nigel will be a father in August, we are tickled pink with the news 

So what have I been making!, the first of many, hopefully.

Finally finished my "field of dreams" quilt off to the quilter to be quilted.!

I was nominated by Chris Jurd to take part in the five day artist challenge currently on FB, what a fun time and how wonderful have all the quilts and projects been, such delightful eye candy,  It has been a great opportunity to get to see what everyone is making and what creativity, not one quilt has been the same. Well done to all that took the time to participate. 

 That's all for now!

Japan we are done, thanks for the memories.

Our second visit to Japan, has been just as wonderful as the first time, we visited, we are pleased to have travelled all over Japan, and had the wonderful company of the gracious Japanese people. Thank you for sharing your country with us, the food, culture and experiences that Japan has to offer are a delight and that one should partake of, if you ever get the opportunity. "Origato domas"

Even Ginza district, Tokyo has a Hooters.

Staying at the Ginza Grand, my sister has capitulated and started sewing hexagons, to make a coin purse.

Harijuku, the trendy area of Tokyo, very crowded and wait times for meals.

Horse meat on the menu in Ginza.

Osaka, Universal studios.

Kyoto, Golden Palace.

Hiroshima, trams

This actual tram was working in 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped.

Miyajima Misen and free roaming deer.

Snow in Sendai

Light show, Tokyo Dome.

Sumo, Endo the Japanese sumo.

Goodbye Japan, onto our next adventure, hello France.

Osaka, Universal Studios and Sendai

Wednesday we left Kyoto to travel to Osaka for Universal studios. Chris Jurd left our little group to fly home, goodbye Chris, have a safe journey home. We travelled by Shinkansen to Oaska. I need to share how diligent I was downloading google maps to get to each hotel from the subway and JR stations, in my diligence, I accidentally downloaded the directions to the Wrong Best Western hotel. The receptionist at the wrong hotel was lovely and explained to us how to get there, not a good thought as it was where we had just come from. This Best Western hotel was chosen because of a bus that went to Universal studios. Upon arrival to our hotel we were abruptly told we could not book in until 3 pm and was told the bus only runs on weekends. So after depositing our suitcases, back from where we had come to go to Universal circle for the train. We did not arrive at Universal studios until 2.30pm, the Rush was on for rides, adventure and especially Harry Potter world.

Jaws ride, 40 min wait, did I mention how cold it was the wind was blowing a gale, slightly unpleasant.

We booked our place for Harry Potter world, at 1540hrs, thought to self, we are set, so we had some lunch and proceeded to Hogsmead village at designated time.

Note the crowd !

Jurrsaic Park, wait for ride 70 mins.

Japanese World.

This girl s the line for the lolly shop in Hogsmeade Village, note....just to get served foe a bag of lollies, 120mins.

Lovely monster in lolly shop window.

Owls for sale

Photo opportunity with Mrs Woodpecker.

This is where my hopes were shattered, the 1540hrs scheduled time was to enter Hogsmeade Village the ride itself was a waiting time of 3 hours, that is what we had left at the park, so needless to say, no rides were taken, due to the waiting time and cold, I would hate to be at Universal Studios in summer, the cold did not keep the people away.

Upon arrival in Sendai, we had a quite afternoon with some R & R, in the evening we had French cuisine at this delightful restaurant.

These two wonderful men were our waiter and chef, for the evening, we did not speak Japanese or they English, but we all managed and had a great time and a wonderful meal.

Just a little of what we sampled. Fromage.

Smoked duck.

Pate

Meat terrine.

Seafood parcel, delicious.

Seafood pasta, sorry forgot before photo, delicious as well.

Smiley face, olive oil and balsamic.

Dessert.

Our little group.

Friday bought us snow in. Sendai 

Before just as snow was falling

Same spot a few hours later

Esme had to do a snow angel

Goodbye Sendai, back to Tokyo, Ginza district.

Miyajima Misen, Daisho-in Temple

Australia Day Monday the 26th Jan we all braved the rainy weather and took the ferry across to Miyajima Island, the rain was steady all day, slightly cold, but we were all determined to maximise our sight seeing efforts on what this island has to offer. The deer roam freely on this island and are very friendly.  The ferry below was our lift across to the island, this ferry ride was also included in our JR. a Pass.

Not a great photo of the temple gates with the rain, but an amazing site, Miyajima has been voted one of three most beautiful scenic spots in Japan. the temple gates are made of camphor wood.

A local getting shelter from the rain.

Just love these little hedgehog creatures.

You could get a rickshaw to the top, instead of climbing the 90 mins, cable car can get you down,only   7000 yen.

The shopping streets

The temple gates, as you can observe, wet and slightly cold.

The temples built over the water.

Amazing hexagons everywhere, not sure what this symbols means, appears to something spiritual, as they were all over the place.

A rounded bridge, hard to walk on, note the tide coming in, it did not take long before it was filled with water.

Mizo Bosatsu who wear red bibs, this depicts parents who have lost children and take good care of Jizo images as though these are their lost children. Usually these statues are Buddhist monks.

Some sashiko?

More sashiko, not really this is gold dots, very similar to sashiko.

We left Hirsohima to travel to Kyoto on Tuesday, some of the wonderful window dressing in Kyoto shopping precinct.

We visited the Golden palace

This is our last day with Chris, she will be travelling home on Wednesday.

Our last night dinner in the Gino district of Kyoto at Ultra Chop restaurant.

A very enjoyable antipasto shared.

Lamb cutlets from NZ.

Seafood Pasta

Chop curry.

Another visit to Yuzawaya and more great fabric bought.

We leave Chris and Kyoto , off to Osaka and Universal studios.