Tokyo Quilt Show within a week!!

I should be packing and getting ready to leave, but am distracted by the computer, checking blogs, taking care of all kinds of details at home before I leave on Friday. For those of you that are interested, we will be at the show on Monday, and will check for blogging friends at 2pm in the Cafe at the show. We may also be there on Thursday. Check for pictures posted in November to find us. We would love to meet up with other bloggers.

I'll try to post additional details while we are there. Sorry for no pictures, as I am still having computer issues...to be resolved when I come home, as my new computer will arrive while I am gone!

No real quilt news except I've been working on sewing on binding due to starting school this last weekend. Two eight hour days were overwhelming and I am questioning my sanity to work on an MBA at this point in my life...but my goal is to complete it with balance...that includes time to quilt. Next posting will include photos from TOKYO!!!

Tokyo International Quilt Show 2008 --2 weeks to go!!

Two weeks from today I will be arriving in TOKYO!!! For the longest time, it seemed so far way...now it is so close! I'll be meeting my sister from Okinawa and my niece from San Diego for a girls week at the largest quilt show in the world. This is our second and probably our last trip for awhile. Here's a great link to information and wonderful quilt pictures: http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/quilt/

Just in case you are going, here are our tricks for avoiding the crowds:

• Go during the week and arrive around 1pm. It will be busy for several hours, but by 3pm the crowds disappear!! By 4pm you can photograph pictures without waiting for others to move on! Wait until almost closing time to visit the vendors to avoid the mobs.
• Get the show map and conquer an area at a time...otherwise you wander around and miss really cool quilts. Ask for the English version.
• Plan on at least 2 and preferably 3 afternoons at the show.
• Buy tickets ahead of time at the Family Marts, avoid the lines and they are cheaper ahead of time.
• Be sure to take an afternoon coffee or tea break in the little cafe. The maroon cake is unique. I understand it is water chestnut. One surprise was that there are no refills on coffee.
• The lockers are always full, so plan on carrying what ever you buy or bring in...another reason for shopping towards the end of the day.
• Most everyone comes by the train. There are good places for dinner in the plaza near by. Our favorites are the Italian Restaurant, Bubba Gumps. The best lunch stop on the way in is Cafe Danmark...just like being in Denmark! Starbucks is near by too...
• Would love to connect with other bloggers if you are there!

I promise lots of pictures when I return!! Now it is back to school work...I was suppose to be posting a picture of my self in the forum/chat room, where we post reflections on our reading assignments, etc. Instead I've been sidetracked thinking about blogging and Tokyo!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The last several weeks have been filled with holidays, family and a computer that is not cooperating. I'm about to order a new laptop which will hopefully solve most of the issues. Sorry for no pictures, as I can't seem to get them loaded today!

I did finish another "Santa's got the goods" top, see previous pictures on November 4th posting. When I purchased this kit, it seemed like there was quite a bit of fabric, in addition to two center panels. By purchasing only one additional yard of fabric, I now have two versions of this quilt. I'm sure one will be a gift at some point.

New rules for the new year:
1. When completing a top...Stitch the backing of the quilt, before moving on to the next project. ( I have at least 4 of the 13 tops that need to be quilted missing the back fabric.)

2. Cut the binding before moving on to the next project. Or at least set it aside so I don't use up the fabric in another project. (I have 3 missing the binding...what was I thinking?)

3. No fabric purchases until some UFO's are completed...that means staying out of the fabric stores (except in Tokyo in January...) for at least the first six months of the year!

4. Keep a project out in the sewing room, on the machine, so I can sew even 15 minutes a minute a week, while in school. I'm worried I am about to experience withdrawals...I've just started an MBA program...

5. Sewing is a great reward for doing homework!!

6. Listening to a book (homework) on CD while sewing this weekend was a great way to do homework!!

May your new year be filled with much joy, lots of fabric and wonderful sewing days ahead!

Christmas Stars

Just realized I listed the wrong magazine on the last post for this quilt. It is from the December 1996 American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine. If you are interested in the instructions for this quick, easy and fun scrap quilt, send me your email address.

This week has been a bit crazy...trying to finish decorating as I was behind from our trip to Texas, preparing for a work party (25 people that was held at my house last night) and going to orientation for school.

Yes, I really said school! I am starting an executive MBA program in January. I've been mentally preparing to have less time to sew, scrapbook and bake... However, I wasn't prepared to be handed our first set of books along with the assignments (think major hours of reading) last Thursday night.

My plan had been to fill the two long holiday weekends with lots of sewing, finishing up some UFOs and of course starting at least one new project. I'm sure I will find some time, but now will need to do some serious reading before our first class on January 11th.

Now that the party is over, it's time to SHOP! I need to leave soon, as the mall is one hour away and I want to be there when the doors open to avoid some of the crowds! I'm not one that enjoys shopping for hours, but rather the one with a list trying to get it done as quickly as possible. My normal plan is to be finished before Thanksgiving as I try to stay out of the malls from Thanksgiving to Valentines day!

Hoping your week is filled with lots of joy and little holiday stress, as we focus on friends, family and the true reason for this season...the birth of Jesus!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

All around our house Christmas is appearing. The lights are up, the tree is decorated, the stockings are hung, the Christmas quilts are out! Today it even snowed for a few minutes!! Next weekend it will be a baking marathon. With our two week trip to Texas, I am behind my usual holiday schedule and am feeling a bit stressed.

We made it through the wind storm, without any damage or power loss in our area. Others in Oregon and Washington weren't as lucky.

All weekend long I tried to get to my sewing room, but it just didn't happen. I don't know about you, but I have a "need" to sew or be creative. If I go too long without being creative, I become cranky! It's been at least three weeks...so I am in withdrawls!! Here's a photo of one of my favorite, quick scrap quilts from a Quiltmaker magazine pattern several years ago. It is a great way to use up scraps of various sizes of Christmas fabrics.

There is nothing quite as sweet as the smiles on the faces of little ones as they open bags with new quilts inside! While we were away for Thanksgiving, we delivered the two quilts on the right to the grandchildren of our friends. I was excited that I was finally caught up on quilts for this family, only to learn baby number four will arrive in April! I'm thrilled to add one more quilt to my to do list!! See previous posts for full pictures of the quilts.

After 12 nights away from home, it is wonderful to catch up with all my blogging friends. Did you see in Jan/Feb 08 Quiltmaker that Taniwa is listed on page 14? She is one of my favorites, not only for quilting but for life in Japan, where I will soon be going again to the Tokyo International Quilt show in January 2008. As always, I promise to share lots of pictures. Her blog is at: http://tttl1998.blogspot.com/

Nothing new in the quilting realm, since I've been gone...but lots of great ideas from catching up reading magazines while on the plane. Speaking of planes, I've never been so happy to get into the air, as I was earlier today, after sitting on the runway for two hours while it snowed in Salt Lake City and we waited and waited to be de-iced! Oh how I just wanted to get home!

As the Christmas music plays, the wind is howling and the rain which sounds icy and slushy beats on the windows outside. I am so thankful to just be tucked in for the rest of the evening at home. Winter has definitely arrived in Oregon as we have a major storm on the way tonight, which is why I am quickly writing this blog, in case we are without power tomorrow...who knows, maybe it will be so bad we just have to stay in and sew for a few days!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving is always a wonderful time to reflect on what we are thankful for and the many blessings in our lives. So here's my list:

Faith, Family and Friends are always first. My health, a wonderful home which is still new after two years, work I enjoy, and freedom come next. I'm thankful for the many blessings which we often take for granted including the joy of creating! I'm even thankful for my age, due to the contentment and peace at this stage of my life.

I've started a new scrapbook to capture our Thanksgiving memories and blessings, as the years rush by and all too often, we don't remember the details of that special day. I'll share pictures of it soon.

May your day be filled with lots of joy, family, friends, wonderful memories and of course turkey and football!

Hello from Fredericksberg, Texas. We had such a wonderful day that I forgot to publish this post! We've gone from 83 to 43 degrees over night...quite a change! We even went to a real Friday night Texas high school football playoff game! Hope you have had a wonderful holiday. Oh yes, I am bringing home fabric...2 yards that jumped off the bolt and into my suitcase. The large poinsettia on a dark background...perfect for a quick holiday 9 patch pizazz...watch for pictures soon!