Laowai

We had a quiet birthday celebration for Claire. Birthday cinnamon rolls and then mille feuille after dinner. 

A display of sisterly love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CLAIRE E.

Here's my woodland poppy looking big and happy. This is the plant mom brought with her on a plane trip from home. I want a bunch of them.

A few weeks ago Jennifer and mom came my way on their way to see Jenna. We celebrated mom's birthday with a carrot cake. A new recipe that I will make again.

We all went up to Madison the next day to watch Jenna sail.

It was a beautiful day and we came home a little sunburned.

The Union at The University of Wisconsin has some lovely windows.

Bea does lots of sketching when we travel. This is a scene she sketched outside our hotel window in Japan – back at home she built a tiny model based on the sketch.

Another little sketch – in gouache.

I got out my springy quilt.

I planted my sweet peas – including some seeds that I saved from last summer.

I made a green polka dot shirt. It's the Liesl & Co. Camp Shirt pattern. The fabric is from my Japan shopping spree.

We had a low key Easter Weekend. Enjoyed some chocolate eggs that Brian brought back from Switzerland.

My daffodils are making me happy. Especially in the morning when I pull the car out and I turn to see the sun shining low through them – they glow.

My winter sowing experiment is working well this year. The plants are small but healthy. The bigger challenge is keeping all these plants from getting eaten by bunnies when they are eventually planted in the garden. The bunnies seem especially vigorous this year. There's one hiding in the daffodils below. They are my frenemies.

We've had a few days in the 70s so I took out the glass and put in the screen panel on the front door. Saying good-bye to my paper decorations.

Time to make my favorite rhubarb vanilla jam.

I like this package of coffee beans – like April showers.

The daffodils on the north side of the house bloom a little later – they're starting to look nice now.

I don't bother with Tulips since they are unreliable year after year and they are also rodent food. But gosh there is one tulip next to our patio that will not conform. It's been there since we bought the house, all by itself, refusing to give up.

Happy Spring!

…and a couple questionable plaster walls.

I completed a painting project today. One of the few spaces left in the house that I have not coated in my choice of color. The front closet – by our front door. The plaster on the outside wall of this closet has been peeling and ugly since we moved in so I inexpertly patched and sanded (hate) and repainted everything.

Here are a couple process photos.

You'll see I did not tackle our fancy round window. Isn't it funny to have a round window in a closet? It remains blue and in need of repair. But the rest of the closet now matches the white and gray colors that I've used throughout the house. 

Another old house detail that I left intact is this fire extinguisher. And don't worry it was last serviced in (does it say!) 1952!

Here are a couple more finished photos.

So for about two weeks while I worked away on this project I had all the contents of the closet dumped out into our living room. The pile of coats and gloves and shoes and picnic supplies and boots and bags and ice skates seemed to swell once it was outside the closet and I thought "how did that much stuff fit in there?"

And now onto the sentimental part. Today I sorted through that big pile of stuff. I discarded some dusty old shoes and some snow pants that no longer fit were put in a pile for Goodwill. Then I neatly put back all the stuff we do use. When you live in a place with distinct seasons I guess you need a closet full of things like these.

At the bottom of the pile of hanging things were these three tiny aprons. My heart felt wobbly looking at them. We used these aprons a lot – for painting or cooking projects – anything messy. I think mom bought the yellow one with embroidered bees. The blue one was a give-away from the Swiss grocery store and I made the fruity one. The thing that gets me and makes me feel full of emotion is that I loved those days. I really loved making things with my girls. I can picture the big messes we would make and the treasures we would create. Those were some of my favorite times of my life.

And so I tucked them back into the corner of the closet.

I have more photos to share from Japan – the details.

There is cute everywhere – even on serious security messages at train stations there are cute characters.

Don't get your arm caught in the train door or you will be a sad bunny.

Kitten delivery truck. Also, notice how clean and tidy that street is.

Claire fit right in with her Miffy – they love Miffy!

Remove shoes before entering a dressing room.

I really wanted to have one of these but I controlled myself.

At least it's easy to spot Brian in the crowd.

The last detail – we stopped to buy some treats before we got on the train and the woman put our food in an ingenious bag.

Here it is flattened out.

I loved all their cute designs and clever solutions. 

For the second part of our trip we went west to a city called Kanazawa and gosh I took a lot of photos. Our ride on the high speed train was peaceful with a surprising amount of mountain views. Kanazawa gave us a chance to see traditional Japanese architecture and garden design which I was really looking forward to.

This is a favorite photo (below) that Brian took of the Kanazawa Castle.

These photos are of a house and garden that we toured in the old Samurai district. I was struck by the small courtyard garden and how as you look out of the house it feels like a picture. It's hard to capture in my photos but it really felt like looking at a framed, carefully composed picture. So beautifully done! I was also delighted to feel some architectural similarities to Frank Lloyd Wright and Alden Dow's work – both were influenced by their travels to Japan. The details in the woodwork and how the pieces fit together felt familiar.

The coffee and matcha were delicious at the Moron Cafe and we had lots of giggle over the name. We almost bought one of their aprons that said "The Moron Cafe, Meet your friends here".

The river looked brown and dreary but I expect just few days after we were there the flowering trees that lined it would be super pretty.

In the Higashi Chaya district we had these yummy rice pancakes – they were fluffy and eggy. 

The Higashi Chaya is a well preserved district of teahouses where Geisha perform.

Claire and I enjoyed the shopping in Tokyo and Kanazawa.

On our last day in Kanazawa Claire and I went to a beautiful old garden while Bea and Brian went for a hike.

The garden was full of moss and old trees that were gnarly but also manicured.

Here are a few photos from Bea and Brian's hike.

Ramen dinner and then it was time to get on the train again in the morning.

Since our flight was delayed several hours – we decided to go back to the park with the many cherry blossoms. The trees were more peak bloom and I think every person in Tokyo was at the park. Busy! But at least we got some fresh air before our long journey home.

Thank you Japan for your immpecable hospitality – what a wonderful and memorable trip.

Somewhere along the line travel has became our family's thing. We had not taken the girls to Asia (other than Bea and Brian's trip to a wedding in Singapore). So somehow Japan was decided on for spring break. Now I feel really grateful that I got to know Japan a little bit. What a unique and fascinating place!

We started in Tokyo.

It's the biggest city in the world with 37 million people and you can feel it!

Brian and Bea figured out the train system – which seems to work really well but was also a bit complicated. It seems like it's divided into different private lines plus it's just huge! The trains run frequently and they are busy. I remarked that it felt like we waited longer to cross a street than we ever waited for a train. 

We did experience one super busy train ride – the ones you hear about where the people are absolutely packed in like sardines. My friend who lived in Japan for a time said that during rush hour and on certain trains they have employees to push the people on the train. For us, we piled on thinking it was crazy crowded and then several more people got on and just pushed themselves in where it seemed impossible to fit. It gives me a slightly panicked feeling but the Japanese people seemed used to it and they remain calm and quiet. I did notice signs that explained certain trains were women only during the busy hours. It was all interesting.

This is an aquarium – Bea likes to visit all the aquariums.

Even though Tokyo is huge and full of people it has a calmness to it. I was often struck by the quietness of the streets. It felt very different from other big cities I've visited. 

We went to the big Imperial Palace park – it was nice and warm.

We went to a smallish science museum near the park and noticed a bunch of people dressed up – young men in suits and girls in traditional dresses. There were so many of them! All dressed in different colors and patterns. I finally asked someone and found out it was graduation day in Japan.

Here we are eating dinner. There were little restaurants everywhere and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the food.

We arrived in time for cherry blossom season. Some of the prettiest examples we saw were a couple trees that we kept passing near the Shinjuku train station. Claire called them celebritrees.

On another day we visited another big park with a museum campus type situation. Claire and I went to the art museum and saw an exhibit on Joan Miro. Brian and Bea went to an excellent natural history museum.

More cherry blossoms – everyone gets very excited.

Brian graciously took me to the fabric district and I bought several meters of nice cotton.

Then it was time to go Kanazawa, a city on the other side of the country. We took one of the impressive high speed trains called Shinkansen.

And we bought our boxed lunches for the ride.

Recently I've been soaking in any bit of warm weather and early signs of spring. Two bunches of daffodils from Trader Joe's – only six bucks!

I've been doing some sewing – you can tell by looking at my slippers.

I tried a new pattern – the Honey Dress from Merchant and Mills. I found some 3-dollar per yard fabric – perfect for trying a new pattern. It's a very shear shirting cotton. So this will be a perfect nightie for hot summer nights.

 

My next project came from an impulse fabric purchase. I found the prettiest jacquard and had to make a winter appropriate version of the Laureles Square Neck Dress.

This is anther great pattern from Liesl + Co. It has a square neck on the front and back so it slips over your head and you don't have to fuss with buttons or a zipper.

The Jacquard is thick and soft and not too heavy. It's not what is called for in the pattern but I like the bulk it creates. I ordered from a new-to-me online store called Core Fabrics. They are the real deal – the fabric arrived wrapped in tissue and it had a little tag pinned to it with the name, yardage and fabric content as well as washing instructions. I will definitely add them to my list of favorite online fabric sources.

My other project was a silly little accessory that I copied from a photo I saw online. It's the smallest knitted accessory you can imagine. It's prefect for when you want to wear your shirt all buttoned up.

In non-sewing news. Claire went to a school dance with her girlfriends.

I think they have more fun shopping and getting ready together than actually attending the party.

I went to the annual Chicago Botanic Garden orchid show with some friends.

This year's theme was India – very cool.

We got to spend last weekend with Jennifer and Jenna and Chris. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry on Saturday.

We went inside the U505 Submarine – a great exhibit – a great story.

Highlight of the museum – the chicks!

Back home – we celebrated pie day.

I made some yummy chia seed puddings for breakfast.

Outside our witch-hazel is blooming and smelling wonderful.

And the rhubarb is unfurling – yay.

A couple weeks ago Bea had a long weekend so she and Brian headed off to Costa Rica. Claire and I didn't feel up for the long flights over just a few days.

Anyway from what I gather their first day was a bit frustrating because they had a struggle getting to a hiking area with a view of a volcano and then when they finally got there it was too cloudy to see anything. The second day was much better but Brian said "Bea tried to kill me". Apparently it was a very intense hike with scary cliffs but they were rewarded with beautiful views. In between all the hiking Bea got to see her friend Esteban (the one she met last summer in Frieburg).

Here are some of their photos – starting with some local junk food – yum.

A few photos of San José:

Costa Rica cows seem more skinny than Swiss cows.

Just a bit of mud.

They took some plant photos for me since I'm the most plant loving one in the family.

San José in the distance.

Heading home.

The end.

I'm always making things or thinking of making things. Here's what I've been doing lately.

In my never ending quest to use up fabric scraps I've been working on a quilt. Using mostly 2 inch squares that I've been cutting up – along with bands of dark turquoise fabric.

At first I thought I was going to make the turquoise strips go horizontally all the way down the quilt but I didn't like it so I began cutting the striped panels up into squares and turning them before sewing them back together. Now it's much more busy and random but I think it's more interesting.

At this point I have to admit that I will never use up all my scraps – I keep getting new fabric and whenever I make something there is always leftover fabric. Oh well.

I was thinking of donating this quilt because I really don't need another quilt and I like the idea of giving it away. I recently learned about Hawaiian quilting traditions and heard that after a quilt is finished it is customary to sleep under the quilt for one night before you give it away. I guess sleeping under it adds a little more of yourself to the quilt. I like that idea.

I've also been working on this scarf – I was drawn in by a sample at the yarn store. I normally don't like variegated yarn so much – or maybe I just don't know how to use. But this scarf is so simple to make and I had to try it.

The pattern uses two different skeins of variegated yarn and as you go along it's a wonderful surprise to see what colors are going to be combined next. And the result is reminiscent of Missoni fabrics. Can't wait to wear it!

Here's a homey lavender sachet that I finished this week.

I've been reading a book about Grant Wood and after looking at these aprons that his sister and mother wore as models – I want to make something with rickrack along the edge. I like how it hovers along the edge of the fabric making little void shapes.

And now, even though it is still February, it is feeling like spring. Temps are warm and all our snow has melted. I walked around my garden and noticed daffodils coming up. And inside I have some dogwood branches blooming.