tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58131540793923545462024-02-19T06:44:32.043+00:00LacewoodCathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-18594517027394196802020-07-12T00:18:00.003+01:002020-07-12T00:18:37.182+01:00Eternal Grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am still writing catch up posts for the items that I finished during the last 12 months. Eternal Grace, my Japanese Embroidery phase 6 piece was finished in August last year and took about 12 months to stitch. I must admit that Grace and I were not the best of friends by the time I finished. Pretty much all her kimono is worked flat ie untwisted, silk and it is hard to keep that amount of flat silk pristine over a long period of time. Especially when it get transported to class on a monthly bases. Being so close to the embroidery over a long period of time, it seemed like she was wearing a fur coat rather than a kimono! Looking back at Grace after a few months separation I could see the overall result and I can happily that we are friends again now. </div>
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The obi was worked quite early on. Two colours of orange provide the shading for the folds However I did leave the flowers until later on because I remembered in <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.com/2013/07/bouquet-from-heart-of-japan.html" target="_blank">Bouquet form the Heart of Japan </a>that the stitches over the knots had a tendency to slip off, which I would have found distracting. </div>
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After the obi, I carried on down the kimono skirt, adding in the under kimono layers. On reflection I think I could have stitched a longer transition between the purple and pink sections on the kimono but I don't think the effect is too bad. </div>
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After the skirts it was back up to the face. Japanese Embroidery is always stitched foreground first, so the chin was stitched first. The neck and chest had to wait until the collar was done. Looking at this picture it is possible to see the a holding stitch at the corner of the collar. This was left in by accident and I only spotted it when Grace was framed.<br />
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I found the hands one of the most satisfying area on Grace. I was dreading doing them because I thought it would be difficult to achieve a delicate effect. I expected to need several attempts. In the end they worked pretty much first time.<br />
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Once the kimono was finished, it was time for short stitch holding to fasten down those long flat silk stiches. This took several months to do and was challenging because the stitches show up much more on flat silk than they do on twisted silk. </div>
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Grace has been finished so long that I have even managed to get her framed and she has been hanging on the wall for over 6 months now. For framing I go to Lynn Hall at <a href="https://www.fringearts.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fringe Arts</a>, who is a specialist textile framer. Lynn specialises in intricate mounts and the accents she used picked out the kimono colours beautifully, with a slight touch of art deco style. It was an expensive trip to the framers because I got the <span id="goog_324402676"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Butterfly Panel<span id="goog_324402677"></span></a> framed at the same time. Again Lynn did a beautiful job, with a very subtle red under mount. This was 2 years after I finished the Butterfly Panel but on reflection I am glad I waited, because the two are hung on the small wall and the 2 black frames complement each other quite nicely.</div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-87968753605800164332020-06-27T22:49:00.000+01:002020-06-27T22:49:03.959+01:00Sweet Molly's Heart Ring Cushion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sweet Molly's Heart is was Mountmellick workshop with Nicola Jarvis at Embroidery Now in Winchester in summer 2018. I didn't know anything about Mountmellick work before the workshop apart the fact that it is a whitework technique. As always Nicola had lots of background information for the technique and was a great teacher.</div>
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We were taught the traditional stitches in the class but were given scope to make the design our own, including embellishments with beads and crystals. Nicola mentioned that she had seen a finished version of the design with a lattice, although that is not a typical Mountmellick technique. I liked the idea of filling in the heart, so I gave it a go.<br />
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Finishing off the cushion gave me an opportunity to practise beaded fringes. It took several attempts to get the spacing right but in the end I was pleased with the result.<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-87660614403819237242020-04-19T22:36:00.000+01:002020-04-19T22:36:16.993+01:00Oval Poppy Brooch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Steph, my sewing partner-in-crime, is a prolific dressmaker and <a href="https://createssoslow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogs</a> about the her wardrobe themes, which gives me great clues for colour choices when I make a birthday present for her. Last year her them was black, white and red.<br />
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<a href="https://www.hazelblomkamp.com/" target="_blank">Hazel Blomkamp's</a> flower brooch design in <a href="https://www.inspirationsstudios.com/" target="_blank">Inspirations</a> magazine issue 101 had caught my eye and I thought it might work for a poppy brooch. I simplified the design which gave a more formal effect than the original and I was quite pleased with the result. Best of all, apart from the brooch back, all the materials came from my stash.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0cq6VDiipGAG_nJMUcCm0YeW46jWbEywzjXI_rhPTkppOcJ7AACZF7krcXfENis11CZXzwKrWNO43POzC3dUfrY7M37WT9eq3pTC5iBOzOn8YpHK92kmtQbC1tW0x47vv8YKbkYTRn02/s1600/oval+beaded+poppy+brooch+side++view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0cq6VDiipGAG_nJMUcCm0YeW46jWbEywzjXI_rhPTkppOcJ7AACZF7krcXfENis11CZXzwKrWNO43POzC3dUfrY7M37WT9eq3pTC5iBOzOn8YpHK92kmtQbC1tW0x47vv8YKbkYTRn02/s320/oval+beaded+poppy+brooch+side++view.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-37847091883550326902020-04-12T23:27:00.001+01:002020-04-12T23:27:22.043+01:00Ruby Dahlia Satin Box<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Two years ago, my friend Hazel asked me to help her try some bead embroidery for the first time. She wanted make a satin box for her mother's 80th birthday and had a month to complete it. I decided the easiest approach would be to use the Magenta Star design from <a href="http://www.margaretlee.com.au/" target="_blank">Margaret Lee's</a> bead embroidery book and to work through the design myself at the same time. </div>
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I already had a navy blue satin box and some matching cotton fabric. It was an easy choice to pick out ruby tri-cut and seed beads. Hazel chose to use anemone colours for her flower. They worked really well and she finished the box in good time for her mother's birthday. On the other hand, I put the project to one side and only finished it 1 year later. Although I can tell it was early in the year because of the snow on the ground.<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-45209971682934337372020-04-05T22:49:00.000+01:002020-04-05T22:49:26.839+01:00Holly and Mistletoe Pin Cushion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqDB-REku1SxYRSfRSuji35DfAuNiJmirVEqBSxhgSFdTru6QSSqAT_D7yuFBmjuGOkahgqSbFOLoUGSBpeBK67WkeWqIjekrL8drSBfnofeBSrknR8EN8jYNHKw81cR1WzhEyW147OXj/s1600/Holly+and+Mistletoe+pincushion+-+top+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqDB-REku1SxYRSfRSuji35DfAuNiJmirVEqBSxhgSFdTru6QSSqAT_D7yuFBmjuGOkahgqSbFOLoUGSBpeBK67WkeWqIjekrL8drSBfnofeBSrknR8EN8jYNHKw81cR1WzhEyW147OXj/s320/Holly+and+Mistletoe+pincushion+-+top+view.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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I had intended to post pictures of the Holly and Mistletoe Pincushion at Christmas but as the world is turned upside down at the moment, I thought I might as well post it now. The kit was from <a href="https://www.lornabatemanembroidery.com/" target="_blank">Lorna Bateman</a>. It was a fun, small kit to do and I enjoyed the combination of techniques. I did have a couple of attempts at the fly stitch holly leaves. I found it difficult to get the angle of the stitches right and my stitches seem crowded.<br />
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It was a Christmas project and was finished in January 2019. As you can tell, I am working my way through my backlog of finished projects. You never know, I might it through to this year's completions by the time things start to get back on track.<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-16044302096700693782020-03-21T22:20:00.000+00:002020-03-21T22:20:11.486+00:00Versailles Necklace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6BZMzrj2vc9AOqTe_bq8eZSopqPTmWezpJ_6rix5BZgbaG2m4ltEbO4zSWkYfAgq-X0dbSCGq0XgX9y_xMXnvTkXUMKOahjTH7QdIaPV5eG0es8EU7KYcCXP7nduwW8pqWPO-jPB3TJW/s1600/Versailles+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6BZMzrj2vc9AOqTe_bq8eZSopqPTmWezpJ_6rix5BZgbaG2m4ltEbO4zSWkYfAgq-X0dbSCGq0XgX9y_xMXnvTkXUMKOahjTH7QdIaPV5eG0es8EU7KYcCXP7nduwW8pqWPO-jPB3TJW/s320/Versailles+necklace.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are living in very strange times now. Watching the news feels like watching a movie. Surely this can't really be happening. It is a very anxious time for everyone. Worry about being separated from all but the closest family and anxiety about not being able to carry on with normal life. My parents live 200 miles away. Too far for me to be able pop round and drop off anything they need. So the most I can do for them is to organise online deliveries and talk on the phone. Fortunately they are fit, healthy and have each other for company. They have a big supermarket in easy walking distance and should be able to buy their basics now that the supermarkets are prioritising vulnerable groups early in the day.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have often joked about wanting to hide in my cave so that I can spend more time on my hobbies and now it looks like this has come to pass. I still have work to do but losing the daily commute and quieter weekends will result in more free time. So I thought it was about time I shared my 18 month backlog of completed projects!</span></span></div>
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The Versailles necklace was a workshop with <a href="https://www.trytobead.com/en/home/" target="_blank">Sabine Lippert</a> at <a href="https://www.stitchncraft.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stitch 'n' Craft </a>back in September 2018. Sabine's designs bring together a variety of bead shapes and colours resulting in opulent designs. I have made Sabine's Granada design <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.com/2013/11/granada-pendant.html" target="_blank">several times</a> already and enjoyed the construction technique. The workshop was excellent and the pattern instructions were very clear. There was lots of useful information from Sabine during the class and because we were a small group, it was a relaxing day. </div>
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My colour choices were a simple silver and blue combination because I thought this would a be useful necklace to wear with an evening dress. I have worn the completed necklace with a plain t-shirt a couple of times but I am still waiting for an evening outing. Looks like I'll be waiting a while.</div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-78954884677124646762020-02-08T23:22:00.001+00:002020-02-08T23:22:20.436+00:00Bouquet de Lavande Necklace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf7hBOfI7PGmt6yj8NEPZi-vO7a4K3cjsyDT3mJPof4gEp05PPCg54LxktErGIvPBqL5ugTd4AkjWmOxucK06JjfB3427I96Ua98uWV8LaaLsTBCslGHr4HorUvEWTG0j_QL88jbNe9gQ/s1600/Bouquet+de+Lavande+Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf7hBOfI7PGmt6yj8NEPZi-vO7a4K3cjsyDT3mJPof4gEp05PPCg54LxktErGIvPBqL5ugTd4AkjWmOxucK06JjfB3427I96Ua98uWV8LaaLsTBCslGHr4HorUvEWTG0j_QL88jbNe9gQ/s320/Bouquet+de+Lavande+Necklace.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I saw the Bouquet de Lavande necklace kit at a <a href="http://www.justletmebead.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Laura McCabe</a> workshop in 2016. Even though I managed to restrain myself from buying it, I kept think it would suit Mum. So I finally bought it when I saw it again at the workshop with Laura one year later. </div>
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The design includes my favourite beadwork techniques, bezelled rivolis and rhythmic tubular herringbone. As usual a found a way to make the finished item unique to me. This could also be described as reading the pattern wrong and doing my own thing! In this case one of the tubular herringbone straps should have been a different shade of green but I think I got away with it.</div>
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Laura warned us that the bar in the clasp could become weak so we should insert something in the peyote tube to strengthen it. I found that the filament used by 3D printers was the the perfect thickness. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf7hBOfI7PGmt6yj8NEPZi-vO7a4K3cjsyDT3mJPof4gEp05PPCg54LxktErGIvPBqL5ugTd4AkjWmOxucK06JjfB3427I96Ua98uWV8LaaLsTBCslGHr4HorUvEWTG0j_QL88jbNe9gQ/s1600/Bouquet+de+Lavande+Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Laura's instructions are very comprehensive and her kits are beautifully presented. I still have the 2 workshop designs to finish but it's only because of lack of time. I hope to get at least one of the them finished this year. I suspect I finished Bouquet de Lavande because I had an intended recipient . I don't seem to be quite so focused when it is something for me. I am happy to say Mum was very pleased with the necklace and had not trouble finding the perfect outfit to wear with it. </span><br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-12690243469524905762020-02-01T23:35:00.001+00:002020-02-01T23:37:43.957+00:00Christmas 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a long time since I updated my blog. I was really hoping to get this Christmas update done in January but it wasn't to be. The theme for the Christmas decorations this year was red, white and gold. I'd like to say it was planned, but in reality it was a happy accident which fortunately coincided with Jennifer and Christina's colour scheme for the family tree.</div>
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I bought the pattern and kit for the Poinsettia Angel from <a href="https://www.stablelodgebeads.com/" target="_blank">Stable Lodge Beads</a> at the Havant Lace Fair in November 2019. The pattern is by <a href="https://www.icenibeaddesign.com/" target="_blank">Iceni Bead Designs</a> and is available online as well. She was fun to make and very photogenic. There are a few things I would like to fix - the wings are a bit floppy and the halo is loose. If I am motivated enough, I will remake the wings using Fireline because it gives a crisper finish. There was one improvement I did make on the pattern. I felt the body was a bit squishy so Graeme 3D printed an angel torso for me. It worked very well and I think I will use <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">more 3D inserts in future beading projects.</span></div>
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For a while I have been feeling the urge to go back to bobbin lace. I picked up Christine Springett's <a href="http://www.cdspringett.co.uk/acatalog/Lacemaking_Kits.html" target="_blank">Seven Pointed Star</a> pattern at Havant Lace Fair in 2018. It was a nice pattern to make and didn't take too long. Japanese Embroidery takes up most of my time these days but I see more lacemaking on my horizon in the next couple of years.<br />
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While I was busy making bobbin lace, my sewing machine was making free standing lace stockings and mittens. These designs from <a href="https://www.urbanthreads.com/" target="_blank">Urban Threads</a> are very well digitised and worth the money, especially if you manage to buy them in the sale!<br />
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The final decoration I made was the <a href="http://www.spellboundbead.co.uk/p/16188/Anastasia-Bauble-Kit" target="_blank">Anastasia Bauble kit</a> from Spellbound beads. It wasn't ready in time for Christmas but it will be ready in good time for next year. When I started the hanging loop I realised I had used the wrong beads for the finials on top of the bezelled rivolis. I toyed with the idea of completely remaking the kit but I think I will leave it as it is and adjust the hanging loop to use the beads I have left. Love the decadent fringe on this bauble. It brightens up my window sill quite nicely.</div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-46880621150818700752019-05-26T18:08:00.001+01:002019-05-26T18:08:46.615+01:00Himotaba<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am so far behind with blog posts, it is almost a year since I finished Himotaba, my phase 5 Japanese embroidery piece. Cords are not general popular with JE students but I like their rhythm. When I first came across, Japanese embroidery, this was the design that drew me in so I was looking forward to stitching it. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnjG2Fax6ERAtUL_3tyBxrHiu8w_2n16jZRBU9jpDkjg5Eu6e-0Q540QL2bj6QoD-E6YCgEUFLifzIcn6rA5IDTqFPTmuE4Wk2APjl4QRmRzRhYPLy97RACrjUFMN0bnznSb6jPphl-W2/s1600/himotaba+starting+ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnjG2Fax6ERAtUL_3tyBxrHiu8w_2n16jZRBU9jpDkjg5Eu6e-0Q540QL2bj6QoD-E6YCgEUFLifzIcn6rA5IDTqFPTmuE4Wk2APjl4QRmRzRhYPLy97RACrjUFMN0bnznSb6jPphl-W2/s320/himotaba+starting+ends.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It took me about 5 months to complete but in that time I reworked many of the cords to get more practise. I found the blue cord, which uses the wicker technique, the most challenging to stitch. In the design, this cord goes round a very tight curve early on and it was difficult to keep the balance of the two sides of the stitch. </span></div>
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I also found the cord end fade outs difficult to achieve. Even after many attempts, I was still not sure they look natural enough but in the end I came to the conclusion it was time to move on.<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-35165948014901010912019-05-25T17:24:00.001+01:002019-05-25T17:24:54.205+01:00Kyoto Workshops<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "serif";">I was attracted to the
Colouricious trip to Japan because it included a selection of workshops giving
a taster of Japanese crafts. Our first workshop in Kyoto was a calligraphy
class. The class was held at a women's organisation - I would like to think it is
a Japanese version of the WI. During the class we concentrated on the kanji
character for happiness.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times" , "serif";">This was my first attempt at calligraphy and I must admit a
found the technique of using the brush difficult. I was given a lot of
help by the teachers, which probably means my technique needed a bit of work.
We had several practise runs and then we given a nice thick piece of paper for
our final attempt. Similar to a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "serif";">J<span style="background: white;">apanese embroidery class, the
teacher asked us to meditate for a minute to slow our breath and calm our minds
before applying the brush to the paper. I think it must helped because my last
attempt was much better than my practise runs. That's not saying much though!</span></span></div>
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visited the same women's organisation again the following day for an ikebana
class. At the start of class we were given some guidelines on design and how to
use the kenzan, a metal plate covered in spikes, used to hold the stems in
place. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My selection of flowers looked like they came from another
planet, so they made for quite a quirky display by the time I was finished. I
enjoyed the process of focusing on each stem as the arrangement came together
and would like to have another try some time in the future.</span></span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Once all our arrangement we done we headed upstairs to try on kimonos. Looking back at the room, it was interesting to see the variation in the arrangements.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After an introduction talk, our
hosts took us in small groups into a changing room to pick out the kimonos and
obi we wanted to wear. We were dressed in under kimonos and wrapped tightly
around the middle before putting on the kimono itself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;">I picked out <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">a teal kimono. The red obi must have been a suggestion
from the Japanese ladies because it is unlikely I would have chosen such a
contrast on my own.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtYo_-PTFFMrpcgYjcXWd4yPOnD9FA261yVbm0VcdimMjw63qYMmK19kZ-w9iH1x6yOGodzXBQsRto0bL416Nc5SZ_kom9ha5D8HrPbqUCGqB2WzmBirn0K8q2Oiy23FrgF8OHDgho7-5/s1600/My+kimono+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtYo_-PTFFMrpcgYjcXWd4yPOnD9FA261yVbm0VcdimMjw63qYMmK19kZ-w9iH1x6yOGodzXBQsRto0bL416Nc5SZ_kom9ha5D8HrPbqUCGqB2WzmBirn0K8q2Oiy23FrgF8OHDgho7-5/s320/My+kimono+back.jpg" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It was fascinating to see the other ladies on the appear in their kimonos. It was such a change from everyone's normal casual appearance. You can see a video of the group </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1433564550033814" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Our tour leader, Keiko, was dressed in a beautiful pink kimono with deep sleeves, which would traditionally be worn by a young girl. Once we were all dressed up, whe entertained us with a traditional song and dance.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">While we were dressing up in our kimonos, our ikebana displays were arranged as a flower show in the classroom downstairs.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRlTViX4lTG6goyS_zzjgw112ZrHEHHWeVIpx9bJXtkHkUgaFq5VUq3tBwdrnwxqh7E3R4FEaKdHPe5I4Wq5O8gZBwtmPZWIjoXghu0q8LdFDq2E451qNQJ30agc16KAgGt4R9Vx7uBFw/s1600/Ikebana+show+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRlTViX4lTG6goyS_zzjgw112ZrHEHHWeVIpx9bJXtkHkUgaFq5VUq3tBwdrnwxqh7E3R4FEaKdHPe5I4Wq5O8gZBwtmPZWIjoXghu0q8LdFDq2E451qNQJ30agc16KAgGt4R9Vx7uBFw/s1600/Ikebana+show+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRlTViX4lTG6goyS_zzjgw112ZrHEHHWeVIpx9bJXtkHkUgaFq5VUq3tBwdrnwxqh7E3R4FEaKdHPe5I4Wq5O8gZBwtmPZWIjoXghu0q8LdFDq2E451qNQJ30agc16KAgGt4R9Vx7uBFw/s320/Ikebana+show+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Personally I think our efforts were not bad for a first attempt but I wasn't brave enough to ask for constructive feedback!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think the purple flowers in my arrangement were alliums. Serendipitously, I visited at the Chelsea Flower show this week and managed the see the amazing allium display in the show marquee.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's given me an ideas of planting some alliums for myself but we need to get the garden a bit tidier first.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-54500639843565595642019-02-02T22:05:00.001+00:002019-02-02T22:09:22.259+00:00Pip Flowers Necklace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Life was super busy for most of last year but I did manage to finish a few projects. I finished a beaded kumihimo necklace for Steph's birthday present around Easter time. The design was Pip Flowers by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BeadsandKumihimo?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Janet Nijman</a>. I had seen pictures of the completed necklace on Facebook and was looking for an excuse to make it. When Steph blogged about her planned <a href="https://createssoslow.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-2018-travel-wardrobe-tale-of.html" target="_blank">travel wardrobe</a> for 2018, I realised the colours of the necklace kit would complement Steph's travel wardrobe. </div>
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Stringing the beads was the hardest part. Although it would have been easier if I had the read the instruction to load the beads in sections. It was great fun to make, particularly seeing the flowers appear and the effects on the pip beads are so pretty. </div>
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Steph visited the UK around her birthday, so I was able to give her the necklace face-to-face. I'll count the necklace as a success because it was pictured in her <a href="https://createssoslow.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-trip-to-england-with-2018-travel.html" target="_blank">post</a> about the completed travel wardrobe for her UK visit.</div>
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<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year I finally tried the Print and Cut feature on my Silhouette Cameo. I used it make a sewing themed birthday card for Steph using a card design by <a href="http://shop.loriwhitlock.com/" target="_blank">Lori Whitlock</a>. It took a bit of fiddling to get the Print and Cut feature working because the registration marks in the silhouette design software default to US size paper but once that was sorted, it worked really well. It's so quick to make cards lake this, it feels like cheating to call it handmade.</span><br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-55666864315636909332019-01-26T18:40:00.003+00:002019-01-26T18:43:42.787+00:00Tokyo Sightseeing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been almost a year since my last post about my trip to Japan in 2017. I will continue to work my way through the trip but I can't guarantee how long it will take as life does have a habit of taking over. I hope to visit Japan again in the next couple of years and having a record or where I visited will help me plan the trip.</div>
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After the excitement of visiting Shizuka Kusano Studio, it was time for some sightseeing. Our energetic tour guide for the whole trip was Keiko and we soon got used to looking out for her multi-coloured flag. </div>
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The first stop was Hamarikyu Gardens. A landscape garden right in the middle of Tokyo, surrounded by skyscrapers. Gardeners were busy pruning many of the trees. I don't know if trees this size can be classified as bonsais, but they get the same level of attention.</div>
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Then there was the opportunity to have matcha, the traditional tea. We didn't have a full tea ceremony, which was a shame, but the matcha did come with exquisite sweets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz1hHlWVR-04cy9dCT7RVxxfBbkcxfkN28Yov7EvTwURtCUqnGdzEB1yXQfR1xA1AXd8bDsb0pneilekkU-OXIliBVikqzN8xkJFbppZ7oTSdbgfVo1_3qGiOZjoNDgzKDsvDowBmSjna/s1600/Hamariku+gardend+tea+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz1hHlWVR-04cy9dCT7RVxxfBbkcxfkN28Yov7EvTwURtCUqnGdzEB1yXQfR1xA1AXd8bDsb0pneilekkU-OXIliBVikqzN8xkJFbppZ7oTSdbgfVo1_3qGiOZjoNDgzKDsvDowBmSjna/s320/Hamariku+gardend+tea+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next stop was Sensoji temple, which is Tokyo's oldest temple. It is a very popular tourist spot.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5zLabKzo1CoeMs8OtVWZ4tYrCekf0ZrZPYaB1rklgd6Xqgz3C-fY7441dXEr5TsrkelQD1iM8trGXAcYxdOyGa8RzA4ck9ChBEck6gyyiuiwABLvsCuk56jz7vCR34kFLB9rzYOrZqif/s1600/Sensoji+temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5zLabKzo1CoeMs8OtVWZ4tYrCekf0ZrZPYaB1rklgd6Xqgz3C-fY7441dXEr5TsrkelQD1iM8trGXAcYxdOyGa8RzA4ck9ChBEck6gyyiuiwABLvsCuk56jz7vCR34kFLB9rzYOrZqif/s320/Sensoji+temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></u></div>
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I was drawn to paintings on the ceiling inside the main hall and particularly the dragon panel. I wish I had taken more photos now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG41zN0ro_5OiLT1x9KQwwY3LTE24d2D86_ZmCEwcwLFZKFWJkzXkPa6U1FEFevzuCoCCBtAVNLU9WBp48WecJnLv1steaXDAqzFHealFrqt6w7YZQ_ear_hmHsHf6Q6_hYPS0nd1Jy3su/s1600/Sensoji+Temple+-+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG41zN0ro_5OiLT1x9KQwwY3LTE24d2D86_ZmCEwcwLFZKFWJkzXkPa6U1FEFevzuCoCCBtAVNLU9WBp48WecJnLv1steaXDAqzFHealFrqt6w7YZQ_ear_hmHsHf6Q6_hYPS0nd1Jy3su/s1600/Sensoji+Temple+-+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG41zN0ro_5OiLT1x9KQwwY3LTE24d2D86_ZmCEwcwLFZKFWJkzXkPa6U1FEFevzuCoCCBtAVNLU9WBp48WecJnLv1steaXDAqzFHealFrqt6w7YZQ_ear_hmHsHf6Q6_hYPS0nd1Jy3su/s320/Sensoji+Temple+-+ceiling.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The main entrance to the temple is the Thunder gate which features a large paper lantern.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRUzqR6zrMOEeDY-nKoaWI8NFO6d3UKG9CRXh638-f2OZiDswuEGQrEPJQMCpCCjU1Ui0RULNSXyomV5kIqIiuIlIDANc1oEIBDvpBCEwKUastkDbtxXkzGxcQRXeWSiCCJTgcCDo153x/s1600/Sensoji+temple+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRUzqR6zrMOEeDY-nKoaWI8NFO6d3UKG9CRXh638-f2OZiDswuEGQrEPJQMCpCCjU1Ui0RULNSXyomV5kIqIiuIlIDANc1oEIBDvpBCEwKUastkDbtxXkzGxcQRXeWSiCCJTgcCDo153x/s320/Sensoji+temple+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000050;"> The street beyond the Thunder Gate was lined with souvenir shops as well as restaurants, with the ubiquitous realistic plastic food advertising the menu options.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddhWv0385nyz0FpSxX9GgmoVjidhIIeqY8S2LABiEYLC5YtWYwr1dmPqYI-e5pJDWPAss3rFqoTlOLxjnv1daJe9kXJNE_qA65b_VS-AXueB0ik3x55Ebu1Tmi4ko4B3QDSaQ7nhd4gRu/s1600/Plastic+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddhWv0385nyz0FpSxX9GgmoVjidhIIeqY8S2LABiEYLC5YtWYwr1dmPqYI-e5pJDWPAss3rFqoTlOLxjnv1daJe9kXJNE_qA65b_VS-AXueB0ik3x55Ebu1Tmi4ko4B3QDSaQ7nhd4gRu/s320/Plastic+food.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also found the first fabric shop of the trip displaying some lovely shibori kimono fabrics. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">After that it was back to the hotel and our first full day was complete.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddhWv0385nyz0FpSxX9GgmoVjidhIIeqY8S2LABiEYLC5YtWYwr1dmPqYI-e5pJDWPAss3rFqoTlOLxjnv1daJe9kXJNE_qA65b_VS-AXueB0ik3x55Ebu1Tmi4ko4B3QDSaQ7nhd4gRu/s1600/Plastic+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMYIVv_YNbpXFPYyJFCuwuRK8fGf6hOaDKsR1PAjw1VLL3HOcNLIynq1Taw2AdKfBn8RzmCjm-geAvVrhMGBYlRbdKfqY1pch-BnjxcwoBZEqj23RyaRU4Xl61uTqyPN4dG1YGwdyutPm/s1600/Fabric+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMYIVv_YNbpXFPYyJFCuwuRK8fGf6hOaDKsR1PAjw1VLL3HOcNLIynq1Taw2AdKfBn8RzmCjm-geAvVrhMGBYlRbdKfqY1pch-BnjxcwoBZEqj23RyaRU4Xl61uTqyPN4dG1YGwdyutPm/s320/Fabric+shop.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
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The next morning the official itinerary was a visit to the National museum followed by a trip to Nippori fabric town. Some of the ladies in the group headed off to the Amuse Museum, which specialises in Japanese textile culture. I chose to stick with the official itinerary but if I mange to get back to Japan, the Amuse Museum will definitely be on my todo list. Although just in the last few days I have heard the Amuse Museum will be closing soon and relocating to somewhere else in Japan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDklecdbcPr1u5GZQXiw6FaXO2RWCNtc0821WE2GLm2_WLkezOlDVI39_7jyqvXI1Gtcrs-12ewgqPNZLewBHpME-EwyKPQqQIaPjyZav45QQ-sMSXQNcYsp4_vhj8RmUJr4Q9LfN0IuW/s1600/JE+frame+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lQQHbdn2LQ7JMk3-8gMIogain69CrrEv-8tAGXGjk4OUgVLI8SajAmfn1mYQnCLAG9oR1pA2YJmKey4tNEfIwUYYtxqu4pKxmo4b6noBEE-zbpXe9Hkhm6n5_aOIv94mbP4JUyOqS9qK/s1600/Tokyo+national+museum+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lQQHbdn2LQ7JMk3-8gMIogain69CrrEv-8tAGXGjk4OUgVLI8SajAmfn1mYQnCLAG9oR1pA2YJmKey4tNEfIwUYYtxqu4pKxmo4b6noBEE-zbpXe9Hkhm6n5_aOIv94mbP4JUyOqS9qK/s320/Tokyo+national+museum+%25281%2529.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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The highlight of the National Museum had to be the kimono collection . I have to apologise for the quality of these photos. The kimonos were behind glass and it was difficult to take pictures. I am convinced the kimono in the photo above was not hung up at the ridiculous angle it seems to be in my photo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlhbnYhgsPq_h_tiswPyuICTMNeTpqeyA_s-Rew4khUUoTcctVDHpU4VBwxlNVA3PqwmRAmwJjsrNKdu9BySWb2Ct4T8Oa-vMZJw9IDKi8RBfCq-PY1tgcADuwrEFxxi85XblrpMhbrnF/s1600/Tokyo+national+museum+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlhbnYhgsPq_h_tiswPyuICTMNeTpqeyA_s-Rew4khUUoTcctVDHpU4VBwxlNVA3PqwmRAmwJjsrNKdu9BySWb2Ct4T8Oa-vMZJw9IDKi8RBfCq-PY1tgcADuwrEFxxi85XblrpMhbrnF/s320/Tokyo+national+museum+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDklecdbcPr1u5GZQXiw6FaXO2RWCNtc0821WE2GLm2_WLkezOlDVI39_7jyqvXI1Gtcrs-12ewgqPNZLewBHpME-EwyKPQqQIaPjyZav45QQ-sMSXQNcYsp4_vhj8RmUJr4Q9LfN0IuW/s1600/JE+frame+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></div>
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The embroidery on the kimonos was gorgeous and there were nice examples of shibori as well.<br />
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On this this yellow and blue kimono I recognised the blister effect I learned in "Bouquet from the Heart of Japan".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYedeBhJYylm33xVeVjKsXd0P6yB_qEuCWsHQqaFOIva5NOnXYml5AczsAhnB54hRxNV3epgcB9B6CXeFjwpm3MwxUe_OwdPbU8pJ6oXhs2yBZbyYHAYMlxZdsyE4e2nYd6yqprU4fWUhI/s1600/Tokyo+national+museum+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYedeBhJYylm33xVeVjKsXd0P6yB_qEuCWsHQqaFOIva5NOnXYml5AczsAhnB54hRxNV3epgcB9B6CXeFjwpm3MwxUe_OwdPbU8pJ6oXhs2yBZbyYHAYMlxZdsyE4e2nYd6yqprU4fWUhI/s320/Tokyo+national+museum+%25284%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaTuDoYt9zTTQmobmGjBnAJJlEMWHocfr9F9Dt46_ckydNX7gCuu3NeIwOfkTutJ1DT0gP9m3DnU6TBkk3IVd-_2rgM1YAHMMiaXqKssCxdvdDZXL2-Ez6C4oJWroMv1WMg_LZfDREtQY/s1600/JE+Frame+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></div>
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Of course there was also the round and round couching which I did more a little of for "Butterfly Panel". I think this example must be outside in because the variance in shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx4pVQVYZZsDKUhfEZbHlWON8NkjjWzxsr4LD-lJ8qLCxAV-xaPnhujU59R_SwJpjRjrXCZbxjn74NRrvGfuPf7ceeeZaY6cfnrIZIF56vP3VgMQmReyApSRBbOpBwnSeXk2XN5SdN2Au/s1600/Tokyo+national+museum+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx4pVQVYZZsDKUhfEZbHlWON8NkjjWzxsr4LD-lJ8qLCxAV-xaPnhujU59R_SwJpjRjrXCZbxjn74NRrvGfuPf7ceeeZaY6cfnrIZIF56vP3VgMQmReyApSRBbOpBwnSeXk2XN5SdN2Au/s320/Tokyo+national+museum+%25285%2529.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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The design subjects were familiar as well. This black kimono reminded me of the new JEC design Genjiko<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TW7WNTzUPUMvCrpwTMnYJpYUzvJJ1JsZKigXVjNhsNVluIjUNLh09NWWyH3XcGqgL4oDt_TqqPAM3-qC3SCKuoJEk51i8UQBZ-XeaP01T9RgKt4wh21Q9l63l4MaCQGgxsm_rp5f4uxR/s1600/Tokyo+national+museum+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TW7WNTzUPUMvCrpwTMnYJpYUzvJJ1JsZKigXVjNhsNVluIjUNLh09NWWyH3XcGqgL4oDt_TqqPAM3-qC3SCKuoJEk51i8UQBZ-XeaP01T9RgKt4wh21Q9l63l4MaCQGgxsm_rp5f4uxR/s320/Tokyo+national+museum+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Genjiko is described as a fragrance identification game based on the Tale of Genji, where each fragrance relates to a chapter in the book.<br />
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The collection also included colourful Noh theatre costumes.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; direction: ltr; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Then it was off to Nippori Fabric town, the fabric shopping district in Tokyo. This is somewhere I definitely plan to visit again. We only had one and a half hours in Nippori before we needed to catch the train back to our hotel. I was prepared that this would not be a long trip, so I did not plan to buy much and treated the time as preparation for a future visit.</span></div>
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The main purchase of my trip was fabric for a JE friend's son who has a business called <a href="https://creations-of-curiosity.com/" target="_blank">Creations of Curiosity</a>, making accessories out of comic themed fabric. I decided my best approach for this was to head to one of Tomato's shop and show the staff pictures of the fabric I was looking for. It worked well and I found a couple of shelves of suitable fabric.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I wasn't a complete martyr. I did buy myself some bargains from the remnant basket. Two 1.7 m pieces of fabric for ~750 yen each. Both pieces were big enough to make into bags for Japanese Embroidery frames. I have to confess, I didn't make them myself but commissioned Creations of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Curiosity to make them for me instead.</span></div>
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There was enough spare for a frame cover, which I did make myself.</div>
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Once our time in Nippori was over, we headed off to Tokyo train station to catch the bullet train to Kyoto.</div>
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On the platform the train departure sign alternated between Japanese and English.<br />
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I was fascinated by the pit crew of ladies in pink uniforms and men in blue uniforms, ready and waiting when the train arrived, so that each carriage could be serviced in a super speedy time.<br />
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I had the get the essential photo of Mount Fuji from the train. Maybe on a future visit I will get a chance to see it close up.<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-8701902690940025402019-01-01T22:31:00.000+00:002019-01-01T22:31:03.432+00:00Peacock Bauble <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This must be some kind of record. I finished <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">my first </span>project of 2019 at lunchtime on New Year's Day. Although in reality it is more of a late finish for Christmas than an early finish for the New Year. I enjoyed making the <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.com/2018/01/cedric-dragon-bauble.html" target="_blank">Dragon Bauble</a> kit so much last year, I made a beeline to the <a href="http://www.spellboundbead.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spellbound Bead</a> stand at the Ally Pally Knitting and Stitching show, to buy their new Peacock kit. I was warned it would take a bit longer than the Dragon kit. It turned out to be true because I started both kits at the beginning of December. While the dragon was completed just in time for last Christmas, the peacock was still coming together on Christmas Day this year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s320/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a>There were some parts I ended up redoing due to silly mistakes - the floral motif at the front of the net was done 3 times. It was the thorax that gave me the most trouble. If I followed the instructions I ended up with too much thread in the covered bead to pass the supporting wire through. After several attempts I came up with an alternative method which required fewer thread passes through the central bead. It looks a bit more organic that the original version but it does the job.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAksRsY-MV5WYJzza9TNpS_oJ4FJx45D7JJeGZq4cU4XZ_HbPJTCMh4MMoE6uGTRzX7piacpHWA3TEDZgEV3gLwNPN2uzJe4UsGzVUr_6YgvM0Taf_5pNVCnT5Yx_Qn_c7pEE3eVq-ZGRT/s1600/peacock+bauble+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAksRsY-MV5WYJzza9TNpS_oJ4FJx45D7JJeGZq4cU4XZ_HbPJTCMh4MMoE6uGTRzX7piacpHWA3TEDZgEV3gLwNPN2uzJe4UsGzVUr_6YgvM0Taf_5pNVCnT5Yx_Qn_c7pEE3eVq-ZGRT/s1600/peacock+bauble+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAksRsY-MV5WYJzza9TNpS_oJ4FJx45D7JJeGZq4cU4XZ_HbPJTCMh4MMoE6uGTRzX7piacpHWA3TEDZgEV3gLwNPN2uzJe4UsGzVUr_6YgvM0Taf_5pNVCnT5Yx_Qn_c7pEE3eVq-ZGRT/s320/peacock+bauble+back.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
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The tail is my favourite part. It used similar techniques to the <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.com/2015/12/getting-ready-for-christmas.html" target="_blank">Emperor Bauble</a> It was however another reason for the slow progress. When I do these bauble kits I leaves the threads on as long as I can in case they are needed to attach later components. It is much easier to do this than start a new thread. But the loose threads were forever getting caught on the tail feathers - another exercise in patience.<br />
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I also bough the Vela Star kit at Ally Pally. This was a much quicker kit to do and I was able to make one star for my parent's tree and one star for my tree before I embarking on the great peacock adventure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu3NdMpD2rQflYzScbC-k0X8Rzj4qniuPEh1uUEWQ8mzCDecGH4_8xt_RcquIFqiXpqjvpREKiDTM38yiMxopa2Tp4P4anifgS_Fw_w73VhfjLWCdb49MgWOY2LhwKXXlk1h6b46pgqj_/s1600/vela+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu3NdMpD2rQflYzScbC-k0X8Rzj4qniuPEh1uUEWQ8mzCDecGH4_8xt_RcquIFqiXpqjvpREKiDTM38yiMxopa2Tp4P4anifgS_Fw_w73VhfjLWCdb49MgWOY2LhwKXXlk1h6b46pgqj_/s320/vela+star.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Like last year we had two trees in the house. The girls made a beautiful job of the family Christmas tree in a gold and white colour way. It went very well in out newly decorated playroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cT1JWYceCr4rXDuEV24M52FXt8ZnZbdQaYNY6eOBLrWSH1yKg5TYPx7l3qVX99opFP7dU-4z9CMEaqz9cC3VxXQdY3cd8b-oWD0APqhEvt_GJ99wLMqIM14C7FZBuwC7obCUOnbx0t3g/s1600/peacock+bauble+-+flower+motif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_wETXJ-S2vQ5zks96notj4AeumIX7HdDuYk9FOYGtaXbzmA1cTzFznw9XGeTMXqD4kxFXsIlKEXw7_OmRGhMF74w1E9gwghpbJzxerEZ-LtWm3gSz2hIh7gqpXVkgYJBWpjjcQPgVCd-/s1600/christmas+tree+-++gold+and+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_wETXJ-S2vQ5zks96notj4AeumIX7HdDuYk9FOYGtaXbzmA1cTzFznw9XGeTMXqD4kxFXsIlKEXw7_OmRGhMF74w1E9gwghpbJzxerEZ-LtWm3gSz2hIh7gqpXVkgYJBWpjjcQPgVCd-/s320/christmas+tree+-++gold+and+white.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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My resolution last year was to "Create a sacred space" by tidying something every day. I can't say that I achieved that but at least the playroom looks better than last year. I will admit that was due to Graeme's efforts rather than mine. So I will continue trying to get on top of the clutter in 2019.<br />
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I am also going to challenge myself to get out of various ruts. Work was very busy last year, particularly in the first 6 months and I gave myself lots of free passes. I didn't exercise as regularly as I should and the weekly menu became very routine. I have already started addressing the exercise part. I started going to a Zumba class just before Christmas and am taking advantage of a small yoga studio which open on the High Street in town. The weekly menu is going to take a bit more effort because my family quite like the routine. Fortunately as none of them read my blog, they don't know what is heading their way!<br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-62271400973267972732018-02-25T21:30:00.000+00:002018-02-25T21:30:13.708+00:00Shizuka Kusano Studio<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQynCqMJPE6QrW94_h2oVJfkmuLym8xzydmoNyPNqmjhm1aRyOTOVw009O8Cjn9YHbux-KVPZ6butdHCeS0LFjO_pu0ZpY2SHd9fnEVJWlQK6j74O4E5PpV18E3IOcNGjWjo7zZzGiXRp/s1600/Shizuka+Kusano+Kimono+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQynCqMJPE6QrW94_h2oVJfkmuLym8xzydmoNyPNqmjhm1aRyOTOVw009O8Cjn9YHbux-KVPZ6butdHCeS0LFjO_pu0ZpY2SHd9fnEVJWlQK6j74O4E5PpV18E3IOcNGjWjo7zZzGiXRp/s320/Shizuka+Kusano+Kimono+front.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="185" /></a></div>
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Day 2 of the <a href="https://colouriciousholidays.com/" target="_blank">Colouricious</a> itinerary for the Creative Japan tour was the clincher for me when I was deciding whether the book on the trip because it included a visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/studiokusanoshizuka/" target="_blank">Studio Shizuka Kusano</a>. The visit included a workshop in a nearby community centre and a lecture/demonstration at the Kusano-san's studio. Because there was so many of us, we were split into 2 groups. The group I was in, did the workshop first, which was taught by Kusano-san's assistants.</div>
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Kusano-san came into the classroom at the end of the workshop, in her beautiful kimono. Through an interpreter she explained it was her mother's kimono and that she had embroidered the goldfish on the back<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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There was a line of embroideries across the front of the classroom. I managed to take a couple of photos before we headed off to the studio.<br />
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When we arrived at the studio it was setup with tables, so that we could eat our lunch. We were surrounded by amazing embroideries and I was delighted to be sat next to the Poppy Panel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExrBh4Ved9aedehO_w5R01kJNba8X-C4IZvWgVk5YKE_azg19JRsWm-RTTFPsMoIA3t2_tgovdfpqupxilza46jifptJrLQjhSO46AC2Wi0_sqPsudVyw9cYBhIw_HMGnG13A0RHmQdfh/s1600/Poppy+Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExrBh4Ved9aedehO_w5R01kJNba8X-C4IZvWgVk5YKE_azg19JRsWm-RTTFPsMoIA3t2_tgovdfpqupxilza46jifptJrLQjhSO46AC2Wi0_sqPsudVyw9cYBhIw_HMGnG13A0RHmQdfh/s1600/Poppy+Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExrBh4Ved9aedehO_w5R01kJNba8X-C4IZvWgVk5YKE_azg19JRsWm-RTTFPsMoIA3t2_tgovdfpqupxilza46jifptJrLQjhSO46AC2Wi0_sqPsudVyw9cYBhIw_HMGnG13A0RHmQdfh/s320/Poppy+Panel.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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The Poppy panel was a group project, stitched by Kusano-san's students. The top of the right most panel was stitched by UK embroiderers and I had the privilege to stitch 2 of the flowers. It was fantastic to see the completed panel. </div>
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The panel is inspired by the poem "On Flanders' Field and a wide variety of techniques were used to stitch the poppies. </div>
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While we were looking at the panel I was introduced to a stitcher, who had embroidered a poppy at the bottom of the panel that came to the UK. We both pointed at our poppies and there was lots of smiles. I wish I had thought to take a photo.</div>
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After lunch, Kusano-san gave us a demonstration, explaining the tools and materials used. The piece she was working on looks like it's going to be another stunning kimono. </div>
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After the demonstration Kusano-san unrolled the fabric which had already been embroidered and allowed us to have a close look. I just love her birds.</div>
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Kusano-san then talked about the various embroideries displayed around the room, including the PoppyPanel.</div>
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One of the kimono's displayed was inspired by seeing William Morris designs during a visit to the UK a couple of years ago.<br />
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It's fascinating to see how the familiar Morris-esque design elements have been re-interpreted for Japanese Embroidery. This kimono, called "Queen Victoria" was on display in Tokyo in January as part of a collection of kimonos "Embodying the Soul of Historical Characters". <br />
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We also had a sneak preview of another kimono in the collection. This delicate pink and green kimono covered in beautiful butterflies, was inspired by Yang Guifei, a notorious Chinese beauty and concubine.<br />
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Kusano-san generously shared this work in progress and allowed us to take photos.<br />
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After the talk Kusano-san encouraged us to try on her beautiful kimonos and of course I jumped at the chance. I recognised the kimono I was wearing from a book on my shelf at home. I never dreamed I would end up wearing it one day.<br />
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I have to say I was more than a little bit star-struck meeting Kusano-san and felt very honoured to visit her studio. So I didn't really take a coherent set of photos. For a better set of photos, I recommend having a look at the Colouricious facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/colouricioustextileholidays/photos/pcb.1428563203867282/1428560750534194/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/colouricioustextileholidays/photos/a.1428573073866295.1073741852.1020971347959805/1428573167199619/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">here</a> . I'll finish off with 1 last photo of my poppies, which are 2nd and 3rd from the left. <u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-56072844600350891532018-02-24T23:37:00.001+00:002018-02-24T23:37:13.772+00:00Trip to Japan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In April last year I set off on the trip of a lifetime to Japan. I had been wanting to visit Japan for some time and with a landmark birthday coming up, I decided this was the time to do it. I booked a place on the <a href="https://colouriciousholidays.com/" target="_blank">Colouricious</a> Creative Japan trip in April 2016 and spent the next 12 months trying not to build up my expectations too high. I didn't need to worry. I had a fabulous time in great company. It was 10 fully packed days of sights and experiences. </div>
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The trip started with a meetup at Heathrow airport. There were 23 of us in the group and it is a great testament to Colouricious, that 16 of the 23 had already travelled on one of their holidays. Introductions were made. Names were exchanged and immediately forgotten, but at least we had 10 days to get them all straight.</div>
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After a 12 hour flight and a bus ride, we arrived at our first hotel, which was Hotel Candeo, Ueno Park in Tokyo. It was around the level of a Premier Inn. Absolutely adequate considering we would be out and about most of the time. The view from the window was just what you would expect from a built up city.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaJ0-Tl5V7YaxwPDrtgjd_NqPvLHhaUpBJ6XHBrhhnWj4dzUVc9i9t1WqiW7R95WRzZ2D_w7UDc5-0SvVGxlzQYtWVRIVWOqQxd4wF3qxd6jY9fXG-pXgpZ2U84f4eqabDS6LwKPioSci/s1600/Candeo+Hotel+window+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaJ0-Tl5V7YaxwPDrtgjd_NqPvLHhaUpBJ6XHBrhhnWj4dzUVc9i9t1WqiW7R95WRzZ2D_w7UDc5-0SvVGxlzQYtWVRIVWOqQxd4wF3qxd6jY9fXG-pXgpZ2U84f4eqabDS6LwKPioSci/s320/Candeo+Hotel+window+view.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It was glorious afternoon when we arrived, so most of us took the opportunity for a walk in the area around the hotel.The hotel was right next a museum district and of course Ueno Park itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJ5FZfke1Ws39QpFK9RVMajM8IYvtWF0KoS6ccq8t5JFI8De52VMXAiUGD6oMuXR4SHZ4SWmcPMinCioo_tpI4aa4R2Qgt0KcA9wiLF4oK9EbQ6Fr9IgZnrpcIFKtjNHVzKyY8YwbDLCv/s1600/Ueno+Park+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJ5FZfke1Ws39QpFK9RVMajM8IYvtWF0KoS6ccq8t5JFI8De52VMXAiUGD6oMuXR4SHZ4SWmcPMinCioo_tpI4aa4R2Qgt0KcA9wiLF4oK9EbQ6Fr9IgZnrpcIFKtjNHVzKyY8YwbDLCv/s320/Ueno+Park+map.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lk76av2hAD-WJ0eg9nqrhNj3rn3IDqsN5oYr0ri_4Cx0qTk8o7A5W2WLThNumab6NOUY54OmOy0pTxiIZkNf-3j_xd5wDrKPpD0VCwpAN4XUT1GfzRyjfTL2ou4Bw3Ta8o3_iXcoxlCV/s1600/Cherry+Blossom+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Although I was hoping to see cherry blossom, I knew that the cherry blossom season would be past it's peak in Tokyo when we arrived but some varieties were still flowering well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxHOZePVFl1IeXS07kTLkhEZ7HMtA5eV8uO9Tacr6MilEhyphenhyphenSoHsckJ6hYyD-GIoj8MZlg1BBUJEc_Ba6rOMk4JbkydqwK9tCXQ87Dbia2dIyOkzbK59wL5eel1TngKHgq3JU4X1_jz2j9/s1600/Cherry+blossom+whale+status.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxHOZePVFl1IeXS07kTLkhEZ7HMtA5eV8uO9Tacr6MilEhyphenhyphenSoHsckJ6hYyD-GIoj8MZlg1BBUJEc_Ba6rOMk4JbkydqwK9tCXQ87Dbia2dIyOkzbK59wL5eel1TngKHgq3JU4X1_jz2j9/s320/Cherry+blossom+whale+status.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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This whale statue outside the Natural History Museum reminded me of the Whale and the Flowerpot falling to earth in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxHOZePVFl1IeXS07kTLkhEZ7HMtA5eV8uO9Tacr6MilEhyphenhyphenSoHsckJ6hYyD-GIoj8MZlg1BBUJEc_Ba6rOMk4JbkydqwK9tCXQ87Dbia2dIyOkzbK59wL5eel1TngKHgq3JU4X1_jz2j9/s1600/Cherry+blossom+whale+status.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QFpbjYQG_zhmQU8-ebKYkWIF3Ph37wjgT211-wJsSyflWhYbakVeEzP9zP-B4BiuBzSyPzKvSg8_ATV_sN_4fmY_r_sXXsP3YqgZ39Lahz8HIAaDofUvYRjtupiALQ8liJIBQs0Fuo3x/s1600/Cherry+blossom+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QFpbjYQG_zhmQU8-ebKYkWIF3Ph37wjgT211-wJsSyflWhYbakVeEzP9zP-B4BiuBzSyPzKvSg8_ATV_sN_4fmY_r_sXXsP3YqgZ39Lahz8HIAaDofUvYRjtupiALQ8liJIBQs0Fuo3x/s320/Cherry+blossom+selfie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everywhere there was cherry blossom, there were people taking selfies. As it was Easter Sunday, it seemed that many people had taken advantage of the good weather to get out and about. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYzaDKbhtdJT3s3ORnQoQ8erttgi-aE_nynmZXMnZWUU88gvDjDgNOYBqLldXC6ImT3nlGKw1LxKBae4NRpoffZ98-rTeUwPuxHIVwxxm9Zl95kzcHM0gOxUHP-FnC_Hwy3nxt1gDYvRF/s1600/Toilet+instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSSPqg_7YFmFol_2fUkpy2sXOYqPT3xDeWj1zGNfXNy6FuCCb_S9R_AmguAKndwLZRAqE7aQy1RRV01W5FzzfkeBmhJNDLmlpksPma3qOdb8eB0K6nrlY1_L0QtwksWNw5ShMGCZ_ggc8/s1600/Ueno+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSSPqg_7YFmFol_2fUkpy2sXOYqPT3xDeWj1zGNfXNy6FuCCb_S9R_AmguAKndwLZRAqE7aQy1RRV01W5FzzfkeBmhJNDLmlpksPma3qOdb8eB0K6nrlY1_L0QtwksWNw5ShMGCZ_ggc8/s320/Ueno+Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That evening we headed out for the first of many beautifully presented meals. My chopsticks skills are at a pretty basic level but they got plenty of practice over the following 10 days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX4-CCLV__Pl0eCTjLwxqAyZinX7HYT7utvFQQ7NZCFlE6lbha_k38-sw-PUywWZ3tLncv-_xmXxmF2FECjYYtJGl-PrZ0Il2PcKCCjvnf1TqAFFlMz6-rvVhm4ezfGLciaYe1LIzsfic/s1600/First+Meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX4-CCLV__Pl0eCTjLwxqAyZinX7HYT7utvFQQ7NZCFlE6lbha_k38-sw-PUywWZ3tLncv-_xmXxmF2FECjYYtJGl-PrZ0Il2PcKCCjvnf1TqAFFlMz6-rvVhm4ezfGLciaYe1LIzsfic/s1600/First+Meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX4-CCLV__Pl0eCTjLwxqAyZinX7HYT7utvFQQ7NZCFlE6lbha_k38-sw-PUywWZ3tLncv-_xmXxmF2FECjYYtJGl-PrZ0Il2PcKCCjvnf1TqAFFlMz6-rvVhm4ezfGLciaYe1LIzsfic/s320/First+Meal.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I already knew about the fully featured Japanese toilets and the toilet in my hotel room was the first example of this, so I had to take a photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYzaDKbhtdJT3s3ORnQoQ8erttgi-aE_nynmZXMnZWUU88gvDjDgNOYBqLldXC6ImT3nlGKw1LxKBae4NRpoffZ98-rTeUwPuxHIVwxxm9Zl95kzcHM0gOxUHP-FnC_Hwy3nxt1gDYvRF/s1600/Toilet+instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYzaDKbhtdJT3s3ORnQoQ8erttgi-aE_nynmZXMnZWUU88gvDjDgNOYBqLldXC6ImT3nlGKw1LxKBae4NRpoffZ98-rTeUwPuxHIVwxxm9Zl95kzcHM0gOxUHP-FnC_Hwy3nxt1gDYvRF/s320/Toilet+instructions.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-6017370119469500862018-02-10T22:31:00.000+00:002018-02-10T22:31:02.033+00:00Butterfly Panel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iqVHt-un1JKQo_CWmYzc8GEOQqKWVSUl7N9d7QXvD-vxkCBaGOsGi30WVi5H-iXZ3zVOpk_Y7GCvkAflKWmIT9jzjceKaPbP8D_aloV25ctaexc8b6zacW2PCO7rzxWdP4p7712EIbkO/s1600/Butterfly+panel+-+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iqVHt-un1JKQo_CWmYzc8GEOQqKWVSUl7N9d7QXvD-vxkCBaGOsGi30WVi5H-iXZ3zVOpk_Y7GCvkAflKWmIT9jzjceKaPbP8D_aloV25ctaexc8b6zacW2PCO7rzxWdP4p7712EIbkO/s320/Butterfly+panel+-+finished.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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So here it is - my Japanese embroidery phase 4 piece finished. I seem to be taking 2 years to finish each piece of Japanese embroidery or bead embroidery at the moment. I was warned there was a lot of work in this design but I still went ahead and did it. After doing the endless gold circles, I no longer have any fear of going around corners in goldwork or plunging gold threads. Next up is the cords design for phase 5. I enjoy the rhythm of cords, so I have been looking forward to Himotaba. It will be nice to work with more than 2 colours as well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL3kgjtKZtrO2D8UoTxWo9CxgqB2jffQlZ_X0sEviXP7L_cm0jc5bH9KiwXFzwWBfurLYfnfqUVt58G16iM2zF85OZXYq5uO3Auu02jEJ5lw0wRe9-za6DTISagrZRqTmUPK6utLe_cb9/s1600/Large+gold+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1000" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL3kgjtKZtrO2D8UoTxWo9CxgqB2jffQlZ_X0sEviXP7L_cm0jc5bH9KiwXFzwWBfurLYfnfqUVt58G16iM2zF85OZXYq5uO3Auu02jEJ5lw0wRe9-za6DTISagrZRqTmUPK6utLe_cb9/s320/Large+gold+butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-19809105905802853462018-02-03T22:51:00.004+00:002018-02-03T22:51:58.682+00:00Double Daggers Necklaces<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9bDmFPhKvplJLYR1JRbCZe0TsAN_BFcDLzZWTCR-ciMvTG9CmDx8v8nhy_aKrHBOiUKb6YXCakCcqwRygOTQn_-K-O_12OCYV4ehHI02pg7RYLTUM82OwbW2-eUaPm6DgQ3dqneXeg_/s1600/Double+daggers+necklace+green+and+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1000" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9bDmFPhKvplJLYR1JRbCZe0TsAN_BFcDLzZWTCR-ciMvTG9CmDx8v8nhy_aKrHBOiUKb6YXCakCcqwRygOTQn_-K-O_12OCYV4ehHI02pg7RYLTUM82OwbW2-eUaPm6DgQ3dqneXeg_/s320/Double+daggers+necklace+green+and+brown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I picked up some interesting two hole daggers during my last visit to <a href="https://www.stitchncraft.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stitch 'n' Craft</a> and made uo a couple of kumihimo necklaces as presents for friends, using the Doubles Daggers Necklace design from "<a href="http://prumihimo.com/product/pre-order-for-the-prumihimo-disk-a-fresh-approach-to-kumihimo/" target="_blank">The Prumihimo Disk</a>" by Pru McRae. The dagger colours were opaque beige in the green and brown necklace, jet picasso in the black and blue necklace. The design is similar to the <a href="https://lacewooduk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/blue-dagger-kumihimo-necklace.html" target="_blank">Blue Dagger Kumihimo Necklace</a> but doesn't have seed beads on the other side of the cord. The second hole in the dagger beads allows additional seed bead embellishments between the daggers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB87_pjeOAxGQwE6fLXh6a4Tw62jMBc7jpvre6wgNnKcfJLYeP4cuJJ6cKFBaEOAe1cEb1KiaOFsJRQMLWjXGiL0uH19cUFfjZDFdPiGJP_v4BI6KlzylPxMiQ_sa9VFPyESrdXHiXsBG/s1600/double+daggers+necklace+black+and+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB87_pjeOAxGQwE6fLXh6a4Tw62jMBc7jpvre6wgNnKcfJLYeP4cuJJ6cKFBaEOAe1cEb1KiaOFsJRQMLWjXGiL0uH19cUFfjZDFdPiGJP_v4BI6KlzylPxMiQ_sa9VFPyESrdXHiXsBG/s1600/double+daggers+necklace+black+and+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1000" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB87_pjeOAxGQwE6fLXh6a4Tw62jMBc7jpvre6wgNnKcfJLYeP4cuJJ6cKFBaEOAe1cEb1KiaOFsJRQMLWjXGiL0uH19cUFfjZDFdPiGJP_v4BI6KlzylPxMiQ_sa9VFPyESrdXHiXsBG/s320/double+daggers+necklace+black+and+blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-8962251979519948042018-01-27T22:07:00.001+00:002018-01-27T22:07:11.531+00:00Cake Catch Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYbGI1W0e1HH4ZXs5qWD6xUvUUJu-OR8wh_vRJdWwuyoTp80xMwd5_QV2QwgKaYfto2uzoxDYwSM5D4vc6kDe87acLqP6e0WmDNGGfi1P6GCwFigF6bJHGstHJZcO2zzyWPzOiHSTfgXl/s1600/Red+Rose+cake+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8qWcLFYyNoI46c6pi7etBoDlOfRQ4KOuHLVpx0UHnyUo8vSQ1QhUfu3qVonIgj4Sa2Dk03EGsXKHMuZUXRkeb4fUbybTX7Ju09PoyziVIuKkXGnh2CRASNMdUIAoQIz4RAxXVyNTrFzL/s1600/Red+rose+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8qWcLFYyNoI46c6pi7etBoDlOfRQ4KOuHLVpx0UHnyUo8vSQ1QhUfu3qVonIgj4Sa2Dk03EGsXKHMuZUXRkeb4fUbybTX7Ju09PoyziVIuKkXGnh2CRASNMdUIAoQIz4RAxXVyNTrFzL/s320/Red+rose+cake.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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It was my fiftieth birthday last year and Jen helped me celebrate in style with, what I think, is her best cake to date. I requested red roses, which are my favourite flower and that's exactly what I got. Jen has spent a lot of time practising get clean sharp edges with her icing and this cake really showed it off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYbGI1W0e1HH4ZXs5qWD6xUvUUJu-OR8wh_vRJdWwuyoTp80xMwd5_QV2QwgKaYfto2uzoxDYwSM5D4vc6kDe87acLqP6e0WmDNGGfi1P6GCwFigF6bJHGstHJZcO2zzyWPzOiHSTfgXl/s1600/Red+Rose+cake+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYbGI1W0e1HH4ZXs5qWD6xUvUUJu-OR8wh_vRJdWwuyoTp80xMwd5_QV2QwgKaYfto2uzoxDYwSM5D4vc6kDe87acLqP6e0WmDNGGfi1P6GCwFigF6bJHGstHJZcO2zzyWPzOiHSTfgXl/s320/Red+Rose+cake+detail.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8qWcLFYyNoI46c6pi7etBoDlOfRQ4KOuHLVpx0UHnyUo8vSQ1QhUfu3qVonIgj4Sa2Dk03EGsXKHMuZUXRkeb4fUbybTX7Ju09PoyziVIuKkXGnh2CRASNMdUIAoQIz4RAxXVyNTrFzL/s1600/Red+rose+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We treated ourselves to a Kitchenaid cake mixer at the start of last year and it came with a free pasta attachment, which is a great help to achieving a consistent fine thickness with sugarpaste petals and leaves. I was keen to have a go with the pasta attachment myself, so when Jen's birthday came round later in the year, I decided to try the striped tier from "Wedding Day Dots and Stripes" by Trudy Mitchell in the October/November 2017 issue of <span id="goog_589074128"></span><a href="http://cakesandsugarcraft.com/home" target="_blank">Cakes and Sugarcraft.<span id="goog_589074129"></span></a><br />
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I picked a couple of different flowers and made them over a couple of weekends. I was busy at work during this time and although I managed to bake the cake, I wasn't able to finish it before Jen arrived on her weekend visit home from university. From this point it became a family effort. Graeme helped get things moving by "plastering" the buttercream and I managed to get the base layer of sugarpaste on the cake. Jen applied the stripes herself. Then together with Christina, she made the leaves and small blossoms. </div>
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The flowers were arranged on the cake using posy pickers. It was the first time we had tried them and they worked really well. I like the way every angle looked different on this cake. </div>
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Finally there is the Christmas cake. Jen was busy with project work at Christmas so she chose a simpler cake design this year. She found this super cute Snow Foxes design on Pinterest. The snowball idea was from the <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/red-nosed-reindeer-christmas-cake.html" target="_blank">Red Nosed Reindeer cake</a> she made a couple of years ago. The end result was an elegant ands understated cake. </div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-52933681399946377552018-01-21T00:16:00.001+00:002018-01-21T00:16:36.124+00:00Cedric the Dragon Bauble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been a very long time since my last post and I'm stretching it a bit doing a Christmas round up this late in January but here we go. Work has been super busy for the last 6 months and in the run up to Christmas, I wanted a fun project to maintain my sanity. I am fan of <a href="http://www.spellboundbead.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spellbound Bead</a> kits and their "Cedric the Dragon bauble" kept calling to me, until I finally gave in and placed an order at the beginning of December. </div>
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Of course I couldn't just limit myself to 1 kit, so I ordered a couple more kits, Festive Beading Three and a selection of baubles for some other decorations I have in mind.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk_D-wipGMSp9IKPp1m0FeW3UPmpzdWVi7g578FoVa9XG0GrafY0epPmWjUWXzc87llqvH9L_novtvTdgZ7UzEtwgapTXhsg3JG8eg38pbuW6v41VG2VX6HgGMBNJy6ROCUMUKddWopVk/s1600/Cedric+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk_D-wipGMSp9IKPp1m0FeW3UPmpzdWVi7g578FoVa9XG0GrafY0epPmWjUWXzc87llqvH9L_novtvTdgZ7UzEtwgapTXhsg3JG8eg38pbuW6v41VG2VX6HgGMBNJy6ROCUMUKddWopVk/s320/Cedric+finished.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I finished Cedric just in time for Christmas. Cedric's position isn't quite right in my version. He should be sitting higher on the bauble but the way he's hanging on probably reflects my state of mind while I was making him!</div>
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Despite having a week's holiday from work, I didn't get as much time for stitching and beading as I hoped but I did manage to finish one of the beaded candy cane decorations. It's photographed here on a tree I bought in the sales a year ago. </div>
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For a couple of years I have been thinking about having a tree specifically for my handmade beaded decorations, as well as my collection of Swarovski decorations, many of which I've been given as presents over the years. I specifically picked a sparse tree, so that there was space for the baubles, which often have fringes or tassels. The tinsel was kept neutral, so that I can mix up the decoration colours as much as I want. It's very much a tree in progress at the moment and one of my goals before next Christmas is to make a tree skirt. </div>
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This year, the colour scheme on our main tree was blue, silver and white. Even though I cropped this photo you can still see a pile of stuff hiding behind the tree. This is pertinent to my mantra/intention for 2018, which is to "Create a sacred space". As an introvert my personal space is important to me and having a cluttered environment gives me a sense of being out of control. My goal for this year is to do 1 thing every day to deal with the clutter. I can't say I've done a very good job of it so far but I'm not giving up just yet.</div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-7606478164575175272017-07-02T22:23:00.000+01:002017-07-03T07:54:33.226+01:00Small Gold Butterfly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxIjlx1585BflvVyZUxNeP9Dl5SkxNjhRLoo0ANho6U6hKNlsIw8ZuZfrsFYufl6w_tOWqdFmEwJOn8ljhdoYplX1i5ITIS4frZ2mdwlSP00FBURRlYzu_XtV3glqXABPnAoooXePmhn/s1600/Butterfly+panel+-+small+gold+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxIjlx1585BflvVyZUxNeP9Dl5SkxNjhRLoo0ANho6U6hKNlsIw8ZuZfrsFYufl6w_tOWqdFmEwJOn8ljhdoYplX1i5ITIS4frZ2mdwlSP00FBURRlYzu_XtV3glqXABPnAoooXePmhn/s1600/Butterfly+panel+-+small+gold+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1000" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxIjlx1585BflvVyZUxNeP9Dl5SkxNjhRLoo0ANho6U6hKNlsIw8ZuZfrsFYufl6w_tOWqdFmEwJOn8ljhdoYplX1i5ITIS4frZ2mdwlSP00FBURRlYzu_XtV3glqXABPnAoooXePmhn/s320/Butterfly+panel+-+small+gold+butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The main project I'm working on at the moment is my phase 4 Japanese Embroidery piece - the Butterfly Panel. After finishing the circles around the red butterfly, there was a bit more variety for the large and small gold butterflies. The small gold butterfly is now finished and the large gold butterfly is coming along as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbs5xqRJaeu3uo3XB063MbgPCaWrAAD11ECiN5V8Ocgb4zYk87Qij8Mpmd5HtNbDmQ6HKVE5rrQ6We3Wj9_EoMMgPis7VAXrqQjifn7P29gJU__L5sXpIIBneILgOo062dhVHYMukh2_Z/s1600/Butterfly+panel+-+large+gold+butterfly+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1000" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbs5xqRJaeu3uo3XB063MbgPCaWrAAD11ECiN5V8Ocgb4zYk87Qij8Mpmd5HtNbDmQ6HKVE5rrQ6We3Wj9_EoMMgPis7VAXrqQjifn7P29gJU__L5sXpIIBneILgOo062dhVHYMukh2_Z/s320/Butterfly+panel+-+large+gold+butterfly+in+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All I have left to do now, is to surround the large gold butterfly with circles. As it will be a larger area than around the red butterfly, it is still likely to take me a fair few months more. Here's how the whole design looks so far.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmiHRvmfvQH01iq5qK2Qet4ZKuyOk9IdMPXbt3Pa3UIp4CilfLesKYsUiQIonCH3XBt-n5_wDTeUapmls4LXPhB0v_g666c5u_SfTHM7FKcqWiXOaUVfdhPYIuac3jBdajAl_iPTSQI-o/s1600/Butterfly+panel++-+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmiHRvmfvQH01iq5qK2Qet4ZKuyOk9IdMPXbt3Pa3UIp4CilfLesKYsUiQIonCH3XBt-n5_wDTeUapmls4LXPhB0v_g666c5u_SfTHM7FKcqWiXOaUVfdhPYIuac3jBdajAl_iPTSQI-o/s320/Butterfly+panel++-+in+progress.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-48806420090787637662017-07-01T22:20:00.002+01:002017-07-01T22:20:30.013+01:00Wave Handbag - avoiding second side syndrome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVDs33TVyUZJfdiUopUsZldP7Mgjyhj3wKO3uGjdp8_nNBgLyA5qF4hy7GOBYOs2azwyg_tMxYmLCez-2sLWoCiU8AW7iiIKit1AWs78nqz94MzrRHSzfXBU4a8vjluVahHdKOJhSMMBc/s1600/Wave+handbag+lines++front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1000" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVDs33TVyUZJfdiUopUsZldP7Mgjyhj3wKO3uGjdp8_nNBgLyA5qF4hy7GOBYOs2azwyg_tMxYmLCez-2sLWoCiU8AW7iiIKit1AWs78nqz94MzrRHSzfXBU4a8vjluVahHdKOJhSMMBc/s320/Wave+handbag+lines++front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am continuing to work on the <a href="https://jecstore.com/fabric-orders/bead-embroidery/besp08-01-wave-handbag-beading-special-project.html#.WVgRIYWcGUk" target="_blank">Wave Handbag</a> from the JEC as a background project. In my <a href="http://lacewooduk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/making-waves.html" target="_blank">last post </a>I had completed the lines for the flap and back piece. I decided to invest in another JE frame so that I can work on the smaller front piece at the same time. By working on both pieces simultaneously, I can make sure I have enough beads for the front and flap of the bag to match. It also means I'll avoid procrastinating finishing off the second side. </div>
Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-2296445607169492942017-06-28T21:30:00.003+01:002017-06-28T21:30:56.411+01:00Blue Dagger Kumihimo Necklace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZT4FRz1_LOUEg0Te3Wj3Z-HdTxPAixxBsY1zviDNkdyOPx8Nvdi8gbqhl9EUa3qTAGlNpRRel0_UrPwSNZD0I9dZE-BInkT12RuG-3ldMJA34QFR5VxwdcVmsJg-TD37gWgOT-o1VJhO/s1600/Blue+dagger+kumihimo+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZT4FRz1_LOUEg0Te3Wj3Z-HdTxPAixxBsY1zviDNkdyOPx8Nvdi8gbqhl9EUa3qTAGlNpRRel0_UrPwSNZD0I9dZE-BInkT12RuG-3ldMJA34QFR5VxwdcVmsJg-TD37gWgOT-o1VJhO/s320/Blue+dagger+kumihimo+necklace.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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I'm struggling to come up with a name for this necklace. The design is Pipalicious from <a href="http://prumihimo.com/" target="_blank">Prumihimo</a> but used daggers instead of pip beads. It is a short necklace so it should sit as a collar. The daggers have a cool grid design and came from<a href="http://www.stitchncraft.co.uk/acatalog/Accent_Beads.html" target="_blank"> Stitch'n'Craft</a>. This is a project that will bring back happy memories. It was my travel project on a trip to Japan earlier this year and pretty much all the braiding was done on the bullet train. </div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-81490516541021600232017-06-27T22:21:00.002+01:002017-06-27T22:21:35.300+01:00Wrap Bracelets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngKDz3ATQVFnk3PWOsQwrWmx0vbXPxbH8htZIpPdwp5ufUGZroROwYEXWMhCQhT5zHzCoczh_oDZgyZUrzEgRU7p2ftQM3A765P21rgWr6HrcElViHLBzbV4nsJkgPmJOjUb3W7zmLz0R/s1600/Wrap+bracelets+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="1000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngKDz3ATQVFnk3PWOsQwrWmx0vbXPxbH8htZIpPdwp5ufUGZroROwYEXWMhCQhT5zHzCoczh_oDZgyZUrzEgRU7p2ftQM3A765P21rgWr6HrcElViHLBzbV4nsJkgPmJOjUb3W7zmLz0R/s320/Wrap+bracelets+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wrap bracelets have been on my to do list for a couple of years. My first attempt wasn't successful because the semi-precious stone beads I used were too heavy for the leather cord. Last year when I spotted the<a href="https://www.beadsdirect.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Beads Direct</a> Make It Break project was a wrap bracelet, I thought I'd have another go. The kit included tila beads, seed beads, waxed cotton cord and a Swarovski button for the clasp.</div>
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After watching a couple of videos which suggested holding the cord under tension, I pinned the cord to a block of polystyrene foam, which I had covered in calico. This helped a lot and effectively gave me a third hand. As the bracelet got longer, I moved the start of the bracelet to the back of the block, so I was always working in a comfortable place at the front of the block.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngKDz3ATQVFnk3PWOsQwrWmx0vbXPxbH8htZIpPdwp5ufUGZroROwYEXWMhCQhT5zHzCoczh_oDZgyZUrzEgRU7p2ftQM3A765P21rgWr6HrcElViHLBzbV4nsJkgPmJOjUb3W7zmLz0R/s1600/Wrap+bracelets+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PxcBUbCEX2Ah7Mie5OKeBIUYL8ZaozixNK2cfQskNVyad6pG7GF5xUMzZzhl3Ht2QfChl6-tyShxUCcuvv45eLn_ZHqaOar9so1CGWf8ZTqjGZHb8ft6o5gXnTJzldOUprTlHfAlQTbx/s1600/Wrap+bracelets+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PxcBUbCEX2Ah7Mie5OKeBIUYL8ZaozixNK2cfQskNVyad6pG7GF5xUMzZzhl3Ht2QfChl6-tyShxUCcuvv45eLn_ZHqaOar9so1CGWf8ZTqjGZHb8ft6o5gXnTJzldOUprTlHfAlQTbx/s320/Wrap+bracelets+in+progress.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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There was enough supplies in the kit to make 2 bracelets, which meant I was able to make 1 for each of my girls. It was a relaxing project to do - I may try making another one in the future.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk8yUCh31AJk-nCNjnSAkCyyw09J4zbqrbbW_XPY2x8UNlxT6FUNBLPSb1QFbRv_GP00bgqAI4RkA_oPXPTlbhvUWvSraAuvpcgaaVZZSBIuuy2Bdgo3BPfqPKV3nnGd2dVmHi9s3fihL/s1600/Wrap+bracelet+-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk8yUCh31AJk-nCNjnSAkCyyw09J4zbqrbbW_XPY2x8UNlxT6FUNBLPSb1QFbRv_GP00bgqAI4RkA_oPXPTlbhvUWvSraAuvpcgaaVZZSBIuuy2Bdgo3BPfqPKV3nnGd2dVmHi9s3fihL/s320/Wrap+bracelet+-hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-21893456359787809652017-06-18T21:04:00.001+01:002017-06-18T21:04:09.353+01:00Hearts for Manchester and London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG2-nxQoy32UmjWFuLfw_jcU_1ll4fmYypPkUXfeFhxFR2DwwYe_Dh-sWhX2YVGQiyCIzKuzNU86IyASO4Un4O6Yl8AjMgiUioK2H3sjglPq4hGYfEDCFWXyvkCALavr2_vhQzEjDzDsP/s1600/Beaded+union+jack+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG2-nxQoy32UmjWFuLfw_jcU_1ll4fmYypPkUXfeFhxFR2DwwYe_Dh-sWhX2YVGQiyCIzKuzNU86IyASO4Un4O6Yl8AjMgiUioK2H3sjglPq4hGYfEDCFWXyvkCALavr2_vhQzEjDzDsP/s320/Beaded+union+jack+heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I grew up in Manchester and my parents still live there. I also have 2 teenage girls so the situation is waiting in a theatre foyer to collect the girls after an event is a very familiar situation. So it was with disbelief and great sadness that I read the news about the terror attack in my hometown. When I heard about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1206824976093485/" target="_blank">#AHeart4MCR</a> project I was inspired to create this bead embroidered heart. The deadline for the Manchester heart drop was a bit sooner than I expected and I knew I wouldn't get it finished in time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLtSPUbb1hyQDJqFxMop0_9ONf4wSq5_ZlCuEbzP9EB25qEdiIaJeDg_EfnNjJStKVGY7X2FacYyimwVoa6Pk9-eVlvqRQaeNwNxqAw1Ma5U5X9aVGLAeRlYaJYA-XHtiM9CMKP04YU-0/s1600/FSL+Hearts+for+London+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1000" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLtSPUbb1hyQDJqFxMop0_9ONf4wSq5_ZlCuEbzP9EB25qEdiIaJeDg_EfnNjJStKVGY7X2FacYyimwVoa6Pk9-eVlvqRQaeNwNxqAw1Ma5U5X9aVGLAeRlYaJYA-XHtiM9CMKP04YU-0/s320/FSL+Hearts+for+London+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A new call for hearts was raised by<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/110708232860669/" target="_blank"> #AHeart4LDN</a> after the London terror attack, so I decided to change tack and make machine embroidered free standing lace hearts for the London drop. I used designs from <a href="http://www.embroidery.com/product.ec?productID=266810&reid=6c1B4XH" target="_blank">Kinship Kreations</a>, which stitched out beautifully on Brother machine. As recommended I hooped 2 layers of water soluble stabiliser which made the result quite stiff. I thought this would make the hearts more robust so it was probably a good thing, as the hearts would be hung out on the street. I embellished them with hot fix crystals for a little bit of sparkle and posted them off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15PQP-PyVVkH7lufLRnB0UgDNiKQTbNz7fkrB2hl7zSErgzEG8nmgvXwDw8biZWSWNWaSeUfprg0b6h4DeVOzZdk2GFqbXqYrrytzVv5JWUTVEQCVDkq7WDBUPExiEBCmAPf_LmVPQEpQ/s1600/Twitter+heart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15PQP-PyVVkH7lufLRnB0UgDNiKQTbNz7fkrB2hl7zSErgzEG8nmgvXwDw8biZWSWNWaSeUfprg0b6h4DeVOzZdk2GFqbXqYrrytzVv5JWUTVEQCVDkq7WDBUPExiEBCmAPf_LmVPQEpQ/s320/Twitter+heart.JPG" width="237" /></a></div>
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The heart drop in London was yesterday and I was delighted to see a twitter post with a picture of one of my hearts. I have no idea who the recipient was but the fact that she was happy to receive it made my day. This success spurred me onto finish the bead embroidery on my own heart this weekend. Now I just need to work out how to mount it. My original intention was a simple stuffed heart but I think it would look better as a flat heart with a covered cardboard backing to give it a bit more support.</div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813154079392354546.post-79274616506289826622017-04-09T22:01:00.004+01:002017-04-09T22:01:58.481+01:00Red Butterfly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7CAIdk13ysdh8wluofCgYYcEpKEkY2urSReSUc5yrtLzvZoiidkVgfO505AMn6FxU0U5xY_oCxXiZAryZQHuGU3lBVRPP5XRq-anFJupHEV4hqPnEXeKpTc_cCdsVFYM1Js3f1fFgMJ1/s1600/Red+butterfly+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7CAIdk13ysdh8wluofCgYYcEpKEkY2urSReSUc5yrtLzvZoiidkVgfO505AMn6FxU0U5xY_oCxXiZAryZQHuGU3lBVRPP5XRq-anFJupHEV4hqPnEXeKpTc_cCdsVFYM1Js3f1fFgMJ1/s320/Red+butterfly+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's been a bit of a marathon of going around in circles but the first butterfly for my Phase 4 Japanese Embroidery piece is finished. It's taken well over a year to get this far. I stalled a bit last year but a new year's resolution to get it going again has paid off. This is the first of 3 butterflies - the marathon will continue for some time to come. I have a trip away coming up at the end of the week so I am very deliberately stepping away from this piece from a couple of weeks. Hopefully I won't have too much trouble getting going again when I get back. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rdFETfmay7TQFODf2U4GHfksYgySe1w6GB2hOjYdovtqMjrakHUyCNlYpK8e7o6Q2qxfgyjh9pwMQHetdqpWJ7E9b9_js057pJR6NDy-bFPv2oFURzOaR05Qg_OYLGSmBWUhAqKpU_Gb/s1600/Red+butterfly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rdFETfmay7TQFODf2U4GHfksYgySe1w6GB2hOjYdovtqMjrakHUyCNlYpK8e7o6Q2qxfgyjh9pwMQHetdqpWJ7E9b9_js057pJR6NDy-bFPv2oFURzOaR05Qg_OYLGSmBWUhAqKpU_Gb/s320/Red+butterfly+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534998852351018118noreply@blogger.com1