MOONSTITCHES

water

Hi. I am back. A busy weekend, a little journey to my old dentist on Monday, two days of having a cold, a rainy day spent at the Yokohama History Museum around the corner and finally reunited with the blog again... This year's rainy season really is worth its name, it's pouring down almost everyday. Making everything grow like mad and looking fresh, to say the best about it.

Looking up in the sky, I'd say we are in for another of those grey days...
Maybe today we will be staying at home. If so, there will be sewing and knitting. Sewing and knitting! And cooking and laundry, of course.
You have a great day, too!
Oh, and thanks a lot to CRAFT and Jena over on Modish for featuring my craft room!

A Room With A View

Not necessarily a craft room, my room, just a small room (a little bit over 10 m²), with some storage space, two desks, two sewing machines and a view.
Pretty fabulous view if you have an idea of how not-so-fabulous views can be here in Japan.
So what is outside the window makes me most happy.
Amazing sound when it's stormy, by the way.

The room, suitable for crafting.

With exception of a lamp I got nothing new for the room, just put in what I already had. Actually, I took my things and tried to move into that space without causing too much of a stir. Keeping it simple, trying not to overdo things. Maybe it will change over time, perhaps there will be curtains, pictures on the walls or other kind of things that will be added to enhance the cosiness of the room (or those that simply are accumulated and lead to clutter sooner or later)... we'll see.

Hopefully not the beginning of clutter, my inspiration pile. Containing future projects. And sleeping projects, like my hexagon blanket. So it's a pile to not only inspire but also remind me.

A stool I had got some foam and wool. I like it better this way and it is more comfortable.

A drawer I found on the street a year ago. Keeping my scissors, rotary cutters, threads and items like that.

The desk is quite small, so this is how it looks with my sewing machine on it.

It's possible to place the serger next to it when needed, it does work.
And there also is space left for those little things we all need to surround ourselves to make us smile because they remind us of something or someone.

The same goes for the wall behind the desk... little pieces with a history.

On the other wall (the room has two walls I could do something to, the remaining ones are occupied by the window, door and a huge built-in closet), there is that old kitchen you already might have seen on Flickr.

With the pullout desk.

And space for the machines.

I like to put away the machines while not working on something with them.
My knitting needles and crochet hooks aren't on display either all the time - gives me room to think in all directions, or daydream better.
Who if not me would not have enough time to get all those things out when actually staring to sew, knit or crochet?! I am so slow in all I am doing, I really have that extra minute to open the cabinet doors and get the needed items out.
Like the thread for my serger... would be getting too dusty in the outside anyway.

And there is that little drawer on the floor which I keep the buttons in... a found item again, like most things that surround me.
I hope to find and old wooden desk and stool some day, to replace those two pieces I have now, but I will patiently wait until I stumble upon them.

Something absolutely new and completely boring yet highly pleasing are those built-in closets I use for storing my books, fabrics and yarn.
2.20 m high, very deep and altogether 2.50 m wide... Part of my closet is outside my room, in the hallway just opposite to my door, unburdening my little space of a great deal of matter - so good!
Here a look into my closet in the hallway.

I apologize for the load of pictures but I am just too happy about my room to not go into detail here. Even more photos, larger, too, and some additional explanations over on Flickr.

Take good care of yourself!
Good night.

holidays and laundry

I just realized our seemingly endless summer holidays are in fact more than half over, only 72 days left! Japanese kindergarten ending in March and German school starting late August brought us the impressing amount of 162 free days. Finding a balance between play and what needs to get done to supply everybody here with nutritions and clean underwear is my daily struggle. Guess you know how that is...

Anyway, we are having fun everyday and the laundry is under control, too. Only blogging about all of that and writing mails still doesn't work well.

But I have come to think that it is not a lack of time that is keeping me from it (or the constant doubt if anybody would still be interested to read about what I am doing because after more than three years of blogging I can only repeat myself). The greatest obstacle rather might have been sitting on the floor with crossed legs, bending over to reach the keyboard that's placed on the ground, too. Until yesterday. When I decided to give in and vacate my beloved but unfortunate position, moving the whole thing upwards... No more numb legs, typing so much easier and it's better for my back, too.

Yes, I have reached that age...! But this stool I am now sitting on really does wonders :)
I type!
A picture of my desk is here.
The rest of my room tomorrow, off to bed now.

Take care!

PS: You asked for a recipe for the mochi?
Add water would be my answer.
I am making the no fuss shiratama dango (mochi dumplings), using a little package of shiratamako (a lumpy glutinous rice flour) and water. And as topping either ready made kuro mitsu ("black honey", not really honey but syrup made from unrefined sugar), like in this photo, or a mix of brown and white sugar together with kinako (ground roasted soy beans). Not much to it. As to many things here in Japan.

My room...

must wait.

Hi, I said I'd be back with the photos of my room but I thought it would be a nice exercise to get back to more frequent blogging by showing you more of that everyday not so exciting that's going on in this house instead.
Early afternoon means snack time here in Japan and of course that darling girl of mine expects something sweet to be presented on that occasion... today's oyatsu (snack) was homemade mochi with a blend of kinako and two kinds of sugar, emphasis on the kinako (soybean flour).

And there was some knitting on the table, too. I started making a simple cardigan for me in Beaverslide Fisherman Weight (old 2-ply), Granite, lovelovelove that yarn.
This year's summer is strange. So slowly getting warmer, often still chilly enough to wear cardigans or woolen sweaters, even during the day... a bit odd. Maybe it's only here in my area? I think I have a good chance to wear my new cardigan before next autumn, when I am hurrying a bit with the knitting.
However, now it's time to go to bed.
Bye!

It's raining, we are at home and after reading this I feel totally inspired to tell you about our plums.
For years I have been wanting to make my own ume shu and finally, finally it's happening. It only took me nine years to get to that point... a few more months and we'll be enjoying this delicacy... worth the wait.

I have been making things and taking pictures of my room but there never seems to be time to show you. But I guess it is just as Rebecca said, it's all about making time.
Making time and start working on my to post list, one thing at a time. There are tons of photos waiting to be uploaded onto Flickr. Having them waiting here on the computer has the same effect on me like those 8170 unread postings over on Bloglines (which I just marked as read, to start afresh).
So, I'll be back with the pictures of my craft room later and hope you all find the time to cherish something beautiful today.

Take care!

So much to blog about but then again, what should I actually blog about?!
What I am making these days seems so boring, my craft room doesn't look exciting, my new neighbourhood lacks of the charm my former one seemed to burst with... I'll do it anyway and start at the beginning, where I picked up crafting after the big move.
I did feel a little overwhelmed by the whole relocation because we had to go through and pack so much stuff. Our old place was filled to the brim and things seemed to become more and more when we pulled them out of closets and shelves... horrible. Having to deal with a small space should make you be more selective and less attached to things instead of letting you become a champion in squeezing stuff into every little corner of your home.

So after I finally had get rid of a lot and moved what I wanted to keep, I felt tired of everything that seemed detailed, embellished or complex. Simple was what I was longing for. So when I first started crafting again, I stitched together some very plain coasters and mats for different purposes. Mostly by hand, because it seemed obvious to make something with the fewest efforts in order to slow down and regain some serenity.

Pretty unspectacular, the whole process and the result.
Just what I needed.
Oh, and all went into use directly, not lingering around somewhere before being photographed... I am trying to not waste time or material by waiting for the right moment anymore. Life's too short.
Take care!

Not the first time this is happening... whenever I take a break it's difficult to write again, write that first posting, reply to mails that were written ages ago and maybe long forgotten.

Old Scarlett just kept thinking of tomorrow and indulged herself in living a good life, perfecting her baking skills, sewing simple things like cushion pillows, coasters or the occasional night gown, not bothering to blog about anything...

The fact that I damaged the hard disc I use for storing my photos when attempting to unplug our fridge (but instead pulling the plug of everything that was on or beneath my desk) two days before our move did contribute to not blogging for some time. But at some point a new disc was bought and uploading photos wasn't a problem anymore... also I managed to find enough time to craft with Dagny being around all day (kindergarten ended in March and school won't begin until late August)... so there would have been something crafty to talk about, yet blogging seemed far, far away.

I guess I really enjoyed having left our old, way too cluttered apartment that never felt like ours, getting an actual home instead.

Anyway, now that I want to write again it appears not to be so easy. I think it has to do with the fact that I don't feel blogging really is essential (to me). Not as needless as Twittering maybe but life can be pretty good without both. (You may blame my age, because when e-mails were new and I was still young younger I wasn't as sceptical.)
However, I don't think I will give up blogging soon because I like being connected to you, so I will publish this posting, no matter how little interesting it might be.

...............

Or I could keep writing and show you one of my simple sewings I did recently, so this would actually turn into a posting about making something (beside butter rolls)...

So here is a simple nightgown I made for Dagny. A short sleeved smock out of checkered and dotted double gauze, Burda pattern from 2005. A few modifications like no frills at the hem and sleeves, overall more simple looking. Nothing original and I even have made it before, but Dagny wanted a new one, just like the one she had. And again two different fabrics had to be used because those one meter pieces we have stocked in abundance just don't do it anymore.

The above photo was cropped in order to not show too much of my dear girl. As much as I, as the proud mother that I am, would love to post pictures of her, I usually make her move around to take photos with her face half hidden or from behind.

Explaining the move around, please to her, she suggested this and stayed like it for a few minutes...

Also pictured the new cushions (linen on the back, pillowcase style), by the way. Rather flat ones to sit on. The chairs were some of the very first pieces of furniture we got about nine years ago. Holding up well and quite alright for our tatami room here. What we could use now would be a little table... oh, the pleasure to make yourself a cozy home :)

I will go to bed now.
Take good care of yourself.

Hi, hope you had a good time in the meantime...?!
We surely did. Two weeks in our new place and feeling like being home already. Despite the 53 boxes that are still untouched sitting in our bedroom. Those, mostly filled with books, records, yarn and fabrics, will remain there until we have shelves. We are in no hurry though and sleep in our わしつ　- washitsu (japanese room) for the time being. Haven't got a bed anyway.

I must say that this new home with all that it is coming with - the space inside, my new craft room, the many built-ins to put away all things you have but mustn't have around, its surroundings.... - feels so good, I actually did not think of blogging or taking photos for a while. Just enjoying being here. Sewing a bit (yes, the cushion covers!) and thinking about what to make next, totally chilled out.

Feels as if we did the right thing.

Have a great weekend!

PS: I have a new email address, too, it's on the bottom of the answers page here on the blog, in case you want to update it.

Of course, despite of all the packing, we do not let Spring happen without us. It's slowly warming up and the cherry blossoms in our park opened perfectly timed for today's sakura matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival). We'll be there later in the afternoon, watching the trees and people and maybe having some mitarashi dango (mochi with syrup made of sugar, soy sauce and starch), too.

Thank you for your congratulations, encouragement and well wishings! So good to read all your kind comments.
I think I will share pictures of our new place/ craft room, preferably after we got some furniture and unpacked a few boxes.
I have a feeling we'll be seeing cushion covers and finished quilts this year here around... :)

Until next week!

Sorry for keeping you waiting so long. I said two weeks until all was official and I could talk about where we're headed... and I hoped the packing would be done by then...!
Well, I am still drowning in stuff that seems to get more and more as soon as it is pulled out of boxes and paper bags that were stored with greatest care in every single nook, closet and corner in our home. But I did make great progress this week and since the movers are coming in three days I can be certain that this misery will come to an end eventually. Must.
I am exhausted and miss crafting. And blogging and communicating.
Today I finally gave in and packed away the half finished cardigan I was working on. And the fabrics for a short sleeved blouse and skirt I wanted to make for Dagny... there will be better times, crafty times, soon.

A week ago we picked up the keys for our new home in Yokohama - we'll be moving only 20 km from our current place, yet it is a huge step for us because we decided to stay here in Japan indefinitely. Settle.
Not an easy thing to think about leaving or staying in Japan... we never intended to emigrate, always thinking of maybe not necessarily to go back to Germany but at least to Europe one day. To be closer to where we come from, have our roots and family.
But Japan it is and we are looking forward having a real home here, including a nice, little craft room with an actual window (nothing like this), a bathroom that comes with a handbook of a hundred pages of instructions and the possibility of having our very first sofa.
A fair prospect, I'd say, like Bingley said before, and he also knew he had to settle somewhere... ;)

As I was packing boxes I took photos, occasionally. To blog about what I was doing when there was no time to do anything actually blog-worthy, but I didn't come around doing so. The photos above show some of my thrifted, curb found or inherited porcelain that is going to stay with us in our new home. More photos on Flickr.

I hope you are all well. My apologies to everyone who is waiting for an answer to a question, a sign of life, a parcel, letter or email. Or phone call. Or quilt photos. I will try to make up when having more time.

Take care!

Time for plums

It's raining, we are at home and after reading this I feel totally inspired to tell you about our plums.
For years I have been wanting to make my own ume shu and finally, finally it's happening. It only took me nine years to get to that point... a few more months and we'll be enjoying this delicacy... worth the wait.

I have been making things and taking pictures of my room but there never seems to be time to show you. But I guess it is just as Rebecca said, it's all about making time.
Making time and start working on my to post list, one thing at a time. There are tons of photos waiting to be uploaded onto Flickr. Having them waiting here on the computer has the same effect on me like those 8170 unread postings over on Bloglines (which I just marked as read, to start afresh).
So, I'll be back with the pictures of my craft room later and hope you all find the time to cherish something beautiful today.

Take care!

Catching up

So much to blog about but then again, what should I actually blog about?!
What I am making these days seems so boring, my craft room doesn't look exciting, my new neighbourhood lacks of the charm my former one seemed to burst with... I'll do it anyway and start at the beginning, where I picked up crafting after the big move.
I did feel a little overwhelmed by the whole relocation because we had to go through and pack so much stuff. Our old place was filled to the brim and things seemed to become more and more when we pulled them out of closets and shelves... horrible. Having to deal with a small space should make you be more selective and less attached to things instead of letting you become a champion in squeezing stuff into every little corner of your home.

So after I finally had get rid of a lot and moved what I wanted to keep, I felt tired of everything that seemed detailed, embellished or complex. Simple was what I was longing for. So when I first started crafting again, I stitched together some very plain coasters and mats for different purposes. Mostly by hand, because it seemed obvious to make something with the fewest efforts in order to slow down and regain some serenity.

Pretty unspectacular, the whole process and the result.
Just what I needed.
Oh, and all went into use directly, not lingering around somewhere before being photographed... I am trying to not waste time or material by waiting for the right moment anymore. Life's too short.
Take care!

rendered speechless

Not the first time this is happening... whenever I take a break it's difficult to write again, write that first posting, reply to mails that were written ages ago and maybe long forgotten.

Old Scarlett just kept thinking of tomorrow and indulged herself in living a good life, perfecting her baking skills, sewing simple things like cushion pillows, coasters or the occasional night gown, not bothering to blog about anything...

The fact that I damaged the hard disc I use for storing my photos when attempting to unplug our fridge (but instead pulling the plug of everything that was on or beneath my desk) two days before our move did contribute to not blogging for some time. But at some point a new disc was bought and uploading photos wasn't a problem anymore... also I managed to find enough time to craft with Dagny being around all day (kindergarten ended in March and school won't begin until late August)... so there would have been something crafty to talk about, yet blogging seemed far, far away.

I guess I really enjoyed having left our old, way too cluttered apartment that never felt like ours, getting an actual home instead.

Anyway, now that I want to write again it appears not to be so easy. I think it has to do with the fact that I don't feel blogging really is essential (to me). Not as needless as Twittering maybe but life can be pretty good without both. (You may blame my age, because when e-mails were new and I was still young younger I wasn't as sceptical.)
However, I don't think I will give up blogging soon because I like being connected to you, so I will publish this posting, no matter how little interesting it might be.

...............

Or I could keep writing and show you one of my simple sewings I did recently, so this would actually turn into a posting about making something (beside butter rolls)...

So here is a simple nightgown I made for Dagny. A short sleeved smock out of checkered and dotted double gauze, Burda pattern from 2005. A few modifications like no frills at the hem and sleeves, overall more simple looking. Nothing original and I even have made it before, but Dagny wanted a new one, just like the one she had. And again two different fabrics had to be used because those one meter pieces we have stocked in abundance just don't do it anymore.

The above photo was cropped in order to not show too much of my dear girl. As much as I, as the proud mother that I am, would love to post pictures of her, I usually make her move around to take photos with her face half hidden or from behind.

Explaining the move around, please to her, she suggested this and stayed like it for a few minutes...

Also pictured the new cushions (linen on the back, pillowcase style), by the way. Rather flat ones to sit on. The chairs were some of the very first pieces of furniture we got about nine years ago. Holding up well and quite alright for our tatami room here. What we could use now would be a little table... oh, the pleasure to make yourself a cozy home :)

I will go to bed now.
Take good care of yourself.

resting/ nesting

Hi, hope you had a good time in the meantime...?!
We surely did. Two weeks in our new place and feeling like being home already. Despite the 53 boxes that are still untouched sitting in our bedroom. Those, mostly filled with books, records, yarn and fabrics, will remain there until we have shelves. We are in no hurry though and sleep in our わしつ　- washitsu (japanese room) for the time being. Haven't got a bed anyway.

I must say that this new home with all that it is coming with - the space inside, my new craft room, the many built-ins to put away all things you have but mustn't have around, its surroundings.... - feels so good, I actually did not think of blogging or taking photos for a while. Just enjoying being here. Sewing a bit (yes, the cushion covers!) and thinking about what to make next, totally chilled out.

Feels as if we did the right thing.

Have a great weekend!

PS: I have a new email address, too, it's on the bottom of the answers page here on the blog, in case you want to update it.

Spr-ing

Of course, despite of all the packing, we do not let Spring happen without us. It's slowly warming up and the cherry blossoms in our park opened perfectly timed for today's sakura matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival). We'll be there later in the afternoon, watching the trees and people and maybe having some mitarashi dango (mochi with syrup made of sugar, soy sauce and starch), too.

Thank you for your congratulations, encouragement and well wishings! So good to read all your kind comments.
I think I will share pictures of our new place/ craft room, preferably after we got some furniture and unpacked a few boxes.
I have a feeling we'll be seeing cushion covers and finished quilts this year here around... :)

Until next week!

China going to stay in Japan

Sorry for keeping you waiting so long. I said two weeks until all was official and I could talk about where we're headed... and I hoped the packing would be done by then...!
Well, I am still drowning in stuff that seems to get more and more as soon as it is pulled out of boxes and paper bags that were stored with greatest care in every single nook, closet and corner in our home. But I did make great progress this week and since the movers are coming in three days I can be certain that this misery will come to an end eventually. Must.
I am exhausted and miss crafting. And blogging and communicating.
Today I finally gave in and packed away the half finished cardigan I was working on. And the fabrics for a short sleeved blouse and skirt I wanted to make for Dagny... there will be better times, crafty times, soon.

A week ago we picked up the keys for our new home in Yokohama - we'll be moving only 20 km from our current place, yet it is a huge step for us because we decided to stay here in Japan indefinitely. Settle.
Not an easy thing to think about leaving or staying in Japan... we never intended to emigrate, always thinking of maybe not necessarily to go back to Germany but at least to Europe one day. To be closer to where we come from, have our roots and family.
But Japan it is and we are looking forward having a real home here, including a nice, little craft room with an actual window (nothing like this), a bathroom that comes with a handbook of a hundred pages of instructions and the possibility of having our very first sofa.
A fair prospect, I'd say, like Bingley said before, and he also knew he had to settle somewhere... ;)

As I was packing boxes I took photos, occasionally. To blog about what I was doing when there was no time to do anything actually blog-worthy, but I didn't come around doing so. The photos above show some of my thrifted, curb found or inherited porcelain that is going to stay with us in our new home. More photos on Flickr.

I hope you are all well. My apologies to everyone who is waiting for an answer to a question, a sign of life, a parcel, letter or email. Or phone call. Or quilt photos. I will try to make up when having more time.

Take care!