Greetings dear readers! Two days ago there was a wonderful guest essay in the New York Times titled “ Whatever the Problem, It’s Probably Solved By Walking.” It emphasizes how walking is not only great for us physically, but for our mental, spiritual, and intellectual health as well. It fuels our creativity! It reminded me of the article on “awe” walks that I mentioned some time ago. It also reminded me that one of the very few good things to come out of the pandemic for me was becoming a dedicated walker. I enjoy walking alone, but I’m now also much more likely to meet a friend for a walk rather than for a lunch. Sharing a walk is one of life’s real pleasures! I’m looking for signs of spring now. Trees are just starting to bud out, a couple weeks earlier than usual, I think. Here’s the pussy willow tree at the pond:
And here is a group of shag bark hickory trees followed by a photo of a bud, soon to begin opening:
The green color of this lichen is intense – welcome color in the winter landscape, especially against the snow which still lingers in patches shaded from the sun:
The green of the moss also adds color before all the other flora of spring and summer take over:
Meanwhile, in the sewing room, a dozen more log cabin blocks have been completed:
Showing the next four as a group:
Only 8 more blocks to go!
I completed the hand quilting on the 9th (of 12) block of “Sweet Journeys” – slow but steady progress!
Appliquéing those little circles on vacation sparked a desire to do some more appliqué, prompting me to get out this quilt top which has been hibernating for a while:
The 72 border leaves were all basted down, but the final appliqué stitching needed to be done, so I got started and have one side completed!
I recently made the appointment for my machine to have its annual cleaning and servicing. I am religious about doing this and think it’s one of the reasons my trusty Bernini has NEVER given me any trouble during the 19 years I’ve had it! I’m one of the few quilters who has only ONE machine so will have to focus on hand work during the week it’s in the shop. How many machines do you have, dear reader? Do you have them regularly serviced?
I do love having my machine set into the table!!
Browsing through Instagram I have noticed that in the past 6 months there have been a couple of quilt shows in Japan, one in Yokohama in November and one in Tokyo this month. I think they are trying to come up with something to replace the Tokyo International Quilt Festival which folded after the 2020 show. I’m keeping an eye on this as I would love to go back some day. Here are 3 quilts from those shows that caught my eye. The first one is by Sanada Masako – incredible piecing!
The next one is by Kurihara Yoshiko. I’ve seen and loved her work before – she does a great job depicting human figures and faces in a graphic sort of way:
I couldn’t find the name of the maker of this stunning flower quilt:
I’ll finish with 2 more sunset photos from Costa Rica:
Be kind, be grateful, and cherish each day, Gladi
gladiquilts 
Is the flower quilt hand pieced and had appliquéd? It is quite wonderful.
It truly is a beautiful quilt, but I don’t know any details about the construction, unfortunately.
I am so enjoying your beautiful Japanese fabrics! The whole top (so far) is lovely but I do love seeing the single blocks – those shots really let me take in the beauty of the individual fabrics! You are making such great progress on “Sweet Journeys”!
Thank you Sophie! One does really need to see the fabrics closeup to appreciate them. I’m so grateful to have them!
I am also a dedicated walker, but am just the opposite of you. When I started as a walker, I was usually meeting up with friends, or occasionally hubby would go along. But for the past few years I have been almost always a solitary walker. I think it helps me clear my head.
Your log cabin blocks are so colorful, they are a delight.
The hand quilting is incredible. So tiny and precise.
I am so glad you brought that hibernating quilt top out to play again. It is so striking, and always warms my heart.
I have 3 machines that I actually use ( and 2 vintage machines that are more for display). I do not get mine serviced as consistently as I should. I need to learn that lesson from you. Not one of my machines is electronic with a digital display. I am a basic, mechanical machine kind of gal.
Lovely quilts!
Stunning sunsets.
Thank you Janet for your kind comments! I’m probably using only a small fraction of what my machine can do so I certainly don’t need anything fancier. I’d consider getting a Featherweight if the opportunity presented itself but, honestly, I don’t really have the space to set up another machine!
Pretty pussy willows! Do you ever find any hickory nuts from the shagbark? I’m surprised they folded the Tokyo show. I have a Janome 6600 and 2 featherweights, a 1939 and a tan 1961. I am blessed to have them all and prefer sewing on the featherweights 🥰.
Thanks Pam! Yes, there are tons of hickory nuts on those trees, eventually, and the ground around them is littered with shells left by the squirrels and chipmunks that feast on them 😊. Luckily you, to have a Featherweight!
Walking is my favorite form of exercise. Some quilt shows seem to have changed. I miss the NQA show which was held annually in Ohio. Admittedly, I have three machines which was not the original intent; a Bernina 430, a featherweight and a Singer 301A. All were purchased from original owners. I enjoy them all.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I never made it to the NQA show, though I had hoped to one day. I’ve been to Paducah (AQS) once and Houston (IQA) twice and would love to get back to both someday. It’s tremendously exciting to see the quilts and shop the vendors at those big shows.
Your work is so inspiring! Walking is great for body and soul! My first machine was a Singer Touch and Sew I received for my high school graduation in 1975-it died a slow, agonizing death. I now own a Bernina 1260, a Bernina 440 just like yours, and a Bernina 350. The 1260 was my first purchase and I can’t bear to part with it, the 350 is for travel and the 440 is in a cabinet. I love all of them but the 440 is my favorite. In my opinion, nothing sews like a Bernina-nothing! They’ll last forever when cared for!
Thanks so much Carmen! My first machine was a Kenmore; upgrading to the Bernini was amazing. I’d love to have a smaller machine to cart to classes and retreats….maybe some day🙂.
Walking has been my exercise-of-choice for years and since the 2020 shutdown I’ve been more focused on it. I have to get out at least every other day!….The artistry of Japanese quilters is always jaw-dropping. I’ve admired their quilts since my first years of subscribing to Quilter’s Newsletter….I own four machines. I use the Janome all the time. The Singer 301 is my take-to-workshops (of which I go to very few). The Featherweight needs work. The treadle I have just to use the cabinet as a place to put things.
As usual, there was lots to see and be inspired by in this post. Thank you. The leaf border around the on point blocks is very striking.
I too enjoy walking and find it very beneficial. I recently read Rebecca Solnit’s book Wanderlust and learnt so much
I have a Janome 6700 that I love which replaced my Bernini 1090 (which I still have and used to love!), and a little Janome that is a basic no frills machine and perfect for toting here and there. I just keep looking at the close up photos of your beautiful LC blocks. So many beautiful fabrics! And such a perfect block to showcase them! Have you tried many different kinds of foundations for the FPP? Do you have a favorite? I love paper piecing for small pieces and crisp results but never like taking out the paper.
Looks like spell check thinks Bernina should be “Bernini” – lol. Also love seeing your machine setting in your sewing table. That must be wonderful!
Longtime lurker (2019), first time poster. I found the creator of the beautiful floral quilt with a simple Google search. Here’s a link https://okanarts.com/blogs/blog/yokohama-2022.
Although we don’t share the same taste in quilting, I love learning from you. I enjoy how you share the results you come to especially when you post pictures. I don’t always agree, but there’s no wrong way in quilting! I enjoy hearing your perspective as you’re from a different part of the country (I’m from outside Seattle), different generations, and you’re well-educated. Thanks for opening up your world to us. Blessings to you!