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Japanese clothing in historical context, including social and economic status and what they tell us about clothing

This is not meant to be a comprehensive bibliography but a sample of what I have on specific topics in my reference library. Click on the book covers or titles to preview and/or purchase the books online. I make a few pennies if you purchase a copy through the link, but I always encourage people to check your local library for resources.

Memories of Silk and Straw – A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan – by Dr. Junichi Saga, translated by Garry O. Evans

This ...

If the day goes as I think it will today, I should have the Waste Not Whatnots quilt top finished. I'll say one thing about it: it's given me a good reason to procrastinate on vacuuming the downstairs. It is dropping lots of black threads everywhere on the light carpeting. Yesterday, I had good intentions of dusting and vacuuming the downstairs, but then realized I'd be wasting time. Yeah, sure. That's what I thought. You probably thought the same thing, and you just didn't mention it. 

So here's how the day went yesterday. Here ...

If the day goes as I think it will today, I should have the Waste Not Whatnots quilt top finished. I'll say one thing about it: it's given me a good reason to procrastinate on vacuuming the downstairs. It is dropping lots of black threads everywhere on the light carpeting. Yesterday, I had good intentions of dusting and vacuuming the downstairs, but then realized I'd be wasting time. Yeah, sure. That's what I thought. You probably thought the same thing, and you just didn't mention it. 

So here's how the day went yesterday. Here ...

Yesterday began the final stages of the Snow Globes quilting. The day was spent quilting straight lines I'm probably about halfway finished with it, but it's hard to tell. By day's end, I took it off the machine and laid it on the floor. Here's how it's looking so far:

Yesterday began the final stages of the Snow Globes quilting. The day was spent quilting straight lines I'm probably about halfway finished with it, but it's hard to tell. By day's end, I took it off the machine and laid it on the floor. Here's how it's looking so far:

Well, I can imagine y'all have been waiting on tenterhooks to find out if I was able to finish the pebbling before running out of thread. Smitty and I placed our wagers on this as I was getting ready to start quilting yesterday. I was pretty sure I'd run out, but Smitty was betting against the thread.

Betting on thread is purrposterous.

So I stitched the first block, and so far so good.

Smitty got up close and personal ...

Well, I can imagine y'all have been waiting on tenterhooks to find out if I was able to finish the pebbling before running out of thread. Smitty and I placed our wagers on this as I was getting ready to start quilting yesterday. I was pretty sure I'd run out, but Smitty was betting against the thread.

Betting on thread is purrposterous.

So I stitched the first block, and so far so good.

Smitty got up close and personal ...

So what have I learned in my journeys ...

You may remember my posts about needing a stabilizer/foundation for backing my hand embroidery. I was commenting, er, lamenting, well, OK!!! I admit it!  I was whining!!

First, I found WhisperWeft and loved its drapeyability (yes, I just made up a word) and then realized that while it WAS a wonderful option, it was definitely not easy to source here in the Northern Hemisphere. (Grin)

When I went to a box store (that shall remain nameless) all I found was a stabilizer that seemed to resemble the stiffy-starched parchment paper I use in my baking. Certainly not what I ...

Stick n Stitch review, Part II!

Spoiler alert!

This stuff is awesome!

With the produce coming fast and furious from the garden right now, my days have been busy, and mostly spent in the kitchen. Yesterday, I used my pressure canner for the first time in about 10 years. I know this because the last time I had the pressure gauge calibrated was in 2009. So...I'm very good at math...I think that would make it something on the order of 11 years, if you want to get all technical about it.

As I mentioned last week, we took the pressure gauge to our local extension office last week. I ...

With the produce coming fast and furious from the garden right now, my days have been busy, and mostly spent in the kitchen. Yesterday, I used my pressure canner for the first time in about 10 years. I know this because the last time I had the pressure gauge calibrated was in 2009. So...I'm very good at math...I think that would make it something on the order of 11 years, if you want to get all technical about it.

As I mentioned last week, we took the pressure gauge to our local extension office last week. I ...

It was a mixed up, hurry up day yesterday. I felt behind on pretty much everything, and so I wanted to feel more like things were under control. I devised a strategy for attacking the day that allowed me to get it all done. Today feels a little more relaxed. 

First, I tackled the green beans. Except for a few cut off ends saved for later, I used all the green beans harvested so far to make six pints of Dilled Green Beans. 

These are good as a garnish for a Bloody Mary, but they're also delicious straight from ...

It was a mixed up, hurry up day yesterday. I felt behind on pretty much everything, and so I wanted to feel more like things were under control. I devised a strategy for attacking the day that allowed me to get it all done. Today feels a little more relaxed. 

First, I tackled the green beans. Except for a few cut off ends saved for later, I used all the green beans harvested so far to make six pints of Dilled Green Beans. 

These are good as a garnish for a Bloody Mary, but they're also delicious straight from ...

It was a hot day yesterday. By day's end, we'd reached 94°F. It may have been even warmer earlier. We didn't really check until close to dinner time. Knowing it was going to be hot, I was out early doing my watering and gardening chores. While there, I was delighted to find the purple poppy had opened. 

It was a hot day yesterday. By day's end, we'd reached 94°F. It may have been even warmer earlier. We didn't really check until close to dinner time. Knowing it was going to be hot, I was out early doing my watering and gardening chores. While there, I was delighted to find the purple poppy had opened. 

After my morning session of slow-stitching, it was time to gird up my loins to pick yet more cherries. The kitties were supposed to help with this, but what do you suppose they did? Well, Smitty spent all his time feasting on the long blades of grass. He likes the fat, juicy blades best.

We picked 8-1/2 pounds of cherries, although I needed 10 pounds. We were kind of ...

After my morning session of slow-stitching, it was time to gird up my loins to pick yet more cherries. The kitties were supposed to help with this, but what do you suppose they did? Well, Smitty spent all his time feasting on the long blades of grass. He likes the fat, juicy blades best.

We picked 8-1/2 pounds of cherries, although I needed 10 pounds. We were kind of ...

Recently, Quilted Joy got in stock a new product, pre-made bias binding from Moda. Now I have bound quilts with other pre-made binding before. I was not a fan. The stuff I used before was cheap quality, not cheap price, and I paid dearly for it with my time. The material was inferior and the construction, and pressing in particular, sub-standard. The whole purpose of buying pre-made was to save me time, but the poor construction made it more difficult to sew on straight. I am very happy to report that my experience with Moda’s bias binding could not ...

Before any packing can occur, two things must happen: grocery shopping and laundry. That's how yesterday was spent. Have you ever noticed, though, that laundry is a great household chore? Now that we have these fangled things called "washing machines" (I'd call them "newfangled," except they aren't new), you can wash clothes and sew at the same time! I'm so glad I was born after the era of washboards and pounding the clothes on rocks by the river. Who's with me?