Been to Tokyo Quilt Show on Saturday. It is my dream to live in a house big enough so that I can start making quilts.The first image was last year’s grand prize, so absolutely gorgeous, and I couldn’t believe it was real. The rests were some of my favorites.
knitting and slow life in Kyoto
Posts from the “**ENGLISH**” Category
Last night I was absentmindedly watching a popular TV show called Bura Tamori (bura means something like…walking around unpurposefully, and Tamori is a famous Japanese comedian in his 60s or almost 70 years old). The show is widely accredited for the depth of its contents, although the host is a comedian. He, and a NHK (national TV channel) reporter, and a historian walk around parts of Tokyo with ancient maps, and they come up with theories of how the area had been developed over the centuries.A boyfriend of my colleague, who is French, loves this show despite his language barrier (according to my colleague). He said that they should make the show in Paris, too.So, last night, I was watching the show when they…
Categories: **ENGLISH**, 5. Thought
昨日着付けのレッスン中に、多分年下である厳しい先生に何度も言われた言葉：「他の部分を気にするのは後で良いから、今やっていることに意識を集中して」。わたしの人生全般において当てはまる言葉だと思うので、覚えておこう。 A kimono instructor I had yesterday was far stricter than others, though she looks younger than myself. She told me during the lesson, “Focus on what you are doing at this very second, worry about other parts after that”. I kept looking around the entire parts and tried to check the balance, for there are lots of places you have to hold on to while tying belts and strings. I think the word applies to my life, not just for wearing kimonos. I should learn to focus.
As I have promised some time ago, some notes on the books that I’m currently reading. I also carry around a few other books, but today the focus is on Kindle books.Above, my first Kelly Link book, Pretty Monsters. I remember reading about the author in the special issue on Science Fiction novels of Esquire magazine. I was interested, but I got an impression that she was a horror fiction author.The reason I picked it up was because I saw a paperback edition at a bookstore, and it (paper) felt so nice in my hand. It took some time for me to decide that I should not buy the paperback, but instead I should buy a kindle edition.I only finished a half of it,…
Categories: **ENGLISH**, 4. Book
Hot wine, or vin chaud, is my favorite winter drink. I always order it whenever I eat out on freezing evenings. But you can make it quite easily too – just drop several pieces of cloves and a cinnamon stick (I only use half of it if it is just for me), some fruit (orange or apple) and wine. I learned that some people drink it with white wine, too.As much as you want to make it sugar-free, it is a good idea to add at least a spoonful of honey. Also, don’t boil it too much!Voila, a winter specialty. Exactly what I need tonight.
Categories: **ENGLISH**, 2. Diary
Something old (my mom’s kimono), something new (a sash and a ribbon), something borrowed (the belt obi borrowed from a relative), and something blue (the sash). My attire for a friend of mine’s wedding (not mine). I met an old lady in front of a second-hand kimono shop in the neighborhood. The shop owner stepped out and there was a plate hanging on the door saying: “please call me at this number if you need anything urgently” The lady said that the owner was supposed to be back 10 minutes earlier. She looked very much like my great aunt who passed away last year. It made me want to cry.We were not particularly close, the aunt and me. She was occasionally mean to my…
Categories: **ENGLISH**, 2. Diary
I feel that my future path is slowly emerging in the horizon, though it’s still foggy and blurred. Traveling beyond my safety zone helped me rediscover what I really care about. Meeting many new people at SAW, trying something new (art workshop, food styling, horseback riding, glass blowing, kimono, etc) revived my sense of wonder.In the new year, I am planning to start thinking about making some move, seriously this time. But not too seriously. For a while, I will spend time on studying and cultivating the ground. A little by little. I ended up not sending out any Christmas card nor I haven’t even bought new year’s cards. I don’t think I can do it this year. なんとなく自分の向かいたい方向性がボンヤリと見えてきた気がする年の瀬。今年後半、思い切ってあちこち遠くに旅をしてみて、新しい出会いもあり、そして何が好きなのかが実感できました。住む場所と、キャリアと、年が明けたら本格的に考えようと思います。しばらくは勉強をし、種を蒔く時期ですが、芽吹けるように持っていきます。頑張らず、流れに任せて。 ちなみに、年賀状買ってもいません。今年は年賀状が出せない様相になってきました。みなさま、どうも済みません。
Categories: **ENGLISH**, 2. Diary
Otaru is famous for glass art, and I bought the above glass at a gallery shop. Love. In case you are wondering, below is the not-so-pretty glass that I made in the 20 minutes trial class (too much bubble). But it was fun. I am going to try it again. The other day, in Tokyo, my family got together for a Christmas/Birthday lunch at a fancy restaurant. I took some photos on my way back. In the background, it’s the Tokyo Tower. Red leaves (momiji) were beautiful. I’ve got some nice presents for Christmas from my family and friends. Here I just want to show off a picture book my mom gave me. It’s an Italian picture book, totally gorgeous. The title is something…
Watched Burlesque in a theater (again) today. It was fantastic!!! Probably one of the best I’ve seen this year. Cher and Christina Aguilera was amazing. I can’t believe Cher can still sing like that.
ABACUS AND SWORD武士の家計簿Went to watch a Japanese film in a theater for the first time in a loooong while, on a Christmas eve. A part of the reasons was that the leading actor is my favorite. But regardless of that, the film was very good and I’m glad I watched it.The story is about a life of a man in 19th century (during Edo period), who was an accountant to one of the regional kings in Japan. His family had been a middle class samurai, and had served as accountants for several generations.The Japanese values shown in this film are surely outdated (of course, the film is about 19th century world), but the same values still form the baseline of Japanese culture, I think. …
Sparkles*United 