"I just wanted to be sure of you"

FRIEND:  A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. 

Someone asked me recently why my photos don't include Japanese friends.  Hopefully, someday they will.  I have learned that it is very difficult to build relationships when you can barely communicate.  I cannot speak Japanese yet, short of hello, goodbye, thank you, I'm sorry, etc. Many Japanese, while they learned English in school, are not also not comfortable in a conversation.  They know similar words in English that I know in Japanese.  It doesn't make for very in-depth conversation.  

For now I am relying on my new expat friends.  Relying heavily in some instances.  My husband is already traveling quite a bit.  In fact, he is in Brazil this week and Argentina next week.  Several of the ladies here have really extended the hand of friendship to me.  I've learned that I don't do well as a loner.  I'm an extrovert.  No doubt about it.  I need people, big time.  

I just thought I'd add a funny photo of my first squatty potty experience.  I REALLY didn't want to try this.  But, sometimes you've got to get with the program, so to speak.

We both conquered the use of the "self-serve" line in this grocery store.  

Thankfully it had an "english" button.

My new friends took me to a thrift store.  And they don't even know me well yet!  I might've jumped at the chance. That was probably a clue.  I bought the beautiful china plates below and the game board they are sitting on.  I really want to go back, but really don't have room for much.  

Another friend took me to Costco, which was such a help.  This is both of our stuff combined, by the way.  I don't even have a membership and she let me go with her.  Which was very generous.  Then she drove me home and helped me unload!  Which is not simple, since I live in the city in an apartment on the 12th floor.  

I have had A LOT of dining opportunities.  Above is my first Indian meal. 

And first for sitting on the floor.  

This was Japanese BBQ.  Most of it was delicious. ;-)

Expat's tend to recognize each other immediately in Japan.  Only 1% of the people in Japan are not Japanese.  So, we really stick out.  This beautiful family was from Norway.  Their little girls were Karen, Maria and Julia. 

Elizabeth and I met when we both tried to pass the driving test.  We both failed.  Here are her boys, Aiden and Robin.  Such a sweet family.  Since then she has passed and I have my second test tomorrow.  I'm trying not to stress about it.  I won't try again, if I fail it this time.  All done.

 Blurry but funny.

These last two pictures are of my close friends in Southern California.  They made a "flat Karen" and took me antiquing with them.  I think we did a few other things together too.  I was told that I created quite a scene.  Silly girls.  I love and miss them a lot.  

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.  

"Pooh!" he whispered. 

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw.  

"I just wanted to be sure of you.

Friends are the best!

Why Japan is a Crafter's Paradise . . .

Japan has not given up on their crafting and sewing population.  Many normal stores have some kind of a sewing section for supplies for all kinds of crafts, hobbies and sewing.  While they have many hobbies that we do not in the U.S., they have many of the same.  I found a bead store that I briefly mentioned previously.  Today, I'm going to show you a five story fabric store that is about 3/4 mile from our apartment.  I didn't take photos of each floor.  I think I was too stunned and the place was hopping.  When I walked into the front door there were bolts of beautiful classic wool plaids right at my fingertips.  At the time I was way too hot to even think about buying any wool, but it has cooled off and I'm still thinking about some Royal Stewart plaid that they had. If this link doesn't work for you because I am in Japan, just Google Royal Stewart Plaid.  You'll recognize it.  

There was an entire floor dedicated to knits, one for evening wear fabrics and weddings.  I don't even know.  I'm going to have to return soon for more research.  One of my favorite fabric lines are Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  They are pretty pricey, but they are incredibly beautiful to look at and touch. It is possible to find them in the States, but not common. You definitely want to see and touch them before you purchase.  Check their website, but you just can't tell how beautiful they are unless you see them.  You can also buy them in the states from Purl Soho.  Again, better in person.  If you live in Southern California, Purl Soho has their shipping location in Tustin, I believe.  It's definitely worth a visit, but isn't fancy like a knitting/fabric shop.  

The three photos above are Liberty. 

I've been working on this embroidery piece.  I'm not sure it's completed, but now that I have my sewing machine here (yeah, sea shipment arrived yesterday), I can buy some backing fabric and get 'er done.  I am planning on Liberty yardage for the back.  

They even had a selection of Marimeko prints.  Check out the history of the company on their website.  It is a Finnish company that began in the early 50's and is still going strong today.  Their prints were highly popular in the United States in the 60's and 70's, you might recognize them.

This is a poor photo, but I was so excited to see this.  Cosmo is a Japanese floss that I had first purchased at French General in Los Angeles.  Definitely a store to visit if you're in the area. I read on the labels that it was made in Japan.  Of course, I had not come across any yet, only DMC.  Then I saw this! All the Cosmo I could ever want. It's beautiful floss with amazing color ways.  

Then I found the Indigo.  Oh, the Indigo.  I think I will have to do an entirely separate post about this subject.  Especially when I've learned a little more about it.  In the mean time, I'm going to plan a project with it.  If you're on Pinterest, do a search of Indigo.  Maybe even on Google.  It's a feast for the eyes.  I mean it.  Especially the hand dyed fabrics, Shibori, nui, Kumo, Hagime, and batik to name a few.  I don't even know what all of those are yet.  But, I am planning on finding out. 

 I did start trying my hand at Sashiko embroidery.  They sell little kits for beginners. When you buy the needles, it comes wrapped so perfectly and inside is also a needle threader.  I love that!

This photo is a collage of the different stages of opening the pretty little needle package.  

The Japanese have a gift of presentation. 

I was suppose to mark around the piece and trim it off.  I didn't have a ruler, let alone for millimeters.  Then I realized my Moleskine notebook had a page with a ruler on it. So, there you go! Very helpful for measuring. Yes, I did already have my fabric marker.

This is the beginning stages of my Sashiko. 

The store had samples available to entice you to buy a kit.  It didn't take much. 

The fabric store had a lovely section of yarn.  I understand that crochet more popular than knitting here. I brought several knitting projects to finish, so it may be awhile before I begin a new one. Especially since I've already started other projects and am dreaming about more. Japanese women evidently love their sewing and handcrafts enough to keep stores like this in business. Their clothes sewing is an entirely different subject worth it's own post. And yes, I've purchased two Japanese pattern books already.  

When Hubby's Away. . .

Hi there.  Time is flying really fast here and we have already lived in Japan for one month! I can't even believe it myself.  A couple of weeks ago, my husband went on a business trip from Monday through Saturday to Europe.  He went to Rome, Madrid and Paris.  I was not pleased.  Many people have asked why I didn't go.  The bottom line is, I cannot go.  So, I had some new, dear friends that kept me busy while he was away.  I am very thankful for these girls that have reached out to me and included me in so many things.  This post is about only two days of excursions.  

First we visited an Premium Outlet Mall in a nearby prefecture.  The kids were off of school and the place was packed!! It was a great place to people watch.  This "interesting" sculpture was outside the mall.  

If you're interested, search Google.  I did and I still have no clue.  

My friend Sharon and I checked out the Wacoal store. I really like Wacoal bras and so I wanted to see it. Well, bras in Japan are nothing like they are in the U.S.  NOTHING. There are a lot of frills, lace, flowers and ruffles.  Sizes are much different as well, as you may be able to see. There was not a plain bra in sight. 

 There were several strange store names.

This vintage Nissan was parked in front of us. Pretty cute! The next day Sharon invited me over and we ended up running some errands. I was able to check out her grocery store, which is nicer than mine. These are more "normal" prices than some you've seen me post from the specialty food stores.

Four big apples for basically $3.32. They are delicious too.  But you only have a choice of two kinds of apples from what I can tell, yellow and red.

 I can't really tell you how much hamburger this was in weight.  I would guess that it was around a quarter pound.  I think it would've made one hamburger.  The cost is $4.55.

I took a photo of this bread because it had the largest slices I've seen so far.  Usually the bread loaves hold 4-8 slices of bread which determines the size of the slices.  I think it's a pretty great idea.  I have found whole wheat bread but it's pretty wimpy compared to ours. I'm missing my 7 or 12 grain bread.  

 Nope.

I took this photo of Sharon in an attempt to be sneaky and take a picture of these two guys in their huge pants.  Sharon thinks construction workers wear them.  Seems like they'd be in the way and super annoying.  I think he knew I was doing it by the look on his face. BUSTED!

 HUGE grapes!  I was told they taste like wine, and I would agree. 

1280 Yen translates to $10.68.

 $6.66 per cantaloupe.

 I loved the tablecloth (laminated) fabric they sold in the grocery store!  Very cute. 

I was really tempted to buy these cute crocks.  Really, really tempted.

 We then went to Daiso which is a 100 Yen store in Japan and they are also in Los Angeles.  Maybe they are in more places in the US as well.  This is the biggest one I've ever seen.

 Look at these monster hangers.  They are evidently for towels.  HUGE.  Kind of cute, though.

On Instagram I titled this photo, "one of these is not like the other". Everyone BACKS into their parking spaces in Japan.  It's supposedly safer when you leave.  Maybe so.  Either way you have to back up sometime.  Here you can easily see which car is Sharon's.  You may also be able to see that it has a green and yellow "new driver" sticker on it.  We Americans have to put these on our cars.  On that note, I'm taking my driving test this Thursday!  If you think of me on Wednesday evening, breathe a little prayer for me.  Thank you! 

Talk to you soon,

Karen