For many years I would juggle suitcases during the last week of my summer stay, and since Takumi and Leiya and I would be traveling together I'd have 6 suitcases I could work with. Which suitcase weighs the most? Which one can the heaviest things be put in to balance things out? 6 suitcases gave us a lot of possibilities. There have been a few times when Tetsu would come to the States for a week and leave for Japan early. I always bought up heavy things during his week here and sent him home with two full, heavy suitcases. Even so I was usually shuffling things around in the suitcases at the airport check-in line when I went home alone weeks later.
The past three or four years since I travel alone, two suitcases just doesn't do it for me. I have to pay for overweight baggage. It makes me feel like I've done something wrong, that I'm a bad traveler or something. That's ridiculous because a week's tourist and me living a month with my American family, find different things that "need" to be bought. I shouldn't feel guilty about all my purchases and my lack of control but I do.
Last night while watching me stuff things into my two humongous suitcases my brother made the WRONG comment that I had too much fabric this year.
"Just stick half of it in a box and leave it here. You aren't going to get all that used up in one's year's time anyway. When you come back next year you're going to have only used a fraction of all that stuff. Put it all in baggies and number them and if want something tell us the number and we'll send it to you when needed. I know you won't need it though."
Boy did that send my bristles up! And besides, next year when I come I'll be buying more fabric so that was a dumb suggestion. (Besides most of my fabric from friends I'm putting into my carry on case. I DO NOT want to have the airlines lose that!)
Another subject...
I have said good-bye to Takumi and Bianca. They made a stop by on Sunday night. Just together time, a little shopping for Tetsu (a birthday present from his kids). Here are a couple of interesting pictures... I wonder what Tetsu will think when he sees this post.
When Leiya and I were in Long Beach with Takumi we made yet another stop at JoAnns to buy Bianca some Heat and Bond for her soon to be started applique project. And while there Takumi discovered a sales bin with books, tools, and kits. He went through the cashier's line before I did and so I didn't realize until later that he'd bought a cross stitch kit."Who is that for?"
"Me. It was on sale."
WHAT?!! Sputter, choke, walk into a wall. My son wants to do cross stitch?! NO WAY!
Sunday Takumi brought his already started cross stitch and spent a couple hours working on it as we all sat around chatting. He needed a couple basic lessons"Use a florescent pen to highlight the stitches you've already done or you're going to get confused."
"Make your stitches going in the same direction."
but he was going at it with great gusto. Who would've thought...
Maybe someday I'll get to put the finished product up on my wall.
11 comments:
Tanya, would it be cheaper to ship your fabric home? I think the way airlines are raising baggage rates it might be worth it to go to UPS, lol. Don't you dare feel any guilt about this - you only get here once a year, and it's not like Japan abounds with quilt shops.
Takumi is doing cross-stitch - how clever of him! Lots of men x-stitch, knit, quilt. Good for him!
Kids will always surprise you. I sure don't envy you your packing job. Wouldn't sending it on ahead be easier?? I don't know about cheaper, but you could look into it.
Tanya, here's an idea for next year's visit. Consider leaving the clothes you now have with you in CA to wear next year and subsequent years. That will leave room in your suitcase for your return trip to Japan AND you'll have clothes waiting for you next year. You won't have to think about what to wear. :) Just a thought. Sure enjoy your posts. I don't get around blogland much these days but your blog is one I always visit even if I next-to-never comment. Love it that Takumi is cross stitching. That picture is precious.
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Tell Takumi that I have personaly taught several men (one of them at least 6'4") to cross stitch and they all love it! I have a beautiful angel that one of them did for me (15"x24") that I treasure. And I know several surgeons who do needlework or knitting (they say it keeps their hands agile).
Have a safe trip home and leave the guilty feelings in the trash!
I think that it is fantastic that he is trying cross-stitch! Yeah, look at all the successful men artists and quilters! I think you should not worry a second about fabric purchases....I would see if the stores would ship it for me....why not? I love your blog and posts--thank you; safe journey home!
Beautiful photo of Leiya, Takumi and Bianca. Even better seeing Takumi cross stitching. My son is my best sewer. His first project...a mitt potholder for his then fiance. His second project...22 yards of white eyelet to make curtains for a surprise canopied iron bed for her first married Valentine's gift. He'd never sewed before those projects and called his drawing for them 'blueprints'.
Holly had the exact same thought I had....leave the clothes in a box and make room for the important stuff!!! I can't believe it's already time to be packing!!
I love that photo of Takumi doing his cross stitch! I hope he sends a picture when it is done so we can all see it. The photo of you and Leiya was also incrediably sweet!
and don't forget the patterns I sent!!
Hi Tanya, I think they are on to something, leaving clothes to wear next time is a great idea, but if you can't bear to do that, what about posting some of your clothes back to Japan, probably a lot cheaper than paying excess baggage rates, would be from here in Australia anyway. And if the worst possible thing happened and the post went astray, it would not be lost fabric!.
Cheerio from Rieann in Aus.
Takumi is adorable! Love the cross stitch photo. I have the same problem you have when I travel. I try to take the bare minimum so I have room in my suitcase because I know I will find patterns, and books and fabric to take home. I won't make everything in my stash but I've got to have them and I re-read all the books and magazine on the flight home. Hope to see you again next year a the Long Beach Quilt show. :)
Way to go Takumi!!
I have a guy friend who does lovely cross-stitch!
What beautiful children you have plus they seem like such good people. Very cool that your son is not afraid to try cross stitch when he is interested in it. I used to do that before I became a quilter. Maybe he will be doing quilting next and make his own blueprints;=) Good luck packing!
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