Twisted Stitcher Loot

Last night we did our belated Twisted Stitcher Christmas gathering. After a fabulous pot luck dinner we exchanged a wide variety of handmade ornaments.

Here's a link to the 2011 ornaments.

I made wool birds.

Robin made rayon batik stars.

Sandy made fabric crosses.

Jaunita made mushrooms of wool and vintage polyester.

Judy made zipper Christmas trees.

Sherrie made notebooks with handmade paper.

Sherrie also made paper ornaments.

Carol made paper ornaments too.

Becky made felt darling dolls. (I wish I had a better photo.)

Julie crocheted cute yarn balls.

It such a pleasure to spend time with these talented ladies.

Thank you!

Welcome 2013!

A Japanese Iaido teacher named John lives in our neighborhood. Iaido is the modern Japanese martial art of smoothly drawing the sword from the scabbard. 

(Another neighbor calls it martial arts for old men with bad knees.) 

For 16 years John and his students have performed a "First Draw" ceremony in the park at dawn on New Years Day. 

This morning Jon, Berek, Rusty and I got up early to watch.

John says that Iaidoka around the world participate in this ceremony.

It was a peaceful way to start the year. (Even if swords were involved.)

Happy New Year!