Anyone lucky enough to visit Prince Edward Island in early summer will surely have noticed the colorful swaths of flowering lupines. The vivid blooming spikes of Large-leaved Lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus), in every shade and tint of purple and pink, add punch to the Island’s idyllic views.
Growing up on a dairy farm we always had “barn clothes”. They were one-piece coveralls, with long sleeves and long pants, that could easily be worn over our play clothes. Our barn clothes were lovingly sewn by my mother on her Singer sewing machine. She used denim fabric for its strength and durability.
Nothing says Japanese garden more distinctly than a stone lantern. Known as ishi-dōrō in Japanese, these beautiful stone carvings are the most popular and recognizable feature in a Japanese garden.
A visit to Japan wouldn’t be complete without visiting a Japanese garden. Or in our case, visiting dozens of Japanese gardens! We explored gardens at temples, shrines, palaces, castles and parks and, yet, we never grew tired of them. Why? What makes Japanese gardens so special?
One of the craft-related purchases I made during my recent trip to Japan was a sashiko DIY kit. Sashiko, which roughly translates to “little stabs”, is a type of Japanese stitching.
I returned from Japan with a suitcase full of craft tools and materials and a head full of project ideas. Japan’s deep respect for traditional craft and master craftsmanship means inspiration is everywhere in this fascinating country. One of the first crafts that caught my attention was Tsugaru kogin-zashi. Kogin, as it’s commonly called, is a form of Japanese stitching originating from the northern regions of Japan.
