Kelly Azuma

Yesterday I went to my first sewing class.

It was actually very good! Yan, our teacher, took us through all the parts of the sewing machine, and then we practiced turning the machine on, threading the bobbin, and threading the needle. We also then tried out all the stitches on the sewing machine and the tension.

It was really good for me as I’m a very visual person and I can only remember something if I see it take place, or if I do it myself.

Yan is really patient and goes through everything. She taught us how to sew a french seam, how to do some pretty stitches and the kind of seam you use for jackets and jeans. I was so proud of myself! I can actually sew in a straight line without stuffing anything up!

I took all my pieces that I had sewn home (basically squares of fabric with stitches and seams on them) and showed Yasu and he gave me lots of praise. He had previously tried to teach me how to sew but gave up because he said I was hopeless.

It seems I just needed the right teacher. :)

Anyway, we had packed my sewing machine away because I wasn’t using it, so I got it out this morning and threaded it all up and started practicing the stitches and seams again! I even made a rudimentary bag just for having a go.

Next week we are taking an old t-shirt in and redecorating it with material and stitches. I’ve got alot of Japanese material that I bought and haven’t used so I’m hoping to turn my t-shirt into a Japanese-esque design. :)

I’m bouncing along today, I feel pretty uplifted that I can use my sewing machine to make lots of crafty things from here on in, I can’t wait until next week!!

My Valentine’s Day present finally got delivered this week, a brand new Singer 2250 sewing machine! It’s a nice size, in fact, the perfect, portable size for me. I’ve been meaning to go out to Spotlight (a craft/fabric store) to get some basic sewing implements such as threads and fabric and some patterns but i’ve been so busy this week i haven’t had time.

I had my hospital apointment on Thursday, I had an ultrasound for my stomach tumor. They did find what has been causing me pain since i had my gall bladder removed so that is good. In fact the doctor called me up this afternoon to tell me that since the last time they tested me the nodule on my liver has completely disappeared which is great news as that means no yearly tests for that! Phew, one down one to go. I will see my doctor again on April 8th and then I will have an endoscopic ultrasound in June because the surgeon wants to wait so it will be one full year since the last one. Now that i have a new doctor that knows what he’s doing, things are coming along speedily.

Today i treated myself to some french nails. It’s the first time i’ve ever had my nails done. It’s quite popular at the moment, but i didn’t want to do what everyone else is doing, it’s just that my nails, when they grow long, tend to break really easily and i just wanted to have long nails without that hassle. I went to a newly opened beauty salon near me. They are quite expensive, but all the girls have been through nail courses (unlike some of those other cheap and nasty nail salons) so the resulting nails look much better, and last longer.

I went for a simple french look, abit shorter than normal as if my nails are too long i can’t do anything. I got a simple diamonte on the second last finger on each hand which just gives it that creative air. :) I’m really happy with them. Now i’ve just got to get used to typing with them! They are short, but a little slippery on the keys at first.

Tomorrow i’m off to visit my mum and spend the day with her. She lives by the beach so it will be nice weather for that, and she is going to take me to the fabric store so it will be good to have a browse around.

Yasu is working all weekend, including sunday. I’m getting a bit fed up with it all, as i never see him. He said the boat he is working on will go to launch this thursday so he is going to have friday, saturday, and sunday off next week and he’s promised to take me on a picnic to the Swan Valley, so i’m looking forward to that. I just hope he doesn’t have to break his promise otherwise I will be really angry.

Oh well, i better finish my cup of chai and get off to bed, it takes me 2 hours by bus and train to get to my mum’s house so i have to leave early tomorrow morning. Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Well Valentine’s Day has come and gone. We didn’t do very much at all as Yasu was sick with a sore throat. He was going to buy me a sewing machine as a present but in the end didn’t get around to even getting me a card until the afternoon of the day, thanks to overwork. The card he did get me though was lovely, red with roses and red glitter, and a pretty cream ribbon. I gave him a clock that has a temperature gauge and a humidity meter, whatever it’s called, that he had his eye on for a while. I also gave hime some Kirin Nama-Cha and some Wasabi Kaki no Tane which is his favourite, so that was nice to see him happy. I will get my sewing machine but when i find the right one for me. As i’m an absolute beginner i need something that doesn’t have too many bits and bobs otherwise it will just confuse me! We did get around to watching a dvd on Sunday, a movie I had bought last year but never watched called Takeshi’s featuring Takeshi Kitano, in what was a very weird movie! He played himself as an actor, and another guy, also an actor, that was him, but was meant to be a guy who looked like him. The guy who looked like him, who was actually played by him, actually kills the real him at the end. Confusing!

I went to belly dancing again tonight. It seems to be getting easier, the things we have learnt at the beginning were brought back tonight and it seemed much easier to get into it. We also had a few minutes of “freestyle” dancing to get in touch with our bodies which was good. I think most people just did the steps they felt more competent at. My friend did shimmying and i did some hip movements. I’m not very good at the leg shimmying thing…my knees just don’t go where i want them to! I guess i’ll get there with time…

I showed Yasu some moves when i got home and he said i “look like a dancer” so i guess that means he’s impressed! He’s paying for my lessons so i guess he’s seen that it’s worth it now. haha. :)

I hope you all had a nice weekend! Did any women out there in Japan get a reverse-Valentine? I’m interested to know if all that Dars reverse valentining worked.

Oh well i better get to bed i’m yawning my head off. My hips are starting to hurt which means that the belly dancing has done it’s thing once again. I won’t be able to move tomorrow morning…though in a good way!