Playing around with batiks

EQ5 is wonderful. I mapped out this blue & green batik throw (that I mentioned in my last post) this morning, between showering and blow-drying my hair. Why do I have to be so creatively inspired before work on a Monday?!? Does that ever happen to anyone else? You wake up with perfect quilt ideas in your mind and have to write them down quickly before you forget them (or move on to other perfect quilt ideas)? This layout is only 52"x52", but I don't want to make it any bigger because (a) I'm not really in the mood to make any more of the center blocks and (b) though I bought black fabric for $5.95/yd, I don't want to spend any money on more blue & green batiks; I'd rather use up what I have. I should note that while the EQ5 version has only 4 fabrics, I plan to use just about all the blue & green batiks in my stash, making it kind of scrappy and wild. I haven't washed or cut any fabrics mind you, but it's the middle of the work week, and I really don't see much physical progress being made until at least the weekend...

I got a call tonight from my friend Mrs. K in Tomakomai (Hokkaido, Japan). She's the woman who taught me to quilt the Japanese way, and even though it's been 4 years since I was living in Japan, she still calls me once a month. I love her soo much. Talking with her just makes me so happy, it's sad we can't see each other and chat while quilting anymore. Anyway, while talking to her daughter tonight, I let it slip that I had been pricing plane tickets to Sapporo lately. Mrs. K. has been saving up to come see me in the States forever, but it's so expensive, and so far.. I didn't think I'd get to go back to Japan for a while, but with my recent raise and new determination to save money, I'm starting to toy with the idea of going next April. It would all depend on how pregnant I am though (note: currently not pregnant at all, but hopeful), so I'm just keeping the possibilty in the back of my mind. Anyway, it's nice to dream...