2025 wrap up and fond farewell to blogging

As soon as I checked my blog this morning (and had to delete so very many spam comments) I realized that my blogging era has come to a natural end.  

Over the years I kept several blogs - "Mrs. Nanto in Tokyo" for my fourth graders back home in MA, the first year I lived in Tokyo; a recipe blog for my kids; a family history blog;  A Quilter by Night, and then this blog.  

I have loved blogging and reading quilt blogs, over the years.  Thank you if you have ever read and commented on my posts.  It was so much fun to connect.

You can find me on Instagram under my name cynthiananto.  I limit social media now but I do check Instagram every day;). 

To wrap things up, here are a few of the projects I've been working on in recent months! 

This is the study quilt I made for this year's AQSG quilt study.  I studied a quilt my great grandmother made in the 60's.  It was really fun to do.  It was not chosen to travel, but this means that I can hang it in my dining room sooner rather than later. 

This is the block, Electric Fan: 

I used solid green fabric, Kona Snow, and Liberty Tana Lawn scraps. 

I also finished another sashiko throw, this one for my sister in law Dottie: 

The back: 

I just finished piecing this Zinnia Seeds kit (with a million pieces) - for an elderly friend who bought the kit with unrealistic expectations of being able to piece it;).  

All basted and ready to machine quilt: 

Cheers!  

xo

Cynthia 

Charlotte's Rainbow Quilt finished

In April I attended my guild's (Triangle Modern Quilt Guild) "sleep at home" retreat.  It was such fun and I got to know some folks in the process.  

During the retreat we paired up to make blocks for a community giving quilt (our guild supports a nearby foster care system) using donated scraps (mostly strips).   I just love the dark/light scrappy effect of these blocks!  Totally my cup of tea. 

Other than that we each worked on our own projects and I started a Rainbow quilt for my grand daughter Charlotte.  Her "favorite color is rainbow".  

Later at home, pin basting went fast: 

And when I finished the quilt I thought, why not use miles and visit my kids in San Francisco and deliver the quilt in person, so that's what I did. 

So fun to spend time with Ellie and Amelia as well!  They are at a challenging and adorable stage, both. 

In other news a few weeks ago, I co-hosted a small family reunion with folks coming from Ireland, Colorado, and Ohio.  It was for the most momentous of occasions - meeting my "aunt" who had matched with us on Ancestry DNA.  For privacy reasons we've been asked to not post any photos or identifying details just yet! 

But, suffice to say, it was an amazing experience!  

Meanwhile I already miss my kids and grands in San Francisco, and I relish the time I have with Chloe here in Raleigh! 

xo

Cynthia 

My brother's sashiko throw finished, and a little London getaway

 

Spring has started springing in sunny North Carolina.  It is so beautiful here. 

I finished the next sashiko sofa throw, this one for my brother and sister in law.  This time, I sandwiched the layers with thin batting ("cream rose").  

Front:

Back: 

Again I used a lot of vintage pieces mixed with new indigo, and some pieces of Liberty tana lawn.  After everything was sashiko-ed (quilted, really) I appliquéd some patches on to the front, for balance. 

A good way to use a small piece of vintage Katazome: 

Meanwhile David was on a long business trip to several cities and I met up with him in London for a few days.  It was such a nice getaway.  

So fun seeing friends Nate and Savannah and meeting their kiddos for the first time in Hyde Park.  

At Liberty, charm everywhere - 

These celebrity needlepoint kits were a hoot, tempting: 

Crochet flowers - 

Sometimes I want to chuck all my quilting stuff and do embroidery - 

My travel back and forth was happily uneventful.  David returned home a week later after more business travel and we both promptly got Covid which kept each of us laid low for a solid week.   Coming out of the fog now! 

I keep taking unintentional breaks from blog reading and certainly blog posting!  But not ready to throw in the towel just yet! 

Hoping you my quilting pals across the miles are doing well in this topsy turvy world.  

xo

Cynthia