Shopping Tour

I'm going to escape from Winnipeg to Grand Forks for fabric shopping!

I also have a very important mission to complete at the US border.
The missions is...

I go in to this mysterious building holding a lot of packages, casually talk to the lady who works there, find the package for me from Kate Spade and pay US$ 5 :) Nobody can know about this.

Grand Forks is a small town in North Dakota, but it seems to have more than I thought.

It's probably like visiting Kobe (...although Grand Forks is much less fancy) in Japan from my town Nara, but it's gonna be FUN!!

Holiday Gift

Who wants this bag?

with home decor fabric

Well, it's sold out!!

Retro Version

Another big bag, with retro fabric.

I found a class for sewing clothing, which is the reason I bought the sewing machine!
 
And also the class is in my driving area!!

And the class is running when I'm actually available!!!

Since I work in the evenings and weekends, and I don't drive very well (especially during the winter when roads are slippery), it is very difficult to find something I can participate in.

So... this is almost a miracle!! But I still can't decide... do I want to commit to the morning activity?

New Style

The newest big bag is slightly different from the usual type.

I think it looks good.

When I have a main fabric that is difficult to coordinate with another fabric, I'm going to use this strategy :)

英語学校

英語学校に行きます！と、宿題とテストが多い！と、卒業しました！の報告のみで、内容は全然書いていなかったことに気づきました。

学校の名前はRed River College 付属のLanguage Training Centre で、私が受けていたコースはAEPUCE ：エーピュース（Academic English Program for University and College Entrance）といって、主にカナダで大学に行きたい人たちが大学の授業で不自由しないレベルの英語力を身に着けるコースで、どの大学もこのコースを卒業することを入学の必須条件としています。

このコースに入学するために必要な英語力は、Canadian Language Benchmarksのレベル７で、IELTSでいうところのスコア６です。

卒業するのに必要な英語力は、Benchmark 8、IELTS 6.5で、３か月間AEPUCEコースで勉強した私の成績は、、、（BenchmarkがあまりポピュラーではないのでIELTSに変換します。）

Listening：　８
Speaking：　６．５
Writing：　　７
Reading：　６．５

でした。

大学入学の必要条件はしっかりクリアできたので、これからMaster's Degreeを目指して、英語力にも更に磨きをかけます。　

Winter break

Winter break in 3 weeks (and 2 days)!!

Since I'm not going back to Japan this Winter, and I won't be working for 2 weeks, I should find something to keep myself busy.

As much as sleeping in, napping, watching DVDs, falling asleep on the couch, Oreo, etc. sound nice, I know those are not very good for me.

I will probably be sewing, and also I'm thinking about going to Yoga; although I can't promise anything if this will happen for sure this time.

I was looking for a Yoga studio that suit me and I think Yoga Centre is the way to go.

It's in my driving area, the class I would want to take is not too early in the morning or too late so I get lazy and don't want to go out anymore.

We'll see...

December!

It is amazing how fast time flies by... especially when you are busy.

I just finished the very busy English course 2 weeks ago but I feel like it was a long time ago because now I'm busy with getting my application form ready for the Master's course I am trying to get in to, and I feel like I'm working on this forever.

The Ballet teaching job is less busy right now since I almost finished choreographing competition pieces.

It's my day off today so I sewed :)

 

New Arrival!

Finally a new arrival, it's probably been 6 months!!

This order was in about 3 months ago and I had to make my customer wait because of the English course I was taking.

I really enjoyed getting back to sewing :)

It's still very relaxing even though my back is a little sore from sitting in front of the sewing machine...

 
Two more orders are in so I will be working hard this weekend and next week.

Fabric

The fabric I ordered from the states has arrived!

I like Southern Fabric.

It's been too busy for me to sew purses because of being in school full time, but I will start again soon :)

Tests

I will be having another test at school tomorrow.

I have never been tested this often in my life.

And also, I have never studied this hard in my life.

Sometimes I imagine what would have happened if I had studied really hard in Sr. high school.

I could have been a lawyer or doctor or... Well, I'm really happy about my job so it worked out well.

But, since I am regretting slightly (very slightly) that I didn't try my best when I was a real student, it is actually fun to get up at 7am in the morning every day, and go to school, or to have assignments, homework, deadlines.

But tests are not fun:(

My Sr. high school friends wouldn't believe this but I haven't skipped or been late for school since the beginning of September! I am a master student (according to the teachers)!!

The goal is in sight! If everything goes well, the course will be finished at the end of November.

As much as I enjoy being a student, I want to sleep in, sew purses and have a nap before work.

Busy busy busy...

Wow! It's already October!!

The reason I haven't updated my blog for a loooong time is because I'm busy!

On the last day in Japan, I mean it was going to be the last day, due to the weather conditions, I couldn't catch the plane from the Narita airport to the states.

So I had another day in Tokyo, which was very unexpected and unfortunate, and I finally flew back to Winnipeg on September 5th in the evening.

I have been really busy because I am going to school!

As I mentioned in an old blog post, after applying for the academic English course at Red river college, I was accepted.

The school started on September 3rd, which means that I missed the first 3 days (my summer vacation was a bit too long) but I think I have caught up:)

The school runs everyday from 9am to 3pm but the course is free for immigrants! What a great deal!

Although so many assignments... :(

I feel like I'm always writing an essay, report, or research paper of some kind.


Unfortunately, sewing is not happening right now but the orders for Christmas are already in! Hopefully I will have some time to sew at the end of November or the beginning of December.


Teaching ballet is going great! I am working for two studios this season.  Both studios have already started to talk about competitions. Searching for costumes, deciding music, choreographing...

Soooooo busy!!!

Sewing in Japan

Chichi brand is improving!

My very first clothing :)
It took me 9 hours but I had fun especially with making button holes.

Sassy librarian blouse
*the pattern is from sewing club

I made this blouse at the sewing school in Japan.
The teacher had fancy sewing machines and she let me use one of them. It was sooo nice!

I want one too but it must be very expensive... :(

Summer break in Japan 2

Only two and a half weeks left in Japan!

I finally started to think about when I come back to Canada because I just received the acceptance letter from the English language school (full-time course!) I applied for, and some emails from the studio owners about the next season.

I am a little afraid that I will be very busy with the full-time schooling and the almost full-time work. I might have to stop sewing :(

Before I go back to the real life I would like to look back the memories in Japan.

Kyushu trip with my mom in June.

My friend from Tokyo came to my house and we visited Nara downtown.

Todaiji

Daibutsu

Nigatsu-do

very friendly "wild" deer

*Tokae at Ukimido

Many more memories!!

Summer break in Japan

Hello!

It's been too long since I updated my blog last time.

That's because I am in Japan for a vacation:)

I always have many things to do here.

Dentist,  eye doctor for contacts,  renewing my international driver's license, seeing friends, shopping, eating, etc...


The special events for this summer are...

Taking my dog to a vet to get her bum bump removed (not fun at all),

and reunion of my jr. high-school.


I was going to sew in Japan using my mom's sewing machine too but I had to give up because her machine was very different from mine:(

I bought Japanese patterns too but even the sewing system was different!!

But I found a really cute sewing school near my house so I will have my first Japanese sewing class on Wednesday.

And I will have my Tokyo friend over this weekend.

I'm looking forward to it:D

"Dojyo-sukui manzyu"
I can't translate.

英語テスト

カナダ生活も６年目を終えようとしています。
I'm about to finish my 6th year in Canada.

６年間の海外生活中、ずっと避けてきたもの（というよりは、幸運にも強要されずにきたもの）。。。
Somehow I managed to not do an English test for these years but,

それは英語テスト！！
not today!!

RWBでは、私が入学した次の年から、インターナショナルの生徒向けに簡単な英語のテストが設けられたそうです。
I heard that RWB started to have an English test for international students the year after I got in.

移民権を取った時も、RWBを卒業していたおかげで、当然英語はできるんだろうという見解で免除。
When I applied for a permanent residency, I didn't have to do one because I graduated from a post-secondary school in Canada, which is RWB. 

大学に行こうかなと思い話を聞きにいったときも、入学のための英語力テストは受けなくていい可能性大と言われホッとしていたのですが、
When I was thinking about applying for university and I went to talk to the recruitment person, he said I might not have do their English test. 

ついに今日、英語テストを受けてきました。
Today, I had to take an English test at Winnipeg English Language Assessment and Referral Centre.


レッドリバーカレッジという学校で、移民権保持者は無料で英語の授業が受けられるのですが、それの入試兼、レベル分けのためのテストです。
It was for the English course at Red River College that I would like to attend. (It's free for Permanent Residents!)

２時間と少しで、Listening、Speaking、Writing、Reading　をすべて審査され、その５分後には結果がでるというものでした。
I did Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading for a little over 2 hours and then 5 minutes later I got the results.

私が志望しているコースに入学するには、８レベルあるうちレベル７が必要なのですが、４科目とも無事レベル７をとることができました。
Apparently, I needed 7 out of 8 for each test, and I got 7 for all of them!! 

試験官によると、Reading が一番危なかったそうです。。。　頑張って新聞読みます！！
The examiner told me that my reading was the weakest.. I will start to read newspapers!

今日は天気がいいので、試験後はすがすがしい気持ちで歩いて帰ってきました。
The weather is really nice today so I walked home happy after the test :)

自生のライラック

小リスをとるつもりが、どこかへ行ってしまいました。

少し久しぶりの。。。

ここのところ仕事が忙しかったり、大学入学の事や英語の事などで頭がいっぱいだったりしたので、なかなか副業の縫い物まで手が回らなかったのですが、久しぶりに作りました。
I was busy working, thinking about the university courses, studying English, etc... I feel like I was away from sewing for a while but...

今回はカメラケース。
finally a new arrival, a camera case.

小さいものは縫うのが大変ですが、大きい物を作った後の切れ端を使えるので、節約になります。
It's really hard to sew something this small but it's kind of good for me because I can use the scraps from the big bags.

人気のコンビネーション

裏地もドット

Next step 2

As I said in the last post, I might be able to get a Masters degree and also get a RAD certificate at the same time.
前回のブログで少し書いたように、もしかしたらマスターズディグリー（日本では大学院卒と同じだと思います。）とRADの資格を同時にとれるかもしれません。

BUT!
が、

Before I start the process there is a huge wall in front of me called "IELTS (International English Language Testing System)."
そのプログラムを開始する前にIELTSという大きな壁が立ちはだかっています。

I will need 7.0 to get in the program.
Usually universities require 6.5, but because this program is for a Masters degree they need more than that...
普通大学に入学するには６．５が必要なのですが、このプログラムでは院に入学することになるので７．０取らないといけないそうです。

So even though they are still accepting late applications I have decided to study for IELTS for a while and get 7.0, and then apply for the program next year.
入学申込みをまだ受け付けているそうですが、しばらくはIELTSのために勉強して、次の９月にスタートすることにします。

For starters, I bought this book to get used to reading in English.
まずは、英語での読書にもっと慣れるために、この本を購入しました。

Master of Russian Ballet

 I will write a review about this book when I finish reading it.
読み終わったらレビューを書きます。

Next step

My students are in Fargo for a competition so I had a very quiet Saturday today.

I did my Cecchetti Diploma last summer (I can't believe it's been almost a year!!) and did Associate Diploma this spring.

The next step will be Licentiate but I have to teach at least 2 more years to apply for that.

Because I will have nothing to do for 2 years, (although it might take 1 year to prepare for the Licentiate exam) I wanted to do something other than ballet to make my career stronger, things like National dance, Benesh notation, Education degree, etc.

But as long as I'm living in Winnipeg, there is a huge limitation on what I can do.

I felt stuck :(

And then I remembered that RAD have long distance courses. I might do it!

There might be a perfect course for me and if I read the information correctly, I might be able to get a Masters degree skipping a Bachelor degree!

I will write more when I'm sure.

Now I feel alive!! :)




Almost spring at the beach in Manitoba







Another one

After the stressful ballet exam I have a lot of free space in my brain and I finally have time to sew again.
バレエの試験後は脳がゆったりするので、時間にもゆとりがあるように感じられます。

This order was in about a few weeks ago but I couldn't do it until now.
2、3週間前に入っていたカバンのオーダーを、今日やっと終わらせる事ができました。 

Summer is coming (hopefully)

It's April 21st today and it still snowed here in Winnipeg. 

4月も半分過ぎたというのに、ここウィニペグでは今日も雪でした。

To make myself happy, I made a summer bag (if it's coming) for myself.
気分転換に夏用のカバンを作りました。

It's bigger than the big bag :)

It will be really cute with a simple t-shirt and jeans.
シンプルなＴシャツとジーンズに持つとかわいいかなと思っています。


Oh, about the ballet exam...the candidates did very well (including me!) and we all succeeded.
バレエの試験は、私も含めて皆合格しました。

My Associate Diploma exam is done, income tax is taken care of, I think I can finish choreographing the recital dance pieces soon, my students have two more competitions but they all know their dance very well so...
アソシエイトディプロマの資格も無事取得し、確定申告も済ませ、シーズン末のリサイタルのための振り付けは4月中には終わらせ、生徒のコンペティションはあと2つあるものの、私がしなければいけない事はしれているので、、、 

All I have to do is wait for the summer!!
あとは夏休みを待つばかりー! 

Big bag marathon #2

This post was in my draft box. I don't remember when I wrote this... 

I'm doing the Big bag marathon again.
1番大きいサイズのショッピングバッグが売れ行き順調で、今回5つ注文が入っています。

It was my day off today so I made two.
今日は仕事がお休みの日だったので、頑張って2つ作りました。

I would love to say "I make my students' costumes too." but I only do decorations.
生徒のコンクールの衣装も、"作っています"と言いたいところですが、飾り付けだけ。。。

Ballet exam

Hello!

I have been really really busy and couldn't update my blog for a long time.

I'm still busy so I'm just briefly letting you know what happened since my last blog "March!"

In mid March, the whole dance school went to Minneapolis for the dance competition. My ballet girls did really well.

After Minneapolis, Patrick and I went to Vegas, Grand Canyon and Santa Fe for 10 days as our spring vacation.

On April 1st, I was back to work and two weeks after that (it's now!) the ballet exams are tomorrow!!

Wow...time really flies by :(

March!

3月になってしまいました。これからシーズン末に向けて、コンペティション、バレエEXAM、リサイタル、(あ!確定申告も!!)とどんどん忙しくなるのに加えて、次のシーズンの準備(クラス分けやティーチングのスケジュール決めなど)もあるのでバタバタしています。
It's March!
It's getting really busy for the competitions, ballet exam, the recital, (can't forget about filing income tax!), preparing for the next season, etc...


次から次へとやらなければいけないことが増え、一応リストに書き出してはいるものの、何か忘れてるんじゃないかとふと考えては不安になります。
Again, I'm not so busy physically but my brain is very very busy. I'm making a to-do list but I always have the feeling that I'm forgetting something...


でも楽しいことも!2週間後にミネアポリスで行われるコンペティションの後は春休み!
ミネアポリスからウィニペグに帰ってきた2日後には、またアメリカへトンボ返りし、今度はラスベガス、グランドキャニオン、サンタフェに行ってきます。
But, spring break in 3 weeks! Yay!! After the competition in Minneapolis, I will be back in the States to go to Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Santa Fe :)


夏に日本に帰る飛行機も手配しました。
I already bought the ticket to go back to Japan for the Summer too!


カバンのオーダーもどんどん入ってきます。大して儲かっていないのに、助手を雇わなければいけないのではないかと思うほどの繁盛ぶりで、自分で作っておいて、"どうしてみんなこんな手作りのかばんが欲しいんだろう。。。買った方が安いのに。"と不思議に思う時があります。^^;
The sewing business (I don't know if I can call it business yet) is going well too. I might have to hire a helper sometime soon. Let me know if you want to work with me for 10 cents/per piece (cutting and ironing).


Don't forget to check out the "New arrivals of the month" page!

New arrival yesterday

New arrival!

I have 4 (possibly 5) big bag orders in!

But I couldn't start sewing because I didn't have enough interfacing so I did my least favourite process, cutting fabric :(

I just kept cutting and cutting and cutting...

And then, I was looking at the scraps that are too small to make bags but too big to throw out...

At 1:30 am, I had a great idea and I just wanted to start right away!



Ta-da!

I'm thinking about making it as a reward, like "buy over $150 and get this free!"

Or I might not be able to give it away because it's sooo cute <3

Happy fabric shopping

I'm slowly starting to learn that I should think about coordination of fabrics when I buy them.

When I started sewing I kept buying fabrics that I thought were cute. But they are all good for being exterior and I have no coordination fabric!

To fix that problem, I ordered a few more fabrics.

 I ordered

Soul Blossoms -Joy- Passion Delhi Blooms
by Amy Butler

 to coordinate with

Soul Blossoms - Passion Peacock Feathers
by Amy Butler

(I bought this a looong time ago).




I also ordered

McKenzie Bloom Lilac

and

McKenzie Stripe Lilac

so they will be good together. The purple stripe should go well with...

Aviary 2 Bloom Lilac

( I finally have a match!)




I should've stopped looking at cute fabrics but I couldn't resist myself.  I HAD TO order

Daisy Chain - Sweet Jasmine - Navy
by Amy Butler

and

Daisy Chain Happy Stripe River
by Amy Butler

At least they are coordinated :)


They are all from Southern Fabric. They have many many fabrics and they are reasonable prices. Because the company is in the US. the shipping to Canada is a little expensive but still worth it!

Dream purse

I want to make a purse like this.

miu miu

I bought the pink Jacquard fabric and did quilting but... I don't know what to do after that :(

February!

It's been almost a month since I posted my latest blog "2013!"

I don't know why but I'm very very busy mentally...

It's probably because of my students' ballet exam in April. Teaching the set exercises or worrying about their technique are not the worst part.

Grouping them, choreographing their exam dance for each level (the dance should make my students look good), deadlines for the application forms, scheduling the exam day, etc. are worse!

On top of that, I have income tax, competitions, choreographing the recital dance pieces for non-competitive classes and more to think about.

But sewing is still going on :)

New arrivals!

dog sling

big bag half size

a pocket on the side