Posted by Dave Bull at 4:38 AM, April 18, 2010
We've had a few days of very difficult cold and damp weather - even setting a new record for the latest recorded snowfall in Tokyo.
But this morning is different! Here's a shot from my workshop window:
If I climb all the stairs up four flights to the top floor, we can look down on it:
This next one isn't 'from my window', but is a parking lot about 15 seconds walk from my front door:
I have no idea what these are. These were at their peak just about a week ago, but I was too tied to the bench to get out here and take a snapshot ... (and anyway, it was too rainy ...) Here's a bit closer ...
In the other direction from my front door is a house with this in the front yard:
It's a 'Weeping Cherry'. They have a smaller one off to one side of their property, with a tiny roadside shrine in front of it:
And there's Dave, in the mirror ...
Now back to work, for the final impression on this pair of prints ...
Thank you for the virtual tour of the flowering trees in your neighborhood. I'm so glad you took the time to get these pictures; they are delightful.
Happily, I have looked in several times this week as you are working. You work very efficiently and quickly, it seems. It does appear that you've had an unusual number of unplanned changes put in your path this time. I'm hoping it goes smoothly now.
Best wishes,
Anita Cage
glad you took the time
Actually, it was an 'enforced' break. After finishing up the final colour on these prints this morning, I then began the final impression - the massive karazuri embossing block.
But over the previous few colours (all small areas) I had let the paper get a tad too dry, especially around the edges, right where this embossing will fall. With no pigment on the block, it is extremely difficult to stop the paper from slipping, and with a very wide area like this one, even more difficult, and this is exacerbated by the dryness.
So I had to re-moisten the entire stack and take a break while the water evens out across the sheets ...
