TOKYO International Great Quilt Festival 2015 : Friends

TOKYO International Great Quilt Festival always gives us chances to see our dear friends from all over the world!

From Thailand

An American couple from Okinawa (JP)

Dessy and Yos from Indonesia

Joe from Thailand

From Shang Hai

Lynette from Australia

From the U.K.

Yoko from Ishinomaki

It was a happy reunion!

Emi

TOKYO International Great Quilt Festival 2015

TOKYO International Great Quilt Festival 2015 was held from the 22nd through the 28th of January at the Tokyo Dome Baseball Stadium.

The main feature was the TV program, "Little House on the Prairie" and Masako was asked to make a quilt of Oleson's Mercantile.

(The show info in English is here.)

This store was probably the only one where people could buy goods for daily living. The quilt presents a wide variety of things available at the store by using stenciling, piecing and even actual buttons and handles.

A crowd of people in front of the quilt. I hope many visitors enjoyed seeing it.

Everything started here.
This picture was taken on the first set-up day. Boxes and furniture were unloaded from a rental track.

Many new things came out at the show.

Some new kits, stencil patterns and piecing paper patterns went on sale. 

I always wonder why this show attracts so many quilters living not only in Japan, but many other countries as well.
On Saturday we had more than 42,000 visitors!

Getting back to "Little House on the Prairie", there were large exhibits such as a quilt covered wagon and a log cabin.
It's hard to believe almost everything was made from fabric! Ms. Reiko Washizawa has created this world in her own way.

This log cabin and quilts in it were designed by Ms. Yoko Saito.
Her way of combining color depicts the way of living in the American Old West.

Masako wondered why she had not encouraged her students to enter their quilts in the show's contests.

Two quilts made by students were selected and displayed at the show!

They must have been ecstatic and proud!


Let me share more photos of the quilts which particularly looked attractive to me.
I think this quilt was a prize winner.

Each block is even embroidered. How intricate is that!

When you look the quilt from a distance, you may think what are those dots? Ribbons? 

No, actually they are tiny pieces in the center of a log cabin block; I liked this idea.

If you a cat person and a quilter, these cats would look familiar to you. (Please check the past story)

I'm definitely a big fan of this quilt maker.

Here are some of the framed quilts for you to enjoy.
They contain so many small pieces and details!

Emi

"Sutekini Handmade" January issue 2015

"Sutekini Handmade" is a handcraft TV program aired by the Japanese National Public Broadcasting Organization, NHK.

They also publish a textbook to assist viewers in making projects as shown on their programs.

The textbook has another serial section(not aired,textbook only) where Masako's creations appear for three months.

  
Over the three months period, from January to March, Masako teaches how to make a tapestry using seven different blocks.
Three patterns are shown in the January issue.


You see the finished tapestry in the bottom right hand corner of the photo below.
Each block will be assembled by crocheting.

A different creation, using one of the basic patterns of the month, is shown each month.
A pouch, with the bobbin pattern, is shown for the month of January,

Here are the links for both the TV program and the textbook.
TV program
Textbook


Emi

Quilts in progress

Our quilt exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka will be held next May.

All of our students are currently working on their new quilts.

Flower appliques

Simple nine patches with stenciled blocks

This is an interesting block using log cabin and flying geese patterns.

It's always fun to baste a big top with friends.

The maker of this quilt has a strict rule that she only uses fabrics designed by Masako in it.

A pattern called "Around the World". I want to know why it's called this.

Let's not miss the chance to see the finished ones at our exhibition!

Emi

Quilt Japan 2015 January vol.160

The new issue of Quilt Japan is in stores now.

Masako's creation appears in the bag section.

Stenciled blocks are well blended with pieced blocks.

Magic Patch's special edition featuring "Quilt Japan"

At the beginning of last December a package, including this magazine, arrived in our mailbox. I was wondering whether or not I had ordered it because Magic Patch is a French magazine published by Les editions de saxe, a French handcraft publishing company.

I turned it over and something caught my eye.
They were photos of needle cases that Masako made for the past issue of Quilt Japan!

And I found that it featured one of issues of a Japanese quilt magazine called Quilt Japan. Here is their website to get further info!

 

Emi

Annual trip to Ishinomaki

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We wish all of you a bright and happy new year!

Some stories that I am going to post are about what happened last year, but I hope you enjoy them!

Since the Tsunami, March 11th 2011, we have visited Yoko's quilt shop in Ishinomaki at least once a year. Masako cannot forget what Yoko's mother once said to her, "Please don't forget about us and what happened here."

Some students were familiar and some were new.

They all seemed to like the Christmas tapestry project.

Upon arriving at the store, we found a great seafood feast awaiting us!

Squid sashimi

Abalone sashimi

Stewed whale

The good news was that most of the students were able to find new places to live and could leave their temporary housing.

Some promised to come to Tokyo Dome Show! 


Emi