Tokyo Handmade Festival

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting Julie F (My Quilt Diary) at the Tokyo Dome, to see a small quilt show together.  We hadn't seen each other in person since the Quilt Festival in January 2020.  

This "Tokyo Handmade Festival" was like a little taste of the old Quilt Festivals. 

The only hassle was navigating quite a long, inefficient, almost maddening process of walking past the whole length of the line to get my ticket, then even further for us to fill out forms with our name and phone number, then a walk all the way back along the line, to the end of the line.... then... wait in line, etc. etc. - all of that took a long time, maybe 45 minutes or even an hour?  

The show itself was very small but lovely, and not too crowded. 

Atsumi embroidery: 

I adore this whimsical alphabet: 

Kathy Nakajima's Hawaiian quilts: 

A fun and rather fittingly busy and garish Halloween exhibit: 

Some interesting BORO pieces: 

And beautiful work from the Tokyo-based artist Lindzeanne: 

Last but not least, the NHK Partnership quilts, all along the perimeter.  It took some sleuthing but we found our individual blocks:

My block is the bottom left one below in orange, yellow, green: 

And Julie's beautiful cardinal is here, top right: 

There were many quilts on display - Queenie's block is second to the right from Julie's cardinal, on the other side of the black whale.  A lovely earth surrounded by her trademark embroidery and with a tiny Swedish flag. 

 

And here is Tanya's block at the bottom right  - the "Love the Earth" block.  I thought this grouping of four was terrific and really conveyed the "love the earth" theme.  

It was fun to peruse all the Partnership quilts. 

Next, we split up for 30 minutes to explore the vendor area, and I stayed mostly on the perimeter, avoiding the center areas that really were too crowded.  

I focused on three or four vendors, and purchased several beautiful pieces of vintage indigo (and some soft brown and red) as well some newly woven kasuri (not pictured) to use in more indigo sofa throws.    

Ahhhhh this makes me happy: 

Lastly Julie and I got some bubble tea and sat outside catching up for awhile before saying farewell and walking in opposite  directions to our respective train stations!  Thanks for the nice outing Julie!  I hope we can gather together with Queenie and Tanya too at some point in the not so distant future! 

xo

Cynthia 

NHK Friendship block for 2021 - Love the Earth

Each year the Tokyo Quilt Festival includes a roundup of charity quilts, each made up of many 15cm x 15cm blocks donated by individuals.  Last year's theme was "My Favorite Animal" and this year's theme is Love the Earth. 

I kept procrastinating but the other day I came up with an idea, didn't overthink it, and just did it.  You know? 

My block is very abstract but here was my thinking: 

• Globe shape(s).   
• Aizome (indigo) background - indigo is an enduring gift from Mother Nature. 
• Green Japanese chirimen fabric has an ocean waves motif.  
• The large circles are Liberty prints - and if you look closely at the orange one, you see tiny creatures.  Let's take care of this planet for our sakes and for every little creature.  

Click here for more info and to see Queenie's blocks over many years.  She does a great job each year keeping us on track. 

With the 2021 show canceled, I wonder how these quilts will be made and auctioned. 

A bit of Mother Nature in the city on a windy rainy day.  Sitting at one of our favorite little restaurants, Hainan Jeefan Shokudo, al fresco, almost.  We were seated inside, but right up against what would be the floor to ceiling window, now open air.  Sheltered from the wind, but so much fresh air.  Such a treat. 

xo
Cynthia

NHK Friendship block for 2020

Off and on through the years, I've submitted a block to the NHK Friendship Quilt project, which is part of the Tokyo International Quilt Festival each year.

Volunteers piece the blocks into quilts, which are raffled off, with the proceeds going to charity. 

Each year there's a specific theme.  This year was "Favorite Animal".  For me, it's a toss up between cats and dogs.


I chose to make a simple cat, with sashiko details, and then appliqued onto gray background, and framed with tsumugi (traditional woven stripes).  Sort of a squishy sleepy kitty.   Thank you Queenie for providing the details each year!!  You can see all the many beautiful and detailed blocks she has made here.

Felt like a triumph finding the nearest post office, about a ten minute walk from our apartment.

Meantime... we figured out our little (I mean, really little!) dishwasher.  You just sprinkle the detergent in "among the dishes" and let it rip.

And drying clothes in the bathtub area, which has a ceiling fan with a special "clothes drying" setting:

Rainy season has supposedly ended.... and it's getting so hot and humid.

These ladies so cool and stylish in kimono:

xo
Cynthia