They say that good things come in small packages, and the quilted handbag display at the Tokyo Quilt Festival is a great example of this homily. This section of the quilt show is always packed, because everyone wants to see how much minute detail and "Wow Factor" can be put into each piece of Wearable Arm-Art.
Many of the ladies who make these handbags, live in such tiny spaces, that making a big quilt is just out of the question. Hence the popularity of the handbag and miniature framed art quilts at the show. They are all little jewels – little treasures that can be worked on and worn in the crowded Tokyo environment.
Here is a closeup detail of one of the handbags. As you can see, she is combining 4 important design trends:
Hexagons blocks
Log Cabin piecing
Yarn-Dyed Linen-Weight fabrics
Taupe and Gray Neutrals
Who knew so many good things could be packed into such a small package?!
Every year I delight in seeing the cross-cultural exchange of visual ideas, between Japan and the Western quilters. There has been a parallel growth in the hexagon and log cabin revivals, but the popularity and beauty of Taupe colors and yarn-dyed fabrics has been slow to catch on here in the West. Perhaps we will see more of this, later this year in the US quilt shows?
My Churchill Polar Bear tour group is set for Oct 14-19, and the very limited 14 slots will open up in a couple days. If you wish to receive signup information before it is announced in the newsletter, contact eQuilter Customer Service. For those of you who have signed up for information, watch for it tomorrow.
Upcoming Quilty Travel:
Mar 24 Quilting Arts TV
May 1-4 SAQA Conference Wash DC
Oct 1 Quilt Exhibit, Rome
Oct 14-19 Polar Bear Tour, Churchill
