Tonight I am writing you from Tokyo, before I fly home tomorrow. I’ve had a short trip here, to photograph the Quilt Festival at the Tokyo Dome.
I have continued to visit this show every year, because the Japanese quilts are so different from what we see in the US, and that difference is so intriguing to me. These quilts are often made with vintage de-constructed kimono fabrics – cotton indigo and printed silk – and they have a special patina of history.
Japanese quilts have changed over the years, and this year I am seeing more bright colors and more machine stitching. In the past we saw exquisite handwork, taupe quilts, silk quilts, and traditional indigo fabrics. Now we see more Japanese quilters exploring the possibilities of machine stitching.
Every year there are more Westerners coming to the Tokyo Quilt Festival, and this year there were groups not only from the US, but also places like Spain and Australia.
About 250,000 people come to this show over the course of a week, which is about 35 to 40K per day. On the first day there are over 5000 people waiting when the doors open in the morning. It is not for the faint of heart, especially if you have a phobia of crowds! The crowds are respectful and well mannered. There is no pushing on the way in or out. But if you think the aisles in Houston are crowded, this would blow your mind!
Before I start posting photos from the show, I want to make sure that I have the quiltermakers’ names on all the quilt images. A lot of Westerners come here and take photos, but don’t attach names to the images. Please be patient so I can make sure the artists get credit where it is due!
I’ll be home for a couple days, then attending a private opening reception at NASA in Houston on Thursday. My astronaut quilt for Fly Me To The Moon was invited to be part of a space-themed exhibit. I’ll be visiting with our friends at the NASA chapter of Engineers Without Borders, to discuss the school and home recently built for street children in Kenya, with help from eQuilter’s charity program.
Did you see the 2 new digital prints with Cuban colorful cars? Those are from the photos I’ve taken in Havana last year. You can see my other photos from Cuba on my photo pages.
If you are thinking of joining me for New Years on the Serengeti, please call soon to save your place in this once-in-a-lifetime trip – spaces are very limited. Feb 1 is the final day to register and guarantee a spot with our group. I am only doing this trip once!
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana
