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| 1st place - Original Design |
The quilt that wins first place in original design is a nice mix of styles - the typical colors of Japanese quilts are pieced as a background, with colorful fabrics depicting the flower applique. The straight background pieces juxtapose nicely with the curving leaves and petals. We have a giggle over the 3rd place quilt - if you look closely in the center top third of the quilt (below the sailboat), you see a piece of paper that says (in English), "remove cover after jurying." We're pretty sure the paper was placed on the quilt to cover an identifying signature of the maker during judging (quilts are supposed to be anonymous) and that the paper is supposed to be removed before the quilt goes on display. However, there is English writing on the quilt, so we're not 100% certain and we don't say anything (and wouldn't it be written in Japanese in that case??). On our second trip to the show we go by to check out the quilt - and the paper is gone. We were correct!
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| With the paper cover... |
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| ...without the paper cover. |
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| the artist of the quilt above |
This is my favorite of the original designs. The gold sky looks gorgeous. Sometimes it seems like the quilters know the color of the wall that the quilt will be mounted on and pick their fabrics accordingly. This one is a perfect match!
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| That's the wall along the edges, not a fabric border. |
On my second visit, I attend with my quilt group, who decides to meet at the show around 11:00am so we don't have to wait in the opening line. However, the festival is packed today! Possible bad weather was predicted on the opening day of the show, so that helped to keep the numbers down. This is the first weekday since then, so all the housewives are here while their husbands are at work. It stays very busy until around 4:00pm, when they return home. Even though people are considerate about trying to stay out of your way for photos, it's so crowded it's hard to get a good picture. I walk around at the end of the day to take some new ones, and to get a chance to spend more time at the quilts I appreciate.
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| Wall to wall people! |
In the traditional category I like this one best. It's common to see blue with pink cherry blossoms. (Though last year the skies were overcast every day while the trees were blooming...fingers crossed this year I'll see blue skies with the sakura!)
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| I wonder if she dyed the background fabric or bought it this way? |
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| Look at those itty, bitty, points! |
Last year I loved the framed quilts, and I still think it's a great idea for a quilt competition category. I didn't favor as many of them this year - like I said before, most of the quilts at the show just didn't appeal to me. I do enjoy this framed quilt, probably because I've lived in a major city for over a year.
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| Feels like home! |
Tokyo Quilt Festival also has a bag/purse division. Below is the first place winner...but I don't understand why it won. The piecing doesn't look complicated, and it's not a difficult design. I'm obviously missing something....
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| Winner?? |
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| closer look at the #1 purse |
Here are some more of the bags in the show...maybe you can figure out why the other purse won.
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| Bags... |
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| ...and more bags. |
The "Wa" category is the most unique classification out of all the big quilt shows. I thought this meant the quilts are supposed to represent tranquility and peace, but a friend tells me they just need to have Japanese fabric in them. She said these quilts used to always win big if they were entered at the Houston show, but now it's more common to see the wa-nuno (Japanese fabric) like shibori and chirimen at the US shows.
The 2nd place winner reminds me of some quilts my guild back home is making. They recently had The Pizza Ladies do a workshop, and the style looks very similar. I'll have to let them know they should think about entering their quilts at the Tokyo Quilt Festival...
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| typical of a Japanese quilt - blues & taupes |
This is the wa quilt I prefer. The Japanese fabrics look beautiful when used as applique. The artist also puts in some cute details - little creatures hanging out. Once again, an artist who picks fabrics that look fantastic when placed against the (green) background wall.
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| This may be my favorite of the competition quilts. |
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| Look carefully - you don't want to be stung! |
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| creepy crawlies in the vine |
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| I'd call this tranquil and relaxing! |
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| See the half hexies with Japanse fabric? |
There is a Wizard of Oz exhibit, but it isn't very impressive. They also have a special display of American antique quilts from the International Quilt Study Center and Museum out of Nebraska. Unfortunately, no pictures allowed (and the "guards" are patrolling the area) but it's nice to see so many Baltimore Album quilts from the early 1800s.
There are other presentations, too, including one section of featured artists. I think this is a charming use of Hawaiian applique! Maybe I'll try to make my own dress (um, nice idea...but probably not going to happen).
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| So pretty! |
Another section has a large collection of fan quilts. I never discover the purpose of them (personally, they look like place mats for a round table), but this one is especially cute. I just want to give the little demon a hug.
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| Too adorable to eat off of! |
The showcase artist of the festival is Yoko Saito. She's special to me, because the first time I visited Tokyo I bought one of her quilt books. (I haven't made anything out of it, because...it's all in Japanese...and in metrics. It was enough of a challenge just to make the purchase! See if you can find the quilt book section in a 3-story bookstore, when you cannot speak/read the language - it's like a task on the Amazing Race.) Now it's just extraordinary to be here years later, living in Japan, and seeing her give a speech. (I don't actually know what she's saying because...it's all in Japanese.) |
| A Yoko Saito quilt - not a lot of color, but lots of details. |
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| I love the woven border |
They have many of her quilts and purses on display.
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| Just a small part of the ensemble. |
In another part of the festival there's an interactive exhibit. Many flowers are on display, along with directions to create them. If origami was a class I'd fail it (I can't fold maps, either) so I think I'll have to pass on this activity.
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| Maybe you can figure it out! It's like looking at Ikea directions. |
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| little lotus flowers |
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