Tokyo International Quilt Festival Part 1

I'm waiting with just a few others...

I'm excited to attend the Tokyo International Quilt Festival for the first time!  When I was here in 2011 I missed it by a few weeks, so when we were moving here I put it at the top of my to do list while in Japan.  I wasn't the only one at the show...  This is the line of people who have already purchased their tickets.  We're lined up like Disneyland, but instead of the rows being 2 people wide they are 10 people wide - and every spot is filled.  I arrive ten minutes before the door opens and it still takes 40 minutes to make it in the door.  I've read over 250,000 people attend the six day event.

 
The quilt festival fills the entire floor of the Tokyo Dome.  

The picture doesn't really do it justice - this is a huge facility

I follow my usual plan, which takes in to account the quilts aren't going anywhere, but the 200+ vendors could sell out of their most popular items, so I shop first.  My impression is that there are more booths selling craft items than at the US shows.  I see stuff like beads, ribbons and charms and other items I don't usually work with in my quilts (but other quilters I know would love).

Other people decide to shop first, too!

There are also only a couple of people with quilting notions, compared to about a third of the vendors at a big US quilt show.  Sometimes it feels like everyone is attempting to sell you some type of specialty ruler, but not here.

Luckily I was able to come to Japan pretty well stocked with supplies, so I'm not looking for anything in particular, just browsing.  I do have a mystery block of the month quilt that needs fabric purchased for it, so I have an excuse to buy some items.  I've been to the local fabric stores in Tokyo, so I also have a good idea of stuff I can buy any time here, and what I can't get (batiks are surprisingly very limited in Tokyo).  The US dollar is doing okay right now, so prices aren't too much more, even for the American fabric.

Wine and quilts - what a great day!

Here's one booth I have yet to see in the US - a wine distributor, offering free samples!  Of course I have to take a mid-afternoon break here. 
I love the way lunch is offered, too.  Instead of various fast food outlets, there are different bento boxes to choose from.  People buy their meals and eat in the stands (or sit and just take a break).  It's one of the best I've had in Japan.

Best bento ever!

If you go to the quilt festival, bring lots of cash!  Not one seller accepted credit cards (maybe the big sewing machine companies did, but no one else).  I attended on the first day and the show opens later - 11:00am.  It was very crowded until around 3:00pm.  I don't know if the tours left around that time (it's open until 6pm) or if people were tired.  I think next year I'll wait until the afternoon and go.  I was able to make my way through the shops in less than two hours, but I was mainly interested in the fabric I knew I couldn't normally get in Tokyo.  I did fall for the Morris Jewels fabrics by Moda - but since there was a special exhibit about William Morris at the festival I didn't feel so bad about buying American fabric.  So here are my goodies...

The quilts at the show will be in Part 2!