Quilt Festival Yokohama #1

After  a three year break, the quilt show in Yokohama has returned.

I have attended this show since it's beginning, and was very sad when the event was ended. 

At my small group meeting, Yasuko Kuraishi, who is a quilt teacher, told me the show was returning, and because one of her quilts would be on display, she was given two tickets ... if I would like to go with her.

Well, silly question. Of course I was glad to hear of the show's return and eager to snatch up the opportunity.

We met at the gate at 11:00 am.

The crowds were packed in front of the displays and getting pictures was a challenge, as spaces were narrow ... and with the fine work, everyone was examining from close-up.

We headed to the first section where Sensei's quilt was visible from the entrance. I was able to get a blurry picture of her in front of her paper-pieced flower garden. Kuraishi-sensei considers herself a "minimalist" but there is a certain charm in the variety of those paper-pieced flowers.

 

In spite of the crowds, we worked our way through the 60 quilts by the 60 well-known quilt teachers.

Some were marked with no photo, but most allowed pictures to be taken.

Thankfully, all were marked with the quilter's name in English.

This one is titled "Little Adventures of Sue and Billy".

all handwork by 

Reiko Kato

This quilt by Hiromi Kawashima represents scenes and icons of the town of Yokohama.

I am not very good at figuring out the quilter's comments, but there is something about the 1853 arrival of Perry to Yokohama and the scenes illustrated in the quilt.

The focus of this quilt, 

made by Setsuko Obi in 2007,

is the gradation of color.

Most of the photos I took were of quilts that were done by hand, and I found hand work to be in the majority 

among these well-known quilters.

The title was - KAGUHASHI

I am not familiar with that word but this quilt

was made by Yoshiko Katagiri.

Interesting black on black applique and lots of motion.

This small collection of doll-house items, reminded me of my own childhood.

The biggest thing in my young life was my doll family and doll houses. My early sewing was all stuff for my dolls, who were my best friends.

This set of rooms is by Hiroko Akita.

The title, Red Hair Ann must refer to the well-known story book of Ann of Green Gables.

This is all I could get of this lovely work.

Yuriko Arioka gave it the name of the beginning of Autumn. (or it is about to become Autumn).

The tiny piecing and applique, as well as the limited colors, give this quilt a peaceful feeling.

I wish I could have gotten a picture of the whole quilt but this is a basic all over design.

This quilt by Keiko Akita represents flowers on an apple tree.

The description is about apple trees and Aomori where many of the best apples come from.

From time to time I see quilts in the shape of kimono.

Judging from the roll at the bottom, it may be a wedding quilt.

It was made by Eiko Okano

and seems to have included kimono fabric blocks.

Something about the red flowers being congratulatory.

(I really miss having in-house translators).

I saw a lot of viewers touching quilts which is usually a big no-no at shows I have been to.

There were people in gloves who could help those who wished to view the reverse sides of the quilts....

(If you could find them among the crowds)

Another flower quilt ...

This one by Michiko Shima.

The "Japanese Taupe" fabrics seem to have become popular with a number of quilters.

These dahlias were quilted by

Chizuko Takashita.

 There are a lot of white flowers with many petals appliqued on these little squares.

Hiroko Ninagawa put a lot of detail into this quilt.

even the quilting in the borders are full of detail.

Titled in English, "Cross Flower"

this is a take on the Lucy Boston pieces that I have done twice,

This one is not fussy cut but uses the colored prints in repeats. 

Atsuko Matsuyama used much larger lozenge-shaped hexagons than I have seen before and limited the variety of color. The border frames it quite nicely.

I had to go back later to get this picture of a large detailed quilt by 

Noriko Masui.

I was glad to get a picture without so many viewers crammed in front looking closely at every detail.

There was a long description about the choice of a title for this quilt.

" Itsu demo koko kara ...

A lot of geese flying over a pond full of waterlilies....

and a lot of echo quilting.

(Also a lot of light on those pale fabrics washes out some of the beauty).

"Tyrollean Tulips"

by Yasuko Yubisui

The rows of little girls between the rows of pieced tulips have been appliqued in place.

A nice colorful addition to the exhibit...

By Yoneko Maruya

Something about water and Lorelei

.

"Joyful Flowers"

By Masako Wakayama

And, last of all, a quilt I had to return later to photograph...

This is by Akemi Shibata

and seems to include a variety of blocks both in the center and set on point in the borders, and different styles including Hawaiian applique and a Baltimore album block.

It was interestingly set with prints of numbers and Japanese kana.

I guess this is a lot for one post, but I still have more saved for a later number of posts. The show was only three days long ... which may be why it was so packed with people even on the last day. Perhaps it was a trial run for the return of the week-long show.

Each quilt was lit with one spotlight, with a variety of results depending on the quilt, but better than the strange shadows across the quilts that is seen at the Dome show. Of the 60 quilters represented, some were no pictures and I tended to leave out the fused raw-edge machine applique, so these are more to my hand-made taste.