Yokohama Quilt show

Left Kyoto after 2 days and had to make the decision to stay or leave early as on this day the 15 th November was a flea market, which is on once a month, or to travel to Yokohama for the quilt show. On awaking Friday morning, it was raining, decision made, no flea market for me. We caught the 0930hrs train to Shin Yokohama, arrived at 12md and walked to the hotel, only a 10 min walk as you could see the hotel from the train station. Check in was at 2 pm, so we decided to go to the quilt show. Asked how to get there...thought we were close, (as I asked the travel agent to place us in a hotel near the quilt show), was told.. a 45 min ride by cab, best way to get there was by train, 2 trains and 6 stops later, the train and stopped at Queens Square. Then we had to find the exhibition building in the rain, 15 mins later, we arrived at 1.30 pm. The show was so crowded, this was no hardship as the Japanese are very polite and welcoming. I managed to get some photo's, but the ones that were absolute works of art were not allowed to be photographed. There were over 200 quilts on display and the grand prize money was 1.3000.000 yen ($130,000), for the life of me I could not find the winner. There were  two mini quilts which had a gold and silver ribbon on  them, but could not find the grand prize winner. There were quilts on display from Japanese artists, which were three dimensional and works of art in themselves, awe inspiring, like collages. English is very limited and difficult to get your meaning across, but hand gestures work well and with the help of calculators, money was not an issue. I managed to spend about $200, lots of bargains with fabric and accessories. Would have loved to buy the kits for the bags etc, but all the instructions were in Japanese. I could not resist buying a kit from Rieko Kato's shop. The kit and pattern was  for bag for my pens and sewing tools. The pattern is in muted country colours and has little houses on the front. I felt that I could follow the picture, to make the bag. Not expensive for the kit, only $18.90.

All in all we spent 6 hours at the show, as it did not close until 6pm, DH was well and truly over it but as a true dedicated partner he stuck it out, with just a few comments, kept some of the Japanese women amused. also ran into some aussie's, who we had a great chat with. 

Today Saturday I felt that I could not face the train trip or the crowds, so opted to have a quite day, we caught the train into the bay Alexandra area of Yokohama and visited another Yuzawaya store! stocked up on more goods? it costs 500 yen ($5) to join, but with the savings and discounts I saved that and more.

DH, in the entrance to the quilt show, the two quilts displayed are enormous, great works of art.

Some of the workshops being run.

Rieko Kato's stall, lots of great patterns and quilts for sale, all in Japanese.

Some of the quilts displayed and allowed to be photographed

Crazy patchwork.

Just loved this simplistic Japanese quilt.

A close up of the quilting.

This miniature had a gold ribbon, three dimensional poppies.

This white cloth miniature had a silver ribbon.

DH liked these two the best.

This was my favourite, some close up with the use of toile.

Japanese quilt, all the black lettering was appliqued

Baltimores even got a look in.

A miniature quilt challenge of 100 small baskets.

Some close up's of the baskets.

Bags on display

Covered buttons to make a Christmas tree.

Hand embroided red work miniature.

The one below is for Chris Jurd, look familiar!

I hope that you have enjoyed the eye candy, whilst sitting doing this blog we had an earthquake, everyone ran for the doors, the building we are in has two circular towers and there are warnings that the building will sway in strong winds and what to do in an earthquake. I felt the earth tremor under my seat, as we are in the lobby, blogging, whilst everyone ran outside to see what had happened. DH also made the comment he does't know what's worse, watching me blog or shop!.

Kyoto, Golden palace, Nijo castle and Yuzawaya.

Wednesday saw us leave Shinjuku to catch the train to Shingawya, so that we could catch the bullet train to Kyoto. The trip by train took 2 1/2 hrs and was quite enjoyable,  I managed to get half a Lucy Boston done, yay! Only 2 more to go and I will have completed 56. We arrived at 1 pm and got a cab to the hotel, checked in and then went out to explore. First stop was the  Nishijon Textile Centre, on the edge of town, here in the centre we saw, Kimono 's being modelled, silk painting, gorgeous brocades, scarves and handmade purses. A delight to see how the fabric is weaved and also a display of gold leaf applied to the finest silk. 

We then watched the sumo wrestling for 1 hour and progressed onto the Nishiki market, before we walked to our booked dinner with waygu beef, this in itself was a challenge to find the restaurant and DH was ready to give up after walking up alleys and trying to find the place, with Japanese speaking and limited english,  and our Japanese being nil, although the Japanese are very helpful, it was very hard to understand. I had the name of the restaurant written down on a piece of paper. Our booking was for 6.30 pm to 7 pm and just when DH said he was going back to the hotel, a young man from a restaurant pointed us to the restaurant , we finally arrived at 7.30 pm, shoes off and guided into the room, where we had to cook dinner ourselves, pick the price...7,000 yen ($70.00) and the best waygu beef was prepared for you cook , not the best meal so far, but at least we experienced true Japanese traditions, served by kimono dressed waitress.

Thursday we used the local buses to get around, first stop was the golden palace! an absolute must see! then onto the Nijo castle! very impressive building! what was amazing about this castle was the nightingale floor! when you walked on this floor! it did sound like nightingales singing! it bought back many memories of the early ninja movies we used to watch? the shogun lived in this castle and was guarded by the ninja's. Then what would Kyoto be without a visit to the Yazawaya store, although this store was not as big as the Shinjuku store, the range of fabrics were not as vast, I did mange to get 6 mtrs of Japanese fabric for a backing of a quilt that I am doing for $27, also lots of linen bias and other goodies. I left DH in a British pub with happy hour, so that I could have a happy hour to myself, maybe went into nearly 2 hours, but he was happy.

Our chef, preparing the waygu beef.

Our waitress

Our waygu beef.

The Golden Palace.

Nijo castle

Japan and shopping.

My first day in Japan, Tuesday.  Monday evening at 5.20 pm, we landed at Narita International airport. It was pitch dark and cold, Japan is 2 hrs ahead of us in Oz. We caught the Narita express from the airport to the Shinjuku area and our intentions were to walk to the hotel, believed to be only one kilometer, on exiting the Shinjuku station from the east, we found ourselves on a Main Street with five intersections. DH also known as Daniel Boone said we would go this way, and pointed to a street, after a 9 hour flight, a 2 1/2 hr train ride and getting up at 4.30 am, I was not in the mood for walking endlessly up and down streets to find our hotel, so promptly got a cab. The cab ride was 10 mins and the walk if we would have known which way to go would have also been 10 mins. Of course, now being familiar with the area, we now know where the station is located, so will walk tis time as we are off to Kyoto tomorrow.

My goal today was to go to a shopping centre called Takashimaya Times Square, inside this shopping centre is a place called Yuzawaya, which is a bit like an upmarket spotlight at home. The whole 11th floor is dedicated to this shop. I found out about this store by reading an earlier edition of a Quilters  Companion. Liuxin Newman had visited Japan and wrote a column about Japan, in particular this article was about this department store being a craft lovers delight. I was not disappointed and it was very hard to contain myself, 2 hours later and DH wandering about and passing comments. I made a decision to not buy a lot as I would be hauling it all over Japan and made a vow, on our return to Shinjuku in 4 days time, Yuzawaya would be visited again. The stores do not open before 10 am, but this I itself was not a deterrent as whilst we were waiting we were bowed at and presented warm tea. I did mange to buy 4.2mtres of fabric as there was not much on the bolt and felt that it may not be there in 4 days time. I also purchased some sashiko thread and "d "rings for a bag that I am making, the fabric is Yuwa and my little shopping spree set me back $37.

Gourmet delights.

Shinjuku Station, South exit.

Takashimaya, Times Square.

Yuzawaya 

Fabrics galore!

Today we travelled to Kyoto and had a little Japanese culture.

Kimono being modelled.

Some Sumo wrestling, we were amazed at the number of western men competing and training as Sumo's.

Holidays and another quilt show.

Today, Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a sewing day and to also visit a quilt show, this does not happen very often as I usually work every weekend. My social events are virtually nil due to working most weekends. Christine Book teaches patchwork in Camden once a month and today as I am on holidays I went to one of her classes as well as having the opportunity to visit the Campbelltown Quilt show which is being held on Saturday and Sunday. The  quilt show is being held in the civic centre in the centre of Campbelltown. The quilt show was very well represented with trade stalls and a great sales table. I purchased 4 great American quilt magazines from 1994 to 1996, these magazines are a great buy as they have patterns for all antique blocks, appliqués and paper piecing. I will share some of the quilts from the show which took my eye. My next post will be from Japan as I leave Monday to enjoy 9 days sightseeing which will include the Yokoharma Quilt festival.

Elaine Farriers version of Jane Austin, the centre is coloured and embroidered, redrawn by Chris Book

Another quilt by Elaine Farrier, a Chris Book design, Row by Row. note it is completed lengthways.

This quilt by Adrienne Blair took my eye as it was completed in reproduction fabrics, pattern by Megan Carroll.

The quilt was called

John Hewson's bird's, check out the centre.

Just love the border.

This next quilt is a miniature completed by Robyn Dye, called Baltimoe Beauty and Bluebells.

I could not avoid the glare of the lights, a close up of the bottom flower.

The above quilt called "Joy" was a whack and stack made by Bridget Wilkinson, it looks like it has been fussy cut but it is a layer of 6 fabrics stacked on on another to get the design, what great fabric.

A close up of the fabric used.

Another Row by Row quilt, made by Dale and designed by Chris Book, photographed in Chris Books class in Camden.