I have a subscription to both of the popular Japanese quilting magazines (Quilts Japan and Patchwork Quilt Tsushin).
Some issues inspire me more than others. When there is a holiday issue, or one that is devoted to a theme that I'm not super into (Patchwork Tsushin #173, ahem...redwork), I can get a little less than excited to thumb through the pages.
When an issue like Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #172 comes along, I know that I will spend some serious cycles soaking up the inspiration.
On page 15 of this issue there is a quilt made out of a matrix of 392 different girls dressed in traditional kimonos. It's not only just an awesome collection of traditional Japanese fabrics, it's an amazing showcase of some serious needle skills.
On page 12 there is a quilt made up of circular 'ball' motifs from traditional Japanese floral fabrics. Stunning!
Page 13 has a bag made up of cherry blossoms on hexagons, again, using the Japanese floral fabrics.
Page 28 has the most adorable bag made with a cross stitch kitty on it and some Japanese Ikat fabric.
What really killed me though in this issue were the photos on pages 46 through 51. They are the most detailed scenes of Japanese villages, alley ways, and homes. Oh how I want to learn to read Japanese so I can just find out who the creates these quilts.
Have you see this issue yet? If you know who is making the quilts on pages 46-51, I'll email you a gold star!
what a tease I want to see those pages!!!!
ReplyDeletemust be you making those quilts....
LOL
Kathie
I'll have to check that one out. I have noticed some are less interesting than others so I don't subscribe but every now and then I find one I can add to my bookshelf and look at for years to come.
ReplyDeleteThese 2 beautiful magazines are (unfortunately) hard to find over here in the Netherlands, but sometimes I find one of these gems. I will have to check how much a subscription to the Netherlands will be... Enjoy your magazines!
ReplyDeleteThe artist is Yoko Sekita. That first quilt in the article was the winner of the Friendship Award in the Tokyi show several years ago. I spent lots of time in front of it!!
ReplyDeleteSend me your email address, Marisa. I'd be happy to send you some detail shots I have of it.
That would be *Tokyo*...
ReplyDeleteLike you, I love those magazines. I cannot get them here and have to ask my husband, who does not speak Japanese, to pick them up on his rare business trips to Japan.
ReplyDeleteI do speak Japanese, if you need a hand reading names.