Quilts Japan and Patchwork Quilt Tsusin January 2014

I look forward to seeing the first issue of the year come out from both Quilts Japan and Patchwork Tsushin because they have the calendars in them.

Some years I pick up a second copy for my mom because the calendar is so knock your socks off incredible.

Other years I cry over quilts that just don't speak to me or photography that could have used some help.

This year both calendars are a bit on the so-so side.  You can judge for yourself, but I'm not sure I'm over the moon about either of them.

The issues themselves are a different story.

Quilts Japan #156 is an incredible issue.  It's full of the bright primary colored floral prints that I love and have collected for a while.  The quilts are bold and beautiful.  This is one of my most favorite issues.

Patchwork Tsushin #177 was lukewarm for me.  It has a lot of holiday projects as well as some whimsical designs with pom poms and ric rack.  Not my personal favorite, but somebody with a sweeter cuter aesthetic might really love it.

Either way, it's nice to kick the year off with some Japanese eye candy, that's for sure.

Patchwork Tsushin #172

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!

Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #161

The April 2011 issue of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin is packed with goodies.

On the cover, they feature a redwork alphabet block, which is covered in flowers and adoring little girls. It's a pretty cute alphabet, and the insert includes all the letters (of course).

My favorite page is actually page 41 where Yoko Saito has an article on how to make a bird block and a beautiful flower block out of taupe fabrics. Really pretty.

There is also a beautiful taupe bag on p. 29 that features a swallow bird. Swallows are really famous near the town where I grew up in Southern California. I should probably try putting some on a quilt. Their shape is very unique.

I just heard that another issue of Quilts Japan arrived in the San Jose Kinokuniya shop so part of me wants to run over there and pick it up before they close tonight.

Hope your week is going well. I am finally feeling healthy so I'm back at it with my hand quilting.

Of course, we're expecting!

Well, you all of course guessed it right, our family is expecting our 2nd baby.

Thanks for all your kind well wishes! You really warm my heart.

Interesting enough, the due date is only 2 days off from our son's birthday, so could be birthday cake all around depending on how things line up.

Babies of course show up when they darn well please, and I've found them to have complete disregard for their due date as a blanket generalization.

I think we'll find out the sex of the baby in another month or something, so no starting the baby quilt until I know if it's flowers or race cars.

On a totally different topic, I picked up the latest Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #142 and it's lovely. Some taupe patterns by Yoko Saito (my favorite) as well as some log cabin block ideas from Chuck Nohara (my other favorite). Overall this issue is very nice, and I'd put it up there with my favorites in the last year or so.

In a desperate maneuver of shopping therapy, I broke down and purchased an amazing hair decoration from Atelier Kanawa's Etsy shop. We have a wedding to go to in another month and a half, so maybe I'll wear it then, or maybe just out to a nice dinner. Either way, Atelier's classical Japanese training and her amazingly beautiful creations are not to be missed.

Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #142

Issue number 142 of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin is really out of this world, I must say. One of their best yet.

Tons and tons of quilts with traditional looking Japanese red fabrics, and brightly colored florals.

Several cute bag patterns (page 47 & 94 if you're following along here - taupe! Yum).

Pages 34 and 35 have some examples of this a block by Chuck Nohara that form this pattern that look kinda like the letter "Q" to me. This pattern is adorable. It looks like a good bit of work, but I think it would make a very cute kid's quilt.

Ok, so you know it is always my dream to visit Tokyo in January to visit the Tokyo Dome quilt show. Well, of course I didn't make it this year, but other bloggers did, so that's good for us.

Moving Hands blog has been a long time favorite of mine. Her flickr set of pictures from the show is not to be missed.

Quilts Japan, Patchwork Quilt Tsushin, and sister visit

I'm just counting the moments until my little sister arrives. She and her husband will visit us for the weekend.

She made this block for me, her applique is awesome.

Ok, so the post you've all been waiting for....

So you wanna subscribe to Quilts Japan? or Patchwork Quilt Tsushin? Frankly, I don't blame you. I have subscriptions to both.

If you live in the U.S. - here's what you do:

1) Call Kinokuniya (408) 252-1300
2) Ask them to subscribe you for $75 + $30 shipping (current cost 9/2007)
3) Visit your mailbox expectantly every day

The $105 includes 6 issues. If my calculator works thats $17.50/issue.

If you're in Europe, I think you can go here and get some help to order them.

Oh, and 1 more thing...if you like my below post of fabric from Repro Depot, I also encourage you to also visit the "sale" section at Super Buzzy right now.

These fabrics are on SALE!!! and they support 1/2 yd cuts....thanks Kelly for the head's up!

Good to know there are so many options for us Japanese fabric junkies! Cheers to Super Buzzy and Repro Depot!! Can I sign over my entire paycheck?

Patchwork Quilt Tsushin #140

When I get a new Japanese quilt magazine, I get very excited. Chuck Nohara even contributed this time.

I got the email from Kinokuniya book store and rushed over there to pick up my latest fix, as I usually do.

As a quick review, this issue has tons and tons of log cabin patterns. Court house steps, sunshine and shadows, all the usual settings along with some very different ones as well.

On p.45-46 Chuck Nohara has a spread of some blocks she designed, along w/ a URL that somehow relates to her work.

Anyhow, it you love taupe fabrics, Chuck Nohara, and or log cabins, this issue is the one for you.

PQT #50

This album quilt appeared in issue #50 of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin. I love album quilts, and have all my blocks done to put one together.

It's a traditional green and red repro-looking album that could be directly out of the 1860's. Many of the Japanese quilt magazines cover the topic of album quilts.

I think it is because in Japan, there is so much interest in the details of things. A product is not a quality product unless all the details are finely presented. Similar to this is a baltimore album quilt. The more detail, the better, and the better the detail, the better.

Jeana Kimball is one of my favorite quilters. I have seen her patterns go on ebay for a LOAD of money, and still...she continues to sell them direct for just $5 each on her web site. I think that sounds like a pretty cool deal for such nice patterns.

I collect her books (in print and out)...but more about that another day.

Happy Day PQT 136

Twelve times a year I have what I call a "happy day". I get an email to pick up my latest copy of either Patchwork Quilt Tsushin, or Quilts Japan.

Yesterday, I got issue 136 of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin. I usually like all of these Japanese magazines, but in talking about this issue, I would have to say LOVE.

The bulk of the images are about Baltimore Album quilts with extremely traditional block designs. In order to spice it up, and make it Japanese, of course most of them are done w/ taupe fabrics, which are my #1 favorite in the universe.

I collect these magazines, and have a good number of them (not all, of course, they started in the early 1980's and I was not collecting back then).

Could I really pick a favorite issue, out of all of the many many issues that I have?...and would it be this very issue of PQT 136?

Have to think about this a bit more, because it's a very bold statement...but YES!!! I DO!!!

In other news, if you are tired of using your Wii in the living room, take it to go: Wii laptop.