First a word on the titles and the quilters' names. I would like to give full credit to the makers, however, the labels for the following quilts were all in Japanese, and I do not want to venture on translating the titles. Nor will I guess at how the names should be written in Roman letters, so this info will be in Japanese.
This is a very Japanese quilt; taupe, a mix of pieced and appliquéd work, pictorial, featuring animals, and it's cute and charming. It depicts a group of mice making a map and marking out in which houses there is a cat in residence. The mice are talking about all the mischief a cat is up to. The neighbourhood feline boss sits in the tree and looks down at the mouse conference.
'Are you sure we have marked all houses?'
'Ha! They don't know I'm listening in!'
'That bully in No 7 is always teasing the fish in the tank.'
大塚美枝子＊朝日影の海
This beautiful octopus quilt is made with kimono silk in a beautiful wavy pattern. The suction cups are Suffolk puffs, or yo-yos. Roughly the titles reads 'Ocean shadows in the morning sunrise', and by chance the spotlight above the quilt cast a shadow right across the quilt.
利田和子＊みんな見て
A spectacular peacock, and I am sure he's calling: 'Look at me, everyone!'
川口康子＊Paraiso de Fantasia
Mola is a popular technique with Japanese quilters and many first learn the basics, make a couple of traditional quilts and then move on to make their own interpretations. This heron surrounded by flowers of Paradise is a good, and beautiful, example.
武宮裕子＊Olympic Games
Japan was successful in the London Olympic Games and here is a quilt celebrating various athletes at work.
Isn't this a clever use of the hexagon shape?
There are more quilts I want to share with you in the next blog post. Now I need to get going with my TAST stitching!
such a wonderful variety you have shared with us Queenie, some humorous and the peacock and heron both so colourful.The taupe ones seem very popular was it one of the competitions to do one in taupe?
ReplyDeleteNo, taupe is just very popular. It has this homespun look, lots of interesting structures in the fabric which is OK for handwork. The majority of quilts are still made all by hand. The contest categories were: Traditional, Original design, Japanese, Bag, Framed and Junior quilts.
DeleteAs always spectacular quilts thank you very much for all the lovely photographs you have really had a full week with all this snapping.
ReplyDeleteMore quilts in tomorrow's blog post!
Deletesuch beautiful detailed work, thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed them.
DeleteGoogle reckon that the taupe quilt is called" Cat map making Chu~!", the next "Otsuka beauty branch child * Asahi shadow sea", then that beautiful peacock " Look at chikushin's Kasuko guys*", The Mola already has a translation and the Olympic games gave away it's name. I personally think they are just beautiful no matter what they are called. Love the images.
ReplyDeleteThank you! You are my PA! Google, has a bee in its bonnet.
DeleteYes, the mouse quilt could be called 'Making cat maps, Squeak〜!
'Otsuka beauty branch child' is actually a translation of the quilters name. Her surname is Otsuka, and her first name Mieko (Mi=beauty, e=branch, ko=child)
'Look at chikushin's Kasusko guys'. Is a funny mixture. The quilter's name is probably Kasuko Toshida (Peace + child and Profit/Advantage + rice field). The title of the quilt is rougly. Everyone, look (at me).
Thank you so much for sharing all those wonderful Japanese quilts. I had some opportunities to see Japanese quilts in Europe and I always think that they are an own class in itself.
ReplyDeleteThey are usually extremely well made, fantastic copies of original American antique quilts, or totally 'Japanese' with cherry blossoms, origami and seasonal. More examples tomorrow!
DeleteWho made the octopus quilt? I'm interested in getting it crib size.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt was made by Ms Mieko Ohtsuka from Tokyo. That is all information I have.
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