Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2020 - Part 9 - Masters, Music, a Monkey and the Made in Britain

In Japan there is a handful of VERY famous and active quilters. What did they treat us to this time?

Shizuko Kuroha makes magical quilts from vintage indigo scraps, has a great collection of fabric and arranges samples in accordion books:

She generously holds demonstrations and talks at almost every show.

Look at what crowds she drew, (and notice how the Corona virus scare affected visitors at the show - a team of quilt surgeons?).

Every year one of these VIP quilters is especially highlighted. This year it was Keiko Goke's turn, as she celebrated 50 years of quilting.

Did you notice this big globe in a previous blog post?

Seeing it from a distance, you can not fail to know it is the hallmark of Ms Goke - colourful, playful and vibrant.

There are smaller balls and cubes as well.

I guess the core is an inflated balloon or exercise balancing ball.

In the exhibition Keiko Goke's studio had been recreated, and from time to time she was at her sewing machine demonstrating her technique.

Following are some examples of her quilts.

Next, let us have a look at Music by Masters. Here I mean quilt masters, not composers.

Eight Master Quilters had been invited to show their favourite music style in quilting.
Let me show you some of them.

Yoko Ueda

uses her education in art to make the most beautiful water colour style quilts in a large scale.
Carmen and La Traviata are two operas that she celebrated here. They were used for the cover of the program and tickets.

Yoko Saito

who is internationally know for her taupe quilts, picked Mary Poppins for inspiration.


Her students/followers joined in and contributed other scenes from the musical.


Every umbrella for the displays had a bird's head handle.





Visitors had cameras by the ready, but the shutter chances were few with those crowds.


 Kathy Nakajima
 makes Hawaiian quilts, as well as stained glass and rose appliqué quilts.

Examples of these various styles can be found in her booth celebrating the music of Freddie Mercury of Queen. She turned the album cover of Bohemian Rhapsody into one of cats.

Suzuko Koseki

adds red and fashion (high heel shoes and New Look dresses) to most of her work.
This time she let build a 'Soda Fountain' complete with high stools and a juke box. Time of Oldies.


On the walls were these quilts by her and her students.

 Akane Sakamoto

 makes very playful quilts, and in this case lots of stuffed toys,

 

and the large quilt behind her., for The Nutcracker.

Here she is showing her work to Yoko Saito who had taken a break from the Mary Poppins booth.

 

 Reiko Washizawa

 is  most well known for her elegant trapunto quilts.
 Every year she is in charge of a larger display at the show. She did Wizard of Oz a couple of years ago, and Monet's Garden last year.
This time it was a scene from Bremen with the four ageing musicians.
Her students contribute with all the fabric flowers and other props.

Now for the Monkey mentioned in the blog post heading.

His name is George and he is curious, yes, this part of the quilt show was dedicated to Curious George.

I especially liked this alphabet quilt.

Look at the details.

 Art Textiles:Made in Britain and quilts from The Quilters' Guild Museum Collection
were two areas at the show where photos were not allowed. Click on the links and read their web sites instead.
I can, however, tell you that I saw a crazy quilt in The Guild's collection, so heavily bedecked with embroidery it looked like an oriental carpet. Pure delight!


Have you enjoyed the show? I had a good time in the company of good friends looking at good quilts.
I went back home with a goody bag, too. Some goodies were bought, but most were gifts. Dear friends, THANK YOU.

Here I complete the reports from Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2020, and will now turn my attention to my own stitching. I'll be back at Sunday Stitch School later today.

For more pictures and stories from the show I recommend that you visit:
ByTaniwa who has written up several posts and is a pro photographer.
My Quilt Diary by Julie, well worth reading and looking.
Pamela's Hokkaido Kudasai for an almost complete set of photographs!