Wa stands for 'Japanese', and such quilts have either a Japanese theme or are made from Japanese fabric. These quilts were mainly made from kimono silk and quite perfect. Not one boro quilt in sight.
A selection of Japanese patterns (sashiko designs e.g.) in this quilt
平沼淳子＊Atsuko Hiranuma
Miroku Bodhisattva of Kouryu Temple in Kyoto
made in Mola quilting technique
細井郁子＊Ikuko Hosoi
A round window with 'paper' panes and bamboo growing outside
塚原やすこ＊Yasuko Tsukahara
An incredibly small and perfect Mariners Compass
島野徳子＊Tokuko Shimano
entirely stitched by hand
Gajoen was established in 1928 as a first class Japanese restaurant with banquet rooms, hotel accommodation and rooms for wedding ceremonies. Read more about it here.
Gajoen's Hyakudan Kaidan is also used for exhibitions. The walls and ceilings are decorated with paintings, there are tatami straw mats on the floor (shoes have to be removed and everyone walks around in socks or stockings, as you can see). The quilts are hung from black lacquered kimono stands (used to hang kimono for airing before being folded and put away in a drawer).
秋田景子＊Keiko Akita
This quilt looks like a modern Western quilt, but look at the close up...
平野直子＊Naoko Hirano
yes, there are raw edges (pinking) and machine quilting, but the fabric is hand tied and dyed shibori silk
In this quilt many blocks have been folded into origami bows.
木村ひろみ＊Hiromi Kimura
Colonial Knots give this quilt a new dimension
齋藤礼子＊Reiko Saito
My absolute favorite was this Suffolk Puff (Yo-yo) quilt. Can you see that there is an electric cord at the bottom left? There is a lamp behind the quilt, and the phosphorus green dots is light coming through black lace. Look at the detailed photos below.
田中由美子＊Yumiko Tanaka
I have never seen lace used as a background for a quilt, well, technically it isn't a quilt, there is no quilting, and I was not the only one standing for a long time in awe in front of this quilt.
This quilt had some traditional toys, a cat, inflatable paper balls and a rattle.
利根川加代子＊Kayoko Tonegawa
Finally I got some ideas for my Hina Dolls for next year. I need to make an aubergine eggplant and a chrysanthemum flower.
0 Comments