Here are a few more quilts from the show at
NEQM - it's there til mid April - if you are local, be sure to see it! There are many more, and they are all so interesting and special.
First,
Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii (what a title!). A reminder that many of these quilts must have been created around the time of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.  |
| Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii. |
The indigo and white combination - so classic:
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| detail from Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii. |
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| detail from Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii. |
Even in a classic two color quilt, bits of other color are used to great effect:
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| detail from Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii. |
Another beautiful border here:
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| detail from Flower Calendar - Where are all the Flowers? Flower Offerings Prayers - Keep Going! Japan by Emi Nii. |
Hope by Kiyuko Miyashita:
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| Hope by Kiyuko Miyashita |
I know I have seen this quilt in person before. It is famous, I believe. The blocks are simple; the placement is genius.
Quilted (or perhaps, as the description implies, embroidered before sandwiching) in bright concentric circles, with sashiko-style stitches:
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| detail from Hope by Kiyuko Miyashita |
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| detail from Hope by Kiyuko Miyashita |
And on the other end of the emotional spectrum, Stripes and Kasuri Harmony by Reiko Saito:
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| Stripes and Kasuri Harmony by Reiko Saito |
Vintage indigo:
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| detail from Stripes and Kasuri Harmony by Reiko Saito |
I just love these varied light indigo pieces, and the organic sashiko stitches:
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| detail from Stripes and Kasuri Harmony by Reiko Saito |
As I mentioned earlier, the competition is open internationally. Here's a quilt from the USA (imagine landing in Lowell MA, via Japan!). It is At the Circus by Marianne Burr - just stunning!
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| At the Circus by Marianne Burr |
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| detail from At the Circus by Marianne Burr |
Beautiful stitching, glowy silks.
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| detail from At the Circus by Marianne Burr |
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| detail from At the Circus by Marianne Burr |
Lastly a stunning example of beauty, balance, attention to detail using vintage fabrics. Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi:
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| Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi |
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| detail from Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi |
Notice the reverse applique:
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| detail from Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi |
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| detail from Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi |
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| detail from Flower Baskets of Patterns by Yukiko Uozumi |
That's it from me, a little Japan fix in the middle of winter! It's a small show, but so worth seeing. There are many more that I did not photograph. I may go see it again before it closes April 12.
