I had a big plan. If I did most my fabric shopping before the Tokyo show, I could do a cursory tour of the vendors' area and then spend most of my time viewing the quilts. On the face of it, it was brilliant. I had a list of things I was looking for...text fabric, anything in *that green* that is so prevalent in Japanese fabrics and not so available here, anything a bit funky or offbeat...and would spend over a week in Japan before the quilt show.
Make-your-own face mask display, Swany, Yokohama
During that time, we hit Molly's local Yuzawaya (11 multi-level buildings of sewing and handcraft supplies, a mere walk from her place!), Okadaya in Shinjuku (twice!) and Swany, a charming cloth and pattern shop in Yokohama. As my list grew shorter, the little pile of fabric near my suitcase grew larger.
"I think I'm all set on the fabric front!" I said to Molly the night before the quilt show. "Uh-huh" she replied, flatly.
Suzuko Koseki's new line of sewing-themed fabrics
The first sign of trouble...a wall of new fabric designs being debuted at La Clochette, Suzuko Koseki's booth.
Sigh.
Keiko Goke's always crowded booth
Next stop, Keiko Goke's booth, where she was debuting a new line of fabric designs, too. And they were going fast. In fact, she sold out in the first two days.
Good thing we got there early.
Acknowledging the error in my well-intentioned plan, I caved. In fact, it was all downhill from there. Molly would have gotten more of a laugh from it than she did if she wasn't gathering quite the pile of fabric cuts herself. The next morning she was up early, still in PJs, pre-washing them all to add to her growing quilting stash.
Fugitive color check
Now I'm washing my fabrics, anxious to get them into the stacks to use. I know you'd like to see what I bought, because quilters always want to know what's new out there. (Not to mention, because you've been emailing me about it!! lol) So here's what will be keeping be busy at the ironing board the next few days.
The photos overlap somewhat.
Really.
Then, after a busy year of fun and not-so-fun family distractions, I'm planning to lock myself in the sewing room for a few months!!
***To those of you who have been readers of Molly's longtime blog, you may have been surprised if you recently clicked over to read and found nothing there. So was she! Somewhere in her busy past month, adjusting to a new job and life in Tokyo, making her unexpected trip home for Christmas, hosting me, she let the re-registering of her domain name fall through the cracks. And her blog disappeared. She's decided for now to let it go, but was sorry for the abrupt end. She'd like to keep in touch with internet friends she's made and asked me to let you know that you can still find her on Flickr and Ravelry.
Wow. Look those amazing stash additions. What a trip! I'm so glad you are willing to share it with us. I can live vicariously through you.
Posted by: Anita | January 29, 2010 at 06:10 PM
Oh my gosh - I would think that I died and went to heaven with all that material. What a fantastic trip you told. I can't wait to see how you use some of those fabrics - they're wonderful.
Posted by: Debbie | January 29, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Wow!! All that gorgeous fabric!!!
You have certainly come home with a treasure trove of delicious fabrics!!
I love the photo of the fabrics drying in the sun.
Posted by: Miriam | January 29, 2010 at 08:20 PM
Looks like it was a great trip and lots of fun fabrics! :)
Posted by: Judy's Common Thread | January 29, 2010 at 09:15 PM
I'm so envious, but delighted at your chance to see the beautiful fabric, quilts, and all the inspiration that goes with any foreign place. Thanks for letting us see a bit of it.
Posted by: Kay | January 29, 2010 at 09:19 PM
Holy Cow Jan! I'm pleased that you were able to show such buying restraint LOL. Oh the fun you're going to have in the next year!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | January 29, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Wow...what lovely fabrics! I love that picture of them all sun drying...very cheery!
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | January 30, 2010 at 04:43 AM
Stash envy! Wow what a lot of interesting fabric you found! You're going to have a lot of fun with this, no doubt. Actually, I'm not really envious, just happy for you and delighted that we get to see all these goodies. I love Japanese fabrics with English text - they seem to have chosen it so randomly and out of context and often with endearing mistakes, very engrish.com
However, it is probably just as funny to them how people in the West sometimes adorn our fabrics and even bodies with Japanese or Chinese letters we don't understand...
Posted by: mathea | January 30, 2010 at 05:46 AM
Lovely fabrics and good Patchwork!!! Thanks for the pictures great festival Tokyo 2010!
Friendship Mamifleur.
Posted by: mamifleur | January 30, 2010 at 06:21 AM
Hehehe. Big plans are always flawed, especially when fabric is in the mix! And what gorgeous colours you have in those fab fabrics. You are going to be one busy lady using them all up...and you're going to, aren't you Jan?
Posted by: Cascade Lily | January 30, 2010 at 06:23 AM
My husband is coming to Japan on Monday. His colleague gave him the web llink to Yuwazawa and he has located a few. I was wondering if you know IF they sell Blythe dolls at their stores? I am just hoping he can find japanese fabric, cotton time or other quilt related magazines and books and blythe dolls all in one place. Do you have any advise I should give him?
Posted by: Vickie E | January 30, 2010 at 06:37 AM
Wow, What an experience and such inspirational fabrics - I can understand you wanting to be shut in your sewing room for a few months. Sad;y the Road to California quilt show did not offer such inspiration this year although the vendors were good!
Posted by: Liz | January 30, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Lovely fabrics! I picked up some similar ones but not as crazy as you. Just to let you know that I DO read your block! Have fun playing with the fabrics. ^=^
Posted by: Mazie C | January 30, 2010 at 07:05 PM
Jan, Wow! The fabrics are absolutely wonderful! I can't really say that I have stash envy, cause they're not really my style, but I am thrilled for you. I just now that you'll create wonderfully colorful fun new quilts to share with all of us in blog land. You definitely have had a busy time as of late. I sincerely hope that you are able to have lots of quiet time with the fabric in the sewing room. Happy Quilting! Jay
Posted by: Jay | January 31, 2010 at 02:25 AM
Jan, I sooooo envy your haul! I have been hunting for text fabric for the last couple of years with very limited success in the US and the web. It looks like your scored big time. Really looking forward to seeing what you do with your goodies!
Posted by: Diane | January 31, 2010 at 02:56 PM
Ah, what gorgeous fabrics! Total eye candy, thanks for sharing ;)
Posted by: PippaPatchwork | February 01, 2010 at 08:03 AM
Thanks for sharing so many great pictures! I've been looking through the Flickr album. What amazing quilts. The mouse family in the attic!! Amazing detail.
Posted by: sonja poor | February 01, 2010 at 12:24 PM
That country is dangerous.
Posted by: Mariko | February 01, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Looks and sounds like you and Molly had a great time together, Aunt Jan! Love all the fabrics you came back with and can't wait to see what you make with them!
Posted by: Sarah | February 01, 2010 at 12:44 PM
All right. I just posted that I try to rush right over whenever I see that you have a new post and I missed this one??? What beautiful fabrics you chose. ::sigh:: I'm going to scroll back up and gaze at them with my dessert.
Posted by: amy | February 01, 2010 at 06:14 PM
oooooh oooh oooh. Love that fabric, especially the wordy ones. Why am I so surprised that some of it is in French? I hope to see some of these soon in your japanese print blocks. or did you finish all those? all of a sudden I'm remember a post about duplicating fabrics for it. anyway, fun to see all the wonderfulness.
Posted by: Lazy Gal Tonya R | February 01, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Congratulations on Five years blogging. Your blog is a favorite of mine. I'd love to be included in a drawing. Thanks.
Posted by: Patti Fawcett | February 02, 2010 at 08:17 PM
Make your own face masks??? Hmmm, this is adorable and disturbing all wrapped together!!!
Great quilts too. Thanks for sharing it all!!!
Posted by: Lynn | February 02, 2010 at 09:25 PM
brilliant!
Posted by: karen sato | February 03, 2010 at 03:24 AM
Just wondering which Yuzawaya who went too. I'm travelling to Tokyo next month and normally go to the one in kichijoji but it looks like it's temporary closed. I've also heard about Yokohama but never been. It looks like your trip was quite recent, any tips?
Posted by: Belinda | February 19, 2010 at 06:29 AM
Wow Jan, this post is chock full of goodness. I hadn't see the entire line of Yuwa sewing fabric yet, so thanks for pointing me in this direction. I just had to laugh at your new fabric acquisitions from your trip. Totally fabulous and crazy at the same time. Perfect!
Posted by: Penny | September 11, 2010 at 10:14 AM