Some brights from Keiko Goke's new fabric line
'Let's enjoy....' seems to be a popular phrase in Japan. For years I have noticed its prevalence in all manner of advertising and signage and it never fails to make me smile. So, let's enjoy fabric shopping!
Upon my return from trips to Japan, I always get email requests to share my fabric purchases in a post. I understand the interest in what's new in the market, but my choices are in no way a comprehensive overview of what's available...they're just what caught my eye. The best fabric shopping opportunity is, of course, at the quilt festival. First stop, Keiko Goke's booth!
Partial display in Keiko Goke's booth
Goke's booth almost exploded with color. In the last year, she has designed two more lines of fabric, her fourth and fifth, debuting the latest at the festival. If you liked her last designs, you'll love the new ones, all of which coordinate with her previous prints. We noticed numerous quilts in the show this year featuring her colorful fabric.
A selection of Goke blues
Next stop, La Clochette, Suzuko Koseki's booth. Always on the hunt for text fabrics, I was hoping that I'd find some of her well-known prints in stock. I wasn't disappointed.
Suzuko Koseki
Koseki also debuted a new line at the show, including a text fabric in numerous colorways. I was also able to scoop up some previous prints that I had missed.
The holy grail...Koseki text prints
A variety of other new Koseki prints
Both Goke's and Koseki's fabric are produced by Yuwa, my favorite Japanese fabric company. Their cotton fabric is silky yet substantial and print quality is always sharp. Yuwa's variety of quirky designs is also a big plus for me so the their booth was next on our list.
Three colorways of a fun Yuwa print
Three colorways of Yuwa European candy print...yum!
Two colorways of odd advertising-themed Yuwa print
See what I mean? At Yuwa, the cloth was rolled onto tubes which were laid out on tables, somewhat like an upholstery shop. Nothing was precut so purchasing was a bit of a frenzy as women pointed or pulled out their selections to be cut. It was so crowded that when we left the area, we literally had to wade through a sea of people. I recall being in a big sweat, something I seldom associate with buying fabric. (Hey, this isn't for sissies!) We found the Yuwa people to be good-natured and generous, however. A big gold star for them.
Once we checked off our first three stops, Molly & I split up for some browsing. Among the many vendors were Japanese shops which offered pre-cuts, a dangerous temptation. Many of them featured American prints (desirable to the Japanese contemporary quilter,) but I was able to ferret out some interesting Japanese prints. (A text print on checks!)
A few interesting and irresistible pre-cuts
Of course, not all of my fabric shopping was done at the show. For better or worse (for me), Molly lives within walking distance of a Yuzawaya, one of Japan's big fabric attractions for quilters. I did dart in a couple of times and came away with these great little shoe prints and a travel print which I hadn't seen elsewhere.
Two colorways of tiny shoes(!) plus Yuwa travel print
These wonderful text prints were featured at a number of venues. The colors are all new versions of a previously popular print that had originally been available only in 'quiet' tones.
New colors of popular text print
Finally, while poking around Kamakura, home of the famed Great Buddha, I found these cotton prints in a small tenugui shop. They were charmingly displayed on a shelf, with a small sign identifying the designer, whose name I wish I'd noted. I usually try to avoid the cute children's prints (limits!) but something about the vintage-y design and colorations prevented me from walking away from these. (Kicking myself that I left without the turquoise...limits!) Not actually yardage, they're meant to be furoshiki (wrapping cloths) but are all cotton and 20" square, quite usable for my purposes.
That's pretty much what I came home with...more than I'd planned to, but much less than last year. I'm happy with the variety and can't wait to start using it.
So now, having seen my choices, what would you have brought home?
Just love the Yuwa European candy print and the Two colorways of odd advertising-themed Yuwa print and Two colorways of tiny shoes plus Yuwa travel print :-).Oh and the precuts are gorgeous too as well as Koseki text prints
Sounds like you had a fabulous time :-)
Wish I fit into the suitcase
Enjoy lots of fabric fondling :-))
Posted by: Lynne | February 28, 2011 at 07:54 PM
umm ...Yeah, all of it!! LOL!
Seriously great stuff. Thanks for the fabric shopping tour!
Posted by: Schnoobie(susan atwell) | February 28, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Hi Jan, As always, your fabric choices are "deliciously" wonderful! They're so bright and colorful that they remind me of some fabulous candy shop or a wonderful fruit stand. Yummy! I would have brought all that home, and probably more. Thanks for sharing. I hope that you are able to find time to start using all those lovely new fabrics, in spite of the impending house sale and move. Best regards and happy stitches! Jay
Posted by: Jay | February 28, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Great fabrics and what a shopping experience you must have had.
Personally, I always "sweat" when it comes to fabric - though as women we are supposed to "glisten" - and then I get very hungry!
Here in conservative upper midwest, we will probably never see such a fun variety! So thanks for sharing.
Posted by: taylorsoutback | March 01, 2011 at 12:36 AM
The text prints. Definitely the text prints - all of them. And perhaps the black and white pre-cuts.
I'm sitting here drooling.
Posted by: Clare | March 01, 2011 at 05:14 AM
Great choices! FYI, the green train themed one bleeds a TON if you haven't already washed it. I have soaked mine at least 10 times already and it is still changing the water. I used the sneakers for the center of my new coaster set too. I'll upload new photos soon!
Posted by: molly | March 01, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Wow -- you have such a great eye for fabric Jan. I LOVE the little shoe print and the prints in the last picture. And your word prints. And...oh, all of it. Great Fun!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | March 01, 2011 at 08:48 AM
so much fun! always love these posts. I'd definitely have scored all the text prints and the little shoes. I love that "shop the old stuff" - what a hoot. ooh, and some eiffel towers from La Clochette. so will these new prints eventually (when you have time again!) go in your squares and triangles quilt full of japanese fabrics? love love love that one.
Posted by: Tonya Ricucci | March 01, 2011 at 08:55 AM
How did you contain yourself? I would have gone nuts!
Posted by: Cindra | March 01, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Which ones? All of the ones you brought home! :-) Fabrics with text get me every time. LOVELY, LOVELY, LOVELY selections! Have fun petting those and considering their futures.
Posted by: amy | March 01, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Beautiful fabrics! I would have definitely brought home some of the Keiko Goke brights -- but anything with orange is a winner for me. The European candy prints are also irresistible!
Posted by: Julie | March 01, 2011 at 12:40 PM
What fun fabrics! I love the ones with text too..they always catch my eye.
I think some of the Goke prints would have come home with me as well?
I love the Yuwa prints especially.
I think I would have looked for indigos too?
Posted by: Ann Champion | March 01, 2011 at 02:44 PM
Text, text, text!! It's so difficult to find those quirky text prints here.
I look forward to seeing each one you bring home from your travels.
Enjoy your new fabric!
Posted by: Diane | March 01, 2011 at 02:54 PM
I'd have to beat my way into Suzuko Koseki's booth! The newspaper style text, the sketchy flowers and the pinstripes -- oooooh!! I would have had to get the handwriting on checks too, of course.
Posted by: Kristin L | March 01, 2011 at 03:03 PM
I think I would have been happy to trot along behind you. It's all wonderful and will look so great in your projects. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Janet | March 02, 2011 at 12:09 AM
I loved all your choices and yes, I'm jealous, jealous, jealous!
I'm going to a quilt show this saturday and hoping to bring home a few treasures of new fabric.
Posted by: barb | March 02, 2011 at 08:39 AM
Great choices as usual. It is so fun to see what other people choose to buy, and this time I think I would have followed your lead - all those great text fabrics, especially the newest Koseki ones, are great! And Keiko Goke's fabrics, and those tiny shoes! Lots of lovely inspiration there, I bet. Have fun with it!
Posted by: mathea | March 02, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Wow! What a treasure trove!!
I love the little shoes!
Posted by: Miriam | March 03, 2011 at 06:00 AM
hi jan! your blog is looking gorgeous, as always. i just wanted to say thanks for all the traffic from your site. more people have visited my blog from your blog than any other place! :)
Posted by: lauren | March 04, 2011 at 12:23 PM
What would I have brought home? Exactly the same stuff, and now it would live at my house instead of yours. I love all those text motifs too. And everything else is just beyond fabulous too...
Posted by: KathieB | March 29, 2011 at 02:58 PM
About your brightly colored hexies...is that a certain fabric line? Or is it several different lines? I love the bright colors becausse it looks more modern than the usual 30s fabrics.
Posted by: nancy canady | June 06, 2011 at 03:14 PM