Another favorite

 
 Wind-Bell, Suzuko Koseki  (detail)

I loved this quilt the moment I laid eyes on it.  It had everything that, to me, makes a beautiful quilt...a nice mix of fabric types and styles, beautiful selective use of motifs (in the bells), some text prints and simple but lovely hand quilting that varied from area to area but was perfectly complementary to the overall design.  Not to mention that binding choice!  

 

It was very difficult to photograph.  Aside from the fact that there were always women clustered before it, I couldn't get the lighting right on it, despite several tries at different camera settings.  My photos look somewhat dull.  Suffice it to say that even when I look at these pale reproductions, I can hear the tinkling of Japanese wind bells!   

I was quite surprised (but shouldn't have been) to find when I was uploading my photos and searching my catalogs for identification info that it was made by another of my favorites, Suzuko Koseki.  How had I missed that?  It has all of her work's hallmarks, aside from being quite restrained in color palette compared to her more well known pieces.  Although you might not recognize her name, I'd guess that many of you are familiar with and may even own one of her books, the popular Patchwork Style, which was in such demand around the world that it was finally translated into English.

 
Suzuko Koseki in La clochette booth

Koseki has a thriving business, La clochette, which carries many of her popular fabrics and books.  Her booth is always mobbed and the crowd there always seems to be more *assertive* than at the other booths (as Molly will attest).  I guess this is because her pre-packaged fabrics, continuously being replenished at the front tables, are in high demand.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, she debuted a new large line of fabrics at the Tokyo show, which you can see strung up along the walls, available to check at a quick glance if you were lucky enough to advance to a position to be able to paw through the cuts.  I was.  I can *gently nudge my way forward* (ahem) as well as the next one.

 

If you like her new fabric as much as I do, you're in luck!  Actually, two of you are in luck because today's Be*mused birthday give-away is two selections of Koseki's new sewing-themed fabric, one in red and one in black.  (Gray day here...photos are a little shadowy.)

 
 
I outlined the giveaway rules in yesterday's post, but briefly, if you'd like to be included in the draw for these, mention it in your comment.  Some may comment with no interest in this fabric, so you must say that you'd like to be entered if you'd like a chance!  And, if you have a strong preference, indicate red or black, though if both winners have the same preference, I may not be able to honor it.  Oh, and still adding new quilts to the Tokyo show Flickr set!

Comments

[amy]

What a beautiful quilt -- so serene! And, yes, please enter me in today's drawing. :-) Between type fabric and sewing themes?!?!?! You're killing me. :-) Thanks again!

[kathie]

oh no!!!! another great giveaway today, LOVE the RED!!!! these fabrics are great, what fun. yes please enter me in the giveaway.
I can only imagine how you gently moved yourself forward in this booth.
oh the fabrics on the wall look interesting, were you able to buy all the new lines?
you must have been thrilled!
Kathie

[Bev]

Happy Birthday. I'm not a quilter (just a knitter) but I love to look at your pictures.

Hope you are having a good one!

[Wendy]

Love that quilt too...is this machine or hand-quilted? Just fantastic! Their quilts are quite different from ours...I love the looks...I appreciate all the time you are taking to up-load and write about these. It's a treat to see a quilt show from Japan! Please include me in the fabric give away...

[Patty]

Love that soft palatte for that quilt, it is very restful but still has motion to it. Beautiful. And I must say the fabric give-away is beautiful stuff too! I'd be happy to own either, tho I like the red lots :-)

[janet]

What a marvelous quilt - I love the quilting! Thanks for sharing your fabulous photos!

[Pam Cope]

Thank you for introducing me to so many talented quilt artists, we have similar taste and I love that quilt. I would love to win the fabric in your give away, I am partial to red, I wear red shoes almost every day!
Domo arigato!

[sharon]

Happy birthday, thank you for showing all the wonderful things that you saw in Japan. The quilt is gorgeous, I love the way she quilted it. I like the Koski material in red, though they are both great! Thanks Sharon.

[Miriam]

I agree, you can almost hear those chimes! What a magnificent quilt.
Please count me in for this generous giveaway. I love the red fabric!
I'm off to look at more of your Tokyo show photographs...........

[Pat]

The wind wishes quilt is so lovely. Thank you for sharing. Please enter me in the drawing for the sewing themed fabric. I LOVE red, but both are lovely.
Pat

[Gwendie]

Please include me in the drawing. Those fabrics are fabulous! Thank you for sharing. Gwendie

[Gilli]

Please include me in your give away. The fabrics are great. Very generous of you. Gilli

[Leah]

Oh now, that quilt is special. So restrained, and gorgeous!

[Mika]

Oh now that sewing themed fabric is just awesome! I'd love to be entered!

[Kelli]

Terrific fabric! please enter my in your drawing today. Thanks!

[Susan O.]

Please include me in your drawing. I love the fabric and the quilts.

[Schnoobie]

Oh yeah! Who wouldn't want a chance at either one of these??Please consider me entered and thrilled to have a chance !
Happy Blog Anniversary and thanks for all the great posts!

[Christine]

This is so much fun! Please include me as an avid fan of all of your posts. I also love your fabric choices and would be very pleased to win either the red or the black. There's always room for more gorgeous goods!

[Margaret]

I'd love to be entered in your giveaway! The black is wonderful! Thank you -- I wish I could have attended the show!

[Debbie]

More wonderful japanese fabric....and I won't have to push thru a crowd of hungry quilters??? This looks especially nice in either color...count me in!!
The photos on Flicker have been awe inspiring.

[barb]

Oh you are so right about this quilt - on all counts. I absolutely love it. I think the best part for me might be the swirls in the borders - genius - simple, as most genius things are - thanks for sharing.
see you next week!

[carolyn]

oh count me in with preference: red. :)

[Jackie]

I love them both, but if you must know, I think I prefer the red. That is just wonderful fabric. Thank you for including me in the draw.

[RuthSatterlee]

Your posts are wonderful. I'd love the fabric in black. Thanks for your fabulous giveaways!

[Robin Booth]

The quilt is so serene. It's like faint music drifting on the breeze. Yes, please enter my name into your drawing. I would be happy with either color. Thanks.

[Kim]

Oh I love that quilt! And I would love to be entered in the giveaway! :o)

[Irene]

I would love to be entered in the drawing.
Koseki's fabrics are wonderful. I prefer the red, but I won't be picky if there is a
tie.

[Janet]

what a wonderful quilt, love the fabrics. I think I have a Japanese magazine her work is featured in. I would love to go in the draw for the fabric. I love them both but I am a red person.

[Linda Holmes]

Thank you so much for the photographs from the quilt show---they are eye candy!!!!

Please include me in the drawing

[Lynn]

I LOVE that quilt!!! Ilove teh way she has teh lanterns blowing in teh breeze!

and I would LOVE to be included in the drawing. I lean toward the red, but both are fantastic!

[Linda in NC]

Please enter me in today's give-away. Love the red, but it would be a tough decision to choose. Thanks for sharing your Tokyo goodies.

[nance]

yes please i would love to be entered in the giveaway. i am so grateful for the pictures you have posted of the japanese quilt show. very inspiring. last year when i looked at the quilts, i was blown away and had all kinds of inspiration. i am sure this year will be the same!

[Nyla Dominguez]

I must say I would enjoy receiving today's giveaway also. My first choice would be the red. Thanks also for the information about the quilt artist. It was interesting!

[Ann L]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful quilt. I love the unusual palette and the elegant quilting which reminds me of some Welsh quilts I have seen. Please include me in today's drawing!

[Lauren]

Thank you for the wonderful photos of the quilts in Tokyo. I love looking at the details in the close ups. I would love to win a piece of this fabric, especially in red.

[Christi]

Enter me please. I would be thrilled with any color way! Her work (and yours) is so lovely. I am going to have to order her book. I flipped briefly through on Amazon and the projects look so fun! Thank you so much for sharing pictures from the quilt show.

[Judy's Common Thread]

I have really enjoyed your photos and posts about your trip. I will pass on the give away...someone else can enjoy those beautiful fabrics!

[Margarita]

Happy Birthday beautiful blog! I'm inspired to quilt again thanks to your blog. Count me in on the fabric giveaway.

[Carol Wilhoit]

It's fun to see your Tokyo pictures. I'd love to win one of the fabrics - black would be my first choice.

[Megan]

Please count me in with no preference - I love them both equally :)

I love to see your pictures and just imagine how long it took each quilter to make these quilts. And the patience! Incredible!

[Wendi]

Happy blog birthday!
I guess I AM a lurker...! I'm not trying to be one, but I'm usually checking the handful of blogs that I still have time to visit while eating my lunch, so I rarely comment. I'll try to remember to be more faithful to do that every now and then!
I started reading back when you started the English Paper piecing hexagon blocks. I don't have as much time for quilting anymore either...so I love getting some of my fabric and quilt fix through your blog. Thanks for sharing with us!
Oh I do like those fabrics. I'd say that the black is my favorite!

[Anne]

Oh the Wind-Bell would be my favourite too, it says so much without having to shout. **Happy Blog Birthday be*mused***
I would also like to be added to the draw for the fabric - I don't mind which one, they are all fabulous.
Cheers .... Anne

[Una]

Oh, Jan! It is difficult to describe how that quilt resonates with me. The beautiful rounded shapes echoed in the quilting, the blues, the lovely lack of symmetry in the backgrounds, and that little bell hanging from the left corner - it can be stared at forever. And the fabrics - it is impossible to decide. I'm just happy to see them - beautiful. Thank you for sharing the joy!

[Christa]

What a stunning quilt! I would love a chance to win that fun fabric!

[Sarah]

Such movement in the Wind-Bell quilt, you can feel it even in a photograph, I can only imagine how beautiful it was in person. Thank you for the Tokyo photos, and I would be pleased to enter your give away, either color.

[Nancy]

Another lovely quilt. Thank you for sharing these photographs and the experience of the Tokyo Quilt Show.

[Ginger]

Another fantastic giveaway that I cannot resist! Please count me in. Thank you for sharing the Tokyo Quilt Show with all of us who were not able to attend. The quilts are unbelievable!

[Chris]

Nothing like a giveaway - especially of such beautiful unseen fabrics - to lure lurkers out of the closet! I especially like the black
Chris x

[Ellen Easter]

I would love to be included in the giveaway - such wonderful fabrics ohhh the possibilities

[Nadia]

What great ideas for a fabric line. Please enter me in the giveaway!