Tokyo Discovery Day 1

Hello March!

I know it's been almost 2 months since I've written my last blog post. Life has been a bit hectic after I came back from my Japan trip. Custom orders, the boys exam, etc. Now the boys are on their way to Delhi for the Cricket Exposure trip and I guess it's good time to catch up on the blog posts and sorting out photos. 

 For those who followed me in Instagram, you must have seen a few stories and photos I shared. 

This time, we decided to be an early bird. Everyday we would go out early and explore as much as we can. We went to visit few fabric shops, parks and museum. 

Here's the summary of my Tokyo Visit (click the link under the photo to see more pictures)

Ueno Park 

 That was me and my luisa bag in Ueno Park. We went early to visit Ueno park while waiting for Amuse Boro Museum to open. 

If you're a textile enthusiast, you must visit this Amuse Boro Museum which is just outside the East Gate of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo

We spent more than 2 hours in the museum and it was not a big museum! The history behind each pieces that was displayed and looking at hundred years of quilts was just an amazing experience. Let the photos tell you the story. 

Vintage Boro Quilts

Vintage Boro Cloth

There are theatre showing the history of boro cloth too on the top floor and there was exhibition hall/ shop on the ground floor. We passed through the museum during our last visit, but it just didn't strike us that it was the Boro Museum. I mean, when you see sign "Amuse Museum" you will think of something futuristic, right? And on the ground floor being the shop, we thought it was just souvenir shop! 

the view from the Boro Museum terrace 

From Boro Museum we went to have lunch at Halal Naritaya which actually on the opposite gate (west gate), but somehow the google map take us for a ride and we go around from the Sensoji Temple main gate. If you're in Asakusa and looking for halal ramen, you might want to visit it. 

From Asakusa, we went all the way to Yokohama to check out Swany Fabric Store. I will write another blog about our fabric shopping adventures. So stay tuned!!

Swany Yokohama

Yokohama

That was our Day 1 in Tokyo! 

Stay Tuned for the next day! 

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day!

Elvira

Quilted travel Wallet

Hello,

Last week was quite productive self sewing for me. I made 2 travel wallet for my self and my friend in Japan, Sari who owns this cute shop selling Japanese Kanzashi in Etsy .

She loved this tree print fabric which I used to make this passport cover. 

I only have one fat quarter which is just enough to make this wallet. It's amazing what 2 fat quarter can do, right?

For my self, I made this wallet using Suzuko Koseki fabrics I got from my last  year's trip to Japan Quilt Festival

I really love the quilted version of this. I used stiff fleece batting which I got from Tina of the Square Inch a few months ago. I added the thin fusible interfacing to give a little stiffness for the exterior fabric. While on the interior, I used as per the pattern instructions. You can get the pattern HERE.

For the interior, I added the flap. This is a fab idea from Maria when she did the testing for me. It's very useful,  especially if you're going to use it for everyday wallet. Very handy to use it as a smartphone wallet too. 

I'm so excited to take this wallet. I hope I get to meet Suzuko Koseki again this week at the quilt show!!

So, who will there in Tokyo Dome this week? 

I better get going now. It's a long trip from North East India to Tokyo but I am all excited to see my friends, the dreamy quilts and of course the fabric shops --err...shopping!

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Tokyo Quilt Festival 2017

Where did February go?? 28 days passed so fast. I always feel the first 3 months of the year is the slowest but looks like it's different this year. 

I had an amazing time in Japan last January . It was a dream trip since I always want to see the Tokyo International Quilt Festival and yes it's worth every penny.

I went alone from India all the way to Japan and met my friend who was traveling solo from Indonesia. We planned to see the show for one day and then we'll check the fabrics stores around Tokyo, but we ended up 2 full days in the show. Yes, you need at least 2 days to see (almost) everything to see the displayed quilts and the market stalls...ahh there was just soo many amazing handmade stuff there.

Here's some of the amazing photos from the show :
(More photos can be seen HERE)

  

and my fave:

And the market booths

and of course we visited all the Fabric "shrines" where ever we went. We discussed our itineraries for months out of excitement and all the historical shrines suddenly forgotten when we knew there were fabric stores in vicinity LOL. Well, I can go  back with the boys for those historical places, right? 

Truthfully, the show is sort of one stop shop if you want to buy any craft supplies, fabrics and meet the designers. Oh yes, I met the Suzuko Koseki. I've been a big fan of her works and she was such an awesome person. So humble and obliged when I asked for a photo. I bought 3 of the recent books too. I'd love to go back every year if I had my way LOL.

Besides, where ever you go in Japan, there is always fabric shops. The famous one would be Yuzawaya. You can find it almost in every city, I guess.

In Kyoto, my fave would be Nomura Tailor. It's the best. I don't remember which bus we took, just consult your Google Map (thank you Google) when you are in Kyoto. 

Look at those yummy fabrics!! -- Nomura Tailor Kyoto

Nomura Tailor Kyoto

Yuzawaya - Kyoto

and of course one have to Visit Tomato in Nippori. It's fabric heaven!!

The only thing to remember is in Nippori the shops closed at 5 PM. Some of the shops closed at 6 PM and some at 8.30 PM,

 

So you have to think and decide fast when you have little time ^___^ 

  

That's the most difficult part of fabric shopping in Japan. To buy or not to buy. 

While choosing all those beauties, my mind did quick calculation - will it be over luggage (I was allowed 30 kg) , do I still have balance in my debit card - some of the shops accepted cards payment (to my hubby's dismay)

 

So, I came back home happy with full suitcase of fabrics, quilting books and happy memories and an empty bank balance. 

Now, I better get some sewing done 

Stay tuned for exciting offer in my next post ^^

Happy Sewing