Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Quilt Eye Candy

Nihon Japanese heart quilt by Kikuyo Miyashita
"Hope" Quilt by Kikuyo Miyashita 宮下季久代 from Japan
There was a fantastic exhibit at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, USA, that ended January 5, 2014.  Titled "Japanese Influences in Fiber Arts", the exhibit features, (among other things), award winning quilts from a major Japanese Quilt Show, the 11th biennial Nihon Quilt exhibit.  
[The quilts are now being exhibited at the New England Quilt Museum through April 12, 2014.]

Quilt Nihon Quilt by Anco Brouwers-Branderhorst
"Connected Squares" Quilt by Anco Brouwers-Branderhorst
from the Netherlands
The Japanese show attracts many outstanding international quilts from around the world, and over 35 of the top quilts from Quilt Nihon were displayed at the museum in Cedarburg.  

Quilt Nihon Korean Denim Quilt by Soo Hee Lee of Korea
"In the Blue" Denim Quilt by Soo Hee Lee from Korea

I have been to five quilt shows in the last three months, and yet the museum's exhibit has quilts whose design, workmanship and fabrics stand out among the many other quilts I have seen.  I think that the international competition to be in the Japanese show gets a much more diverse body of work then local quilt shows.

Quilt Nihon Quilt by Maya Chaimovich
Quilt by Maya Chaimovich from Israel

In this blog post I am sharing a few of my favorite quilts from the museum exhibit.  There are many more quilts from the exhibit I'd like to share, but for now these will have to do.

Nihon Japanese heart quilt by Kikuyo Miyashita with Keiko Goke fabric
close-up  of the Kikuyo Miyashita quilt, lots of Keiko Goke fabrics
I love seeing quilts in person, because then you get to see not only the overall impact of the quilt, but the small details, fabrics, and quilting choices that make up the quilt.  The quilt above has so many cheerful fabrics I have never seen before.  The impact of the colors in the quilt is amazing in person.

Quilt Nihon Quilt by Anco Brouwers-Branderhorst
Close-up detail of the Anco Brouwers-Branderhorst quilt
The color and construction of the geometric quilt above really caught my eye.  The simple block construction, with the white squares offset, is enhanced by the quilting and the embellishment.

Quilt Nihon Korean Denim Quilt by Soo Hee Lee of Korea
close-up detail from the Soo Hee Lee quilt
This denim masterpiece has to be one of my favorites.  The use of zippers and belt loops and the arrangement of colors of denim is just fantastic in the sections of little houses, and then the overall arrangement of the houses in the quilt with a section of leaf pattern is just so creative.

Quilt Nihon Korean Denim Quilt by Soo Hee Lee of Korea
close-up detail from the Soo Hee Lee quilt
I find myself just stunned sometimes at the talent, skill and time poured into some of the quilts.  There is something exciting about seeing masterpieces, and being able to appreciate them.  I can't quilt like these quilters, but I can enjoy their efforts, in the same way that I can enjoy a concert even though I can't sing well.

Quilt Nihon Quilt by Maya Chaimovich
Detail 1 of Maya Chaimovich's quilt
This last quilt is so different, I can look at it and study it, and still not know where one fabric ends and the next starts.  But it is lovely to see.  

Quilt Nihon Quilt by Maya Chaimovich
Detail 2 of Maya Chaimovich's quilt


I would encourage anyone interested is seeing this show to make the effort.  Traveling to Japan to see a show like this is much harder then traveling to Wisconsin (or Massachusetts).  People from as far away as Texas made arrangements to come and see this exhibit, and I can see why.  These quilts traveled all over the world to get here.

If you are interested in seeing more quilts from this exhibit, leave a comment saying so. If there is enough interest, I post more photos.

Click on the images to see them enlarged 
(Yes, you can see these images even larger!). 



If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

Batik Stars Quilt
Batik Scrap Quilt
batik quilt
Circle Quilt
heart quilt
Heart Quilt
Quilts Part 2
Valentine Vignette
Valentine Hutch
Spring Hutch
Spring Needlework
hutch display
Vintage Lace
mosaic heart stepping stone
Mosaic Heart
butterfly costume jewelry
Butterfly Bling





























I am linking up to these memes:

Quilt specific links:
Colorful life: Really random Thur (Entry 5 of 26.)
Pretty bobbins: Quilt linky party (Entry 15 of 22.)
Hotpinkquilts :Finished Fri (Entry 26 of 43.)
Richard/Tanya quilts: Link a Finish Friday 93 (Entry 4 of 27.)
Quilt story: Fabric Tuesday (Entry 37 of 70.)
Freshlypieced:Work In Progress Wed (Entry 100 of 165.)
Quilt Infatuation: Needle-and-thread Thur (Entry 1 of 69.)
Marelize: Anything goes Monday 42 (Entry 45 of 45.)
ihavetosay: Show-and-tell Tue (Entry 15 of 18)
Fabric addict: Whoop Whoop (Entry 40 of 67.)
Connie: Linky Tuesday (Entry 42 of 44.)
Blossomheart: Sew Cute Tue (Entry 27 of 28.)
 

Others I Love:
Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 127 (Entry 47 of 58.)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 149 (Entry 92 of 98.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 250 (Entry ?)
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 187 (Entry 143 of 245.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 190 (Entry 204 of 304.)
Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 159 (Entry 126 of 211.)
Cedarhill Ranch: The Sun Scoop 92 (Entry 159 of 259.)
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style (Entry 19 of 33.) b
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 144 (Entry 192 of 390.) * 
Handy: Wicked Awesome Wed 136 (Entry 72 of 104.)
Family Home: Wow us Wed (Entry 71 of 101.)
Snap: Show and Tell (Entry 122 of 175.)
Adorned from above: Adorned Wed (Entry 144 of 153.)
Sand yellow door: Home (Entry 26 of 38.)
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 145 (Entry 18 of 129.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 135 (Entry 44 of 79.)
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 153 of 316.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 164 (Entry 14 of 225.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 20 of 249.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 180 (Entry 140 of 190.)  

Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 680 of 1038.)
Create-with-joy: Inspire Me Mon (Entry 258 of 259.)
 

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25 comments:

Sara said...

I went to the WI Quilting Museum in July and the exhibit was fantastic. Wish I could have seen this one as well. A girl can dream right?! :)

Thanks for sharing these beauties off!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh my goodness. These are unreal. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla said...

Gorgeous colours - the denim is my favourite!! Thank you for sharing your post at the Cottage Style Party :)
Spring greetings from Australia♥ ~Pernilla (Guest Host)

Sue McPeak said...

Master Quilters is an understatement when speaking of many of Japan's quilters, and the ones in this exhibit are certainly that. My favorite is the denim one with all the embellishments...WOW. Thanks for sharing this amazing event. I'm from Texas and would love to be one of those Texans making the trip...oh I just did through you...thanks, again.
Sue CollectInTexas Gal

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

oh, wow! those are some really beautiful quilts! The first one just took my breath away!

Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

LV said...

I love quilts and have many. I truly enjoyed seeing what others make. These are so different and interesting.

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

Beautiful! :)

lorraines resources and rewards said...

love the eye candy thanks for sharing some beauty in my life. Visting from Crafty Woman, Handy Man. I'm lorraine at http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com

Lindsey said...

These are wonderful! These would be so great to see in person! Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

Lynn said...

I'd love for you to post more photos of quilts from this show. Thanks for sharing!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Those quilts are amazing and such wonderful works of art. I love the denim one with the village on it. My, the imagination and workmanship put into the making of these beauties! So happy you've shared this at my HOME.

Blessings,
Sandi

Jo said...

thanks for sharing those pictures. They are amazing. I too especially love the denim one. I have lots of old jeans I have been hoarding for some reason- could this be it.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

These are works of art! Thanks for sharing at TTF!

Turid said...

These are fantastic and inspiring quilts. Thank you for showing us.

audrey said...

These are incredible! That denim one...wow! The use of the zipper like that was so cool!

Terri said...

Yes, please post more from this exhibit! Love the inspiration.
Thanks for sharing your photos.
Hugs

Cheryl said...

What wonderful pictures, thank you so much for posting these quilt show quilts. Thank you also for stopping by and your kind works on my blog (Meadow Mist Designs), I tried to respond through e-mail but you are a no-reply blogger.

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and leading me back to this amazing post! I can't imagine how stunning it must have been to see these in person.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Your work is art!!!

Val from myplvl.blogspot.com

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful quilts! Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

Adorned From Above said...

These quilts are beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party.
Have a great week.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting these! I saw this exhibit at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah in September, and photography was not allowed. I'm so glad to be able to see them again.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Some very interesting quilts. Lots of time and energy went into these. Love the denim one! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Gemma@prettybobbins said...

Beautiful quilts!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing, wish is could see them in person... Thanks for linking up :)

Kathy said...

These are incredibly exquisite! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy