Kit visit and Japanese Fabric

It has been a busy week since I last posted on here. It was nice touring the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I'm glad to be part of it again for the third time. If you have not seen it, please see my previous post for more detail or click the above link.

I haven't finished anything in the last couple of weeks so I thought I will show you my Japanese fabric I brought back from Japan. I have a lot more photos from Japan to sort through and show to you.

Our daughter Kit visited this weekend from Sydney. After graduating from ANU, Kit moved to work in Sydney. We see each other quite often; either we go there or she comes to us. Kit is leaving for New York in 2 weeks time so it's nice to see her before she leaves. Kit has been to New York a few times in the past. She loves New York and has many friends to visit there.   

This is  Kit and I on an outing to our favorite spot for lunch and coffee at Oakleigh in Melbourne.   

Japanese shop keeper and I in Nara, Japan. A train ride from Kyoto to Nara took only 40 minutes. Nara is Japan's first capital. In the old quarter Naramachi District, the buildings are distinguished by narrow frontages and surprising depth. The lane started off with traditional Japanese shops including the fabric shop above. I purchased a lot of Japanese fabric from there.

These coin purses seemed to drive Japan's economy. Every shop would have them including one that sells only these purses in all shapes and sizes. I bought a few ready made as well as some clasps to try and make them myself. 

The bundles of fabric above came from Osaka. I wondered into a shop of upholstery supplies full of items such as cushions, table mates, napkins,  and Nolans (Japanese door blind). In that shop I found a few baskets full of these bundles. I asked with my broken Japanese how much they were. The lady told me they are not for sale and tried to sell me fabric by the metre. I then used the magic word "Patchwork", oh it was a magic, she understood and agreed to sell these to me for only $3.00 per bundle. It was a good buy! 

Here is my Japanese fabric from Nara. I was only looking for traditional Japanese fabric and not a big amount. I didn't have anything planned to make with them, but I'm happy with what I brought back.

Some fabric from Tokyo

And more

These cute kitten prints were so nice I have to have some! 

I bought some offcuts and vintage Kimono pieces too. I am glad to be using them in my online workshop Cloth to Cloth. 

My online workshop Cloth to Cloth started over a week ago. I'm really enjoying it. I wish I could show you all the work from everyone, but unfortunately the blog we are posting our work on is a private one. I will post my work on here to show you what I have been doing.