Sunday Stash #38 – The Tokyo Edition

Next up we went to Yuzawaya (which I never would have found on my own, Lordy!). Yuzawaya is like a Japanese version of Spotlight, but with less bed linen and curtain rods, and more Liberty fabrics. For reals, they had Liberty everything, everywhere. While I’m not totally down with the flower overdrive, I did find this blue and green geometric (30cm). I also grabbed this random piece of Art Gallery (50cm) because when purple comes along, you don’t hesitate!

Also at Yuzawaya, I grabbed a metre of this London double-decker bus print that was in the clearance bin for like $5! Have you ever heard that Madonna song, “Dear Jessie,” well I found her pink elephants! Now, time for some lemonade! Oh, and Ms. Alyce gave me one of her coupons to use, and she racked up some frequent fabric points with her Yuzawaya gold card. (At least I think that’s what happened when I went to the counter to pay!)

From Yuzawaya, we headed over to the fabric district in Nippori (God love a city that has a fabric district!) There were lots of clothing fabrics in dozens of shops, but it was the hunt for quilting cottons that really got our hearts racing! In most of these smaller venues you had to purchase metre cuts, but we found a few that had variously-size bits and pieces packaged individually.

But it wasn’t until we smashed into Tomato that we hit the mother load! Yes, Tomato–that is the name of the fabric shop. One of my new catchphrases, “That’s so Japanese.” Irrelevant yes, but juicy and ripe for the pickings nonetheless! I mean, not two steps into the door, and I found a new potential for my Glitter Flecked Binding (GFB, patent pending, don’t you steal my idea, I have a lawyer).

Then there was the Echino! Now, I have to admit a slight disappointment. I really, really, really, wanted to find my Vespas and cameras from their latest line. But alas, it must be so big in Japan it was all sold out. (Or they’ve shipped it all overseas where they can make more money out of it!) Once I got over that, I was able to pick a few other sensational pieces out of this wall of Echino! (Thanks Alyce, for grabbing a photo!)

The London themed print will be a perfect companion piece for the Union Jack blocks my bee mates are furiously making me. I’m thinking throw pillows with a solid backing in those same bright, bold colours. Although, looking back, the coordinated polka dots would have been pretty awesome (um, excuse me while I make a return trip to Tomato!) AND, check out the pink airplanes I got for Mr. Sparkles. Again, maybe pillows for our new apartment?

But the piece de resistance nearly didn’t happen! As we were about to walk out the door, Alyce spotted Nursery Versery for $4/metre (have you ever heard!?) As I was standing there contemplating how the meaning of life really all boils down to the metaphysics of glitter (as one does), I turned my head, and there before me, like a magical, beacon of light, was this fabric.

Those, my friends, are unicorns. They are unicorns flying through a space filled with stars, planets, rainbows and pixie dust. Yes, this is what I call home. After finding this, I realised Japan could do no wrong. Any place that was willing to offer up to me its finest textile goods in the form of unicorns was alright in my book!

After a full day like that, and with such excellent finds in tow, we called it a day. I managed to find my way back to my hotel with some guidance from Alyce, and spent the remainder of the night in my room petting my fabrics. No, totally kidding, I went out to get my drink on, and found this!

Linking up with Fiona at Finding Fifth for this week’s Sunday Stash-a-thon! You should do the same.    

The unicorn is my spirit animal.