A Tokyo Grand Time!
As many of you saw via Facebook and Instagram, I spent the last week in Tokyo working having a grand ole time with Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts, getting lost amongst the city, finding quiltspiration everywhere, eating (and let’s be honest drinking!) until I could barely stand, and shopping until I had used all but 220 yen (about $1.75 USD) left jingling in my pockets! Here are some of my photos and thoughts along the way …
Y’all should know by now that I can’t start a trip without a bottle of champagne! The food is always stellar in Japan, and this time proved no exception. I really think you could tempura anything and I’d eat it!
These were just flowers in the flower beds on the side of the street. The Japanese know how to do beautiful!
Alyce and I started our adventure at Yukawaya fabric store since Tomato at Nippori Textile Town was closed due to it being a public holiday.
This is a picture of a quilt in Yuzawaya’s hallways. What amazing log cabin quiltspiration! It’s been on my mind a lot, especially in relation to all these Liberty fabrics I have in my stash now!
I had to take a #selfiewithsparkle in front of the Echino sign! Love the stuff!
How much? This much! :::outstretched arms::: I think the sales lady was a bit disarmed by my fabric exuberance! She actually had to bring in reinforcements, maybe next time I should call ahead!
Alyce had to distance herself from me otherwise she would have been shunned the next time she came in! Wait a minute, I don’t think I got that fabric over there; I guess I’ll have to go back!
I don’t really know where this photo came from, but now that I look at it, I see a quilt!
This was another building of Yuzawaya that had even more fabrics than the first!
We then had to get refreshments. And when it comes to pastry, stay out of my way or I might take your fingers off!
Especially when said pastry is shaped like a pumpkin with sweet pumpkin filling! Oh, and I think that background is a Carolyn Friedlander fabric inspiration!
We be crazy.
Shibuya Crossing has 2,500 people crossing every time the signal changes. I think it’s because there’s a Starbucks on the other side!
Oh you know I bought some pens! Hello, rainbow!
I think I could rock this to heaven and back?!
Another quilt, another time.
Can you imagine if I just would have planted myself right between them? Pardon me, ‘scuse me, coming through. How sweet it is to be loved by you…
I don’t really know, but yeah, the repetition made me happy.
This is my view from the office, and what I often found myself in after work!
If you have not had karaage chicken, you have not lived. It’s basically deep fried chicken, but to another level. Finger lickin’ good.
Did someone say pebbles?
More quiltspiration.
Yeah, there was a lot of this.
I love copper in all forms, but we need to see it more in fabrics.
Peek-a-boo! I see you Mr. Chef and all the sashimi you are preparing back there. Not really my thing, but I was adventurous on this trip!
Truth tea?
This was me squeezing in another trip to the fabric store before my flight home. I barely made my flight, but I also got some killer fabrics. Priceless.
I had to put this Liberty fabric back because I ran out of money! Next time!
I accidentally shook some glitter off on the breakfast card, and the flight attendant noticed. “Oh, there’s glitter in here,” she said. “Yeah, that’s from me, I sparkle.” True story!
My own private jet on the upper deck for the journey home! What a wonderful trip and I can’t wait to do it again! It might be sooner than expected, and if so, look out Tomato and Nippori Textile Town, I’m all yours!
I actually LOLed at the sparkles on the receipt. Only you! That is so fantastic. I'm sure (I hope) that Liberty will be there waiting for you for next time!
What an adventure! Never been to Tokyo, but I can see you took it by storm! A glitter storm naturally!
I laughed out loud all the way through this post. Thanks for sharing your trip in beautiful photos. The captions made my day.
The sparkles on the breakfast card are too perfect. You sure know how to travel in style. 🙂
I wanted to sign up so badly to go to the Tokyo Quilt show in January with a quilt tour but couldn't find anyone I knew interested in going….just not comfortable traveling totally solo
I fully expect an invitation next time! Not joking! x
Good grief, there are only 800 people in the town I live outside of – Tokyo reminds me of Seoul…lovely to visit but I would hate to live there!!! I need my space if ya know what I mean!!! Your Sunday Stash Report will be filled with new lovelies!!
Molli, you are a sensation wherever you go…
It looks like you had a great time. I love the sparkles. I'm sure you'll be remembered next time. Can't wait to see what you do with the quiltspiration photos.
I went to Tokyo one month after 9/11. It was a great trip, but I had anxiety flying over. Everytime I spoke to someone~they were so kind and expressed their condolences. All this to say…we got on a train there and everyone was staring at their phone, but no one was talking to anyone…this is before texting was here in the US…all in all it was a wonderful trip 🙂
Oh lucky you. I so love Japan. Wish I get back there again one day. Looks like so much fun. You should start doing tours….
Awesome pics. And those two women looked so self-involved I bet they wouldn't have even noticed if you sat between them. What a pity.
So does that mean I should go get some of that Liberty on your behalf?
Oh I never said I'd then send it to you…
What a way to take Tokyo by storm (or sparkle!). Looks like an amazing time.
how fabulous to sparkle your way through Tokyo. looks like you had a wonderful trip
Yes, yes, yes … I need copper fabric in my life … that's not all I took from this post. . but t will do for now 🙂