Tour Description – Tour Itinerary – Tour Price – General Info – Reservation Form – Tour Guide – Photos of Past Tours

Quilters’ Express to Japan 2010 Textile Tour
"Cloth & Clay"


October 31 to November 14, 2010

After 20 years... and because you've asked, we are proud to offer Cloth and Clay: an in-depth exploration of Japanese textiles and pottery at destinations that are rarely offered: MASHIKO & OKINAWA. At a time when things seem to move faster and faster everyday, and increased technology separates us further from heart and hand, here is a chance to see with your own eyes what beautiful objects the artisans of MASHIKO & OKINAWA are STILL making - one weft thread at a time, and one plate at a time.

photo of indigenous fabric from OkinawaChock-full of artisan studio visits, museums, and festivals, this ALL-NEW itinerary begins in Tokyo with an introduction to the Japanese Kimono via museum collections, a special guest lecturer, and also the annual outdoor "Parade of the Ages," a seemingly unending array of kimono and costumes dating back hundreds and hundreds of years provides a textile-lover hours of photographic opportunities and help you to understand the perspective of Japanese textiles within the context of cultural history.

Then we're off to the town of Mashiko, one of the 7 major kilns of Japan and birthplace of the Japanese craft movement. We'll visit the home of Shoji Hamada, meet a premiere indigo dyer/weaver, and also have time to peruse the wares at the autumn pottery festival.

With that foundation, we'll fly to the seldom-visited island of Okinawa for several days of exploration. Our priority will include seeing both examples of textiles indigenous to Okinawa - such as Bingata Stencil-Dyeing, Silk Thread Weaving, and Banana Fiber Weaving - and also several Okinawa pottery styles...all via museums and private studio visits. Of course -- we will also take time for visiting a few culturally significant sights AND remember to take time to inhale the air, on this magnificent and friendly island!

The last leg of our journey brings us back to Tokyo where we'll celebrate with our own private Quilt Exhibit hosted by a leading Japanese quilt group. The last day is FREE for your personal adventure: take a day-trip to the Tokyo suburbs or wander around one of Tokyo's many inner-city neighborhoods, such as Ginza or Harajuku.

By the way, early November is one of the best times to travel in Japan. Not too hot, not too cold, not rainy...sunny and cool! The red maples and golden gingko will welcome you and fill your eyes with a rich colorful landscape. And in Okinawa--expect the breezy subtropical island to be at its best!

We want you to know all the facts and feel comfortable from the get-go. Based on Susan's research and experience in Okinawa, tour participants will receive a list of websites to consider and a few books to peruse before departure. Please feel free to e-mail or call Quilters' Express to Japan's owner (and your guide and translator for the entire tour), Susan Faeder with your questions; she takes a personal interest in each person's needs and is always happy to talk about Japan and about tour details. TEL: 570-522-7480. We also welcome you to view photos of past tours, to read comments from previous tour veterans, and perhaps most importantly to read just some reasons why JAPAN is BEST with QUILTERS' EXPRESS so you can see why that expression became our motto.

We want you to know all the facts and feel comfortable from the get-go. Please feel free to e-mail or call Susan with questions; she takes a personal interest in each person's needs and is always happy to talk about Japan and about tour details. We also welcome you to view photos of past tours, to read comments from previous tour veterans, and perhaps most importantly to read just some reasons why JAPAN is BEST with QUILTERS' EXPRESS so you can see why that expression became our motto.

Gorgeous silk weaving on the island of Okinawa is yours to behold when you join us for Cloth & Clay 2010!

QETJ founder Susan Ball Faeder (on the right, above) speaks the language of quilts and textiles, in Japanese and in English.



Japan is Best with Quilters' Express!

Why choose a QETJ tour over all the others? Here are just a few reasons:


  • If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then QETJ is highly flattered. But why settle for a pale imitation when you can have the original?! Susan B. Faeder founded QETJ in 1988 and was the FIRST person to take quilters to Japan to meet their counterparts. Since 1989 she has personally escorted and translated for ALL 18 of her tours -- ALL to Japan and ALL for quilters. But don't take our word for it - we are happy to share with you the words of Kona Bay Fabrics founder and owner Doug Eagleson in his blog.


  • A quilter for over 25 years, Susan is a teacher and vendor around the USA and has a broad view of the quilting community here. She also lived and studied in Japan for 2 years and speaks Japanese fluently. This allows her to communicate with quilters from both sides of the Pacific so nothing gets "lost in translation." Click here to read more about Susan's life and experiences.


  • Through Susan's long study of Japan (more than 40 years now), she can count the top Japanese quilting Sensei (teachers) among her friends. At the Quilt Show and throughout the tour you will have the benefit of her personal contacts and her unique knowledge of the history and development of Japanese quilting and textiles.


  • A passionate collector of Japanese textiles, Susan often lectures on this topic and shares her collection of fabrics with quilt guilds and community groups. Throughout the tour she will help you understand the Japanese quilt world in the context of the international quilt community, but more importantly in the context of Japanese culture. This makes the QETJ tour a "trip for the soul," as proclaimed by tour veterans in their own words.


  • QETJ tours include many SPECIAL events and surprise guests which are never advertised or listed in the itinerary in order to protect our sources. For example, on the last three tours, participants enjoyed:


    • 1)  An afternoon lecture by a noted author of 6 books
    2)  A private sashiko class given by a well known teacher from the northlands, held at a private temple villa on a lake with a Japanese lunch served in bamboo baskets
    3)  A private presentation and studio class in dyeing with natural dyes given by a world renowned clothing designer in Kyoto, and
    4)  A private audience with one of the most famous indigo dyers in Japan


     .  .  . and again, none of these were listed in the itinerary. You can count on similarly exclusive events in your trip with QETJ!

    Updated April 2010

    return to top of page
    Japan is Best With Quilters’ Express!
    Quilters’ Express to Japan – PO Box 294 Lewisburg, PA 17837 – Tel./Fax: 570-522-7480

    Tour Description – Tour Itinerary – Tour Price – General Info – Reservation Form – Tour Guide – Photos of Past Tours

    ©2003 - 2010 Quilters' Express to Japan Susan B. Faeder - PO Box 294, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA 570-522-7480 -- Send us an e-mail