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By Patricia Belyea
OKINAWA JP Katsuko Higo was 20 years old when she made her first quilt, and 23 when she starting teaching.
As a girl, she visited the American military base with her mother, a seamstress. There she saw traditional quilts in homes that inspired her.
At the time there were no Japanese books about quilting so she learned from English books. As she got more involved, she even went to Houston to buy fabrics!
Today Katsuko, an award-winning quilter and sensei, owns an Americana-style quilt shop in Kadena and teaches 50 students.
Her shop, packed with calico fabrics and dolls, features a second floor with quilty room vignettes that include a bedroom, living room, and kitchen.
Thank you to Laura McMullan, who lives on the base and quilts, for suggesting this stop in my textile research. It’s great to meet Katsuko and see such enthusiasm for quilting in Okinawa!
Location
6 Chome-2-2 Mizugama, Kadena, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0204
On Instagram
@quiltshop.heartland
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
