To join the Interested List and be among the first to learn about upcoming Okan Arts tours to Japan, email patricia@okanarts.com
By Patricia Belyea
WAUCONDA WA At this time the borders to Japan are closed to adventurers. All the same, we can armchair travel to visit some great folks and places via Instagram right now!
@blueandwhite_japan
A champion of Japanese arts and crafts, Amy Katoh of Blue & White shares her vision of the world and many of the out-of-the-ordinary goods at her iconic shop in Tokyo.
@oldindustrial
A vintage textile dealer and bag maker, Old Industrial’s studio and backdrop for its Instagram photos is a traditional wooden house in the rural area of Chiba—a quick train ride southeast of Tokyo.
@CrazyTextiles_Japan
Our good friend and chusen-dyeing artist Senai Naito of Tokyo shows off her textile work and the accomplishments of her students.
@Kokeshka_kamakura
A hidden shop on a back alley in Kamakura, Kokeshka offers Japanese kokeshi dolls and Russian matryoshka dolls that are guaranteed to delight!
@NihonKosho
Nihon Kosho sells antique books and rare woodblock prints that are amazing to peruse online.
@KimonoSheila
Sheila Cliffe of Tokyo, a kimono expert and brazen stylist, combines outrageous colors and patterns to make wearing a kimono an exciting everyday event.
@Washiarts
Washi, an exquisite paper store in Tokyo, is overflowing with tools and supplies for art, design, calligraphy, bookbinding, and printmaking.
@Pigment_Tokyo
An art materials lab and highly styled store, Pigment is all about elemental pigments and the tools you need to apply color.
@OkanArts
Also check out Okan Arts on Instagram where we show our vintage Japanese textiles, latest quilt projects, and info about upcoming events.
For those of you who’ve never explored Instagram, head to instagram.com and open an account. From there you can access a web platform filled with over a billion people presenting visual feasts.
HEADER PHOTO: Textiles by Sanai Naito
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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
