History of Hawaiian Quilts

About two years ago, I had read a short blip on the back page of my quilting magazine and was absolutely fascinated!

It is usually a quilt with one single HUGE appliqué on a single color fabric...usually white. It is traditionally cut after a large square of fabric is folded into eighths! Then it is hand appliqued and hand quilted in a echo quilting pattern.

This beautiful quilt was displayed at our hotel (Grand Wailea Resort)

My main mission when I stopped by at the Maui Quilt Shop on our vacation was to pick up the throw pillow quilt kit they had available.

Little did I know there would be a very generous collection to choose from!

I didn't have a lot of time, so I chose mine based on it's colors. 

I just knew I wanted something that would go in my studio.

I then picked up some "local fabric" see HERE.

I couldn't leave without a book.  

I quickly found a pattern book. 

There are over a dozen appliqué patterns and some Polynesian quilting patterns. 

Fabulous!

 I was easily distracted.  I found myself eyeing this one.

I couldn't resist.
As dear hubby can attest, I cannot resist a good book, especially if it involves the history of any crafting. 
I can read ANY of them over and over.

Of course, I dived in as soon as the wee ones fell asleep en route back home. What else was I supposed to do on our nine hour flight other than work on my needlepoint!

I had big plans to share the process.
Until I read the book.

Apparently, it is bad kapu (taboo) to share not only your pattern, but no one is to see the quilt until it is finished. 

Then, I realized that I had chosen an ulu (breadfruit) pattern.

It is said that if you do an ulu quilt first, that you will be as prolific as the plant and will go on to make many more quilts for your family.

How is that for choosing the right one in such a quick time?!

The other major kapu (rule/taboo) of Hawaiian quilting is that you must "feel right in your heart".

So in honor of Pele (the goddess of volcanos), I've decided to share my quilt throw pillow after it is complete.

After all, she decided to keep Haleakala quiet during our stay!

Borrowed this photo from a  Park website.  It is the crater of the dormant volcano.  It is due to erupt within the next 200yrs.  You never know!  Those clouds you see in the distance?  The day we were there, they were covering us!

My Blogger Friend

"I ka 'ôlelo no ke ola"

Translation:  In the language or word is life

Our last night on the island....what a sight!

In June, I mentioned that I had a very "WOW" experience.

We had travelled to the East Coast to witness our nephew (my husband's sister's oldest son) graduating from high school.  He is the first of the youngest generation of our family.

I have known my sister-in-law and her husband for 17 years now.  

I always remembered that her husband's family was of Hawaiian descent. It always interested me because I grew up looking at the uli-uli's and my mother's ukulele from the time when she lived on Hawaii and took Hula dance classes.

The Hula Dancers at the Luau

  My grandfather was stationed there in the early sixties and my uncle was born there.  

I would dream of what a life on a island far away would be like.

Waterfall on the Road to Hana

For the past 17 years, I also have heard about Roni.  

My brother-in-law's sister.  Most of the conversations involved the amount of boys in our family (her 3, my sister-in-law 4, and now myself 4...WHO HAS THAT MANY BOYS IN THEIR FAMILY!)  

Other conversations included how much my sister-in-law loved her!

What I didn't know? 

Oh, so much!  I didn't know that we were, in many ways, kindred spirits!

I remember talking during the visit about how I really was practicing my photography skills with the new book I purchased.  I, of course, do not pretend to be a professional.

Of course, Roni's husband mentioned that Roni is a photographer.  It came out that I was just trying to improve for my blog.  My sister-in-law is a bit of a follower and said she enjoyed my blog.

Then it came out...Roni is a blogger too!  We started discussing blogger speak.  What do you use?  Have you thought of switching? How long have you had it?  Summertime being a slower blog time.  It was like blogger heaven!!

Then, of course, blog spot URLs exchanged.  Off to our perspective hotels, and of course, checking each others blogs, right?

I was flabbergasted and ashamed. 

Her blog is about taking photographs using Macro.  I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY.  Her photos are absolutely gorgeous.  What a joke my photos are! Ha!!

You have to check out her blog HERE.

FROM HER COLLECTION....This is with her camera....HER CAMERA!!!!!

 

  Better yet?  She is an unbelievable writer!

 Her style is so smooth and enjoyable and DEEP!

And I particularly enjoy her choices of music that she finds inspiration from.

And to make the world a bit more smaller?

She is a babyloss mom.  There was a huge hug between us as we bid each other goodbye at the end of the weekend.  If ever I am her way again, I would love to hang out with her for awhile!

For my baby loss moms, the post HERE is her story.

Please go visit her....

After our trip to Maui, I have to believe that the spirit of Pele has gifted her with an amazing talent!