DECEMBER 5, 2013
Ka’ohu o Halemano (The Mists of Halemano),
Ella Victor, 20th century
Cotton, plain weave, applique
From the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art
This fabulous example has a central radiating design that boasts eight arms this time. The dense design of this quilt is successfully achieved by balancing the respective sizes of the broad appliqué border and the smaller centre motif. The wave like quilting at the outside edge of the border lends real movement to this quilt. There is so much to study in this one!
Happy Stitching!
DECEMBER 3, 2013
Last year’s Twelve Quilts of Christmas included a spectacular green and white Hawaiian Quilt. It started something for me!
Hawaii’s quilting history dates back to the 1820’s when missionaries brought the craft to the islands. By the 1880’s the large form designs that we immediately recognize today as Hawaiian quilts had appeared. Reflecting the culture of the Hawaiian Islands these quilts are characterized by bold radiating symmetrical designs that simultaneously are often delicate as they celebrate indigenous flowers, fruits, vegetables, leaves and vines. Worked in two solid colours, one for the background and one for the applique, the organic elements are typically further reinforced by close radiating echo quilting.
While their silhouetted tropical imagery might not make you think immediately of winter time and snow, their delicate designs do make me think of paper-cut snowflakes and so this year’s Twelve Quilts of Christmas is a celebration of Hawaiian quilts. Every other day, I will share a wonderful example. I hope you will join me and share my blog with your friends. Enjoy!
From the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Collection,
Red and White Hibiscus Quilt, 205.7 cm x 203.2 cm.
The leaves adorning the “branches” of this quilt definitely make me think of snowflake crystals.
I would love to hear your comments!
Happy Stitching!
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
If you are going to be in the Northern Michigan area and want to join in on some string piecing fun and frolics, I will be teaching a class on Pumpkin Peel at Delphine’s Quilt Shop in Gaylord, Michigan on Sunday, September 29th.
For more information, contact Delphine’s at 989-732-1252 or email them at delphines [at] frontier [dot] com. Be warned though … there is no twelve step programme and addition is guaranteed!
I hope you will join us!
Happy Stitching!
SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
It has been cool here in Toronto today. The start of fall not only in the air but on the calendar. I know I am not alone in feeling like September is really the start to the year. And with the end of Labour Day weekend came the commonly shared thought … where did the summer go? I enjoyed the morning in the backyard with a cup of tea and my computer, reflecting on what a great summer it has been, a healthy dog beside me … well usually beside me. You see we have had rabbits a plenty here this summer. Fewer now, as I think they have realized that within this block live six dogs. But until they figured that out, I think they took delight in personally tormenting my dog. More than once they would sit in the tall grass of the lawn, lazily enjoying the sun, ever so still, in plain view from the full length glass kitchen door. You get the picture … aka … the barking window. It was not uncommon to enter our kitchen and see I had placed the dog bed upended and leaning against the door so he could not look out! When our dog went outside he figured this was good camouflage from which to stealthfully view the yard. Seriously, dude, they know you are there!
I savour and delight in watching him scout the yard as I write this, on the watch for bunnies or birds or squirrels. He was very sick in the spring. Our fabulous vets saw him through and he bounces around now, apparently not worse for the wear. Some fabulous international vet specialists generously answered emails with what support and advice they could offer. Fingers crossed that the plan we have come up with now will keep him healthy.
All my children were home this summer. There were lots of celebrations: my daughter graduating high school, my eldest son graduating college, multiple birthdays, lots of family gatherings besides. Add to it all that some BBQ’s, two fantabulously successful qualifying exams for my eldest son, two 100km bike rides for my youngest son (sorry … mom’s bragging rights!), and a trip for me. A great summer!
My daughter’s request for her birthday “cake” this year was a summer pavlova. The day old pieces always seem a little tastier, the layers having melded together a bit while in the fridge, but there are never pieces left over!
There was lots of this:
Oodles of this:
And some of this:
How was your summer?
AUGUST 29, 2013
One day Kathy Cray was challenged to see how many blocks she could fit into a block that finishes less than 4 inches.
I’d say she met it with 125 pieces! Very impressive Kathy!
And then there is this framed wonder for sale in Kathy’s shop.
I love the stars on the ceiling of this porch on a house in Grafton.
Vermont is of course rightly known as the Green Mountain state. This was one of the views on my drive home!
How many pieces have you fit into a four inch block?
Happy Stitching!
