Post #308415 by Haole'akamai on Wed, May 23, 2007 10:07 AM

So Jessica, bartender extraordinaire at FI, is from Hawaii.

That's not a secret.

She's getting married in Oahu next May.

That's not the secret part, either.

What is secret is that I've decided to make her a Hawaiian-style quilt as a wedding gift. She doesn't read TC, but many of you who do, come into FI. So let's keep this on the down-low when we're together, eh?

I did a little online research and found http://www.quilthawaiian.com . [My favorite link on their website is http://www.members.tripod.com/%7EHonu_Hale . I would have liked to have gotten one of her designs, but it seems she has passed and they are no longer available. Still, her words and instruction connect me to my project and I am grateful for her efforts.]

Quilt Hawaiian sells a DVD from Pacific Rim Quilting Co.

Nancy Lee Chong's delivery is quite static, but her direction is very clear and I'm really liking her. It also comes with a pillow-size pattern (called "Ulu", which she says is the Hawaiian word for Breadfuit, a staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet). I would like to eventually make a full bed-size quilt, but I think this will be a great starter project.

So, off I go to Beverly's for fabric and quilting supplies. I got several notions, including pins, a thimble, fabric marker and oval hoop, but the fabric choices weren't grabbing me.

I decided to visit a shop in Alameda called Quilt Fans, http://www.Quiltfans.com . It's way out on the end of the (Bay Farm) Island, but I'm glad I went. I found wonderful fabric and the sweetest ladies. And they have classroom space they offered me free use of (when there isn't a class, of course).

So I got home and set out my items.

made a template.

and by the end of the evening I had basted my applique to my background fabric.

I've got to head back to Quilt Fans today; I need a lighter colored fabric marker and I think I want to get a couple of quilting rulers.

REMEMBER!!! SShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - mum's the word!