Hawaiian Quilting With Poakalani & Co.
… and Exploring the Art of Hawaiian Quilt designing with John Serrao
In our quilting classes our goal is for our students to complete a larger 90″ x 90″ Hawaiian quilt. When my Tutu’s quilted they made the larger quilts, the smaller cushion/wall hangings was a new concept introduced by John and Poakalani Serrao in 1972 for the beginner quilter.
…Hawaiian Quilts are being created right here in our classes in Honolulu and as far as Rensselaer County, N.Y. Congratulations Dawn from NY for taking out your Hibiscus Quilt from storage and giving it your finishing touches, it’s beautiful. AND THEN starting your next project how amazing is that. Dawn’s next quilt which we call…
The Pali Lookout gives you an amazing view of the Koolau Mountains on the Windward Side. Below these mountains Hoomaluhia Gardens with its variety of floral beauties of the Monsterra, Heleconia, Torch Ginger and Hibiscus is a great place to find calming peace. 90″x 90″ – Queen/Full Size Designed by John Serrao
I posted the 22″ x 22″ Dove Orchid Design/Pattern on October 3, 2014, since than John has designed the dove orchid for a larger quilt as well. One for a wall hanging 45″ x 45″ and another, which you see here is for the larger quilt. 90″x 90″ Designed by John…
Did you know that the Hawaiians believed the Pineapple looked very similar to the Hala Fruit, so similar that the Hawaiians gave the pineapple the name Hala Kahiki meaning Fruit or Hala from a foreign place. So here is another Pineapple pattern one of the most requested designs of John’s. 90″ x 90″ Designed by John…
Naupaka – The legend of the Naupaka speaks about love lost. One version tells the story of two lovers kept apart because they came from different social classes. One was banished to the mountain and the other to the sea. Unable to live apart they both died from broken hearts. Upon their graves grew…
Harry’s Fishing Tale Fishing with his brothers on the weekends for Harry was a time of relaxing, talking story and brothers kinship. 90″ x 90″ Personal Design by John Serrao Every Quilt Tells A Story…Harry is the husband of one of our quilters. During quilting class she would always tell us stories how…
It only takes 5 days of traveling on the Mainland for me to start missing my island home. Hawaii doesn’t have the amazing four seasons, especially Winter and Fall like the mainland, but we have that nonstop floral blossoms blooming year round, every day rain or shine. This quilt was designed for Hawaii’s Sunny Winter…
The Lily Pond is starting to become a very popular quilt design not because of it’s lilies and lotus blossoms but it’s Japanese Carp and their rainbow colors. 90″ x90″ Designed by John Serrao Did you know that the most expensive Koi Carp sold for over 2 million dollars. Beautiful on a quilt…
The Cup of Gold is also known as the Golden Chalice Vine or Hawaiian Lily. Read more about this amazing vine and why it’s one of Cissy’s favorite flowers. 90″ x 90″ Design by John Serrao http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/07/il/FP604070322.html The first time I really noticed this vine was in 2012 when I visited Allerton Gardens on Kauai…
The Hawaiian Hibiscus, a favorite quilt design of John’s is seen everywhere you look on the island of Oahu where it’s many species colors an already beautiful landscape. 90″ x 90″ Designed by John Serrao
The number 88 is considered Good Luck to the Chinese and Chinese Mangoes grows abundantly in the yards of many island homes. A quilt pattern of 88 mangoes makes for good fortune and prosperity in your home. Read about the Bombucha Mango’s http://tastyislandhawaii.com/2010/07/17/bombucha-mango/
‘Ulu is associated with many Hawaiian myths and legends.Legend traces its origin to a time of famine when Ku, the god of building and war, buried himself in the earth near his home. He later turned into an `ulu tree so that his wife and children would not starve. Ku had told his wife that…
Queen Emma’s Garden in Nuuanu was once filled with Torch Gingers and Shell Gingers. 90″ x 90″ Designed by John Serrao Before teaching at the Iolani Palace Archives building we were honored to teach for about 13 years at the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Nuuanu. Located in lush…
The child of the sea…Dolphins and Turtles. 90″ x 90″ Designed by John Serrao Many tales speak of how the dolphins came to the rescue of many swimmers in distress in our Hawaiian Oceans. Friends to our island people the dolphins are forever loved as a guardian, friend and child of the sea. Read more…
Heleconia Garden – Inspired by our quilter Elsie who loves to share with us her garden stories and who inspired John to create this pattern. 90″x 90″ Designed by John Serrao Personal Design One of my favorite places to visit when I’m on Hawaii island is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. After you visit this…