Category: Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Just Lines On A Paper
E kaupē aku no i ka hoe a kō mai. Put forward the paddle and draw it back. Go on with the task that is started and finish it. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 319 John always had a saying. “My designs, patterns are just lines on a paper, until a quilter gives it life and breathes their…
Sandwich Anyone!
ʻAʻohe ʻulu e loaʻa i ka pōkole o ka lou. No breadfruit can be reached when the picking stick is too short. There is no success without preparation. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 213 The Hawaiian quilt is often called a “Labor of Love, it is a gift of patience and love. It takes nine months to even…
Halfway There With Our Quilting Ohana
Aʻohe mea koe ma kūʻono. Nothing remains in the corners. Said of one who is extremely generous giving freely without reservation. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 187 Needle turn applique is the technique of turning the raw edge of the design under and sewing it to the background fabric. It takes time and patience but when the applique…
Poakalani Ohana, it’s your turn…
Komo mai kau māpuna hoe. Put in your dip of the paddle. Pitch In. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 1816 Poakalani and John Serrao started formally teaching Hawaiian quilting in the early 1980ʻs. Their classes not only taught Hawaiian quilting but also Hawaiiʻs culture and traditions especially the concept of ʻOhana” family. Whether related by blood or not…
Only a sharp scissors and steady hand will do.
Ua ahu ka imu, e lāwalu ka iʻa The oven is ready, let the fish wrapped in ti leaves be cooked. All preparations have been made, now let us proceed with the work. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 2768 It takes nine months to even a year to complete a king size Hawaiian quilt and Poakalani always…
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo
Hana a lau a lau ke aho, alaila loaʻa ka iʻa kāpapa oa ka moana. Make a four hundred times four hundred fish lines before planning to go after the fighting fish of the sea. Be well prepared for a big project. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 446 Quilters are comfortable spending hours in a fabric shop trying…
To Lei or Not To Lei
Kauwā ke aloha i na lehua o Kāʻana Love is a slave to the lehua blossoms of Kāʻana. Kāʻana is a place between Keaʻau and ʻOlaʻa is where travelers used to rest and make lei of lehua. It took many blossoms and much patience to complete a lei. The lei was later given to a loved one….
Boston Museum of Fine Arts – Ohana Quilt
He aikāne, He pūnana na ke onaona. Sweet indeed is a good friend ʻOlelo Noʻeau 516 Our story begins with an email from a co-worker who had a friend, who knew a friend, that was interested in Hawaiian quilting. I was then introduced to Jenn from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. What started as…