Constant Learner

A little known fact about me is that I am a constant learner. I love to take classes and ask a lot of questions. I want to know everything that the instructor knows. I want the history, the back story and all the details. I want to use the same tools that the instructor recommends and I want to make exactly what the teacher is teaching. After I have all this knowledge and have somewhat mastered what is being taught, I break the rules.

Today I took a class to learn how to make a Hawaiian applique pillow. Hawaiian applique is so rich in tradition and history and what a pleasure to take a class from such a wonderful teacher, Janet Salcido, teaching at the Orange Quilt Bee. Janet is actually my very first quilting teacher. 

Here is just the very beginning of my applique. This design is called the Breadfruit tree and is the quilt that everyone should start with, according to Hawaiian tradition.

Another little known fact about me is that I love to hand sew. Here is just the beginning of the needle turn applique technique that I learned today. And oh what a great trick I learned. See the yellow ribbon that is safety pinned to the quilt? Well, if you have to put your quilt down, to be worked on at a later date, pin a ribbon near your stopping point and then when you pick up your quilt again, you will know exactly where you left off. Brilliant, don't you think? 

Here is a quilt that Janet is working on, a wedding gift for her son and daughter-in-law, in very traditional Hawaiian fabrics.

Stay tuned as I needle turn my quilt and then make it into a pillow or wall hanging. I may even break the rules on my next Hawaiian applique project.

 

Comments

[paulette]

This will be an inspiring and fun crafting journal you have begun.
I, like you, so enjoy breaking the rules !
How else would we have new art
if we didn't experiment with our mediums ?