Maui, Spring 2018 ~ Create
I was particularly inspired by intricate Hawaiian quilts. The fabric overlay that is quilted on top is cut out of a single sheet of fabric, folded like a piece of paper for a snowflake. Shapes of breadfruit, hibiscus, pineapple, turtles and dolphins fan out from the center, interspersed with waves, vines and organic lines.
Quilting is not an art I have mastered yet, so I did my own interpretation with a denim bleaching technique that I have used for years. The color and texture of the bleached out area remind me of water, so I found this to be a good medium to celebrate Maui.
Aloha Quilt Shop 
Rakuten Global Market 
Snippets of a Quilter
Cutting out the pattern for the Hawaiian quilt-inspired symmetrical pillows was hard, since I needed to use a thick adhesive for a template that wouldn’t allow bleach to seep under. Transferring the cutout in one piece from the cutting mat to the piece of denim, and reattaching it was even harder. I do think these were worth the effort, and I love re-imagining traditional techniques in new ways.
Wood Burning
I purchased a plain turtle-shaped cutting board locally, and then, after researching traditional Hawaiian motifs, I wood burned images of fishing hooks, seashells, waves, traditional cross-hatching and, of course, a hibiscus flower.
