As is true with all vacations, some of my expectations weren't met, and some were not only met but exceeded. Top on the exceeding my expectations list are the 2 quilting lessons I signed up for at Anne's Hawaiin Quilt Shop. She turns out to be a native from generations back, descending from the primarily Japanese population that immigrated in the 1800's as labor on the pineapple and sugar plantations and intermixed with the locals. One of the wonderful things I discovered about the natives is their generous and loving attitude towards each other and visitors, easily adopting you into their 'family'. There are portions of the population who are hostile towards the caucasions, or 'haole', but I don't think there's a place on earth free of hostility.
Anyway, back on topic - I has 2 separate lessons with Anne, nearly one- on-one the whole time. There were other students there each time, but they were visitors from Japan with no experience, working on very simple little projects that didn't demand a lot of Anne's attention. At the first lesson, I learned how to cut out those lovely patterns that characterize Hawaiian quilts, using Anne's Christmas Plumeria pattern, She showed me some applique tricks she learned from her "aunties" (aunts and uncles seem to play a very large role in family life), then sent me on my way to finish the applique in the 2 days til our 2nd lesson. I knew she wanted to show me the basting and hand quilting techniques, which, when the time came, she did.
Already knowing how to hand quilt, I learned how Hawaiin's basted the quilt, and then told her I'd rather use my extra time learning how to design my own pattern. She hesitated, and later told me that she usually refuses to teach that part, because many people are unable to visualize an 8th of a pattern and then draw it on the paper, but she recognized that I was quite determined, and had already proven that I had experience quilting, I already had a pattern in mind, and was having no trouble visualizing. So she gulped, said yes, and had a hard time keeping up with me for the next 90 minutes! All the while she was helping 3 Japanese gals who were there to run the Honolulu Marathon! They didn't speak a lick of English, but we managed to encourage and applaud each other, and get pictures. Boy - if I ever visit Japan I'll have no trouble seeing where I'm going - I felt like the jolly green giant!
I came away with a design, not of Hawaiin flowers, but of the Illinois oak leaf and acorn!!! I only have a few inches left to applique. Lyn, if you're reading this - I LOVE applique!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! uhoh. I don't have time to love another quilting technique!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be posting picture soon enough - but haven't even transferred them to the puter yet, having gotten home Sat at 5, and then on to family Christmas and grand daughter's Sunday School Christmas program on Sunday!!
Musicmaker