The Best Part of Hawaiian Quilting Is The Quilting Circle of Friends & Family. They're just as crazy as me.
Quilts are made for many reasons. The birth of a child, celebration of an anniversary even birthdays. But there are some quilts out there that are made in remembrance of family, friends and loved ones who are no longer with us. This quilt by Naomi is one of those quilts.
Naomi an active member of our quilting class one day asked my father to design a quilt with only three dolphins. This was a highly unusual request because quilts are designed in halves, fours, eighths etc. An odd number changes the designing method usually used, but Naomi was emphatic that the quilt had to encompass only three dolphins. She also had another unusual request that no questions be asked who the quilt was made for. Naomi completed the King size quilt in 6 months . After the quilt was complete she explained the meaning of the quilt.
Naomi had a nephew that was very ill in the hospital and was not expected to live much longer. He requested his aunt Naomi to make a quilt for him to be given to his mother(Naomi's sister). The quilt with three dolphins represented himself and his two brothers. His two brothers passed away a couple of years before from an illness and accident. He was the last and only child left in his family. Two hours after Naomi showed the completed quilt to her nephew he passed away. At the memorial service Naomi presented the quilt to her sister from their son. After much illness and tragedy the three brothers are now free and with each other as shown in the representation of the three dolphins on the quilt. Today the quilt is on the bed in her sisters home and everyday when her sister and husband see 's the quilt they remember only the good times.
Memorial quilts are a rare treasure.
MEMORIAL QUILT - THREE DOLPHINS, FREE SPIRITS
Designed by: John Serrao Appliqued and Quilted by Naomi Kemble
When the Hawaiians first saw the pineapple many of them thought it was another form of the Hawaiian Hala tree. They were quite amazed that when the pineapple was opened it provided a delicious fruit unlike the Hawaiian Hala which was used for dyes and medicine. Because of the pineapple's resemblance to the Hawaiian Hala, the Hawaiians gave it the name Hala Kahiki, meaing Hala from a foreign place.
The pineapple was Hawaii's major industry next to sugar and later tourism. It was the pineapple industry that put Hawaii on the map to prosperity in the early 1900's. The pineapple became so popular that tourist came to associate the pineapple as a Hawaiian fruit.The pineapple has always been a popular design among quilters and I am fortunate enough to have a pineapple quilt designed, appliqued and quilted by my grandmother. Her love still lives on in this quiltt.
HALA KAHIKI - PINEAPPLE
Designed by John Serrao, Appliqued and Quilted by Hattie Serrao
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The mamo bird was one of Hawaii's most sought after birds for its bright yellow feathers. The feathers were used in the making of Hawaii's kahili (Royal Standards), feather leis and feather capes. The birds were captured by the Hawaiians and only a few feathers were removed. The birds were set free. It took millions of feathers just to make a cape, yet the Mamo bird was never harmed or killed by the Hawaiians. Today the bird is extinct, but the memories of its life still lives on in many popular quilt designs.This quilt is a combination of the friendship of two Hawaiian women, Ida Long and Caroline Correa. The two women were best friends. Ida Long lived on Maui and Caroline, originally from Ka'u, lived on Oahu. They only saw each other when Ida visited the city of Honolulu. Their friendship and love for quilting brought many happy hours during the making of this quilt. The Mamo design was a popular design in the 1920's. There are many variations of this design.
Caroline Correa Vintage Qulit Collection.
Appliqued by Caroline Correa, Quilted by her best friend from May Ida Long
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