Some of you may remember that Paul’s family lived in Hawaii, and we traveled there to see them for 20 years. Now that they are gone we have not been back, but we still dream of ukulele music, fresh pineapple, tropical flowers and mild sea breezes. I miss seeing the Japanese brides in frothy dresses posing in Waikiki. I miss seeing the sinewy brown surfers with colorful boards tucked under their arms. We miss snorkeling with Uncle Jerry and Aunt Laura at Hanauma Bay at dawn. And of course, I miss seeing the beautiful Hawaiian quilt displays there.
What you may not know is that my name is Hawaiian. (Luana – rhymes with Iguana.) My dad was in the Navy in Hawaii in the 50s, and somehow that led to my name….which I’ve found out is common in Italy, Brazil and Africa. Then I married a guy who grew up in Detroit, but whose parents retired on Oahu. Funny how those things happen.
When I took my first Hawaiian quilt class in the 90s, the teacher got mad because I wanted to use batiks and hand-dyes instead of solids for the class project. She threatened to kick me out if I used anything but solids. I already had lots of experience with sewing and applique after working in the garment industry, so I was already thinking about designing a new kind of Hawaiian quilt back then. This was one of my first encounters with the Quilt Police. Back then they dominated the quilting world. Thank goodness today quilters are encouraged to explore, create, sew spontaneously, and be adventurous with color and fabric choices!
My goal 20 years ago when we started this business, was to support quilters in finding their own unique creative voice, and inspiring more adventurous use of color. The artists and workshops we are bringing into our eQuilter Classroom are an extension of that vision – to assist you in opening up your own extraordinary perception rather than just copying a pattern. We want to see what you make next!
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul
eQuilter
Classroom:
June 28-30 – Jane
Tenorio-Coscarelli – Altar
Offerings & Embellished Garments – Día de Muertos
July 11-14 – Cindy
Lohbeck – Shibori,
Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops
Oct 8-10 – Jacqueline de Jonge – eQuilter Classroom
