Hm..

Aloha!

Finally I finished my first Hawaiian quilting! Yay! I'm so excited to show mine to the teachers and get a new design for next step. But I need to think my story which would be in my next project.
Hm..the size will be 45*45. Quiet big.
I will tell John about me and my husband. Mostly my eternal love for him. (lol)
My husband moved to America by himself and joined the Army 8 years ago. Since he is the one moved, he has no family or relatives in America. So he was alone whenever he wanted to share his joy from the work.
We met in Korea, his duty station was there and moved to Texas together. Like him, all my family in South Korea so we feel like we are the only one to each other. And this think makes us stick stronger. Now he will be doing service around 12 years more and we will be moved to different places at least 4 times more.
Even thought that is not easy for me and him, I know we will do really good and think each other more and more.
I really thank to my hubby to be standing strong for me. Hope we have a baby soon so make happy family.

So I want my quilt have my feelings for my hubby and happy family in Hawaii.

Moved to Hawaii

We moved to Hawaii last September. Due to my husband's job, we will be moved a lot in future though. 

Before Hawaii, we lived in Galveston, Texas which was really nice county as well. The ocean is not like Hawaiian emerald color, but still having ocean near me was pleasure. (But the thing is we didn't go into water not even once!) 

Living in Texas and Hawaii is so much different. As you all know, Texas is huge. I can say all they have is LAND! The malls are really big and there are plenty of parking lots, not so much traffic. Costco is not crowded at all. 

Here in Hawaii? Oh, yeah. Whenever I go to Costco, I've got stress. lol 

It is hard to find parking space and so many people in the small space. (compare to other Costco. It could be virtually same, but I feel much smaller due to the density of people!) 

Also, you have to wait for a while to be checked out. 

People are kind but also they are a little aggressive I think. They don't really give way to others. So if you do with your kindness you never get to go! You also need to be aggressive :(

Ohau is just little island but the population density is high. Furthermore so many visitors from all over the world. We are one of them actually. We are not short time visitor but here for only 3 years which means yes. We are playing a part of it. 

Yes, apparently it seems like I'm a little complainer. However I could be generous  and forget all the things I complained when I see the nature. Where else could be better than Hawaii? It is Hawaii. I have to suck it out!  

I could get to beach within 10 mins and the weather is so good 365 days. 

 Lots of great trail courses and golf courses. 

Not only the nature, but also the distances. Since the island is small, it takes really short time to get anywhere. (Not the north shore though)

Even Costco, it is true that so crowded. However I can get there in 15 mins. 

Galveston to Houston Costco? Noway! It takes over an hour!

There are good thing and bad things every where I go. 

Try not to complain too much and just seize the day, Jean!

Today's post is so random! lol

Starting Hawaiian Quilt

I started to learn Hawaiian Quilting!

To be honest, I didn't really like the Hawaiian quilting style at first look. They look so traditional and old school to me. But now, I just love it. 

My friend and I found that there is a class on every Saturdays so we decided to go.

For the first class I was needed to bring some stuff or could buy at the class.

I just wanted to shop the fabrics and pick the color from various selections.

It was really hard to pick the color so I spent almost hour to pick the fabric below.

I've got hot pink for the applique and baby pink for the backing. 

On our first day of class, there were so many people than I expected. The teacher told that she was expected only 8 new students but apparently there were 14! 

There is a main teacher who seems really nice and her sister, and her dad. Her dad is a designer and published Hawaiian quilting book. He was such a nice and sweet guy. 

He showed many pattern to pick and they were all beautiful. 

I found that  Hawaiian quilt has a distinctive style which uses large radially symmetric applique patterns.  

So you fold the fabric and cut the pattern at once. Then you unfold it again, now you have your pattern!

What I've got is Ti leaf which you can find everywhere in Hawaii. The reason why I choose this pattern is.....it looks easier than others! Haha :)

I didn't want to have hard time since this is my very first project in my life! I've never done any quilt before. Not only the Hawaiian quilt, but also any patch work.

Wish me luck!

What we needed to do first is that pinning the applique fabric to the front of my background. Place your applique very center of the backing.
Then baste around your applique pattern and be sure you have 1.5 inch gap between the basting stitch and the backing.

It took times than I thought. I'm not neat neat person so I was faster than the others, but still it took some time.

What a cute candy!
There are many Japanese ladies in the class and one of them brought these little ladies!
I didn't eat it but I had it for showing hubby :)

*

During the first week, I finished all the applique sewing!
On the second class, finally I learned how to quilt!

Hawaiian quilting starts from the center. One thing I really like is that I can quilt whatever I want.
John said very inspiring words.
Quilting is you, you can do whatever you want.
Quilting is design form your inside.

Oh, what a great word!
Right, this quilting by me is absolutely me. 

Eventually I finished quilting on applique and has started doing on background. 

The most difficult part is keeping same space between the quilting lines. 

There is a reason it makes more hard  than the other regular quilt is that we do not use any quilting pens.

We need to assume and guess the next stitches. So my lines are not very regular and going staggeringly.

However, do not worry too much!

People see the big picture of Hawaiian quilts. Certainly I try to go smoothly and straight as I could as possible, but don't really need to much concern on that little thing. 

The hot pink thread matching with my fabric. 

I've got quilting needles and pins.

I also bought applique needles but they've disappeared! But fortunately ( is it fortunate?) I found one. 

*

On my way to the class.

This feels so great and peaceful. 

Driving on Kapiolani blvd on Saturday morning with no traffic at all and nice breeze makes me so happy.

Walking on the Iolani Palace in the shade of big trees.  

I'm getting design for my next project which will be 45*45. 

For the design, I'm needed to think about my story that I want to have in my quilt.

It's been so long time to create and think with my brain (lol) 

So far, any idea didn't come up!

I've got 3 more days to think of-

Hm...

What would it be?