Pohihihi

Whenever I have been able to grab a few minutes of machine time this week, I've been working on the Debbie Caffrey quilt from the cruise which she named Pohihihi.  That is the Hawaiian word for “mystery” and the kit was presented as a mystery during the cruise.  This quilt does not require paper piecing and its components are larger than those of the other two designs, so it is going together fairly quickly.  I’ve completed all the blocks and hope to start laying them out this weekend.

During the trip I learned that the Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.  That’s why there is so much repetition in Hawaiian words like “pohihihi” and “humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa.”  I will not attempt to retype that last word.  I had to cut and paste it to get it right the first time.  I am told this is the Hawaiian word for trigger fish, the state fish of Hawaii, and also the longest word in the language.

Loot from the Quilt Cruise

The quilt cruise sponsors, Stitchin Heaven, were very generous with gifts and door prizes.  Here are some of the items that came back with us in my suitcase.

Fortunately, our Honolulu Hotel was only a 10 minute walk from the Post Office.  This is what was waiting for us in two flat rate boxes when we arrived home:   three partially completed project kits; giveaway goodies that included personalized project labels, fabric and a hand turned stylus; and fabric purchases made in the islands.  If we had not mailed these items, we would have paid much more in overweight airline fines.  Gotta love the postal system.

Back from Hawaii

I have had very little opportunity to post this month.  For the last 15 days we have been travelling.  

We have just returned from a cruise that took us from Vancouver to Hawaii.  During our five at-sea days, I took quilting classes from Debbie Caffrey and Carol Doak and also worked on a design by Charlotte Angotti.  The cruise was sponsored by Stitchin Heaven.

Our sewing stations were snug.  Fortunately, our kits were pre-cut. 

During our days together I had the privilege of meeting 40+ other quilters.  Since I was travelling with my husband, I did not put in the extra hours that were required to complete the tops while on board ship.  Hopefully that will happen over the next several weeks and I will be posting pictures as I go.

 

Once we reached the islands we spent our days in tourist activities including a helicopter ride over an active volcano...

Dolphin watching excursions...

and viewing some of spectacular scenery including

Rainbows.

We enjoyed sunrises while drinking coffee from our stateroom balcony.

We visited sites held sacred by those of other faiths.

We enjoyed watching beautiful koi.

And we visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

We saw this modified traffic sign in Waikiki.  I like the sentiment.

Of course there were trips to quilt shops and packages too heavy to pack in our luggage.

It was a trip of a lifetime.  It was exhausting.  And it was wonderful.  

It has been three days since leaving the ship and I still don’t have my land legs back.  After a five-hour time zone change and a sleepless night crossing the Pacific in an airplane, my internal clock is definitely messed up.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience this trip, but it is so very good to be home.