LIHU‘E — Artist mLea Ingram said on Tuesday that Jeni Hardy is present in spirit during the Garden Isle Quilters Exhibit and Sale that opened last Friday with the artists reception in the evening at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at the Kukui Grove Center.
“We miss her, a lot,” Ingram said. “But we’ve already sold some Jeni Hardy-created quilts. It’s been quite busy, especially this Tuesday morning. We have quite a few young people looking, and that’s good.”
About a week before the exhibit and sale was scheduled to open, Hardy quietly left this place. In her stead, a portrait of Jeni graced by foliage and narratives from artists anchored the counter that held various pieces of donation items, the sales of which benefit Kumu’s Cupboard, an educator resource center where teachers shop for free.
Hardy founded the Garden Isle Quilters, as well as the very popular The Kaua‘i Quilt Show that exhibited earlier this year at the KSA gallery.
Jeni started quilting in 1975 using homemade templates and scissors, and sewed seams by hand.
In 1991, Jeni attended a Quilt Retreat in San Marcus, California, that changed her life.
“I was introduced to not only machine piecing, but machine quilting,” she said. “Over the years, we have had wonderful teachers come to Kaua‘i and I enjoyed as many as my time allowed.”
“While Jeni made a tremendous contribution to the Garden Isle Quilters as their Founder and Fellow Quilter, her focus was on donation of quilts,” said a Jeni Hardy narrative. “Many of the charities and organizations on Kaua‘i have benefited from her offerings over the decades. Jeni’s positive outlook and grace will be missed in, and outside of the quilting community.”
The donation section of the exhibit includes various sewn pieces created by Ingram, Linda Matthews, Lesley Morris and Toni Wass.
Other sections include creations from Hardy and the other members of the Garden Isle Quilters, including bags, note cards, and other nontraditional quilting projects like the wall hanging of a Japanese kanji for “friend” and a family heirloom waiting to be discovered by Wass.
The Garden Isle Quilters Exhibit and Sale continues through Saturday, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
