LIHU‘E — Judy Toy of Kapa‘a said the patriotic quilt is going to the mainland Friday during the opening of the 2021 Kaua‘i Quilt Show at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center.
“I have a brother who drives disabled veterans on the mainland,” Toy said. “He’s going to love this quilt.”
Toy and her friend Kathy Kinch were among the first people through the doors of the KSA gallery when the show got underway.
“One of the new things at this year’s show is we’re using furoshiki cloth to wrap quilt purchases,” said Toni Waas, the show’s chairperson. “We’re also accepting charge cards this year.”
The Kaua‘i Quilt Show, featuring more than 70 locally-made quilts on display, will run until Feb. 24, and is sponsored by the Kaua‘i Quilt Guild, Nene Quilters, Vicky’s Fabrics, Kapaia Stitchery and Discount Fabric Warehouse.
Vicky’s Fabrics also sponsors the mini-quilt display.
The quilt show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Among the quilts on display are “Charity Quilts,” or quilts when purchased benefit one of 13 local nonprofit organizations. A special Charity Quilt is available by bid, with the successful purchase being designated to a nonprofit of the successful bidder’s choice.
Mini quilts welcome visitors to the Kaua‘i Quilt Show with their variety of styles and patterns in the window of the gallery, where the sole blue ribbon winner, “Wildflower Meadow” by Liz Thompson of Princeville, is surrounded by competitive challenger pieces.
Viewers are greeted with the offer of a free quilt block to create and turn in as a preview of next year’s show. Viewers are also able to vote for the Viewers’ Choice Award.
The winner of the Viewers’ Choice Award will have copies of the winning design used to promote the 2022 show, similar to Mary Ching, the Viewers’ Choice winner from the 2020 show, having her “Follow the Stars” design being used to promote this year’s exhibit.
Jeni Hardy, one of the charter quilters of the popular annual showing, said Waas will be posting to the group’s social media pages, Facebook: Kaua‘i Quilt Show #kauaiquiltshow, for the benefit of the many people who are not able to travel here because of the ongoing pandemic.
“We realize there are a lot of visitors who come to view the locally-made quilts,” Hardy said. “Toni’s taking care of them by posting to our social media so everyone can enjoy the quilts.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
