Ports of Call - A Story Quilt

My quilt is titled 'Ports of Call' in reference to the 4 ports in the Hawaiian Islands where the cruise ship will be docking during a cruise I am taking with my cousin, Karin, in March, 2012.  This quilt is part of The Purple Line Quilt collaborative effort of the Rogue Art Quilters of Ashland, OR.  The theme is travel and  as you can see, there is a purple line traveling through the quilt that will connect with other members' quilts; all are being displayed at an exhibit that begins on July 1, 2011 at the Ashland branch of US Bank.


The quilt label on the back tells the story that prompted my design:

Ports of Call

~

A Story Quilt

By Janis Stoker

~

Part of The Rogue Art Quilters

Collaborative Purple Line Quilt Project (20”x26”)

The quilt represents many Hawaiian journeys of mine, both past and future.

A journey that has yet to take place is a 14-day quilter’s cruise to Hawaii in March 2012.  The inset quilt block is part of a limited set of blocks I made for the quilt block challenge on the cruise, and the “Ports of Call” are indicated by signage on the quilt. 

Other Hawaiian journeys of my past always included a visit to the old whaling port of Lahaina, Maui, where I stayed at the historic Pioneer Inn in a room with a balcony overlooking Courthouse Square.  A Banyan Tree resides there, planted in 1873 when it was 8 feet tall and is now purported to be the largest in the United States, standing 60 feet tall with 12 main trunks and spreading over a 200-foot area.  At sunset I would sit on my balcony, replete with an apropos Tequila Sunset and watch as thousands of Mynah Birds swoop in, chatting and squawking, for a night's rest within the boughs of this most splendid tree. 

For those moments, all was right with the world.

~~~

My cousin, Karin Strom-Shikaloff, is going on the cruise with me and is also a member of the Rogue Art Quilters.  She chose Miami for her contribution and her quilt is pictured below.  Karin does exquisite handwork and hand applique. Note her wonderful flamingos and see if you can find an alligator hidden in the grass.

The exhibit is comprised of 18 quilts that will connect with the purple line.  As a preview of what it might look like when connected, view the connected quilts of the Karin and Janis Show:

All quilts are 20" wide plus a space for connections, meaning that the exhibit will be close to 33 feet long.  Click on this link to see all of the quilts connected at our exhibit:  http://rogueartquilters.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/the-purple-line-challenge-4/