LIHU‘E — There were a lot of quilts to admire, Friday when volunteers from the Kaua‘i Quilt Guild and Nene Quilters opened the doors to the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at the Kukui Grove Center.
“This is the big one,” said Toni Wass, the Kaua‘i Quilt Show event chairperson. “People have been getting excited to see what kind of quilts are coming out, this year. This is definitely the time of year people get excited about quilts.”
The Kaua‘i Quilt Show will open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Feb. 23. Special show hours on opening night featured Meet the Quilters in a socially-distanced, face masked reception that overflowed the gallery’s confines, allowing small groups of quilting enthusiasts an area to discuss the quilts and quilting.
More than 40 of Kaua‘i quilting artists are featured in the more than 100 quilts, many of which are available for sale.
Also available are nearly 60 “Donation Quilts” where 100% of the proceeds from its sale goes to benefit a Kaua‘i nonprofit organization of the buyer’s choice.
There is no admission to view the many quilts, and viewers are presented with a ballot to vote for their favorite quilt that will earn People’s Choice honor, the prize is being featured on next year’s Kaua‘i Quilt Show marketing materials.
The Kaua‘i Quilt Show is presented by the Kaua‘i Quilt Guild and Nene Quilters with sponsorship from Vicky’s Fabrics, Kapaia Stitchery, and Discount Fabric Warehouse.
Vicky’s Fabrics, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is also presenting the Miniature Quilt Display with quilters being restricted to size limitations, and also must use the same fabric, which this year, is ruby to represent the store’s 40th anniversary.
Due to the popularity and demand for online accessibility, the Kaua‘i Quilt Show is available on the Kaua‘i Quilt Show Facebook page, and #Kauaiquiltshow. The clamour for social media access was created during the COVID-19 when many of the potential show viewers were restricted from traveling and crowd gathering size.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
