When I opened the package that contained Elizabeth Root's new book, Menehune Quilts, I remembered the feeling I had as a girl when I got a reward for being good. What a magical book! Elizabeth successfully designed her book to both delight and educate her reader.
Menehune Quilts looks different than other quilt books, both inside and out. Elizabeth's book is square, almost the size and shape of a children's book. But it has many more pages than a children's book, all filled with Elizabeth's wonderful original quilt designs and color photographs of each quilt.
In addition, Elizabeth's book contains many charming illustrations of Menehune people, a race of tiny, mischievous, but sweet Polynesians. Tammy Yee's wonderful illustrations of people and native plants and flowers are done in a style that adds to the impression the book is written for children.
But Elizabeth's quilts are not kids' stuff. Her work is truly beautiful. To see a few of the quilts from her book, look in the Elizabeth Root Gallery on her web site.
Multi-Color Foreground
After a brief history of Hawaiian quilting covering traditions and superstitions, Elizabeth provides patterns for 20 original designs based on plants, flowers, and fish found around her home in Hawaii.
In addition to the contrasting foreground/background typical of most Hawaiian quilts, Elizabeth introduces a multi-color foreground option. These multi-color designs add much interest and depth to the Hawaiian quilting designs.
Elizabeth includes cutting diagrams for single as well as for multi-color designs along with a materials list, fabric suggestions, and a description of the plant or animal depicted on the quilt.
All of the designs in this book finish at 24 inches square. But Elizabeth includes suggestions for reducing and enlarging patterns. She makes suggestions for your quilts and for getting into the right frame of mind to make your project.
How To Make A Hawaiian Quilt
Elizabeth includes a How-to section on the basics of Hawaiian quilting. And she includes a separate section on adding borders and finishing your quilt. All of the information she provides is straight-forward, friendly, and easy to understand.
I've always thought Hawaiian quilting was beautiful. But I've never wanted to make a Hawaiian quilt -- until now. Elizabeth's multi-color designs are stunning and are constantly dancing around in my mind. My only problem is choosing which design to do first.
I've looked through this book at least 50 times, convinced I'll be able to pick my favorite or at least my first choice. I've narrowed it down to three. I love the fish of Hawaii. But that is probably because of my scuba diving background. Then I decide I really like the Wild Orchid, with its orchid flowers with yellow centers and lovely green foliage.
Then I look at the thumbnail pictures of the quilts in the table of contents to get a overall view. I pick different designs altogether as my favorites. I'm still trying to decide which one to make first.
I'm sure you will enjoy this book as much as I do.
