Workshops

Sew & Sew Retreats are purposeful getaways that are aimed at

rescuing you from your everyday routine and whisking you off to an

exceptional location to bask in the happiness you find in creating with textiles.

All levels of experience will enjoy the workshops, from beginners to advanced!

Jane Sassaman

Nature is an endless source of inspiration – especially on the lush islands of Hawaii!

Abstracting from Nature Workshop

In this workshop we will examine a wide variety of artists’ interpretations of nature before beginning to manipulate natural forms ourselves. Through a series of exercises we will experiment with abstraction and exaggeration to capture the essence and energy of your favorite flora to achieve dramatic visual effects. We will then translate these ideas with fabric during the workshop.

You may want to consider Hawaiian foliage – orchid, plumeria, palm, jasmine, hibiscus and bird-of-paradise are just a few to consider.

FYI - Sewing machines will be provided so you don't need to worry about traveling with your machine.

After a varied career in the design world, Jane began to quilt in 1980. She found that these “soft paintings” satisfied the draftsman, the craftsman and the artist in her. Consequently, she is now a dedicated, some say “obsessed,” quilt artist and fabric designer. Her art quilts have been shown in many national and international exhibits, including Quilt National 1989 through 2005 and Contemporary American Quilts, the first major exhibit of American art quilts in England. Her quilt Willow was named as One of the One Hundred Best American Quilts of the Century.

Jane is also the author of The Quilted Garden. The book includes twenty years of her work and exercises for making nature-inspired quilts. Jane’s love for historic decorative arts can be seen in all facets of her work, but it is especially evident in the exuberant fabric she is currently designing for FreeSpirit. Her designs are oversized and colorful. They are created for quilts, wearables and home decorating. Her latest book, Patchwork Sassaman Style, beautifully illustrates her fabric “in action.”

Honu Sea
Turtle & Wave

The art of
sashiko and appliqué!

Turtles are symbols of good luck and long life in many cultures. In Hawaii they are considered family protectors and the embodiment of ancestors called ‘aumakua. The wave pattern is a traditional Japanese Kamon design. The waves are appliquéd and hand stitched sashiko outlines the waves.

The local quilt shop in Kona - Quilt Passions, will hold a workshop for us using a kit that includes design, transfer instructions, select fabrics, appliqué ideas, sashiko how-to's and finishing techniques.

Hawaiian Quilting with Poakalani & Co.

We will learn Hawaiian quilting and feel the spirit of Aloha that is found throughout the islands of Hawaii.

For over thirty years Cissy Serrao and Rae Correa have been teaching the traditional art of Hawaiian Quilting by continuing the classes that was founded by their parents John and Althea Poakalani Serrao in 1972. They live by their family’s mission statement, "To preserve, protect and appreciate the cultural legacy of Hawaii’s quilting tradition and to teach it to anyone who wants to learn."

Both sisters are sought after not only for their teaching skills but their knowledge in the history and tradition of this unique art, and they are also recognized for their expertise in all things “Hawaiian Quilting.” By having this opportunity to be part of their class, you’re not only going to learn the techniques of Hawaiian quilting, but you’ll be enveloped in what makes Hawaii unique by experiencing Hawaii’s values system of hospitality and aloha.

Sew & Sew Retreats brings together people with a similar interest and then offers the opportunity to spend memorable moments creating, learning, exploring, relaxing and laughing with like-minded people. I hope you will join us!

Sew and Sew Retreats, LLC