Ni'ihau Shell Lei - Molokai kine

What started out as an appreciation has turned into a passion. My first exposure to these amazing shell works of art was some 20 years ago during a visit to Kauai. The size and color of the shells was almost unbelievable to me. Then add the intricacy of the work, the patterns AND the fact that they were made on "the forbidden island", it was just too much. It took me years just to find this book...remember this was before the time of Amazon.com =)

Over the years I have poured thru the pages. I still to this day use it as a reference for shell colors and sewing pattern names. The shells are most plentiful on Ni'ihau but are also found on Kauai and here on Molokai.

Shell picking itself is a bit of an art. For me it is done just by luck. Sometimes when I go there are huge patches of shells and sometimes just sand. It's never a bad day at the beach so no worries. The shells are very small. Kahelelani average 1/8 of an inch. It requires lots of patience...the passion is helpful too.

I started off the year with a custom order on etsy. One of the items was a 20 inch mixed shell lei. I have already started the process and thought it would be fun to blog about the project. I'm sure many people wonder why these pieces cost so much, well this is your chance to find out. The shell picking and sorting had already been done. I'll blog about that in another section. Needless to say countless hours were needed for that.

This is a photo of the last lei that I made that was on the etsy listing. The shells collected for the new lei are very similar.

Here are the collected and sorted shells.



I am starting with the single strand of laiki lenalena which you see above.

First I clip the end of the laiki shell off.

The sand must be cleared from both ends to make a path for the string.



The shells are strung on double #30 lb beading string for added strength.

Here they are...20 inches of precious laiki lenalena. They are so beautiful and shiny and have a lovely feel in your hands. The Hawaiian word laiki means rice. As you can see they are about the size of a grain of rice. Lenalena is the word for yellow.

A hui hou kakou !

Karen

Jet Setter

Hey there! I'm back in California, but only for a few days then I will be back in Arizona for college. Photography as most people who know me is my life. All I do and everything I see is a possible picture to me. I am constantly taking pictures and if I don't have my camera I am using my iPhone. A photographer, Dewitt Jones and his amazing iphoneography had me convinced to purchase an iPhone. He has amazing style and uses his iPhone to take these breath taking images. As a photographer he has been such an inspiration and has only tempted me to become more artistic when taking pictures both iPhone and on camera. So I travel a lot, its a given having school in Arizona, a father in California and a Mother, Sister and Step-Dad in Hawaii. I HATE flying, and don't enjoy the traveling at all but do it anyways to be with family. I usually drive when I have to but when there's an ocean or when offered to fly me, I fly. I have started taking pictures of my little feet with the different floorings I step on. This is my "Travel" series and hope that it grows throughout my travel lifestyle. What started this was my trip to San Francisco when I was nervous and looked down at my feet and noticed the carpet, it was swirls and caught my attention, I didn't want to take just a picture of the carpet so I added my feet, and eventually that turned into something I really liked and well, now I have a small collection of airport/transportation pictures.

 I hope you enjoyed them :) I love it how they all tell their own little story. What do you think they are saying? Anyways, this jet setter needs some sleep! 

Love,

Maddie

Crochet, Crochet!

Today is my last day here on Molokai with my wonderful family. I've had the most amazing trip yet! I definitely have high expectations for the next vacation I have here! I was looking over some old photographs and realized how much I accomplished this trip, usually I am unproductive and very lazy. Although I did sit on my bum the entire time I was extremely productive making myself scarfs and headbands and hats. My mom just recently got seriously into crocheting, she's always known how to but recently she's been an addict. For a while now I've been stubborn and just sending her ideas and free patterns for HER to make me stuff. This christmas I was sitting and realized, I need to learn. Why not right? So she taught me and right off the bat I was creating things with my hands. I enjoy the feeling I get and can't wait to continue making more! I am now, a crochet addict...oh and I'm obsessed with yarn! =)

Here is me working on my first project! It was fun learning how to work with the yarn and how to hold the hook correctly which I don't anymore because I found an easier way(for me) to hold it!

My first finished project! A headband! Which turned out way cute and really comfortable! This was one of my many things on my mothers list for her to make me! Being able to make it myself was so amazing.

Here is my second project, which was kinda rough because we ran out of that color yarn and I couldn't finish it in one round, knowing me I am really good at getting into something and never finishing it. Luckily the yarn came and I was able to pass my stubbornness and finish my hat which turned out mega cute!!

Here's my next project! An infinity scarf. I used with the same crochet technique as the hat because I liked the way my hat looked with the dainty open holes. This yarn was from an Alpaca farm and is made with the fur of an alpaca, which by the way is SO SOFT. 

 So basically you can't have a scarf without an adorable matching headband, I am way stoked that it came out just as perfect as my scarf. I'm not trying to be cocky but I am excited that these came out so nice being my third/fourth project! =)

Ok ok so I might be obsessed with making scarfs....and headbands, I used this beautiful mustard colored yarn to make myself a thicker infinity scarf and a matching headband (: I think I might have a problem!

 Here's my ongoing project that will probably take until the end of summer to finish. Picture it, a african granny square teddy bear....There's a picture for it with a pattern that I am using, you can find that here! I am beyond excited for this to be done with (I am very impatient) I can't wait to be able to say "Yep, I made this" with a big dopey smile!

All in all its been such a wonderful trip and seriously can't wait for summer to continue my crocheting adventures with my crochet crazed mother who has now rubbed off onto me!















Love,
Maddie

Aloha from Molokai

Away we go on yet another part of our adventure. While Madeline studies in Arizona, I am here on Molokai with Marshall (the love of my life) and my younger daughter Haley who I hope will someday join us on our blogging.
We hope to share some of the beauty that surrounds us as well as our many artistic projects that we get into. This is the perfect way for us to stay close together even tho we are so very far away.
Work is scarce on Molokai so I "create" as a way of making a living. I have been selling on eBay for over 13 years, etsy for 2 years and I have a wonderful local home for my work at Kalele Bookstore and Divine Expression which is downtown Kaunakakai, Molokai. Stay tuned...between us there is never a dull moment.

Love, Karen

Welcome to our blog!

Hello I'm Madeline! You can call me Maddie for short. I am a college student currently enrolled in Yavapai College. I am perusing my Associate of Arts and just recently graduated with my Photography Certificate. Its located in Prescott, Arizona where I'll be doing most of my blogging. I am 20 years old and am an aspiring photographer. I have started a business but it is a slow process because I am still working in school. I enjoy most arts and crafts and will constantly share with you my many experiences.
This blog is a Mother and Daughter blog where we will be blogging our life together from far away. Not only is this blog for us to keep in touch it's for you to enjoy our works of arts and our wonderful lives.

Interested in seeing a little of my photography check out my Facebook page here!
Want to see what I have currently up for sale on my Etsy site? Check that out here!


Love,
Maddie