Quilt Exhibit & Sale now open at Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery in Līhu‘e

The Garden Isle Quilters’ fifth annual Quilt Exhibit & Sale is now open at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists in Līhu‘e – treating gallery visitors to a vibrant display of wall hangings, table runners, pillows and more.

Featured quilter m. Lea Ingram draws inspiration from nature, creating quilts incorporating floral and animal imagery.

“It’s inherent in us to gravitate towards things that feel nice, textures that feel nice, fabrics that feel good in our hand, and the comfort of a quilt can only be felt,” Ingram said.

“It’s hard to explain it, but when you wrap yourself up in a quilt, you’re wrapping yourself up in love, because somebody had to take the time to make that, and it’s a labor of love to do that,” she continued.

The Garden Isle Quilters is comprised of four Kaua‘i artists including Ingram, Linda Mathews, Lesley Morris and Toni Wass. The group’s founder, Jeni Hardy, passed away on Aug. 7 at the age of 74.

Hardy’s most recent work, however, is on display at the Quilt Exhibit & Sale alongside her surviving friends’ patchwork creations.

Every quilt at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists – located in the Kukui Grove Center shopping mall – is available for sale. Pieces that leave the gallery for new homes will be replaced by other new quilts.

“It’s something about combining the fabric and the design of painting that really excites me … I guess you would call it my passion,” Ingram said of quilting. “I just love it because it has those elements of comfort, and I really want to touch people with how beautiful life can be.”

The Quilt Exhibit & Sale opens at 10 a.m. Friday with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The free exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Aug. 24.

Video tours of the exhibit will be made available on the Garden Isle Quilters’ Facebook page, according to the group’s website.

For more information, visit Gardenislequilters.com and Kauaisocietyofartists.org.