isa lei

It is pretty much guaranteed that after the words bula (welcome) and vinaka (thankyou), the two words you will likely remember more than any others after a visit to Fiji are Isa Lei.  

They are the title to the beautiful song of farewell that Fijians sing to departing visitors. Melodic and poignant, its sweet notes rise in layers of hymn-like stanzas, and their farewell song to you is certain to arouse emotion and without fail brings a tear to my eye.

Isa, isa, vulagi lasa dina


Nomu lako au na rarawa kina


Cava beka ko a mai cakava


Nomu lako au na sega ni lasa.

 

Isa lei, na noqu rarawa


Ni ko sana vodo e na mataka

Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa


Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga.

This tiny fellow was particularly fond of pineapple and maraschino cherries

Quilt patterns in tapa-cloth lined ceilings

Raymond Burr's Orchid Garden

 

Alas, alas, most welcome guest, 

Whatever the reason you came, 

I feel bereft at your leaving.

Oh, such sadness! 

I will feel so forlorn
   

When you sail away tomorrow.
 

Please remember how happy we were—
 

In Suva, you will always be remembered.

If you wwould like to listen to the song a lovely old recording from 1957 can be found here.

A little cheeriness awaiting our arrival home, a recent purchase...

 Approximately 1880.

 

Lots of lovely browns, purples, shirtings; some (perhaps 10 tumblers) have deteriorated and will need replacing.

A nice easy project for the 'to-do' pile.

Bula my friends, 

x

k

border therapy

No work for me yesterday and today with a bit of the lurgie and feeling a bit sad and sorry for myself getting sick just before my holiday. As always perfect timing. Hopefully the ears will clear up so we can do some diving at one of my favourite destinations (only 3 days, 4 hours and 16 minutes to go but who's counting?)

So yesterday, with the machine set up in the sunniest spot in the house on a cold but beautifully clear wintery Sydney day some quilt therapy was called for.

Did she say machine?  For long boring seams, yes. Here is what we achieved with the antique bow ties blocks.

This is what happens when you are indecisive...why choose one fabric when you can go for all three?

Happy with the frivoloty and lightness of it all, we now have suns beaming down onto the willow trees and shafts of sunlight  through the branches!

:o)
k

18 months later

So, after 18 months my quilt top is complete....

From beginnings last February 2011 when I blogged enthusiastically as a new start ...

 

...to plodding along through the somewhat tedious bits

 

 

 

...to whining my way through the borders 

 

...I can now reveal....

Ta Dah!  My Jane top is finished.

 darn it there's a chair in the way!

 

Actually completed two weeks ago, I had to wait until today's workshop at Material Obsession to find a wall large enough to  display her.

Measureing 205cm x 205cm - there will be tears, I am sure, when we come to baste! A somewhat Olympic effort I reckon!!

Shopping tomorrow for a backing, I hope to have her basted and start the hand quilting whilst its still really cold here in Sydney.

Have a wonderful weekend!

k