Random Shots from World Whale Day 2012

Here are some random shots from the Whale Day Parade in Kihei, Maui, Saturday, February 18th, 2012...

Best,

Mark

The blessing given to the organizers and hosts presiding over the parade

 I understand big hats were a trend at New York's Fashion Week

Now that's a tail!

 You should have thought about going before we left the Tiki hut!

 Little opihi (Hawai'ian limpets or shellfish)

A member of the Maui Humane Society (this one was a cutie with lots of personality!)

 I didn't realize she saw me taking the photo

Maui's competitive cheerleading troupe

 'Nuf said...

 Protective eyewear is essential on the Islands

 Our fire trucks are yellow...

APOTHESCARY Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Collection

An ongoing challenge that has been presented to me is to fill a void in the market for boy themed prints. Naturally it came to me that most boys somehow end up with a chemistry set or other such present as a gift. So when considering a new halloween group - a category that I could design all year long - I thought it would be fun to do a Mad Scientist-based group for all of the aspiring doctors, nurses, medical technologies and pharmacist boys and girls (and men and women) in your life.

As you will notice when reviewing the prints, I have purposely designed the group 1). to appeal to both a younger and older audience (the latter being a definite asset since most halloween prints currently in the market are geared to juveniles and this group definitely has an adult appeal), 2). for both boys and girls of all ages and 3). most of the prints transcend a strictly halloween genre. For example, the Apothescary print is a year round laboratory print, as is the Spooky Spots. The Lightning Stripe and Hocus Pocus can be blended into a wizard or dungeons and dragons group. I see it that it is my job to provide you with the most versatile designs possible, allow you to be creatively inspired and let your imagination run wild....!

;) P.S. The design numbers designated DG and Glow, Glow-In-The-Dark! How cool is that?

APOTHESCARY
Halloween Collection by Mark Hordyszynski for Michael Miller Fabrics

Apothescary (DC5277-Black)

The Dr. Is In (DC5251-Green)

Spotted Spooks (DG5245-Glow)

Boo! (DG5256-Glow) Boo! (DC5256-Pumpkin)

Bottles (DC5253-Black)

Lightning Stripe (DC5252-Pumpkin)

Spooky Spots (DC5252-Dalmation) Spooky Spots (DC5252-Kiwi)

Spooky Spots (DC5252-Kryptonite) Spooky Spots (DC5252-Kiwi)

Spooky Spots (DC5252-Pumpkin) Spooky Spots (DC5252-White)

Hocus Pocus (DG5257-Glow)

My aspirations for this group are quite high... at the 2011 Fall International Quilt Market in Houston this past October, the Michael Miller sales reps were writing orders on this group almost one year to date in advance as the last day of the show was Halloween. I hope you're as excited about these designs as I am!

In addition to the designs on fabric as seen above, I have a license for Machine Embroidery Collections with THE NEEDLEWORK FACTORY and the Apothescary bottles are available as a Full Collection on a disc, or as Individual Bottle Design Kits. Please refer to the right sidebar for a direct link to the page.

The main outline of the bottle is stitched out on the background fabric. Then the contents of the bottle are placed within the stitched lines, followed by a piece of clear plastic overlaid on top of the embellishments. Lastly, the satin stitch outlines of the bottle sew over the first stitched outline, embroidering the plastic to the background fabric. The buttons, provided by Just Another Button Company, are glued down. The glitter and confetti is loose and moves around the stationery buttons when turned, shaken or rattled. They are very clever, very unique!

Here the Apothescary embroideries are stitched out on a white lab coat as shown for the 2011 Fall International Quilt Market in Houston.

A Week Away From the Normal Wind and Grinds

Aloha!

Obviously I have not adhered to my promised posting schedule, and with good reason. As you may know, my sister came to visit and despite all good intentions to sit down and post an entry on Wednesday, alas! it just didn't happen.

So I'm here now to go over a bit of our eating extravaganza of local foods, or as it is said on the islands say, "local grinds".

On our first day, to the West side of the island and Lahaina for an overnight stay, we started breakfast at Tasty Crust. This diner was probably built the day after the lava started cooling and the island was formed. Stepping through the door is like stepping through a portal in time, and the fare is simple, unpretentious and down-to-earth. The reason for the french fries: the unopened, brand new bottle of ketchup was just begging to be used!

Dana's delight is her shave ice from Local Boy's Shave Ice in Lahaina, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the bottom, and Liliko'i/Papaya/Mango syrup on the smoother than silk shaved ice.

The state beverage of Hawai'i: the MAI TAI!

Another establishment that has been around from the days when food was food and reminds one of some good old home cooking is Tiffany Diner in Wailuku. Here is Chow Funn and Sweet-and-Sour Chicken - simple food for good eating...

A local spot in Upcountry serving the best Mexican food for the money; Polli's in Makawao - a must have is the Liliko'i margarita and (not shown) the Makawowie nachos!!!

Lunch before boarding the plane was at Da Kitchen in Kahului, where there was lots of local grinds but done in a very inventive way.

Kim Chee Crab Cake

Loco Moco, another Hawai'an staple of a hamburger patter, 2 over easy eggs, 2 scoops of rice, potato-mac salad, brown gravy and here, with sauteed mushrooms. We Googled "the best loco moco on Maui" and Da Kitchen was the hands down winner!

And last, but not least, because I couldn't have a guest over without cooking dinner, here is the pre-Valentine's Day menu.

Okinawan Purple Sweet and Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Confettied with Green Peas, Sweet Baby Corn, Diced Kula Carrots

Green Bamboo Salt

Crushed Black Pepper and Kosher Salt served in an oyster shell

Caesar Salad of Red Romaine Lettuce Wedge

Olive Oil Croutons

Freshly Grated Parmesan

Macadamia Nut Wood Smoked

Chinese 5-Spice Powder Boneless Pork Chop

Homemade Ketchup-Fresh Pureed Guava BBQ Sauce

Grilled Kona Coffee-Spice Rubbed New York Strip Steak

Merlot-Balsamic Vinegar-Soy Sauce Reduction with Fresh Thyme

Nasturtium Flower-Lemon Compound Butter

Big Island Chocolate Chip-Chocolate Covered Mochi

Fresh Mint-Wasabi Ice Cream

So now that I feel like a beached version of one of the Humpback Whales we saw breaching in the waters off Maui, I'll leave you now so I can contemplate salads and rice cakes for the next few weeks!