Sometimes You Need to Take a Step Back...

...in order to go forward. So that's what I'm going to do with this post. Before I show my new collection PARADISE COVE, I want to do a flashback to the International Quilt Market in Salt Lace City, Spring 2011. It was here that I previewed the HULA DOLLS collection (it would be released in August), my first for Michael Miller Fabrics after rejoining the company as a licensed designer. The reason I am doing this is to show how the Hula Dolls collection segues and flows into the Mermaids of Hana Bay group...

(Since PARADISE COVE is soon to be released, there is no link, so you'll have to be patient... I promise to post the designs as soon as I know they are ready to go live!)

You may also notice all the hats - it was then that I created the Children's Reversible Bucket Hat and started marketing the pattern under my label: 

The Mad Hatter of Maui

and hence the name of my blog!

Having been on Maui for a just about two years, I was full of inspiration from my lush tropical surroundings and the rich, Hawaiian culture. I was bursting at the seams to create a group of fabrics that would speak the language of the island yet transcend the Pacific waters and be embraced by a broad and diverse audience. 

I have been credited with being sensitive to the use of varying skin tones in my characters. This was a completely subconscious channeling of the diverse melding of the peoples that inhabit  these islands which again, speaks loud and clear the diversity of our own country and of the peoples of the planet. I was simply putting on paper - and in turn fabric - that which I saw all around me...

HULA DOLLS

Mark Hordyszynski for Michael Miller Fabrics

Please note: unfortunately the colors here are all a bit washed; they're more like the photo above :)  

Top to Bottom: Hula Dolls DC5018 - Graphite and Seafoam

Pacific Reef DC5016 - Sea

Island Hibiscus DC5017 - Coffee

Left to Right: Tiki Woodblock DC5012 - Isle and Wave

Surfer Stripe DC5015 - Wave

Leaf Vines DC5013 - Isle

Left to Right: Scales & Waves - Coffee and Green Tea

Left to Right: Scales & Waves - Sea and Wave

HULA DOLLS Embroideries by The Needlework Factory

(Available April)

The figure above has a skirt made of Angelina Fibers and the one below out of natural raffia. Imagine how cute these would be paired with the coordinating fabrics in a quilt or better yet, in little girls' clothing!

(Sue, the creator of the embroideries, said that working with both fibers was very challenging and time consuming, so these examples are for inspiration only. The skirt can be stitched out, or done as an applique with a fabric of your choice... I'll be sure to post pics of new samples as soon as I get a sample sewn out... but they are so darn cute I couldn't resist showing them!) 

Marky, Marky... Don't be snarky...

How does your garden grow?

Have you ever seen a pineapple? -- well of course you have... But have you ever seen one grow? We have a few pineapple plants on the property, and they have started fruiting... so I have decided to take a photo of the development of the pineapple, once a week, and share the progress with you. In my opinion, it's absolutely fascinating...

In all honesty, this looks like something from an ALIEN movie, that's going to thrust out on a long, appendage-like stalk and bite you with all of its sharp, needle-like teeth.


But it's only an immature pineapple...


I am working on my next group of fabric, but it's too soon to even let you in on what it is... but I'll let you know it's something I'm having a lot of fun working on, involves developing "characters", and it is geared to the 'Tween and Teen markets... As soon as I get the approval to send the designs to print, I promise to share some imagery!


In addition, I have decided to do my gourmet cooking on the weekends, so I'll have some culinary creations to share as a regular part of my Sunday post. Following are a few dishes I recently concocted...

Grilled Line Caught Wild Hawai'ian Blue Marlin

Big Island Ohi'a Lehua Blossom Honey-Oyster Sauce Glaze

Freshly Squeezed Meyer Lemon Juice, Blood Orange Oil

Grilled Apple Bananas

Panko Crusted Colossal Shrimp with Habanero Coconut Sauce

Whole Wheat Spaghetti Tossed in Deconstructed Guacamole

(Backyard Avocado, Hamakua Cherry Tomato, Maui Onion)

Toasted Nana's Dried Bananas and Banana Chip Finger-Banana Bread

Fresh Kula Raspberries

Minted Sesame-Miso Butterscotch Sauce

Hibachi Boneless Pork Ribs Glazed with House-made Chinese BBQ Sauce

Sprouted Brown Rice-Red Winter Wheat Berry "Fried Rice"

(Oven Dried Tofu, Kula Carrots, Maui Onions, Sweet Petit Peas, White Corn)

Grilled Apple Bananas

Baked Organic Free-Range Chicken Breast

Stuffed with Spinach, Maui Onions, Surfing Goat Dairy Chevre,

Shiitake Mushrooms and Panko Bread Crumbs

Low-Sodium Au Jus

Steamed Sushi Rice with Dehydrated Garden Vegetables

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.

First Sunday in February

Aloha all!


As I mentioned before, the reason for posting every Sunday is to recap my week... but gosh darn it! I can't remember Monday specifically. I chatted with Kathy and Karen regarding my new collections, and that's about all I can remember. In and of itself, that is enough because it's amazing how much can get done in a very concentrated and focused 20 minute conference call! I got approval to start a new teen/'tween group, new direction on my Halloween group, reviewed the s/offs for the re-issuing of Mirror Ball Dot, and all in all it was a very productive week.


I didn't take very many pictures, but a few of the sunset and moon rise on Monday follow, and mainly I am focusing on Spring cleaning and getting ready for my sister's arrival this Thursday.


My friend Dina is moving back to Maui, and she's a very crafty / creative person so I hope she and I will produce many things that I can blog about.


The original fruit on the Buddha's hand tree fell off but new fruits are appearing so, there will hopefully be progress to report on that front.


Other than that, I hope all is well with you! Lots of Aloha from the Valley Isle!


Mark