Life on the island of Caohagan in the Philippines is beautiful and simple. Japanese book publisher Sakiyama Katsuhiko discovered this when planted himself on the 13 acre island nearly 25 years ago.
Saki says when he arrived, the people of Caohagan lived mainly off the sea, collecting shells and fish to feed their families and trade for items at the market that floated in weekly from a neighboring island. But when Caohagans learned to quilt from Saki’s wife, Junko, they used the skill to build a small cash economy. The island now generates 1/3 of its income from the sale of colorful handsewn quilts, covered in images of palm trees, fish, the ocean, and other island scenery.
Allison Crawford sends us an audio postcard from their first major quilt exhibit in the United States at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah.