Cultural Spotlight: Tahitian Tifaifai and Indonesian Batik (Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month)

We are recognizing Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month with a cultural spotlight on two craft traditions from Tahiti and Indonesia.  Tifaifai is a quilt style originating from the island of Tahiti in which cotton fabric is appliqued with either geometric, floral, or animal patterns in contrasting colors.  These quilts are often given as gifts on special occasions.  In this all ages kit, felt will be used to create a quilt square in a traditional pattern for adults.  For younger ages, a quilt square can be created with paper and a coloring sheet.

Indonesian batik is a patterned fabric created using hand drawn or stamped designs with hot wax and dyeing them in one or multiple colors.  For our kit, we are improvising on the modern technique of batik print making with copper stamps substituting wood stamps and fabric paint instead of the wax-resist dyeing process.  Our kit will contain a 100% natural cotton kitchen towel, cardstock, two wood stamps, paintbrushes, and a selection of fabric paint to create a batik pattern.       

Both of these crafts are included in this kit and will be a great way to learn more about these traditional Asian and Pacific Islander crafts.  Booklists will also be included so that you can continue learning more about these cultures.  

Kits are one per FAMILY. Any duplicate registrations will be deleted. Kits can be picked up at Northwest Library from Wednesday May 5th through Saturday May 8th during curbside pickup hours. Registered customers must pick up kits by Saturday 4 PM or call the library at (405) 231-8650 to make alternate pick up arrangements as any remaining kits will be made available to waitlisted customers on Sunday.

All print outs and instructions will be posted here afterwards so that families with siblings or others who may not have had the opportunity to register can reproduce the kit at home.