​The Puka design was created from a necklace made of puka shells and black pearls that my husband gave me years ago.  It had broken, and I used the  shell pieces to forge the image.  Found on specific Hawaiian beaches, puka shells are rounded shell fragments of cone or sea snail shells.  “Puka,” meaning hole in Hawaiian, refers to the naturally occurring space in the center of the shell pieces. These natural gifts of the islands are yet another reminder of the local expression “lucky we live Hawaii.”

Pictured: 18 Inch Puka in Aegean Blue with Gray Piping

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​Nicoya reflects the sand patterns on a treasured beach in Costa Rica on the Nicoya Peninsula.  Nicoya literally translated from its indigenous name means “on both sides water.” This peninsula is rich with beautiful beaches of various sand colors and tones. The juxtaposition of lighter sand with the dark volcanic sand forms striations that are worked into this design.  Watching these patterns illuminate each evening at sunset, certainly contributes to the magic of Pura Vida.

​Pictured:  18 Inch Nicoya Pillow in Blush with Gray Piping

​Nalu is a Hawaiian word that refers to water, more specifically to a wave.  This design was made from driftwood found on the beach after a big rain here on the North Shore.  Large rains will wash out debris from local rivers, and the ocean currents and tides will push debris onto the beach.  The word “nalu” also subtly refers to contemplation and meditation, something that is hard not to do while sitting in the surf  or riding a wave in such a magical and beautiful place. 

Pictured: Nalu in Olive

​The Vicki, one of Two Li Design’s firsts, is a succulent unexpectedly found thriving on the lanai of one of the best sandwich shops on the North Shore.  I became obsessed with this particular fat, fleshy plant that haunted me when playing with its image.  I deserted her for another in Southern California, a more fitting environment, whom I mistakenly thought would be a cleaner, better image, only to return to her because she was "the one."  She is named “Vicki” after my friend, a world traveler who loved her as much as I did and believed in us both. 

Pictured: 18 Inch Vicki Pillow in Olive and Coastal Blue

​Topkapi II is inspired by the arches, screens, tilework and mosaics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.  Where East meets West, the pattern derived has a symmetrical, predictable flow, as the mosaics of the palace can be.  Standing on a boat in the Bosphorus Strait with the view of Topkapi Palace is an awe-inspiring moment etched in my mind, but the palace itself stayed in my heart and inspired this design.

Pictured: Topkapi II in Gray with Fringe

​​Kukui is one of Two Li's newer designs.  The pattern is reminiscent of the stone-carved screens found in the Alhambra, the grand palace of the Moors in southern Spain. Candlenuts, known as kukui nuts are one of the “canoe plants” that the Polynesians brought with them during migration to the Hawaiian Islands.  Kukui has been an integral part of traditional Hawaiian life, used for its healing properties, natural dye, insulation, and in traditional foods.     

Kukui pictured in Cream and Blush

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​Ginger is a simple story really. Although native to Malaysia, Red Ginger is found all over the Hawaiian islands and our backyard is no exception.  Photographed from many different angles this image became the most interesting to work with.   I love the simplicity and subtle complexities of the form, which reminds me of both my home and my life, no matter where I go or travel.

Pictured:  20 Inch Ginger in Gray

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The N-Park image was derived from concrete blocks of a structure in urban San Diego.  I had wandered by this building earlier in the day and went back to get my camera, but had to stand on the trunk of a car to capture the shot.  The porous imperfections of the image are from the holes in the concrete.  While a simple fabricated block design, I found its organic nature compelling.

Pictured: 20 Inch N-Park in Gray with Coastal Blue Piping

​Taki is Two Li Design’s take on Indonesian Ikat print.  Manipulated from a wooden gate found while wandering the streets with Indonesia on my mind and a plane ticket in hand.  The waves and texture of the wood evoke the feel of the complex woven texture of Ikat, one of my most-loved textiles.  As much as I travel and love life in Hawaii, the lure of Indonesia has called me back again and again over the past 27 years.

Pictured: 18 Inch Taki in Seafoam and Gray

The Jaipur design is inspired by the sandstone screens of Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of the Winds” in Jaipur, India.  After traveling overland from Varanasi during monsoon season in the early 90s, a friend and I found refuge in the pink city.  The screens on the palace were constructed so royal women could peer out without being seen. The exterior designs of the palace vary, however, I detracted rings from the image, and love the retro feel that the final product has.

20 Inch Jaipur Pillow Pictured in Dark Gray