Kite Connections Fly High

Old friends from around the world gather to share enthusiasm at international event. By Aaron Besecker from The Buffalo News:

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On the third day of the event, which started Thursday in Niagara Falls State Park, all colors and shapes of kites filled the skies above Reservoir State Park.

At the other end of the kite string were other fliers.

Eli and Shula Shavit, who came from Jerusalem, have been traveling internationally to kite festivals since the mid-1980s.

Flying kites always has been a family activity, said Eli Shavit, whose daughter, Keren, lives in Buffalo. They try to make it to two international festivals a year, Eli Shavit said.

Like many Israeli youngsters, Shavit said he made kites as a child. He got involved again after buying a how-to book in Sacramento, Calif.

“The colors and shapes against the blue skies — there’s nothing better than this,” he said.

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Niagara International Kite Festival - 2007

This week we'll be at the 2007 Niagara International Kite Festival USA.

Here's a short article from the Buffalo Rising newspaper about it, featuring our Bols:

Once again, the kite fliers at LaSalle Park struck gold. The winds could not have been better (that's coming from a casual observer), and though the attendance was low (being a weekday and all), spirits and the kites were flying high. This year there were some crowd favorites that included two gigantic low flying circular color wheels, along with the infamous Berkeley Kite Wrangler 'Octopile'. The winds were blowing so well that the creatures danced across the sky while being chased by an oversized scuba diver, who in turn was being shadowed by a couple of small sharks. The sight was something to behold.

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Bloon - 2007

Bloon - Blooming Balloon.

Rokkaku with Circular Log Cabin.
Size: 1.5m x 1.2m

First flight: Cervia, 2007

Shula also made a wall quilt using the same pattern:

Here, displayed at a "Blooming" themed quilt show in Israel.

Star of David Rokkaku - 2002

This Rokkaku kite design was influenced by the colors of Israel's flag, blue & white.
The patchwork technique is "Log Cabin with a Twist".
Size: 1.8m x 2.4m

The Half-Log-Cabin Bedspread Kite - 2003

A Pointed Edo-variant using the "Half Log Cabin" patchwork technique. 2.2m x 2.2m.

3 Generations of Kite Makers

Still making kites, 20 years later, 1988 and 2007.
Same table, different hair styles...

The Boys - circa 1976

Blast from the past!
As far back as the 1970s, our boys were running around flying kites...

Genki Bird - 2002

A Genki-type kite with a "Log-Cabin"bird motif, inspired by Scott Skinner.