Sewing With Nancy

Did you ever wonder what happens when an author finishes her 15th novel?

The answer

she begins her 16th! That's just what Jennifer Chiaverini did after appearing on a "Nancy's Corner" segment last season. Jennifer is a prolific quilter and New York Times Bestseller of quilting-related novels. You're returning to tell us about your newest adventure. But it doesn't take place in the continental United States. Well, no, it does not, but it begins there at Elm Creek Manor with Bonnie, Sylvia, Sarah and all their friends. This story actually takes Elm Creek quilter, Bonnie all the way to Hawaii where she gets to help a long-time college friend set up a new quilting camp on Maui. So, Jennifer, you did research for this as you always do. So, four trips to Hawaii. I know, oh darn! I know it's rough, and some of those were during our Wisconsin winters. It's hard to get away then, but it was wonderful. I got to go and meet with Hawaiian quilters and see some of the beautiful scenery that Bonnie sees. It really helped me, I think make a very full, rich portrait of Bonnie's adventures in Hawaii. Hence the title of your book, "The Aloha Quilt" came to be. Bonnie was in your past book previous book. She owned the quilt shop, but then had to close it. That's right. She has run into a few unfortunate incidences losing her quilt shop her marriage is on the rocks. So, when I was deciding to write this story I thought, "Which of my characters most deserves a trip to Hawaii?" Of course, my first thought was Bonnie. Bonnie goes out, and she has a lot of work to do. But she gets to have some time away to reflect upon what she is going to do next now that she's lost her shop and her marriage. What next step will she take? Well, the first step that she takes is to help set up this new quilting camp and also to learn how to make some Hawaiian quilts of her own. And, you did that! I enjoy making the quilts that my characters do because it's fun for me to get to show the pictures to my readers on my book tour. It's also just fun for me because I love to quilt. Now the pineapple quilt, the motif is called? Pineapple Patch! Imagine that! Yes, and Bonnie's inspired when she is in the gardens of the Hale Kapa Kuiki which is the place where they're going to set up the quilt camp. And she sees pineapples growing in the garden. Of course, this is the first time she's seen them anywhere but in a grocery store. So, for her first quilting project she takes inspiration from that part of Hawaii's natural beauties to make her quilt. Then the next quilt that you created has a different approach to it, a little romance. That's right. After all that Bonnie's been through I thought she deserved a little fun and a little romance. She meets a music shop owner on Maui who helps introduce her to lots of aspects of Hawaiian culture and history, which is something she is hoping to pass on to the campers at the Aloha Quilt Camp when the camp gets started. He also likes to design quilt patterns for his aunt. And so he designs a special gift for Bonnie. His nickname for her is Snowbird because like many travelers she has come to the islands for the winter. And she's going to go home when spring comes. He takes the inspiration from the Bird of Paradise flower and he designs a beautiful quilt for Bonnie. He gives it to her as a parting gift. Hawaiian quilts are traditionally two-color. Yes, quilts that we typically think of as Hawaiian quilts are two-color appliqu style They typically have two very strongly contrasting colors one appliqud on top of the other. Most of us are familiar with traditional patchwork where different shapes are pieced together and then those designs are often replicated and duplicated across the entire surface of the quilt. With the traditional Hawaiian quilts it's more like cutting out a paper snowflake. You fold your fabric into eighths and then you trace your one part of the design and cut it out. Then, very carefully appliqu it trying not to stretch all those bias edges. Now, you did research when you were there. And the very historic quilt is referenced in your book. It was a wonderful discovery that I made during one of my research trips so I just decided to include it in the story and have it inspire Bonnie, as well. Here we have an image of that quilt. This was shared with us by the friends of the Iolani Palace. And I'm very thankful to them for letting me share that picture with you. It is a beautiful, intricate masterpiece of art and of history. Hawaii's last queen, Queen Lili'uokalani pieced this with a friend during her imprisonment in her palace after she was deposed. A few years after she lost her throne in a coup she was tried for treason and imprisoned with her friend. She was allowed to take one companion with her into her imprisonment. To pass the very long and lonely hours... She quilted. The queen was also a very wonderful remarkable woman. She also composed music and was very learned. So they spent time in prayer and in music but also in creating this beautiful crazy quilt into which they embroidered lots of important historical events. Well, Jennifer, thank you for sharing this with us. And thank you for joining us on Sewing with Nancy. We hope to see you back next time. Bye for now.