Growing up within driving distance of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Dutch country quilts were everywhere – tablecloths, bedspreads, even food wraps – but the versatility and beauty of quilts goes beyond the functional. Once a year, the Hawaii Quilt Guild displays their artistry, at an appropriate venue – the Museum of Art. Although the creators insist their products should be used, I would hesitate to throw one anywhere but on a wall.

Here are a few from this year’s show:

I’ve studied books about quilting whenever I’m inspired to try to sew one – the “Quilting Book for Dummies” my best reference – but I’ve never read fiction books on quilting. Jennifer Chiaverini seems to have cornered the market, transforming quilting into the focus for over a dozen books, with her newest one due out soon – The Giving Quilt.         Have you read any?