The Runaway Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #4) [Paperback] Review

This was truly a book that I could not put down. It is the first of the Elm Creek books that I read and now I have purchased the rest to enjoy. The flow of the story was wonderful. And I easily moved between the days of Gerda and the modern day Sylvia.It is at once a mystery and a tale of adventure and romance.
Through Ms. Chiaverini's skillful writing, we feel equally at home in either the 19th or 21th centuries. So skillful and artistic are her desceiptions, that we, the readers are front and center with our two leading ladies at all times.
The cast of extras, from Hans and Andrew to Dorothea and Grace, all add to the rich tapestry that makes up this story.
Whether you are a quilter or not, this book puts us in touch with the past and reminds us to look back and see the fiber from which we are all made. If you are not a quilter, it certainly is an inspiration to try it out as a hobby
We are never quite sure of the answer to the questions in Sylvia's mind, but that does not matter.What we do know however, is that in her past were brave and daring people who stood for what was right in a time when so much was wrong.

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The Christmas Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #8) [Hardcover] Review

After five decades away from Elm Creek Manor, the estranged Sylvia Compson returned home too late make any amends with her deceased Bergstrom relatives.Now Christmas is coming, but the septuagenarian does not feel like celebrating her first Yuletide in her family home in fifty years.

Her quilting camp partner Sarah McClure and the youngster's spouse orchards gardener Matt plan to celebrate Yuletide at Elm Creek.Sarah feels some guilt that she is not going to visit her family, but believes the fault lies with her mother who overtly displays her loathing of Matt.Sarah persuades a reluctant Sylvia to go into the attic to look at the holiday ornaments where they find an unfinished Christmas quilt and the memories of the joys in spite of the Depression; the depression of loved ones dying during World War II, and much more.Sylvia regrets her stubbornness that is too late to mend fences and pleads with Sarah to square things with her mother.

Though fans of the Elm Creek Quilt series might be a bit confused as to the timing as this entry occurs before Sylvia marries Andrew (see last year's THE MASTER QUILTER), long time readers will enjoy the latest tale.The somewhat sugary story line contains a deep message that there is no time in life to hold grudges.Sarah is terrific as the attic mementos have her looking back on the joys, tragedies, and mistakes in her life.Though suited for those in the audience who have read most of the previous novels (memories will mean much more) because some newcomers might have some problems with what happened to whom, Jennifer Chiaverini provides a warm holiday tale that adds to the Elm Creek manor saga.

Harriet Klausner

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The New Year's Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #11) [Hardcover] Review

Sylvia Compson, master quilter and senior owner of Elm Creek manor, has married beau Andrew Cooper at their Christmas Eve party, to the gleeful surprise of their friends and associates.But the occasion is a bittersweet one because Andrew's two grown children, Amy and Bob, chose not to make the trip to Pennsylvania and so were not in attendance.Sylvia is fairly certain that Bob and his family, out in California, will welcome her new role in the Cooper clan.She is less sure about Amy's reaction, for Andrew's daughter was adamantly against the engagement from the beginning.The newlyweds plan to drive from central Pennsylvania to Hartford, Connecticut, to share their news with Amy and Daniel and the three grands and to celebrate the start of the new year.Will Amy accept Sylvia as her father's wife?And will she even want the New Year's Resolution quilt that Sylvia is bringing her?

A long drive is the perfect time for reflective thinking; and as the miles pass, Sylvia remembers notable New Year's Eves of the past, while she diligently works to finish the quilt on time.Her memories are woven into the blocks themselves:the year her cousin Elizabeth announced she was marrying Henry and moving to California; the anticipation leading up to her brother Richard's birth; the first Christmas and New Year's after her mother's death; the events that led up to Sylvia's final argument with her sister Claudia and her abandonment of the Bergstrom farm; and the day she got the news that Claudia had died and the estate was hers.Throughout the decades, quilts were always a part of her life.Now Sylvia is ready to share her personal history, in fabric, with her new step-daughter.

Ms. Chiaverini has given us a heart-warming and thought-provoking read that's much more than mere holiday fluff.To Elm Creek fans, Sylvia's memories fill in some of gaps of backstory that heretofore have gone unexplored.To newcomers to the series, these colorful threads of history will surely lead them to seek out some of the earlier books.And we can all benefit from the advice given by one of the characters here:"Anyone can make promises.The challenge is in following through."A Happy New Year, indeed.

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Product Description:
At the close of THE QUILTER'S LEGACY, the Elm Creek Quilters were all in attendance on Christmas Eve, where they were surprised yet overjoyed to witness the wedding of Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the Master Quilter, to her beloved Andrew Cooper.

THE NEW YEAR S QUILT tells the story of how the newlyweds celebrate their first holiday season as husband and wife. Not content to rest at home by the fire, they set out on a journey across the snow-covered fields of Pennsylvania.

Their destination is Connecticut, and the home of Andrew's daughter Amy. Unlike the Elm Creek Quilters, Amy has not offered her blessing to the union. Though her father has reminded her that marriage endures in sickness and in health, Amy fears that Andrew and Sylvia have passed the age where marriage remains a prudent choice.

Sylvia hopes to win over her new daughter-in-law through the lessons that quilting reveals about the bonds of love and family. As a gift for Amy, she undertakes a quilt titledNew Year s Reflections,whose blocks represent the holiday traditions of Elm Creek Manor. As she stitches the blocks, memories of a lifetime come flooding back, along with words of wisdom meant to celebrate the achievements of generations past and create hope for the future.

Just as Christmas and New Year's Day bookend the joys of the season, THE NEW YEAR S QUILT is the perfect holiday companion volume to THE CHRISTMAS QUILT.

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Sylvia's Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts: The True Story Behind the Quilt - 140 Traditional Blocks [Paperback] Review

This book was certainly worth the wait as it is more than beauiful from cover to cover.I just got mine in the mail and could hardly wait to carry it back to my little retreat to enjoy. How I would love to say that I had created and personally made this entire quilt...and all by hand, never-the-less! It is a dream quilt in a book so expertly put together, a quilt I have often wondered what it would look like and how Sylvia would react to the creation made out of love my her quilter friends....after reading the books by Jennifer Chiaverini, and just letting my imagination get carried away with me. Tis so nice to still be able to dream and find dreams do come true...at least in the books created by Jennifer. Sure hope here story telling and quilting days are not over. I hunger for the next book to come off the press, and yes, have devoured the book "The Lost Quilter".

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Product Description:
Create your own authentic version of the bridal sampler quilt made for Sylvia Compson in the best-selling novel The Master Quilter.

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Elm Creek Quilts : Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels [Paperback] Review

If you enjoy the Elm Creek Quilters series, and like to quilt, this book is fantastic. The quilts are beautiful! The book is very well written with clear and concise instructions, and beautifully photographed. I really like that the traceable templates are full size as well, a big plus. The excerpts provided for most of the quilts pull you right back in to the books that these quilts are based on. A wonderful series and wonderful quilting books! I really am enjoying this book and cant wait to get started.

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Product Description:
Create gorgeous quilts based on Jennifer Chiaverini's best-selling ElmCreek Quilt series! Here are 12 quilt projects from all four Elm Creekbooks, ranging from Sylvia's Broken Star and Sarah's Sampler to WhenHe Cooks Dinner and the Underground Railroad Quilt. Each quilt designis suitable for all skill levels and tells a wonderful story of itsown.

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