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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781439139325
Edition: 1
ISBN: 1439139326
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: November 03, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
For the Elm Creek Quilters, the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the quilting season, a time to gather at Elm Creek Manor and spend the day stitching holiday gifts for loved ones. This year, in keeping with the season's spirit of gratitude, Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson Cooper is eager to revive a cherished family tradition. A recent remodeling of the manor's kitchen unearthed a cornucopia that once served as the centerpiece of the Bergstrom family's holiday table. Into it, each Bergstrom would place an object that symbolized something he or she was especially thankful for that year. On this quilter's holiday, Sylvia has invited her friends to continue the tradition by sewing quilt blocks that represent their thankfulness and gratitude.
As each quilter explains the significance of her carefully chosen block, stories of love and longing for family and friends emerge -- feelings that are also expressed in the gifts they work on throughout the day. Diane is thankful for her two sons, who've outgrown their youthful troubles to become fine young men, but she wishes they revered their family's traditions as much as she does. Anna, in her first holiday season as an Elm Creek Quilter, creates a quilt for her best friend even as she begins to question her feelings for him, which may have grown beyond friendship. Sylvia reflects upon holidays past spent with her beloved, long-lost cousin Elizabeth and wonders whatever became of her. Sarah, pregnant with twins, determinedly sews a Christmas gift for her father-in-law, whose persistent suggestions that her husband, Matt, come to work for his construction company have created tension in their marriage. And as Gretchen pieces a quilt for a charity she has not yet chosen and Gwen completes a project begun by her graduate school mentor, both women lend their talents to those in need.
As an early winter storm blankets Elm Creek Manor in heavy snow, the quilters find new meanings in their best-loved traditions and new reasons to be thankful. A Quilter's Holiday is a story of holiday spirit, in its truest, most generous sense.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I really enjoyed this book. I had written a review for another of the Elm Creek holiday books (The Chrismas Quilt) a few years ago, and realize I was a little harsh. I didn't like that book too much. But...I have totally reversed that opinion on this one. I love how background information (some of it review) was knit together with additional information giving us an even clearer picture of characters we have grown so familiar with. The way each character got her own chapter giving us her unique perspective was very enjoyable.
Rating: -
I am a faithful reader of the Elm Creek Quilt books. While different from each other, I have enjoyed them all and look forward to each installment. I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a holiday themed book coming out this year and immediately picked it up.
The setting is the Friday after Thanksgiving which is the "official" kickoff to the quilting season. As is their tradition, the quilters gather at Elm Creek manor to share their holiday leftovers in a pitch-in meal and to work on quilting projects for Christmas. The book is a combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions so perfect to read close to Thanksgiving and will get the reader in the mood for Christmas and all its festivities.
For me, this was the perfect holiday book. It's 278 (small) pages since the book itself is small but it packs quite a lot in. Many holiday books are just way too light and fluffy for me or they go the other way and make fun of the season which I don't particularly like. This was wonderful! There is substantial "stuff" that happens in the novel with the Elm Creek Quilter's stories advancing or finding out about past experiences but there were also some life lessons learned by the quilters as the experience the two days immediately following Thanksgiving. Ms. Chiaverini continues to be one of my favorite authors due to her ability to bring the characters to life and make me care about them all, even the ones that have traits I find irritating.
If you are a fan of the series, please pick this up and snuggle in for a great read. If you haven't read any of them yet, it's strong enough to stand independently of the others, but I think you'll want to go back and catch up. I have recommended this series to several people, two of whom have taken me up on it and read them all -- and loved them too!
Festive holiday read -- highly recommended.
Rating:  -
Well, my heart sank when I picked up this much anticipated book up from the library and saw it's tiny size. I will say that I enjoyed it MUCH more than "The Quilter's Kitchen", which I considered a waste of paper, but after "The Lost Quilter", I was disappointed. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the premise of the Elm Creek Quilter's gathering after Thanksgiving for a quilting bee but I feel like so much more could have been done with their stories. Yes, I agree that things are getting a little redundant, but I love these characters so much I would not have minded if there had just been more to read. And there was not as much description about the quilting either. Rather than give us so many books in the series, I would much prefer if Chiaverini would take a deep breath and just work on a full length novel.
Rating: -
The Elm Creek quilters have come together for what has become a new tradition. They return to the Manor on the day after Thanksgiving to work on quilting projects for Christmas presents. (No Black Friday mall shopping for *them*.) A heavy snowstorm develops while they work, threatening to strand the non-residents along with the three couples who make the Manor their home.
Into the converted ballroom they converge: Sarah, Diane, Sylvia, Anna, Gretchen, and Gwen. Along with Agnes and Carol, the quilters work on their individual crafts. They may be sharing the same room; but each woman becomes lost in thought, as so often happens when focusing on creations with needle and thread. Each quilter is quietly dealing with a personal challenge or a real-life dilemma, often questioning her own emotions or judgment in the situation. Allowing us to delve into their lives gives these women depth as characters. The group dynamic that they project is quite different from who they are as individual personalities.
Ms. Chiaverini gives attention to the six main quilters by devoting a chapter to each one, offering the woman's own perspective on the events of the day and on her personal life. The concluding chapter offers some kind of resolution to each problem, as best as it can. These are women in various stages of life who find themselves in a variety of situations. At least one is apt to resound with the reader. While being able to witness what everyone is thinking is a treat, it seems a bit forced at times. How often does someone really think about her complete backstory in the course of one afternoon? Yet some of the information is new and interesting and helps to explain what their lives are like, away from the Manor and the Elm Creek quilt classes.
Fans of the series should of course appreciate any book that continues the story. Anyone who jumps into the fray at this point will wonder about some past events that are referenced but are not fully explained. Perhaps the most intriguing development has to do with Sylvia's favorite cousin, Elizabeth. I can't wait to learn the rest of the story on that topic.
Rating: -
I love Jennifer's writing, but this book is a bit redundant. It's kind of the same as many of her other books. Not as interesting as some of her earlier books. I love the more historical ones that focus on only a few characters. I will keep it, because I have all of her books. If I was not collecting her I would just pass it on to someone else. Probably not a re-read book.
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