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The Winding Ways Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #12) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $24.00
Buy New: $12.24
You Save: $11.76 (49%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 11291
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 1416533141
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781416533146
ASIN: 1416533141
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
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Product Description
Jennifer Chiaverini's bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series continues with The Winding Ways Quilt, in which the arrival of newcomers into the circle of quilters heralds unexpected journeys down pathways near and far. Quilters have flocked to Elm Creek Manor to learn from Master Quilter Sylvia Compson and her expert colleagues. There's Sarah, Sylvia's onetime apprentice who's paired her quilting accomplishments with a mind for running the business of Elm Creek Quilts; Agnes, who has a gift for applique; Gwen, who stitches innovative art quilts; Diane, a whiz at the technicalities of quick-piecing; and Bonnie, with her encyclopedic knowledge of folk art patterns. But with Judy and Summer, two other founding members of the Elm Creek Quilters, departing to pursue other opportunities, will the new teachers be able to fill in the gaps created by the loss of their expertise -- and more important, their friendship? "When I think of all the different paths I could have followed in my life, all the twists and turns that could have led me anywhere," muses incoming teacher Gretchen, "it's something of a miracle that I ended up here, surrounded by loving friends." But what of friends departed? As Sylvia contemplates a tribute to the partnership of the Elm Creek Quilters, she is reminded of a traditional quilt pattern whose curved pieces symbolize a journey. Winding Ways, a mosaic of overlapping circles and intertwining curves, would capture the spirit of their friendship at the moment of its transformation. Will Sylvia's choice inspire the founding members to remember that each is a unique part of a magnificent whole? Will the newcomers find ways to contribute, and to earn their place? The Winding Ways Quilt considers the complicated, often hidden meanings of presence and absence, and what change can mean for those who have come to rely upon one another.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Too much of one thing August 8, 2008
After reading most of the other Elm Creek Novels and most recently the Winding Ways Quilt, I find Chiaverini very "one note". Perhaps she is interjecting too much of her own life/experiences into her characters, but have you noticed that they're pretty much the same character? All of the main characters were taught by an older female, either a relative or a close friend. None of them are self-taught. Many of them did NOT get along with their mothers. All of the characters have a high level of perfection in their quilts. No chopped off points for anyone! The older characters experienced a lot of discouragement at some time in their quilting life and even a bit of discrimination. The character of Gwen, the professor of American Studies at a liberal-arts college, is actually discouraged from studying quilt history! I'm sorry, but that one is entirely unbelievable. Women's studies, which quilt history certainly falls under, is hot hot hot AND has been since the seventies. So to have a character, who is a full professor and is tenured being steered away from a project is just Crap. I also find it interesting that all of the characters eat, breathe and compare their lives to quilts. The Winding Ways quilt just shows that Jennifer Chiaverini learned to quilt from an older female, hated her mother, is an uber-perfectionist with a persectution complex for being highly educated and a quilter (apparently the two can't exist in the same person without being ridiculed by other educated peers). If she throws in someone who likes their mom, is okay with not using a MA on a daily basis and learned to quilt on-line, I might read more Elm Creek novels, but I doubt Chiaverini has the ability to write about someone who isn't herself.
 Good Read But.... August 2, 2008
This book is basically good, but Chiaverini who is very talented at telling a good yarn is continuing to go into bad waters. What started out as quirky likeable characters are quickly developing into a pack of self-righteous, pompus old bitties.
Bonnie's story is rewritten in this book to the point where it's unrecognizable. In previous books it is Bonnie's lack of attention because she is too busy at her quilt shop that causes her husband to begin an online flirtation. It is a big box store (in the Wal-Mart mode) that sells quilting supplies which ruins Bonnie's business, but in this book Bonnie's husband Craig is made out as evil. Really Craig said since Bonnie's shop is losing money, she should close it. Bonnie refuses and suggest Craig help out. Well a business that loses money closes or it is really hobby. The shop was doomed anyway so the vandals didn't destroy it. But the story is completely rewritten here to make it sound like Craig and the kids who wrecked her shop destroyed a promising thriving business. This is a BAD error.
When Chiaverini writes about Sylvia, Sarah, Diane or other characters who are flawed, she shines, but most of these ladies are so pompus and full of themselves you ROOT for them to lose. I wish Chiaverini would write the next book where Andrew is discoverd a liar and Sylvia would have to cope with her loving a man that who's one lie destroyed everything.
But Chiaverini keeps writing things in a "Polyanna" mode which makes the books predictable. Chiaverini also is not realistic enough with her quilters. Gwen is written as a character that runs off in her late teens/early twenties with no thoughts to her parents. Yet when her father merely questions Gwen's arrival back Chiaverini starts in an anti-male tirade. Gwen insists women who make quilts have stories. Unfortunately like most things in life, most stories aren't worth being told, much less researched.
Chiaverini makes the mistake of insisting every story is important when we all know virtually no story earth shattering.
Again Chiaverini is so talented at telling stories she needs to tone down this crusade and self-righteousness of her character. When characters like Sarah who have good and bad, (She's good, but unreasonable with her husband and her mother) she is VERY interesting. Sylvia is interesting, especially in the first books when she's very opinionated.
All in all a good read due to Chiaverini good ability to tell stories.
Note: Jennifer Chiaverini make your next book a story about Mae the lady who was on the train in your last story "A Quilter's Homecoming." THAT was a very interesting character
A Good Read July 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read most of the books in the Elm Creek Quilts series, and they have all been good and The Winding Ways Quilt is no exception. Jennifer Chiaverini has a way of captivating the reader. At times, the book was hard to put down. I loved it and gave it to my neighbor to enjoy.
One of her best! July 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Elm Creek Quilt Series is by far one of the best I have read. Jennifer Chiaverini is a gifted story teller. If your a quilter, do not miss this series. Jennifer captures the essence of friendship with the added benefit of quilting. Start with the beginning and read them all, you won't be disappointed!
A great continuation! June 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Finally we are back at Elm Creek Manor! In "The Winding Ways Quilt", the 12th of the Elm Creek Quilts series, Mrs. Chiaverini picks up the story line where she left it in her 9th novel, "The Circle of Quilters". We get new glimpses of the lives and the past of the characters we know and love from the previous books. We learn how they discovered the art of quilting and how it became such an important part of their lives.
"The Winding Ways Quilt" is a story about change - occurrences in women's lives, how those changes affect their life paths and how they come to accept those changes; the winding ways of life. It is a story of how these women found comfort and togethernes through quilting; about strengthening old friendships, and creating bonds of new friendships.
If you enjoyed the previous Elm Creek quilts novels, this book is a must-read! But I wouldn't recommend this as your first meeting with the world of Elm Creek, but if you have read at least "Round Robin" and "The Circle of Quilters" - and I strongly suggest you do!!! - you are going to LOVE this book! Enjoy reading!
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