The Quilter's Apprentice (Elm Creek Quilts Series #1)

The Quilter's Apprentice (Elm Creek Quilts Series #1)
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Amazon.com
Edition: Hardcover
Price: $12.24

Coming Home, September 8, 2008

The Quilter's Apprentice

Sarah and Matt McClure are a cute, young couple, who have just moved to a small college town in PA. Matt has a new job working as a Landscape Architect on an old estate. The owner, Sylvia Compson is planning to fix up Elm Creek estate, in order to sell it. She has been away for many years and can't stand to see her childhood home is disrepair.

The first day, Matt takes Sarah along for the ride, since she is still unemployed. Sarah asks for a glass of water, and Sylvia tells her to get it herself. She finds Mrs. Compson very abrasive. While Sylvia Compson is showing Matt around the estate, Sarah finds herself snooping around the house. She discovers a beautiful handmade quilt in the sitting room. When Sylvia finds her snooping she is even more distasteful to Sarah.

Since Sarah doesn't have a job, Sylvia asks her to work for her. She needs help cleaning out the rooms upstairs. Sarah, who is a CPA, reluctantly takes the job, but, instead of pay, she asks for quilting lessons. As Sarah and Sylvia quilt, Sylvia tells Sarah the tales of her youth. The women, although they got off to a rocky start, become fast friends.

Sarah makes friends with other quilters at Grandma's Attic, fabric shop, and helps to re-unite Sylvia with her old friends, with whom she has had a falling out, in years past.

I loved the friendships formed in this book. I also loved the history of Sylvia's family, and the quilt history woven in.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood
author: Through the Rug
Through The Rug 2: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)
Stowaway, The San Francisco Adventures of Sara, the Pineapple Cat