Jennifer Chiaverini - The Lost Quilter

The Quilters Kitchen

The Winding Ways Quilt

The New Years Quilt

The Quilters Homecoming

Circle of Quilters

The Christmas Quilt

The Sugar Camp Quilt

The Master Quilter

The Quilters Legacy

The Runaway Quilt

The Cross-Country Quilters

Round Robin

The Quilters Apprentice

Elm Creek Quilts:
Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels

Return to Elm Creek:
More Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels

More Elm Creek Quilts:
Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels

Sylvias Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts:
The True Story Behind the Quilt

Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2009 by Jennifer Chiaverini

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address
Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

S IMON & S CHUSTER and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com .

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chiaverini, Jennifer.
The lost quilter: an Elm Creek quilts novel / Jennifer Chiaverini.
p. cm.
1. Compson, Sylvia (Fictitious character)Fiction. 2. QuiltingFiction. 3. QuiltmakersFiction. 4. QuiltsFiction. 5. GenealogyFiction. 6. Domestic fiction. I. Title.
PS3553.H473L67 2008
813'.54dc22
2008025098

ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-5854-8
ISBN-10: 1-4391-5854-1

Visit us on the World Wide Web:
http://www.SimonSays.com

To my husband, Marty
Forever my beloved

Many thanks to Denise Roy, Maria Massie, Rebecca Davis, Dina Siljkovic, Aileen Boyle, Kate Ankofski, Mara Lurie, Melanie Parks, and David Rosenthal for their contributions to The Lost Quilter and their support for the Elm Creek Quilts series through the years.

Hugs and thanks to Tara Shaughnessy, the worlds best nanny, who plays with my sons so I have time to write.

I am indebted to the Wisconsin Historical Society as well as their librarians and student workers who provided excellent resources for this book. I am also grateful to Geneva Keating of the Historic Charleston Foundation and to Gretchen Smith of the Edisto Island Museum for their invaluable help with my many questions about life in Charleston and Edisto Island during Joannas day. I am especially thankful to Ann Craigmile for her thorough reading of the manuscript and insightful comments.

Thank you to the friends and family who have supported and encouraged me from the beginning, especially Geraldine Neidenbach, Heather Neidenbach, Nic Neidenbach, Virginia Riechman, and Leonard and Marlene Chiaverini. Thanks also to my teammates from Homeland Insecurity, Just For Kicks, and Oh-Thirty for providing me with awesome workouts, great camaraderie, patient coaching, essential stress relief, and only one broken bone during the writing of this book.

Most of all, I thank my wonderful husband, Marty, for showing me what true love means every day, and my sons, Nicholas and Michael, for filling my life with laughter and joy.

O n a clear, brisk October morning, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson descended the stone staircase from the veranda of Elm Creek Manor and set out for the barn, where the estates caretaker awaited her. High above, an arrowhead of Canada geese crossed the cloudless sky and disappeared behind the gold and scarlet forest encircling the estate, their fading sentinel cries warning of winters approach. A gust of wind carried the scent of wood smoke from a distant fire.

Sylvia smiled and tucked her hands into the pockets of her navy wool cardigan, her sturdy shoes crunching dried leaves that had fallen upon the rear parking lot, empty except for the Elm Creek Quilts minivan and the red pickup belonging to Sarah and Matt McClure, two of the manors few permanent residents. Curiosity had compelled Sylvia out of doors that morning, as the note Matt had left on the kitchen counter had not explained why he wanted her to meet him in the barn. It didnt matter. Sylvia was glad for any excuse to wander that way and enjoy the estates glorious autumn beauty before winter took hold.

She crossed the bridge over Elm Creek and followed the gravel road to the two-story red barn that her great-grandfather, Hans Bergstrom, had built into the side of the hill shortly after founding Elm Creek Farm in the late 1850s. Since then the barn had served as a shelter for farm animals, a garage, a plant nursery and toolshed, and more recently, as a woodshop for one of the manors newest arrivals, Joe Hartley, the husband of Elm Creek Quilt Camps newest teacher. A former steelworker forced onto disability decades earlier by a devastating injury at the mill, Joe had made quite a name for himself in the furniture restoration and carpentry business both in Ambridge, his hometown on the Ohio River, and throughout Pennsylvania. When his wife Gretchens new job brought the couple to Elm Creek Manor, Sylvia had been pleased to offer Joe the empty half of her great-grandfathers barn for his flourishing business.

In Sylvias opinion, her generosity had already proven to be as rewarding for her as it was for Joe. Within days of his arrival, Joe had begun searching the manors cluttered attic for long-forgotten antiqueschairs with broken spindles, bureaus with drawers that stuckheirlooms that when they were no longer usable were moved into storage because they were too beloved to be discarded. Joes careful ministrations had already restored her great-aunt Lydias bureau and her grandmothers favorite rocking chair to perfect condition. Sylvia, who had found the task of clearing the attic of clutter too daunting, often thought that in hiring Gretchen as a teacher and offering her and her husband accommodations within the manor, Elm Creek Quilts had gained not one new staff member but two.

As she approached the barn, Sylvia recognized voices withinMatt, the estates caretaker; his wife, Sarah, Sylvias dear young friend and cofounder of Elm Creek Quilts; and Joe himself, probably hard at work on another newly discovered heirloom from the attic. Entering through the large double doors, Sylvia discovered her friends in Joes woodshop examining an antique desk that had evidently been well used by its original owner.

This is why you summoned me from my warm house on this chilly autumn morning? Sylvia inquired. I expected nothing less than a treasure chest stuffed full of the long-lost Bergstrom jewels.

From kneeling to examine the bottom of the desk Matt sat up so quickly that he grazed his head on a drawer. There are lost Bergstrom jewels? he asked, rubbing his forehead and wincing.

Shes kidding, honey, Sarah said, patting his shoulder, then placing a hand on her tummy and gazing heavenward as if praying that the twins she carried would have more astute senses of humor than their father.

To me, the desk itself is the treasure, said Joe. This is solid cherry, quarter-hewn, and look at the detailing on the side panels. Its a bit scuffed and scratched, but I can take care of that, no problem.