Twelve Golden Threads: Lessons for Successful Living from Grandma's Quilt

by Aliske Webb

From her nursing home, a grandmother teaches her two granddaughters how to quilt under the compassionate and watchful eye of their narrating mother.
Jennifer has just graduated from college with a business degree and intends to be a millionaire by the age of thirty. Her younger, shyer sister, Susan, is studying to be a teacher. When Susan asks, "Grama, could you teach me to make a quilt?" she starts these four women on a journey - a passing of values and wisdom from one generation to the next.
For Jennifer and Susan, Grama's simple lessons in the art of quilting becomes a profound metaphor for stitching together the fabric of their lives. As these young women learn twelve crucial lessons in quilt making, they discover how to create their own destiny by combining quality work, perseverance, and the right amount of vibrant color.
As in life, in the ninth month comes Jennifer's and Susan's quilts are completed, but so is Grama's journey. One thing remains to be the unique quilt Grama has been making as a surprise present for their mother. When they discover all the gifts - both material and spiritual - that Grama left behind, they find her ultimate legacy, the Golden Do everything with love.

Genres: Self Help

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Alli Spry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preachy lessons for life narrated from a judgmental learn from me perspective. Quilting guidance is intertwined with women’s roles, shortcomings, individual strengths and common goals.

[Dianne Kaucharik · Rating 2 out of 5]

The twelve step advice for personal growth and life success, as outlined in this novel, are sound. However, I am confused on the target audience. Young adults seeking guidance on a life plan? Those in business?

As a quilter, I found the quilting references endearing but the fictional story that served as a backdrop for the twelve steps, and particularly the dialogue, were corny. The ending was absolutely predictable.

[ML Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the point of this book is relevant (secrets to success), the voice of the book is sophomoric. Overall you are left with the impression that you’ve been patted on the head and expected to say thank you like the good little child you were meant to be. At the end the author said all the books she’s read on these topics were by men for men using war as a theme. This did not come across as a book for women, but a book for teen girls. Young teen girls.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very touching and inspirational story. i will definitely remember and carry the lessons taught throughout my life, it’s one of the very few books that will influence my life for the better moving forward. i will be encouraging anyone i come close too, to read it :) i loved it!

[Becky "Blueskies" Chabot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and inspirational book. I definitely recommend it!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that touches your heart. This is my third time reading this, and I will read it again down the line.

[Joann]

Good daily living concepts mixed in a family quilt story and tears even as a 2nd time read.

[Wini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read and meaningful. The details are so vivid that is like I m sewing the quilt too.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will recommend this to my mother

[Caroline Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! Great spin on a personal development book! I started quilting over 2 years and loved the connections. Such a sweet ending as well.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on your background and stage in life, you may enjoy it as a pure fiction book or as a tongue-in-cheek self-help book bringing clarity to some of the common buzz words used in many management books.

The book sets out twelve lessons for how to create a successful and fulfilling life, using quilting as a metaphor.

The twelve golden threads are:

Make a commitment
Set a goal
Plan your work and work your plan
Always do quality work
Take responsibility and be response-able
Make learning a lifelong habit
Cooperate
Contribute and make a difference
Persevere through the though times
Communicate effectively
Live with integrity
Celebrate life
There is also a golden needle, which you'll find out if you read the book.

The book is FULL of great little life lessons, memorable sayings and intriguing ideas for how you can make your life more meaningful to others as well as to yourselves.

Other books by Aliske Webb include Murder at the Quilt Show, Scrap Quilt Memories: A Heroine’s Journey, The Phoenix Quilt and The Fragile Thread. Each book has a different theme and message.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that my grandma, who is the retired librarian, gave me. It’s not autographed so I’m not sure what prompted her to get this one for me except for the fact that two of my great grandmas quilted and I have always said I would learn to quilt like them one day. She also knows how much I treasure any of the quilts that those two great grandmas made.

Not sure I would have read this book if it had not been for the fact that it had something to do with quilt. While reading it, I kept thinking, “wow, I wish I had this book back when I was in junior high or the early yeas of high school.” I can see this book being suggested to a young lady (hopefully before her junior year in high school) that is interested in sewing or quilting.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too quickly got into lecturing/preachy, or making the points the author was trying to make. Not enough time/place setting or character development. I think you can still describe the personalities of non-fiction characters to illustrate why they may have needed to learn the lessons; and maybe also about the process each goes through personally while they "digest" those lessons within themselves and how they relate to their own lives. I don't like being hit over the head with the lessons, though they are good ones.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I loved the concept of this "story", I also found it torture to read. Any time there was any dialogue we had psycho-babble vomit spewed at us. Every character had the same voice of a therapist, forcing the author's dogma down our throats. While I wholeheartedly support the ideas of values and integrity, the way it was presented left a bad taste in my mouth. I still really enjoyed the story between the lecturing.

[Jessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kinda cheesy.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A grandmother in a nursing home decides to teach her grandaugthers how to quilt. She teaches them some good life lessons along the way.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting points of life given throughout this quick read. Well worth it and though written more for the prospective of women the points can be used by both men and women.

[Kimsamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-crafted story addressing valuable life lessons in a nice way....enjoyed the generational anecdotes and character development.