For those of you who don’t quilt and for those of you who do but have never been on a quilting cruise I think I need to do some explaining. Today some girls at the gym ask me lots of questions when I told them where I had been for the past ten days. I realized not everyone knows what we are doing when we quilt on a cruise. So, let me explain. There are normal people on the cruise and then there are the quilters. There were about 110 of us. Five of the 110 were the quilting teachers. Me being one of them. One classroom was set up with sewing machines provided by the quilt shop that came on board, Quiltworks Northwest. The other four classroom areas were for the hand sewers. One of the other teachers was Mary Sorensen http://www.maryappliques.com/home.htm. I’ve know Mary for a long time and have been an admirer of her work for just as long. Mary also teaches hand applique as do I but we approach it very differently so students taking classes from both of us will learn different ways to get the same result. This is one of the many things that makes quilting so interesting. A lot of quilters applique but we all have our own way of doing it. I think anyone who wants to learn applique or improve their techniques should take as many classes from as many different instructors as they can afford. You will usually learn one or more things from each teacher that works well for you. And that’s the goal. Find what works best for you. Another teacher on this cruise was Karen Combs http://www.karencombs.com. I don’t know Karen well but I have known her quilts for a long time. I see Karen’s specialty as being able to take fabric and create a look of depth and dimension on a flat surface. Mostly I know Karen as a piecer rather than an appliquer. Check out her gallery on her website to see her style of work if you are unfamiliar with it. Janet Jones Worley was also teaching on this cruise. I’ve know Janet for several years because we have both worked with Bernina and our paths have crossed at some Bernina seminars. Before I knew anything about Janet’s quilts I knew her as a southerner (she has a little bit of an accent) who can make you smile and make you laugh. http://www.janetjonesworley.com It brings a smile to my face whenever I think of her. So I think taking a class from her would be a fun day. And last but not least teaching was Barbara Randall. http://www.randledesigns.com I had also met Barbara at a Bernina function but was not familiar with her work. She taught some fun classes on the cruise. One was called “Crazy Quilt Wall Hanging”. Another one was called “Crazy Quilted Purse” and every one of her students made a small purse by the end of the day. It was finished with handles and everything.
I want to backup and say that this whole trip started with Group Seminars at Sea www.quiltcruises.com. They started advertising several years prior to this trip and have worked with Holland America for many years on this and other cruises to provide an organized and enjoyable experience for the quilters. Kim and Amy were are fearless leaders on this adventure. This is Kim and Amy during one of our evening meals in the dining room.
Now about the cruise. For the most part there is no way to tell the quilters on the ship from the normal people. We look just like they do. Day one the ship stopped at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This area is just a beach area owned by Holland America. Now I say just a beach area but what I mean is that at most stops there is shopping, tours and more to do. This stop is just a beach. Some people went to the beach and some stayed on the ship and lounged by the pool. It was a very relaxing day for everyone.
Now, day two was down to work for the quilters. It is what is referred to as “a day at sea”. That means the ship will not be stopping this day. The ship is on it’s way to our next destination. So that makes this an excellent day for a quilting class. Three of the classes were held in the dining area since the dining room is only used in the evenings. For hand sewing it is nice as you sit by the window sewing while the blue waters of the Caribbean gently roll past the window. Oh, what a life.
On each of the class days we sew from 3 hours in the morning, take a 1 1/2 hour lunch break and then sew for 3 hours in the afternoon.
One thing is for sure. There is no lack of food or food choices on a cruise and Holland America is no exception. The food was excellent. One thing that made some people who are trying to keep their sugar intake low is that each night on the menu they offered a sugar free desert and you know what? They were excellent. Oh, another thing for those of us who like to exercise to get rid of some of those extra calories, the gym has plenty of cardio and weight training equipment and the Promenade deck is a great area for outside walking. I put them to good use. Many of you who know me know that I am an avid exerciser. Quilting and exercise do mix. Because I sit so much to quilt the time I spend in the gym is worth every minute.
My next installment will be about the five stops we made in St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten including the butterfly farm. So, stay tuned.