Quilting on the high seas!

Cruise best

You are warmly invited to join me on a quilters’ cruise extraordinaire!

You all know I love to travel. Besides quilting, traveling the world is one of my most favorite things to do in life. Kent and I are the perfect traveling buddies — and guides! He’s so ‘culture savvy’ no matter what country we visit, and I’ve got a built-in radar for finding fun places to scout out fabric. A match made in heaven if you ask me. We’d like to personally invite you to come join us for one (or both!) of two amazing, quilting cruise opportunities! We’ll be quilting on the high seas on a fabulous 7-night cruise to Alaska from August 29 – September 5, 2010, and a superb 10-night  Southern Caribbean cruise in February, 2011! (More information about the Caribbean cruise coming soon…)

I absolutely love to teach quilting classes on a cruise — there’s nothing like it anywhere! I adore my association with Faye Doyle and her amazing staff through Quilt Seminars at Sea; they are true professionals who really care and take good care of their customers. They pay attention to every detail. Many of the quilt cruisers are repeat guests who come back year after year because of their awesome experience with Faye. You’ll be pampered. You’ll have more fun than you can imagine. There is an abundance of laughter and creativity. The classes are outstanding; the instructors are terrific. You’ll learn tons of hot new quilting tips and techniques. And the fellowship and friendship is amazing! 

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“Mr. Kim”

And these cruises aren’t just for the quilters. Bring your husbands or significant others for some great male-bonding time. Trust me: Kent and the other pseudo-quilt widowers in the group will have a grand time finding all kinds of things to do while you are having the time of your life stitching and quilting! Check out these photos from our Mexican cruise in 2008.

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You’re also welcome to come by yourself; no problem! Don’t hold back because you’re timid or unsure about signing up as a single. There will be just as many unaccompanied quilters who join us and make friends on board with the other cruisers in the group. Faye will pair you with a roommate, if you like, or you can choose to have a cabin to yourself. But you’ll never have to be alone at lunch or dinner — Faye makes special arrangements with the cruise line so our group sits together and we have a wonderful time socializing at mealtimes!

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The cruisin’ mystery sleuths with the “Bien Viaje” mystery quilt

I’ve already planned my projects for the Alaska 2010 cruise. Check out my class descriptions and project photos:

“North to Alaska” Cruise Mystery Quilt

 Get ready to lift anchor and set sail on a fun-filled journey by making the OFFICIAL 2010 QUILT SEMINARS AT SEA ALASKA CRUISE MYSTERY QUILT!  Designed exclusively for this cruise, this stunning quilt is a beautiful combination of blocks which relate specifically to the locales we’ll visit during our ports of call. While the blocks themselves are not difficult to piece, you’ll love the secondary pattern which emerges when they are stitched together. The overall pattern is a perfect blend of northwestern delights; and you’ll learn fast and efficient techniques for perfect piecing en route. Whether you’re a mystery quilt veteran or you’ve never made a mystery quilt before, you’ll spend a fabulous day at sea having a great time, making many new friends, and creating a glorious memory quilt from your trip to Alaska!  You’ll want to hurry and sign up — this is always one of the most popular classes!

(Wish I could show you a photo, but then it wouldn’t be a mystery! …And y’all love to do KMQ’s, right?)

Wool Alaskan Totem Pole

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Spend a relaxing day at sea cutting and stitching bright, beautiful pieces of 100% felted wool while creating your own version of an Alaskan-inspired, wood totem pole. The high quality, luxurious wool is soft and drapes beautifully; is fun to work with, and is especially suited to the climate considering the chilly temperatures of the great northern frontier. Designed in the style of those ornately carved wooden artworks, your wool totem pole will feature images of a proud eagle, salmon, and brown bear; will be approximately 19” long, and can be used as a table rug or hung on the wall as a reminder of the proud heritage of the native American people and your cruise to Alaska. A complete kit of all the wool fabrics, pearl cotton, and a titanium needle needed to make this colorful totem pole will be available. This class is perfect for anyone who wants to relax, have fun, and enjoy the ease of stitching with wool!

Alaska Cruise Souvenir Wall Hanging

Alaskan souvenir quilt without embellishments

In this high-energy, no-stress class, you’ll create a uniquely personal, quilted keepsake of your cruise to Alaska! The first half of the day will be spent rotary cutting and piecing your 26” square quilt top. After lunch, you’ll have loads of fun personalizing and embellishing your souvenir quilt with stencils and Paint Stix! If you’ve never tried this fun and easy way to apply colorful, acrylic paints to your quilts, you’ll have a blast learning this easy technique. But this is only where the fun begins! At each port of call, you’ll have the opportunity to search for interesting items to add to your souvenir wall hanging, such as buttons, pins, charms, ticket stubs or even flattened pennies as a reminder of each destination. You’ll havefun sharing – and perhaps trading – pins and other collectibles with your fellow shipmates. The creative energy and ingenuity will flow as fellow ‘quilters-turned-souvenir-hunters’ become friends; as trinkets are gathered and friendships are forged. By the end of the cruise, your wall hanging will be a one-of-a-kind souvenir you can proudly display in your home to treasure your cruise memories for a lifetime!

Need another incentive to book your cruise? How about a very special gift from me!

Can I share a little secret with you? Well, I’d just love to show Faye that I’ve got lots of friends and fans out there who will sign up for either the Alaska or Southern Caribbean cruise just to take classes and hang out with me! So here’s the deal: If you write on your registration form that you signed up for a cruise because Mr. Kim and I are going to be there, I’ll present you with a special surprise at the welcome aboard cocktail party. But you must let the good folks at Quilt Seminars at Sea know before you board the ship! Faye will keep a list of all my special quilting buddies (should we call ourselves the K Club Members?) and I’ll have a special gift waiting just for you! Believe me — this surprise is really neat. And everyone who doesn’t get one will want one!

So, is anybody out there ready for a quilting cruise? Bring your mate, bring your friend, or bring yourself. But come! Drop me a line and let me know, even if you’re only thinking about going. No commitment is necessary right now, but I’d love to hear from you. And soon, who knows? We’ll all be sailing and quilting together having the time of our lives.  See YOU on the high seas!

Bon voyage — K

8 Comments
  1. Yahoo!!! I have talked to my sister (who also quilts but not as much as I do!) and I am going to talk to some quilting buddies too – and we are going to be on this cruise to Alaska with the K Club Members!!! Thanks for the special invitation and surprise gift!!! 🙂 Can’t wait!

  2. Kimberly,
    I am very interested in more information about the cruise to Alaska. I found your site yesterday and have already talked to a quilting friend of mine. When do we have to pay the deposit by in order to qualify for the surprise gift? How do we become a K Club Member?
    We are planning on going to the Des Moines Quilt show on Thur the 29th. Are you going to be their and do you know your booth number yet? We would like to meet you. Also, are you going to be giving a class at the quilt show?
    I guess I’m just full of questions ~ I can’t wait to go to Alaska!!!!!

  3. LynnEl — Oh my goodness, it is my greatest hope that you’ll come on this cruise with your sister — and hopefully a lot of friends! Honestly, we’ll just have THE BEST time with more stitching and giggling than seems legal on land! 🙂 LOL And since you’re a repeat cruiser….I think you’ll have to be the K Club Charter member president!

  4. Hi, Carolyn!
    I’m so happy you are thinking of coming with us on the Alaska cruise! We’re going to have such a great time, and I promise you’ll consider it one of you best trips EVER!
    Just contact Faye at http://www.quiltcruises.com and let her know you’d like to sign up for the cruise. Be sure to tell her you want to be part of Kimberly’s group (that’s me!) and you’ll automatically be part of the K Club once you’re on board. We’ll meet during the welcome cocktail reception to get things kicked off!
    Oh my goodness, I wish I was going to be at the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines this year but I have prior commitments. However, I’ll be teaching at the Des Moines Quilt Show next year — so be sure to make plans to go next year, too! In the meantime, let’s chat via the blog and email until we can meet in person. I can’t wait! 🙂

  5. Hi Kimberly,
    This is my first visit to your website. There are four of us signed up for this cruise and we are so looking forward to the mystery class with you! Three of us are quilters and the fourth is my husband Ken who is going along for the ride. I would certainly love to get a surprise from you and I’ m going to make sure my friends Mary and Patty visit your website! We are soooo looking forward to this cruise!!
    PS: I’m a member of AQS so I got their flyer advertising your new book, congratulations!
    Hugs,
    Pat

  6. Hi Pat — and welcome to my website and blog! I’m delighted to hear you and your friends have signed up for the cruise! Woo hoo — we’ll have a GREAT time! And tell your husband, Ken, that he’ll find he has a lot to do and much in common with the other husbands. My husband, Kent, will be there and they always manage to have fun while the girls are soaking up all the giggles and terrific color therapy!

    Drop me a line at my email address: moc.omnieylrebmiknull@ylrebmiK and send me the names of your girlfriends. I’m keeping track because I will have a special surprise for all the quilters who are part of the “K-Club” once we get on board!

    Can’t WAIT to meet you! In the meantime, let’s keep in touch and start the countdown until the cruise!

  7. Hi Kimberly,
    My friends and I are all taking your mystery quilt class on the Alaskan cruise. Our question is do we need to have your new Jelly Roll book or rulers for the trip? Also, I won’t be taking your Totem Pole class but would love to have the pattern, do you sell it separately? Last question, do you have Mary Wyly, Patty Tufts and myself signed up as members of your “K-Club”? I hope you don’t mind all our questions, 1st cruise jitters I guess!!! Sooooooooooo anxious!
    Hugs,
    Pat

    • No need for first cruise jitters — I’ll be in touch with you, Pat, via private email!

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