Monday, July 27, 2009

I'm back..sort of..

Wow........ well after a week long journey and 3000 miles flown and sailed..I'm back. Seattle..gorgeous....Alaska...stunning. I have hundreds of pictures. Here are just a few. My favorite things were the Glaciers, the rain forests in Juneau that I didn't know existed and the colorful homes and totems of Ketchikan.

Here is a look at a Glacier...

and Ketchikan...the building in the picture houses it's only quilt shop. It was a wonderful quilt shop!
Near Ketchikan....
Victoria Island B.C. 's Empress Hotel....

Temperate Rainforest and Gardens in Juneau


And of course....desert from the ship LOL
It was a quilting cruise as well. I had a class with Margaret Miller who is known for her Angle Play. The class was a good learning experience about angles and design and really stepping up my quilting "game". In addition to that, I was encouraged to step up by Vikki Pignatelli who is know for Improvisational Quilting. Her ideas are just a tiny jumping off point. I could go crazy with her awesome ideas. I understand the process of improvisation and how to free my quilting mind...and embrace my creativity. It was a fabulous learning experience with Vikki. If you ever get the chance to learn from either teacher...DO it.


While we had quilt classes while we out to sea, we had shore time too. I visited the quilt shops in Sitka: Abby's Reflection


Ketchikan: Silver Thimble


and Victoria Island: Satin Moon

I purchased a few items...not that much as I had to get it home on the suit case right!! We met sooo many wonderful quilters. 2 of my favorites were R and J. Well J wasn't a quilter really. She was a companion to R and her sister. We shopped on shore together and ate dinner every night in the dining room together. We had a great time talking, eating and talking MORE. It was just refreshing. I really needed a break from kids, work, Internet and cell phones. And I did certainly have one. I am happy to see my girls today and get back to business as usual. I used my time away to not only sew, but read a couple of novels(small ones) and design some new projects.

Whew...that was a lot for one post.

Thanks for checking in on me!




13 comments:

Beth said...

I don't know what you are talking about -- it looks just like Ohio ;-)

Unknown said...

Welcome back!! Isn't Alaska just beautiful! I was at some of the same places you were. It was last year at about this time too. But I didn't do a quilting cruise. I would love to do this someday. Would you recommend it? Can't wait to see your new projects.

Dandelion Quilts said...

Beautiful pictures!! Sounds great.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Sounds wonderful - can't wait to read and see more!

libertythreads said...

Glad you are home safely and had a wonderful time!

Little Lady Patchwork said...

Alaska is one state that I really want to visit (but only in the summertime).

Can't wait to see more!

Sherri said...

Welcome back...those are some gorgeous pictures...sounds like a wonderful vacation for you!

Rebecca said...

Beautiful pictures! Looks like you had a wonderful time! I would certainly love to be in Alaska right now...it's way too hot here for me lol!

Anonymous said...

Never been there but it looks like a great place. Cruising is a great way to travel.

Unknown said...

I am glad you had a great time.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Wow that sounds like an aweesome trip! I would definitely love to go on something like that.

Carin said...

It looks so beautiful, I hope you had a blast.

Linda Stubbs said...

I was blog hopping tonight and came across your blog. I had been here before and saved it for another day. Here I am and I saw a picture of where I grew up.
Juneau, Alaska was my home for 21 years. I walked to the Mendenhall Glacier every Sat. morning with my sister, brother and friends. It is beautiful! I miss is so. Love can take you far away from your home.........
I homesteaded with my parents 48 acres. Had to sell my land, wish I still had it.
Blessings, and thank you for the wonderful memories that came back for a minute.
Linda
www.prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com