Well, I thought for sure I was going to be blogging the Alaska cruise with Eleanor Burns and friends, but we were so busy with so many things to do, I am only now recaping our fun event!
First, let me say, Eleanor, Sue, Cindi and the entire staff at Quilt in a Day were great and so easy to work with. It was such a pleasure to be with them again.
Second, the group of quilters we traveled with were a lot of fun and certainly know how to have a good time. From attending a high tea wearing purple boas, to chocolate chip cookies on demand, we really experienced a lot of fun things.
Our fifty quilters were nestled in a classroom, in front of brand new Baby Lock sewing machines (Baby Lock………for the love!) Inside joke!
The project Eleanor created for this cruise was really wonderful. It was relaxing, yet challenging at the same time, and allowed all our participants an opportunity to sew at their own pace. Everyone was great in class.
Sew Many Places offered the group some special gifts throughout the week, from Chocolate covered strawberries to a commemorative coffee mug, special totebag and even a little furry Alaska bear. There were gifts galore. Not to mention the great things that Quilt in a Day provided to everyone.
The USO show that we performed in the theater was fun, and yes, I was even in the show as the buggle boy of company B! The group enjoyed the slide show so much, we had to keep starting over and repeat it about six times! Another inside joke!
From the beautiful glaciers, small gold mining towns, shopping at fabric shops in every port of call, we had the time of our lives!
Eleanor was gracious and generous to everyone. When I work with celebrities, it has been my experience that they don’t all make themselves so available to the quilters the entire time, but Eleanor was a real gem the entire week, and everyone had an opportunity for photographs, autographs and to learn from one of our industries real “grand dames.”
We are going to Germany/Austria/Bavaria next year with Eleanor, so if you would like to travel with her, be sure you sign up on that tour before we have to start a waiting list! There are about 20 spaces left and that is all.
Next year, Sew Many Places will be back in Alaska with Rita Fishel in September and Pat Sloan in May. Be sure to sign up for one of those cruises if you would like to quilt among the glaciers!
Thanks to all who participated in our cruise this past week! It was a blast!
Jim
