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As many of you may know, life was very much on the go with me this summer. I’ll try and catch you up on things and attempt to keep you filled in on a more regular basis now that I’ve added a blog to the website.
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In late June I had the privilege again of sailing to Alaska with Quilt Camp at Sea. Designing and teaching another cruise memory photo quilt was a lot of fun. The ladies in my class were so enjoyable. It was a relaxed class with more handwork that machine sewing so we were able to visit quite a bit. Although I’ve been to Alaska’s Inside Passage before, there’s always something new to see and the glacier is always breathtaking. I braved a new shore excursion this time and went zip-lining! I was quite relieved to realize that we didn’t have to just hang on for dear life, but were harnessed in. I was afraid to go for fear I’d drop to the forest floor never to be seen again! It was a blast!
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One week after I got home from Alaska I left for South Africa. My sister, Alison and friend Angie and I went on safari for three days in Kruger Park. It was absolutely amazing how many animals we saw and photographed. From there we crossed the border into Mozambique and spent three weeks at an orphanage called Zimpeto that was started by Iris Ministries. I taught the girls there how to quilt. They were anywhere from 10 years old to 27 years old. It was a very rich and rewarding experience! I was blessed as much or more than they were. They were so eager to learn and did very well. My hope is that learning to quilt will give them a life skill to hopefully earn money from. I grew close to these girls in the time I was there and want to go back and teach them some more. I am currently raising money to return either this summer or next. I’ve just finished a raffle quilt with a safari theme to also raise money to go. Anyone interested in tickets? View the African Project page to purchase.
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Once home from Africa I left 4 days later to join Quilt Camp at Sea on a New England cruise, although this time I was more of a student than teacher. It was fun to experience taking rather than teaching the classes. My dinner tablemates were a highlight of the trip for me! Pat Buckley Moss and her daughter, Mary were so much fun. They went on numerous excursions and filled us in everyday. Then there was Laurette Koserowski, the most soft spoken person I’ve ever met! Funny thing is, she was the one with the funniest stories and misadventures EVERY DAY! Even the day we didn’t go ashore, she had a story for us. And of course, my good friend Jackie Wolff was always fun to hang out with. Pat and Len Tobin really outdid themselves on this cruise with oodles of prizes and fun gatherings for the quilt group too.
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It took several weeks to reorient myself to regular life, but I’m back to stay now for awhile. Yesterday, October 31st, was Jackie Wolff’s 25th anniversary of owning The Quilting Bee in Spokane, WA. We had a great time celebrating with friends in the community. There was a drawing at 25 minutes past every hour and hidden bees that could be turned in for prizes. People came in costumes, brought items for the food bank and wore overalls (Jackie’s signature outfit) all to receive extra discounts in the store. Monstrous Cupcakes from Costco were served by the dozens. Tons of items were on sale and a “Blast from the past” line of fabric “Hello Betty” was sold at prices from 25 years ago, $4.99 yard. All in all it was a fun celebration. Happy 25th Anniversary Jackie!
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