Product Review - Roll the Gold

I often prepare kits for students in my workshops and this means my rotary cutter gets A LOT OF USE!

I spent last August preparing kits for the students on my Alaska Quilting Cruise. I precut fabrics for the lap quilt they would make so they could start piecing right away. Who wants to spend time in class doing all that cutting when you really want to get to the good stuff!

My rotary cutter blade sure got a workout!  I was given a package of Roll the Gold! blades for my 45mm rotary cutter. These are titanium nitride coated steel. I used these blades for all my cutting. Without doing a scientific test I can't confirm that these last longer than my normal Olfa blades but I did think they lasted slightly longer for me. 

So next time you are in the market for new blades give these a try and let me know if you find they last longer for you.  PS - when was the last time you changed your blade?  You will be amazed at how much easier cutting is with a new one! 



This is the quilt we made on the cruise.

I have published my design as a pattern called Star Gazer. It includes 3 sizes: lap, queen and bedrunner.

 Ask for the pattern at your local quilt shop. If they don't stock this pattern ask them to contact me for ordering information. 

Or you can order the pattern at the Patchworks Studio store.

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Today's Studio Spotlight is.............

Kenzie Mac & Co.

Click over to their blog to see the Studio!

Flowers on Friday

Here is another wonderful arrangement on Holland America's Zuiderdam.

Photo taken during my Alaska Quilt Cruise.

Alaska Quilt Cruise - Part 2

The second stop on our Alaska Quilting Cruise was Skagway. Several of the quilters enjoyed excursions, including the White Pass Railway.  My husband and I enjoyed the train trip the first time we were in Skagway so wandered around the town instead. We found these amazing dahlias as we walked to the library to get a WIFI signal to check our email.

The next day was 'Glacier Bay Day' - what so many people come on a cruise to Alaska to see. The weather was slightly overcast, perfect for pictures.  We spent most of the day out on the deck. Some of the students were in the classroom at one point so we gathered on the deck with my Memories of a Glacier quilt for a photo op.

That evening we had our group Cocktail Party - and birthday celebration for the gals who had birthdays during our cruise. Isn't this a lovely cake they made for us!

Our final port in Alaska was Ketchikan. I raced to The Silver Thimble Quilt shop with my friend Peggy and then Alan and I were off for a CRAB-STRAVAGANZA!  I thought we would just get a small taste of crab...but it was amazing. First we went out on the boat to pull up a crab pot and learn about them. Then back to the Lodge for our meal. They just kept bringing crab as fast as we could eat it.  We didn't need dinner on the ship that night!

One more report to do - our final class and the trip home to Vancouver. I'll post that next week.

Flowers on Friday

Here is another arrangement from Holland America's Zuiderdam, taken while on my 

Alaska Quilt Cruise in September.

Alaska - Part 1

I came home from the cruise with a box of fabric waiting for me!  So, no time to write a report about our trip. The fabrics have been turned into quilts so I can finally sit down and write about the trip and enjoy looking at the pictures we took.

I met the students travelling from Vancouver Island at the Victoria bus depot and we boarded the bus with 14 sewing machines (THANKS Sawyer Sewing Center).  The bus took us onto the ferry, and directly to Canada Place in Vancouver. What a great way to travel! First on the ferry and first off, I didn't have to navigate, my husband didn't have to drive and our bus driver was lots of fun.




The embarkation process was simple - our suitcases and the sewing machines were wisked away as we arrived and we soon settled in to our stateroom. This is the view from our balcony looking at Canada Place. I love this image that invited visitors to Explore Canada. The images show the wonderful diversity of animals, birds and the things that make us Canadian.

Our home for the week was Holland America's Zuiderdam - one of those 'dam' ships!  This is the same ship as my Caribbean quilting cruise several years ago so I was in very familiar territory.

We were up bright and early the first morning to set up the sewing machines and get our room ready for the students. Peggy F. and my husband did a great job getting the machines set up while I arranged the kits and welcomed everyone when they arrived. Soon the machines were humming and there was a whole lot of 'quiltin' going on'!

Our first port of call was Juneau. They get 44 days of sunshine each year - and WE HAD ONE OF THEM!  My husband and I joined a tour to the Mindenhall Glacier where we had a chance to walk around the area and enjoy the great day.

Then a quick visit to Changing Tides quilt shop where I bought Cindy Shake's Berry Button Ravens! pattern. This is will be a wonderful remembrance of the trip. I also found earrings to replace the ones I lost on a teaching trip.  I had bought the original ones on the last quilting cruise to Alaska and had forgotten where I bought them. As soon as I walked in the door I knew they had come from Changing Tides and they still had a selection for me to choose from.

I'll post a few more pictures from the rest of the trip soon.

Alaska Quilt Cruise - September 6-13

Preparations are well in hand for my upcoming Quilting Cruise to Alaska. Kits for the lap quilt we will make are almost complete. Here are the packages all cut and ready for sewing.
 

Kits for Give & Take Applique - Design Discoveries are next on my preparation schedule.

I can't wait to meet everyone and see all that Alaska has to offer.

Special Event - Alaska Quilt Cruise

Special Event - Alaska Quilt Cruise 

I know many of you are not located here in the Victoria area but I wanted to tell local quilting friends about a Cruise Information Wine and Cheese event scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2014. 

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Join me and Wendy Townsend (our cruise coordinator) for a wine and cheese event at Athlone Travel. You will be able to ask any questions you have about our cruise scheduled for September 6, 2014.  You will be able to meet some of your fellow 'cruising quilters' at this session too.  

I will bring the lap quilt that you will make in one of the classes and I will talk about the Give & Take Applique Design Discoveries workshop too. I hope to bring a slide show of photographs from my previous Alaska Quilt Cruises and talk about the great memories and friendships you will make.

 

The details:

Date/Time:        Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 6:00 pm

Place:                Athlone Travel, 104-2187 Oak Bay Avenue,

                          Victoria, BC

Please RSVP to 250-598-5252

All Athlone staff can add you to the attendee list.

Hope to see you next Thursday!

What I've been working on........

I finished making the top for the lap quilt I will be teaching on my Alaska Quilt Cruise in September. I'm so pleased with the fabrics and colour gradations for this design.  I am using Northcott's Artisan Spirit Shimmer fabrics.

Next step is to decide how to quilt it.  I have a few ideas mulling around and will print the picture and test a few designs to see how they look.  I want it to be something that enhances the design and isn't 'over the top' difficult to do. 

I'd love to have your input.  How would YOU quilt this quilt?

If you would like to join me on this great cruise aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam, follow the link for more information.

If you have questions about this cruise, drop me a note!

Flowers on Friday

Purple Trumpet

This doesn't appear to be a hibiscus - I'm not exactly sure what this flower is.

 

Photo taken while on my Caribbean Cruise, January 2012.

Speaking of Cruises - why not consider joining me on my Alaska Quilt Cruise in September.


We depart Vancouver, BC on September 6 and return to Vancouver on September 13.  We will cruise the Inside Passage and visit Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. We will have the quilting classes on our 'at sea' days so you don't miss a thing!

I have done this trip 2 times before and I know you'll have a great time.

Glacier Bay, Holland America Cruise, 2010

More details including booking information are here.

 

Leave a comment if you have any questions about the cruise -
or if you can tell me what this flower is!

 

Alaska Cruise - Early Booking Bonuses and Classes

Just wanted to remind you that the
Early Booking Bonuses** expire this Friday, November 15th. 

If you are considering joining me on my 7-day
 Quilters Alaska Cruise why not take advantage of these special offers before it is too late.

**Receive a FREE Signature Beverage Package and 2 Specialty Restaurant Dinners.

 (See below for the projects we will make on our 'at sea' days.)

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Cruise details:

Quilters Alaska Cruise
6 September 2014

Join me aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam
  on a special 7-day Alaska Cruise.

  Travel to a destination full of inspirational natural wonders.
You'll be part of a warm group of fun-loving people sharing a common interest in quilting.
The cruise includes workshops during 'sea days' and a private party for our group.

 

  See full brochure here.

 For details and reservations, contact
 Wendy Townsend at Athlone Travel

Email: Wendy Townsend

Phone: 250-598-5252 Toll Free 1-888-987-2351

  

Hope you'll join me on this exciting adventure!

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Our Cruise Classes

I have designed a lap-quilt for our first 'at sea' day. We will be using Northcott's new Artisan Spirit - Shimmer fabrics and the quilt had it's origins with an antique star quilt I saw at the Texas Quilt Museum in LaGrange, Texas, in October.

I have simplified the star bocks for easy piecing and the other two blocks are easy to make too. You will learn quick cutting and piecing methods, all about 'on point' settings and some special border techniques too. Since the fabrics are 'coming soon', my picture is the design I created in EQ7.  

Star of Alaska

The last day of our cruise is also an 'a sea' day. I have had a request to teach a Give & Take Appliqué class. This two-for-one technique is much easier than you might think. So easy, in fact, that you can create your own design!  We will play with paper, glue and scissors in the morning and in the afternoon you will turn your creation into reality with your own fabrics.  The photo below shows some of the designs created by students in my previous design workshops.

Give & Take Appliqué - Design Discoveries

  

If you have any questions about the classes, just drop me a note.

  

Quilters Cruise to Alaska, September 2014

Join me for Quilters Alaska Cruise!

    

Join Daphne Greig
 Designer, Teacher and Author

Quilters Alaska Cruise
6 September 2014

Join me aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam
  on a special 7-day Alaska Cruise.

  Travel to a destination full of inspirational natural wonders.
You'll be part of a warm group of fun-loving people sharing a common interest in quilting. The cruise includes workshops during 'sea days' and a private party for our group.

 

  Book by Nov. 15 and receive complimentary

Pinnacle Grill Dinner & Beverage card.

Subject to availability.

See full brochure here.

For details and reservations, contact
 Wendy Townsend at Athlone Travel

Email: Wendy Townsend

Phone: 250-598-5252 Toll Free 1-888-987-2351

 

Hope you'll join me on this exciting adventure!