Inaugural Quilt Cruise for a Cause

After several months of consideration and discussions, it is finally my blessing to announce the first annual QUILT CRUISE FOR A CAUSE. The cruise will set sail on August 24, 2009 setting a course from London around British Isles. Our ship will be Princess Cruises' Crown Princess. This area and date were selected in order to provide a once-in-a-lifetime quilt travel event as participants may choose to also attend Europe's premiere quilt show, The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. All American Craft, publisher's of The Quilter and Fabric Trends Magazines have offered to sponsor this cruise as part of their 25th anniversary celebration of The Quilter.

The idea for a fundraising cruise of this nature first occurred to me early in the year as financial times began to impact non-profit organizations held dear in the quilt world. Initially my thought was that information and press releases about such a cruise or tour would provide a an additional source of information about the various institutions themselves and monies realized might help achieve a balanced fiscal budget.

Recently however, I have been considering the state of the world and the catastrophic events over the last eight years - since the Presidential Election of 2000. Beyond Wall Street, there is little wonder that the world is on the brink of economic chaos. In the US alone we have had 9/11, an eight year drought in the mid-west, hurricane and tornado damage beyond compare and multiple California wild-fires to mention just a few; world-wide the list is so long that it shudders me to consider it.

I am well aware of our severe economic situation, but I know that people who can will still travel and take vacations. Believe it or not, international vacation travel was up by record amounts in the first half of 2008 when the dollar was at its worst level against world economies. What better way to go than to go somewhere knowing that proceeds from your choice will go to organizations that benefit the arts and to help those in need.

For this reason, my goal through these cruises will be to support Quilt History, Art and Scholarship as well as US/World Disaster Relief through the American Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse.

Information is coming on this special quilt cruise event, please refer to the website at http://quiltcruiseforcause.com/ (available after October 1) or my web site at http://worldofquiltstravel.com.

I would love your comments!!

News from Italy

I cannot say enough by the services offered to my group by Princess Cruise Lines to my group on the Mediterranean Textile Study tour which began on August 28.

Because of the optional quilt related port tours I offered, one of the partners of Quilt Camp in the Desert asked if her group on the same ship might join mine; we shared 15 days of quilting memories which began in Barcelona where at the design and textile museum in Terassa we saw Spanish Toile (monochrome copperplate prints). There was a very nice selection of prints from the mid-17oo's when Spain tried to capitalize on the French cotton printing ban by importing French printers to expand their own printing industry. Many prints lacked the fine detail of designs printed in England or France, but there were also some with exceptional engravings. The marked difference was that these were all identified (in Spanish) somewhere on the design itself.

The next day we docked in Marseille, where we were enthusiastically greeted at the Museum of the Chateau Gombert, home to over 1000 quilted jupon (petticoats) and many broderie de Marseille (boutis) and pique. It was a treat to see the 'boutis' pieces of yesterday to compare with our project of the cruise - a boutis bag project taught by French teacher Marie-Christine Flocard. We ended the day with a surprise (to the participants) visit to a Marseille quilt shop, and needless to say the shopkeeper was thrilled by our time in his shop, offering wine and refreshment while the group enthusiastically counted out yards of Provencial fabrics.

During cruise time we enjoyed excellent cuisine of anything anyone could want: from custom grilled hamburgers, lobster, prime rib, salmon....there was no lack of food during our 12 day adventure. Not a night owl myself, the highlight for me on the cruise was Princess' own "Movies Under the Stars". Each evening on the top deck they showed a 1st run movie; cruisers could lounge on padded deck chairs with a blanket while stewards offered popcorn, chocolate ship cookies (WARM ONES) and milk.

Our 3rd port was at the port for Florence, Italy. From here we coached over to Prato for a visit to their textile museum. This is a very well designed museum detailing the production of all textile forms, but specializing in wool. From here it was to Florence and some window shopping, stops at a fabric store for some, and gelatto for others...myself included.

Stops off the textile path included Rome, Naples and Mykonos before we stopped in Istanbul for some custom touring to see what we thought would be textile markets and a textile museum. However, our guide convinced me there were no 'textile only markets' and "certainly not" a museum (I have yet to decide whether to believe him). We did enjoy the day at the Spice and Grand Bazaars, and many a penny were left in Istanbul. Linda Pumphrey found the deal of the day at a stall that had wood blocks used to print fabric - she says there were "1000's" of them. Sad more of us did not find it, but she lucked out with some lovely pieces. Others found beautiful cotton caftans, jewelry and ceramics from the local area - I do not think anyone truly left unhappy.

After a day in Athens, our last stop was Venice. It was difficult to imagine this city as awe inspiring, however as the ship sailed into the Venice port at noon, with Italian Opera playing over the speakers all 3100 passengers aboard the Emerald Princess were glued to the railings....and all silent. It was a breathtaking experience as we passed St. Marks square and the Grand Canal. I spent that afternoon on Burano Island where there are women who still hand make lace and sell it locally. The workmanship is beautiful - and as a dying art, I was thrilled to see the details of the way it is made. Additionally, the colors of the island were incredible. I never thought a red or orange house would be attractive, but next to bright yellow, green and ochre, they fit right in and only added to the charm of the Island neighborhoods. There is something to be said for those who appreciate color.

Ending our cruise - we have now made our way to Lake Como, IT, which is near the Swiss border. This is our final destination of the tour. Yesterday we visited the Silk Museum, which is very well planned and includes machinery and details of silk production from worm through spinning, weaving and printing. Many on the tour said they enjoyed this museum the most.

Now as I sit on the patio of our lakeside hotel, it hardly seems that we have covered so much territory in the last 13 days, but many memories have been made and friendships formed.

Tomorrow the group leaves for home - while I go to Mulhouse to visit my friend Jacqueline and volunteer at the Museum of Printed Textiles for one week as I wait for the Carefour European Patchwork Expo to open at St. Marie de Mines. There is always something in the world of quilts waiting to be seen.