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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Setting Sail Searching Sunnier Scenery

I know it is cliché to say "I really needed to get away....."  but it was never more true than this year.

Rich and I escaped the winter of 2015 for a week long cruise in the Caribbean aboard the MS Nieuw Amsterdam of Holland America.

But before we left, I worked up this little quilt as a Birthday gift for my friend, Diane of Persnickety Quilts.  We have been quilt friends for almost 20 years.  She sent me this block, which she appliquéd for my birthday a few years ago.

I machine quilted it with silk thread in the traditional echo style of Hawaiian quilting.  I almost went with a plum binding, but decided to stick with the perfect color theory combination of green with the red and cheddar.

I sued this wonderful New York themed fabric for the backing.  I hope Diane will forgive my free motion quilting.  I just don't practice enough!

On to the getaway.  Here we are docked in Key West.  It was such a fun port to visit.
While away I did a lot of this....
 Quite a bit of this...

A little bit of this....I'm basting here in the cabin so I can stitch on a lounge chair.
 A few rounds of this....
 And nightly dining with Herman and Harris who spoiled us at table 84.
And all too soon scenes like this were replaced
with scenes like this.

Fortunately I have a couple of wonderful things to look forward to:

I'll be a the AQS Show in Lancaster on Friday.  Say Hi if you see me and visit my Jubilee quilt.

I also learned before leaving that my Jubilee Quilt has been accepted to AQS QuiltWeek in Paducah in April and I've already made plans to go!  I'm so excited and thrilled.

I hope you have all had a great week too.  I'll share more travel photos soon.

41 comments:

  1. PatMarch 10, 2015 at 10:21 AM

    You are a Lucky Duck!!! A vacation cruise, Lancaster and then on to Paducah - big congratulations to you and well deserved. Savor each moment.

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  2. LoriMarch 10, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Wonderful winter to getaway!! Is your snow gone now?

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  3. Carla A Few Of My Favorite ThingsMarch 10, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    It is nice to get away but especially since you get to go to Lancaster and Paducah this year. Wowser! I know your Jubilee quilt will be a bit hit at both shows! Congrats!

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  4. rondiquiltsMarch 10, 2015 at 10:48 AM

    Fun with Barb! I love it! I wish I was going to be at Paducah this year, I was last year. Would love to run into you! Glad you had a get away. We ran away during the first snow blast here in KY. Great to be on the south side of the misery.
    Rondi

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  5. KyleMarch 10, 2015 at 10:49 AM

    What a great get away. And then to come home to some quilting fun. Isn't it great that your awesome quilt has made other exciting plans for you! Enjoy!

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  6. Sujata ShahMarch 10, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    Wow! The quilt is beautiful and the pictures of your getaway would make anyone slight green;-) perfect place to be during the winter east coast have had. Enjoy the shows.. Congratulations Barb!

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  7. CecileDMarch 10, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    Ooooh what a beautiful trip Barab and thank you for sharing with us !! Your each presents are so cute !! Made by heart...
    Cobgrats for your wonderful and awesome jubilee quilt !!
    You know what ? I didn't write again in my blog but....I will go to Paducah too...:))))
    If you go there, maybe we can meet there !!
    xoxo

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  8. UnknownMarch 10, 2015 at 11:59 AM

    I'm so glad you and Dad had such a relaxing and enjoyable vacation -- no one deserves it more than you two! I love and miss you both xoxo

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  9. Judy in MichiganMarch 10, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    Congratulations!!!!!!! Lancaster and Paducah! Wow!!! Your vacation was wonderful - we have been on Holland lines before and love them. I am so happy for you!!

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  10. Linda in NCMarch 10, 2015 at 12:49 PM

    Congratulations on getting your quilts hung in Paducah - and Lancaster, too!

    Looks like you had the perfect get-away.

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  11. JanetMarch 10, 2015 at 1:02 PM

    Your free motion quilting looks good to me. What a lovely birthday gift! Your view of the beach looks pretty lovely too. I hope you had a wonderful time!
    Enjoy the shows! Yippee!

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  12. RaewynMarch 10, 2015 at 1:13 PM

    It looks like you had a great time - and congratulations on your acceptances!!

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  13. ChrisMarch 10, 2015 at 1:53 PM

    Congratulations Barb! It is a lovely quilt and I am sure it is even more lovely in person. Wish I could go to Paducah and see it! Nice that you had a little getaway, we're all ready for spring!

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  14. ThimbleannaMarch 10, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    Awwww, Hanna commented -- what a cutie!!! It looks like you had a wonderful time -- cocktails are the way to a better life LOL!

    And now two great quilt shows to attend -- How Fun!!!

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  15. DianeMarch 10, 2015 at 2:06 PM

    Good for you! You certainly deserve a break from winter. So glad you had a good time and even got some stitching done. Only 3 weeks until spring break for us, and I am counting the days for sure!

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  16. Wendy Caton ReedMarch 10, 2015 at 2:29 PM

    Congratulations on your Paducah acceptance and have a super time in Lancaster. Hope you stored up enough sunshine to make it through 'til spring!

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  17. DebraMarch 10, 2015 at 2:30 PM

    Oh, so jealous! We love cruising and I hope you have a great time. Congrats on the acceptance into the AQS show in Paducah! I won't be making it to the Lancaster show this year - would love to see your quilt in person. BTW - my brother lives in Essex, CT. :-)

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  18. RachaeldaisyMarch 10, 2015 at 3:07 PM

    It's great to hear you had a wonderful holiday. The holiday snaps show that you made the most of it. Thst night photo is worth framing. Congratulations on having your quilt accepted at Paducah, that's great news to come home to ,and have fun at the show on Friday.

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  19. Nifty QuiltsMarch 10, 2015 at 4:30 PM

    Congratulations on getting your quilt into Paducah! What fun it will be to go and see it THERE! Your machine quilting is perfect on the birthday gift. Love the back and forth story of it. Woo-hoo on the holiday! You really picked the right winter for that! Glad you had lots of fun. Well, who wouldn't?

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  20. JulieroseMarch 10, 2015 at 5:10 PM

    Oh so happy that your quilt got accepted--you do such beautiful work! Congrats!! We have done 3 cruises on Norwegian and loved them all...if any Winter was a good one to getaway--this has been one for sure. Hugs, Julierose

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  21. SherrillMarch 10, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    AHHHH, cruises..they ARE AWESOME! Just got back 3 weeks ago from my 13th! Visited 3 ports in Mexico and came back to freezing and snow. UGH! Wanted to turn around and go straight back.

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  22. RuthMarch 10, 2015 at 7:09 PM

    Wow! Congratulations! What am honor to have your quilt in the Paducah show! The cruise looked wonderful. I'm sure it was necessary to get away from the cold. Hee Hee!

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  23. RuthMarch 10, 2015 at 7:09 PM

    Wow! Congratulations! What am honor to have your quilt in the Paducah show! The cruise looked wonderful. I'm sure it was necessary to get away from the cold. Hee Hee!

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  24. Kevin the QuilterMarch 10, 2015 at 7:16 PM

    What a great get away.....with the exception of lines at the airport! BLECH! Story of my life! Congrats on your acceptance into both Lancaster and Paducah! I will be attending AQS Paducah as well with my collaboration quilt "Radar." We may bump into one another? I am kinda hard to miss! LOL

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  25. MaureenMarch 10, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    Glad you could get away from the snow! Sure does look like you had a great time. Congrats on your jubilee quilt being accepted into the shows. Look forward to hearing about your adventures.

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  26. AngieMarch 10, 2015 at 7:58 PM

    So glad you had a break from Ol' Man Winter - it's always good to get a little Caribbean Soul! Congrats on being accepted for Paducah - wish I could go see Jubilee in person!!

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  27. BarbaraMarch 10, 2015 at 8:22 PM

    Congratulations, Barb, on being accepted at Paducah. That's wonderful news! Still anticipating a "win" at Lancaster :) Have fun next week.

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  28. Pinkadot QuiltsMarch 10, 2015 at 8:24 PM

    Of course I am jealous that you got to spend time away from the snow but I hope you had a good time while we were dealing with yet another snow storm! I am excited to see your quilt at the show this week. Hopefully I will make it there unless a grandson decides to make an appearance....

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  29. Me and My StitchesMarch 10, 2015 at 11:00 PM

    Congrats on your quilt being accepted in both shows - what an honor! I really want to go to Paducah this year, and even more now so I can see your quilt in person! The cruise sounds wonderful!

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  30. Janet O.March 11, 2015 at 12:57 AM

    How nice that you could escape this year's relentless New England winter and have some fun in the sun!
    Did you have any clue when you began that your Jubilee quilt (and you) would achieve celebrity status? Congrats on both shows. Wish I was going to be at either to meet you both. : )

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  31. audreyMarch 11, 2015 at 2:48 AM

    What a great birthday gift. Good memories.:) Your vacation looks marvelous. Wonderful to get your break from the endless winter!

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  32. christineMarch 11, 2015 at 6:42 PM

    Barb: when were you docked in Key West? When we were there early Feb & big ship was docked. Have a good time in Lancaster .... I'm missing it for one last chance of winter by skiing in Utah this week.

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  33. DawnMarch 12, 2015 at 9:53 AM

    Nice get away! Enjoy travel with your fantastic quilt!

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  34. RoxanneMarch 12, 2015 at 10:13 AM

    A fun post with everything from moonlight over the water to Hawaiian quilting and Jubilee travels. Our big snow from last Friday is already almost gone--had a nice walk this morning and it felt like spring. Daffodils are on their way!

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  35. Ann in PAMarch 12, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    Congratulations on Lancaster AND Paducah -Whoo Hoo! Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful Jubliee quilt at the AQS Show...wish I could visit it again in Paducah. LOL

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  36. fiberchickMarch 12, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    Congrats On the show entries! Have never been on a cruise. Looks amazing!

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  37. Linda OMarch 12, 2015 at 8:00 PM

    So nice you could escape the snow for a bit. Looks like a great time. And Congratulations on your quilt going to both shows!! Wonderful! Have fun visiting them as well! You find the most amazing fabrics for backings - just so much fun!

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  38. pandchintzMarch 12, 2015 at 11:48 PM

    Sounds like the perfect get away. Congrats on the quilt acceptance - how exciting!!

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  39. LuAnnMarch 15, 2015 at 11:21 AM

    Beautiful photos. Looks like you had a wonderful trip.

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  40. ShelinaMarch 16, 2015 at 1:30 PM

    Sounds like a wonderful trip. You did great on the quilting of that block. Hope the restful feeling of the trip lasts a long long time.

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  41. Kathy ... aka NanaMarch 19, 2015 at 7:31 AM

    I'll be in Paducah and will look for your quilt.

    Your trip photos make me long for a Caribbean cruise!

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