Join me on a Hawaiian Cruise! I posted all the information on my website – please click this link to go directly to the newsletter.
Registrations for this wonderful event are available through Cruise Holidays: Click this link
I’ll add more details in the future. I hope YOU can join me!

We had such a blast on the Mexican Riviera Quilt Cruise! Here is another photo slide show!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Quilting Retreats on the Go – the terrific business and owners Dottie Montgomery & Jean Welker offer quilt retreats in numerous locations. This year, I taught a Quick Broken Star workshop for Dottie & Jean on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. What a ship!!  Our workshop conference room was WONDERFUL – spacious, great lighting, plenty of table space and seating.

Here is the first photo album of our workshop – I am trying to get all the photos uploaded for your reference. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox photobook

A couple of years ago I taught on a Carnival Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. The quilter’s cruise was sponsored by my friend, shop owner Nancy Amidon of Amidon Quiltworks. My workshop was Diamond Landscapes with a new fusible technique, and the cruisers created either an underwater or beachy theme. Each participant embellished her creation with applique, found items, and inspiration from the cruise excursions ashore.

Martha Knox proudly shares her beautiful underwater quilt with you! Great Job, Martha!

The diamonds were arranged on a gridded fusible foundation, with the edges overlapping by 1/4″. All the finishing of seams was completed after the cruise.

[message sent by e-mail on Tuesday, Dec. 2]

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season! The Krentz family was home for Thanksgiving, and we all spent time in the kitchen throughout the day. Our son Ryan prepared a brined turkey, and placed fresh herbs under the skin – it was absolutely delicious!

It has been a wonderful whirl-wind quilting year – meeting new friends and catching up with dear friends from past workshops and events.

Lone Star DVD

“Jan Krentz Teaches You to Make Lone Star Quilts” DVD. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you’ll get the opportunity! The DVD is just like taking a private workshop with me on the Lone Star Basics – right in your own home! Treat yourself, or ask your loved ones to order a copy for your Christmas stocking!

Have you read any good BLOGS lately? (You are reading one now!)

BLOG – Short for “web log”, a Blog is an online journal, updated regularly. Beginning this summer I have written entries on my blog from a family cruise, teaching trips to interesting places, quilt shops, and photos from various parts of the world. Please check in with me from time to time on my blog!

In the coming year I hope you will join me for a CRUISE!  The cruise directors are waiting to take your reservation for these wonderful workshop cruises. I am teaching 2 brand new workshops from my next book, Quick Star Quilts (due out in February ’09):

Fondly, Jan

These photos are for my family to enjoy – as we took so many great photos. One of our favorite evenings was the formal night, where we all dressed up and had a lovely dinner together in the dining room. I must say that the dinners were my FAVORITE time of the cruise!

Click on any photo to see a larger view.

 

 Courtney, Jan, Kim, Dana & Shruti

 

family friend Walter Elliott & Joie

 

Joie, Jan & Don at dinner

 

Don & Jan

Courtney, Jim & Dana

   

Paul & Shruti at dinner

 

Joel & Kim at dinner 

 

Shruti at dinner

 

Kim at dinner 

 

Kiran, Aaron, Jason

 

This is the formal photo taken by the ship’s photographer.    Left to right – (front row): Kim, Courtney, Joie, Dana, Jan, Shruti  (middle row): Joel, Walt, Jim, Don, Paul, (back row): Aaron, Jason, Kiran

 

 

The first port of call was Key West, Florida. Some of our family members went on “snuba” adventures, snorkeling in the turquoise waters.

   

   

Key West feral chickens and chicken souvenirs

Don and I decided to take it easy and wander around Key West – it was a short port of call, and we’d set sail by 1pm. We walked along tree-lined streets, enjoying the flowering trees and historic homes. The air was steamy and humid. We were thankful it was early in the day!

 

Key West is famed for many things – electric carts and feral chickens, which live wild and free where ever they please. Gift shops sell Chicken souvenirs, too!

Our goal in Key West – to eat a slice of Key Lime Pie. We walked in search of the Blond Giraffe Key Lime Factory. The pie-making operation was not working that morning, so I found an Internet image to see what it WOULD have looked like!

 

 

Once our pie was eaten, we walked back and boarded the ship. It was heavenly to be back in the cool air aboard ship! It must take more than one morning to adjust to the steamy climate!

This year, my family reunion was held aboard the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. What a terrific experience!

All of our family members flew to Fort Lauderdale, FL. We boarded the ship on July 7, and set sail about 5 pm. It was exciting to stand at the rail of the ship’s bow as we pulled away from the pier, and hear the mighty ship’s horn!

The first order of the cruise was the lifeboat drill, as every passenger joins the crew on the deck to learn where the life boats are, and what to do in the unlikely event of evacuation. 

 

 

 

 

Of course, my sisters and I tried on our new swimsuits, sat in the SHADE and drank margaritas!

It was a great day, and the cruise had just begun!

The Enchantment of the Seas is a bright, light and airy ship. There are many beautiful areas where passengers can meet, relax, and share conversation over a cool drink. It is like a small floating city!

Pool deck

Upper deck for walking or jogging

Center Prominade – Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas