Scandinavia, Here We Come!
- Karen
- May 5
- 3 min read

My bags are packed… and yes, I’ve been humming that classic John Denver tune “Leaving on a Jet Plane” all week long. It’s become the unofficial anthem of my pre-trip excitement! Every now and then, a few other golden oldies sneak into my playlist—“Last Train to Clarksville” by The Monkees and “Shambala” by Three Dog Night. I know, I’m totally dating myself, but hey, those songs still spark joy and capture the spirit of travel like nothing else.
After a full year of dreaming, planning, stitching, and prepping, the big adventure is finally around the corner: a long-anticipated cruise to the stunning lands of Scandinavia! You wouldn’t believe the number of little details that go into organizing a trip like this—but thankfully, I have an incredible team behind me. Ray and John at RGE Travels have handled all the travel logistics with their usual magic touch, and Kate Matthews from K&B Sewing will be managing all the sewing tech during the journey.
As for me? I’m bringing the sewing class! I’ll be teaching my New York Beauty Master Class on board, and I can’t wait to dive in with everyone. All my samples are stitched, my patterns are printed, and my PowerPoint deck is good to go. Check, check, and check!

When it came to packing, I made a few tweaks this time around. I’ve switched to a new carry-on, which meant rethinking how to organize everything. I love having designated spots for all my essentials—it helps me instantly know if something’s missing. My beloved wool sleeves for my iPad and laptop are still in the mix. But, those accessories…they multiply like bunnies!

And let me tell you about my newest creation: a slow-sewing project bag, custom-made for my Lucy Boston blocks.

I used a By Annie pattern, but with a twist. The small version was too snug for finished blocks, and the large one just felt like overkill for sewing on the go. So, I did a bit of improvising—not my natural language when it comes to bags, mind you—and adjusted the smaller size by adding a couple of inches. I used a fantastic Eric Holtz fabric covered in whimsical bus and train tickets—perfect for a travel-themed bag. It’s not quite perfect (I’m giving it a 7 out of 10), but I learned so much along the way, and I’m calling it a win!
Before we board the ship, my husband and I are taking a little detour to soak in the charm of the Netherlands. We’re arriving a few days early to explore Haarlem and Amsterdam, two cities I’ve always wanted to discover more deeply. I’m especially excited for bike rides along the canals, marveling at the engineering behind those famous Dutch dikes, and for the very first time… seeing the tulips in their full springtime glory!

I will be gone almost 3 weeks. So I will not have a Live Q&A or Quilt Crew meeting in May. Just know that I will be thinking of you and planning! There are usually many, many squirrels after I've had a trip.
Karen's Quilt Circle
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Travel with Karen
The cruise to Indonesia in the fall still has a couple of spots left. Go to the website for more information if you are interested.

And, I have been asked to give two lectures at Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in the UK in early August! The lectures will be: 535-The Joy of Symmetry and 542-Be the Best Quilter You Can Be. You can purchase tickets at thefestivalofquilts.seetickets.com I hope to see you there.

I’ll be documenting my Scandinavia trip and sharing snapshots and stories as we go—so stay tuned! This promises to be a trip full of creativity, color, and connection.
Let the journey begin!
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I hope you have a FANTASTIC trip! I haven't done much sewing in the last few months as we are renovating our master bathroom and I am doing much of the work. Tiring! My dad says it will be worth it. I'm not sure he's right. 🤔 🙂 So I'm really looking forward to hearing all about this wonderful trip and seeing the great treasures you find. A friend is on her way to my house right now, and we are going to do some Indiana quilt shop hopping. Take care, and enjoy!
I love all the songs you mentioned! Up, we come from a fun era of music! What a fun cruise you all will experience! Your projects are lovely, and you know I especially love those paper pieced ones. EPP stole my heart. Happy sigh…
Without a doubt, biking in the Netherlands is among the best in the world! Haarlem is really a beautiful Dutch city. 3 routes around Haarlem that really show off the wonder of biking in NL there are 1) Haarlem - Heemstede-Zandvoort-Haarlem 2) Noordwijk aan Zee to Zandvoort through the Dunes with view of the North Sea and 3) Haarlem to Leiden to ride amongst the tulips. Remember though if you haven’t been biking in a while the saddle portion of the body does need a little practice or it can be a bit painful ;)
Hi, not quite sure when you are planning to arrive in the Netherlands, just note that 11 May will be the final opening day for the Keukenhof this year. Without a doubt the best place to see the tulips and other flower displays. In Amsterdam, don't miss the two quilt shops on the Nieuwe Zijdsevoorburgwal. Unfortunately, the quilt shop in Haarlem closed a few years ago. However, Haarlem is still well worth a visit.
Enjoy your time in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.