Scandinavia, Here We Come!

Suitcases Zipped and Ready To Go!

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!

A representation of the techniques in the class.

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!

Courtesy of tulipfestivalamsterdam.com

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

There is no doubt that menopause is a challenging time of life. It affects you mentally, physically and emotionally at a time when your life is in transition. Kids are leaving home and parents might need more help. My guests, Jenni Smith and Kay Walsh, are authors of Menopause Makes. Their book is full of empowering sewing projects to relax your mind, cool your body and ignite your creativity. You can watch my interview here.

Listen to any of my Karen's Quilt Circle podcasts on the YouTube Music app here. 

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!