Crazy quilting to date

Some of you may know about the crazy quilt I am making as a memento of this once-in-a-lifetime journey around the world.  Shortly after we signed up for the trip and I discovered how many days we would spend at sea, I came up with an idea to keep my hands busy.  I enjoy quilting, but didn't think I could take my sewing machine in my suitcase, although one of these women did just that!!  I thought about crazy quilts which consist of random shaped pieces of various kinds of fabric attached to a backing fabric by hand, then embellished with embroidery and beads, charms, or other trinkets.  My goal was to collect textiles from our ports of call that are representative of that area.  A scarf or a child's article of clothing sold at sidewalk stalls could provide the fabric.  However, the thought of ruining a scarf for just one snippet seemed a waste, but if several of us cut a piece...  The idea grew from there to try to get a group of ladies interested in doing the same thing, then we could share our fabric finds while we enjoyed the social aspect of a sewing group.  I posted my idea on a website called Cruise Critic last April.  By the time we boarded the ship, there were four women who expressed interest.  We agreed to meet at 2:00 in the glass ceilinged Wintergarden on the sea day after our first port of call which would be Nuka Hiva, French Polynesia.  By working in that open area and by word of mouth, our group has grown like an amoeba.  There were 14 of us today.  I have two tote bags filled with fabric that we have collected.  We talk and laugh and have become friends who encourage and support one another.  I'm so pleased that this little idea of mine has become successful. 

I took this picture a few days ago when we didn't have everyone there.  This is the lovely, light-filled space where we work.  The crew who prepare to serve tea at 4:00 in this room are solicitous of how we are coming on our project.  One of them told us that we were having more fun than any other group he had observed on the ship.

From the upper left corner going clockwise, Chris (the one who brought her sewing machine) and Jan, Pam, Joan and our newest (as of 5 days ago) member, Phyllis, Linda, and Vicky.

On this page: Barbara and Heather, Carol, Lorraine and Gail, Joan (again) with her daughter, Kate behind her.

It's been fun for us to learn about the designs on the fabrics from the places we've visited, and learn about the traditions, flora, and fauna of those places from the fabrics.  As an example, one woman brought a piece of fabric she bought in Auckland that had woven mat designs on it.  I thought it was lovely, but the next day when we were in a Maori maure (meetinghouse), I looked around me on the walls and saw those designs!  

Below are my 20" squares so far.

Polynesia--the islands of Nuku Hiva, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tonga, and Fiji

New Zealand: from Russell, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Australia so far--Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.  I'm leaving a little room for the Great Barrier Reef fabric we've heard will be waiting for us in Cairns the day after tomorrow.  

I can't wait until we hit China and India--the fabrics will be amazing!