Karen Montgomery

Owner of The Quilt Company, a full service quilt store, Karen also designs fabric for Timeless Treasures and currently publishes a book and pattern line under The Quilt Company name.  Karen is a nationally recognized quilt teacher and designer and her shop showcases Karen's fabric designs for Timeless Treasures, her original patterns and the Quick Trim Ruler she designed for Creative Grids. Karen's projects can be found in catalogs and magazines around the world and is a nationally known speaker and teacher.  She has been married to Cary for 30+ years. They have 3 children Lauren, Brandon and Lindsay and have recently become a new grandma of twins - Grant and Madeline. 

 

As far back as she can remember Cat Nix has held needle and thread in hand. "I get such a charge from combining fabrics to create unique, dynamic designs! Absolute Joy fuels my creative expressions."

Cat collaborated with Paula Nadelstern to develop the "Puzzle Quilt Block of the Month," which she has taught for several years. "I recognize in Cat a kindred spirit with a love for complex fabric," Paula writes. "She has a true grasp of my design sensibility. She strives to be an artist who uses the vocabulary of quilt making to create a distinctive and deliberate personal response."

"I have the best job in the world," Cat says of her work with Anthology Fabrics. "I work with the best people and best fabric in the industry!" As Creative Director, Cat works with pattern designers, publishers, educators and shop owners to promote the use of Anthology Fabrics. She also serves as in-house pattern and project designer, working with Anthology's fabric artists to develop new fabric designs that can be used in all facets of quilting.

Cat resides with her family in Kansas City, Missouri and teaches at Quilter’s Quarters in Leavenworth, Kansas.


Lucy Sessions

Lucy Sessions is a talented quilter and a teacher.  For her, it’s all about sharing the knowledge, from focusing on quilting basics to utilizing her knack for deciphering the most complex patterns.  Her enthusiasm for teaching combined with her natural wit and her extensive knowledge of quilting techniques make her a hit in any classroom. 

For the past five years, Lucy has taught a large variety of classes at Stitchin’ Heaven in Quitman, Texas.  She hosts two retreats per year and is a hostess on cruises for Stitchin’ Heaven. 

Lucy’s teaching experience includes everything from beginning sewing to advanced tailoring.  She has always had in-home sewing business including draperies, tailoring and custom clothing.

In 1990, Lucy enrolled in an all-night quilting class leaving the next morning with a completed quilt top and a new passion. During the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Lucy’s quilt “Bird of Paradise” was presented to the flag bearer from St. Kitts. In 1997, Lucy was commissioned by Georgia’s Bibb County School Board to design and make a quilt.  The finished quilt measured 18’ by 6’ and hangs in school board meeting room.

In 2009, Lucy’s husband bought her a long-arm quilting machine…and so began another career. Lucy and her husband, Dennis, currently live in Quitman, Texas.  They have five children and 13 grandchildren.

When it comes to beautiful beaches and sparkling blue waters, the Caribbean is really in a league of its own! We begin our 8-night Batik Cruise from beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  We will then have two lovely days at sea and our  first stop will be  Philipsburg, St. Maarten! Experience this magnificent place by touring the undersea world of coral reefs and exotic fish as you take a snorkeling expedition through Shipwreck Cove.  Or, compete in an actual race on an America's Cup shortened course. Grind a winch, trim a sail or just sit back and enjoy. Professional sailors will give you a quick lesson, then you're off to compete on Stars and Stripes, one of the most famous sailboats in the world. Or, you can admire the dazzling colors of hundreds of butterflies as you tour St. Maarten’s popular Butterfly Farm. There are countless adventures within reach on this cruise!!. Next stop, Basseterre, St. Kitts.  With dormant volcanoes, golden sand beaches and gorgeous green hills, St. Kitts is a beautiful backdrop to your Caribbean adventure. Discovered in 1623 by the British and settled by the French in 1625, the island's deep colonial history is reflected in the abandoned fortresses, as well as its landscaped gardens, city squares and architectural details.  The following day, we will arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  One of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand beaches and an incredibly massive rain forest that supplies fresh water to most of the island. At the same time San Juan, the capital of the commonwealth, is a big city with a bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos, as well as one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world.  Finally, our last stop will be Labadee, Haiti.  On the north coast of Hispaniola, surrounded by beautiful mountain slopes and exotic foliage, sits Labadee®, Royal Caribbean's private paradise. This exclusive destination offers pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery and spectacular water activities. We even have an amazing new Aqua Park for kids. Regardless of where you go, you'll find yourself embraced by the beautiful landscape. Labadee's native charm, along with its natural beauty, make this a destination not to be missed, and only Royal Caribbean can take you there.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas is a masterpiece of naval engineering.   At 160,000 gross tonnage and 1,112 feet long, this ship is packed with spectacular features including; an ice-skating rink,  fitness center, and day spa, a FlowRider® surf-park-at-sea water park, a rock-climbing wall with eleven routes and a central spire, 9-hole miniature golf course, cantilevered whirlpools, extensive WiFi capabilities and mobile phone connectivity, flat-screen TVs in every stateroom and so much more! Your experience onboard will be nothing short of incredible! 

Click here for a printable itinerary.

Activities - Entertainment & Exercise!

Where to begin? It can be very hard to relax on Independence of the Seas -- even on sea days -- because of the head-spinning array of activities that run from dawn to dusk and beyond! The ship's entertainment staff offers an intriguing blend of options, and everyone, from the most traditional passenger to the completely contemporary traveler, will find something to do.

During the day, if you don't want to sew, you'll find plenty of activities, such as bingo, dance lessons, horse racing, art auctions, Mr. Sexy Legs contests, rock-climbing wall competitions, bridge play, art and craft workshops and films in the tiny cinema. Poolside, throughout the day, a live band plays a blend of Caribbean and American songs, and parades take over the Promenade's main thoroughfare.

Nighttime sees a similar variety of entertainment options. Enjoy a lively venue for nonstop gaming action, including blackjack, poker, roulette, slot machines and more, all within the Casino Royal. Get your 15 minutes of fame in the state-of-the-art karaoke “On Air” Club. Enjoy the five-story Broadway-style venue for contemporary musical stage productions, as well as an onboard state-of-the-art theater featuring first-run movies. Or simply enjoy a leisure stroll throughout the Solarium with its sparkling indoor/outdoor pool and lounge area featuring a retractable roof.

Spa & Fitness
There is everything under the sun here. You can practice your figure eights in the ice skating rink; play basketball, volleyball or paddle ball in the full-length sports court; climb to 200 feet over the sea in the rock-climbing wall (if you've never tried it, no worries -- they give you a lesson before you set off); and practice your golf swings at miniature golf and a golf simulator. The ship also has four pools, six whirlpools and a jogging track.

On deck twelve you will find the “Independence Day Spa”. Receive such Spa treatments as relaxing ocean-wraps, aroma stone therapy massage, an exotic jasmine bath, and more.

And if working out is your game, you will enjoy a fully equipped workout facility and fitness center, with stationary bikes, treadmills, free weights and elliptical machines