moving to Rural Alaska
02-13-2013, 07:58 AM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 5,665
You are mistaken it is AK not AL.
02-13-2013, 08:09 AM
#72
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Kenai, Alaska
Posts: 1,150
[QUOTE=Debbie C;5858261]I see many posts here referring to Alaska as 'AK'....the O.C.D. in me has to make a correction here. The abbreviation for Alaska is 'AL'......I am very excited for you - this sounds like an amazing opportunity. Please keep us up to date on your experiences there!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 1,124
I recently finished a book, "Alaska Bound: One man's dream...One woman's nightmare" by Tammy Jones. It is a true story about the author's trials when her DH talked her into going to AK in March to build a cabin. It was a free Kindle download at the time.
Good luck on your adventure. Let us hear from you and please send pictures when you can.
Good luck on your adventure. Let us hear from you and please send pictures when you can.
02-13-2013, 08:20 AM
#75
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Kenai, Alaska
Posts: 1,150
Oh! My DD had a contract job in Bethel for three months. She said it was like living in a third world country. The pumped water stained every piece of clothing she had. She used bottled water for cooking and hygiene and just wore the stained clothes. She said everyone had the same stained clothes so it didn't matter. I certainly wouldn't wash a quilt in it. Mildew started growing on the walls when the weather turned warmer and condensation started. She couldn't wait to get out of that place. I don't know why you are stuck going more primitive then Bethel but good luck.
02-13-2013, 08:27 AM
#76
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seward, AK
Posts: 153
One more point of interest - for such a remote area, Alaska is very technologically advanced. In visiting the lower 48 in larger areas (cities, etc.) I have found that we're pretty lucky on that score. Sure, because of the terrain we have dead spots for cell transmission, can't really get XM radio in our cars, and we're limited to slightly over 200 some satellite stations (not including XM), but we live with it, and they're improving all the time.
You'll get used to finding companies that ship free, or like Sheila says, call the company and have them flat rate it.
By the way, we're all planning one or two or more quilting retreats, and that helps keep us sane in the winter - having fun with our quilt sisters!!
You'll get used to finding companies that ship free, or like Sheila says, call the company and have them flat rate it.
By the way, we're all planning one or two or more quilting retreats, and that helps keep us sane in the winter - having fun with our quilt sisters!!
02-13-2013, 08:56 AM
#77
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,414
This style of sewing/embellishment is specifically that of the tsimshian people, who are generally around southwest Alaska and north west Washington and Canada in between. Each segment of the Alaska Native population has a fairly unique style of native clothing which is still used for formal occasions and some casual occasions. The area around Bethel (and northwest) is primarily Aleut/Eskimo and as such have traditions that are wonderful and many are unique to them.
Forgot to tell you about buttons. The beautiful quilts, robes, etc. I saw in Alaska were made with applique and many, many buttons. Looked like the old time pearl ones from shells and the designs were raven, totems, and often times red and black. I'll try to upload photos.
02-13-2013, 09:04 AM
#78
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MO
Posts: 1,057
You sound like an awesome person! What you are doing is wonderful! They will be blessed to have you in their community, and you will have an unbelievable experience. I wish you all the best and hope you will be able to post now & again & let us know how you are doing.
02-13-2013, 09:06 AM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,414
As several other Alaskan members have said, we have a great quilting community here in AK. I have never done any research on this, but I'm guessing that given the population of the state as being a little over 500,000, we have more quilt shops per capita than any other part of the US...we routinely ship to the bush...we encourage and support one another...and we all understand the frustration of shipping quirks...but we, for the most part, stay here because in spite of some of the things that might be "less favorable", there are many more things that are more favorable...Tho the winters are dark and long, I wouldn't give up the beautiful snow and scenery - northern lights frequently - attitude of "we're all in this together" - and in the summer? well, the average temperature in Anchorage is low 70s and well, I could go on.
My special thanks go to those of you who don't like Alaska, or wouldn't move here, since it gives me space to live here and means that I don't have to live in Florida, Arizona, etc. Different strokes for different folks!
My special thanks go to those of you who don't like Alaska, or wouldn't move here, since it gives me space to live here and means that I don't have to live in Florida, Arizona, etc. Different strokes for different folks!
02-13-2013, 09:20 AM
#80
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MO
Posts: 1,057
I recently finished a book, "Alaska Bound: One man's dream...One woman's nightmare" by Tammy Jones. It is a true story about the author's trials when her DH talked her into going to AK in March to build a cabin. It was a free Kindle download at the time.
Good luck on your adventure. Let us hear from you and please send pictures when you can.
Good luck on your adventure. Let us hear from you and please send pictures when you can.
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