Yes! I was there because I was staying overnight with a woman who was doing an incredible "spirit" quilt (mixing northern elements with human aspects). I was so impressed that I went into the quilt store where the owner? talked to me about quilting, which I was becoming intriqued with. I bought a book of baby quilting, read it many times but used it as a springboard of inspirations.

There is also an awesome shop on a back street in the town of Kenai (I think all the streets there are "back streets." We go up rather regularly (our son lives there) and I always am amazed anew at that quilt shop. Near the airport. Looks like a windowed barn. Great helpers inside (which includes the clerks and the other shoppers). Also, lots of Alaskan and NW native design patterns.

Yes! I was there because I was staying overnight with a woman who was doing an incredible "spirit" quilt (mixing northern elements with human aspects). I was so impressed that I went into the quilt store where the owner? talked to me about quilting, which I was becoming intriqued with. I bought a book of baby quilting, read it many times but used it as a springboard of inspirations.

There is also an awesome shop on a back street in the town of Kenai (I think all the streets there are "back streets." We go up rather regularly (our son lives there) and I always am amazed anew at that quilt shop. Near the airport. Looks like a windowed barn. Great helpers inside (which includes the clerks and the other shoppers). Also, lots of Alaskan and NW native design patterns.

My lqs is about $10-$11/yd - so the prices aren't all that shocking to me -- I wouldn't spend that kind of money for a dragger for the kids - but for a quilt I expect to use in 15 years, sure. I was looking at their kits - they seem to be fairly reasonably priced for the most part - and they are gorgeous.

imo that is not entirely true. most people have a limited time and money allowance to see the real alaska and the shoreline is part of it. i took the land/cruise combo and got to see the interior and denali with all it's animals, but also got to see the calving of the ice, the glaciers and the wild marine mammals, which i would not have seen otherwise. additionally, since most of the populated part of alaska is on the edge of the sea, to not stop at the ports is to miss the towns and most opportunities to try sightseeing in different ways, such as helicoptering to the top of the glaciers, salmon fishing, etc. since i wasn't going to walk and swim through alaska, which would be the most natural way to see it, i think the land/cruise deal is second best.
when most people go on a vacation, it's a vacation. they want to see as much as possible, inland and oceanside. they don't necessarily want to move there. and what's wrong with making a few dollars during the summer?

Been there, done that! Isn't that a great place? It was one of my favorite parts of the cruise. I got 8 charm square packs of Alaska flowers I'm still just looking at.