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 Festival of Quilts
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for further information or to book.
| Sunday, August 16: | Depart USA | 1 Night |
| Virgin Atlantic Airways services major gateways from the US to London. We also have wholesale contracts with other carriers to England, so please inquire for flights from your specific city. | ||
| Monday, August 17: | Arrival in London | 3 Nights |
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Our local representative will be waiting to welcome you upon arrival and escort you to your shuttle for a ride to the hotel. The balance of the day is free to explore this vibrant capital city. Check out the street scene in Covent Gardens, stroll through Hyde Park, have a photo op at Buckingham Palace or Big Ben. Remember, all of London’s museums are free! Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with guest host, Janice Gunner, author and textile artist, President of the Quilters' Guild 2005-2008, and currently a textile instructor at City & Guilds University London. | |
| Tuesday, August 18: | Victoria and Albert Museum | |
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Today you'll have a full-day tour of the most important textile exhibitions. There will be a private guided tour at the Victoria and Albert Museum where you can view some of the quilt collection. The V&A has one of the world's finest and most extensive collections of fashionable dress and textiles, a total of 63,000 objects. Most techniques are represented, including woven, printed, & embroidered textiles, lace, tapestries, carpets & early silks from the Near East. | |
| Kensington Palace Dress Collection | ||
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This afternoon we'll visit Kensington Palace perched in the middle of the town on the edge of Hyde Park. You'll view the unique collection of court dresses from the 18th century to present. Once Lady's Diana’s home, the palace's proudest display is her collection of gowns, including ones by Versace, Gianni and her favorite designed; Catherine Walker. You'll also see a room filled with the Queen Mum's hats, Queen Victoria's bedroom, Mary of Modena's Warming Pan Bed, the King's Staircase and more. | |
| Wednesday, August 19: | Hampton Court | |
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We’ll spend a full day at Hampton Court; former palace of King Henry VIII, now home to the Embroiderer's Guild & the Royal School of Needlework, which received its charter form Queen Victoria. Today they partner with programs in North America, Japan and elsewhere in the maintenance of fine sewing and embroidery. After viewing these important collections, you'll have time to enjoy the elegant gardens. | |
| Thursday, August 20: | To Birmingham | 3 Nights |
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We'll leave the city behind and travel through the rolling hills of the Cotswolds heading northwest. Considered the
"Heart of England" the area is dotted with old villages surrounded by green pastures. You'll get a taste of Olde
England as we stop in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town steeped in history and culture, thanks to its favorite son,
Shakespeare. You'll visit his birthplace and Mary Arden's cottage before continuing on to Birmingham, the most
important address for quilters this summer. Festival of Quilts Gala Dinner ticket included in the tour. Hilton Hotel Metropole is adjacent to the N.E.C. |
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| Festival of Quilts, 2-Day Entry Ticket Included | ||
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Featuring exhibitions from leading artists from around the world, this is the event of the year for quilters. Glean inspiration from the gallery of projects on display; find those elusive patchwork and quilting supplies and network with like-minded quilters. Enjoy the more than 1200 quilts on display and visit with over 250 companies that stock the products for which you've been searching. | |
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There are a multitude of optional workshops & social events you can sign-up for, just visit the Twisted Thread Website. The Quilt Academy puts on over 75 master classes, workshops and lectures. You can also attend one of the 160+ sessions and workshops to help beginners hone their new craft. | |
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Festival of Quilts Features Artists Chunghie Lee: an internationally renowned fibre artist, she makes Pojagi, Korean traditional wrapping cloth, in 2-D, 3-D, installations and wearables. Yoshiko Jinzenji: She silk screens onto natural cotton using hand drawing patterns. The fragments are then cut from the printed cloth and sewn into a quilt. Jenny Bowker: her work features strong color portraits of tradesmen in Egypt, one of her many homes as she travels with her diplomat husband. |
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| Friday, August 21 | Festival of Quilts | |
| Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan: Wet & Wild Workshop 2-hr private demonstration at the NEC Virtual Studio | ||
| Saturday, August 22 | Festival of Quilts | |
| Sunday, August 23: | To Durham | 2 Nights |
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We head north to Durham stopping at Newstead Abbey, (time permitting) originally an Augustinian priory dating back to 1170, but better known as the former home of poet, Lord Byron's family since 1540. Today it retains its medieval character, including the west front of the church and the chapter house. Next we'll stop to explore Britain's favorite Open Air; The Beamish Museum, where the past comes to life. This is a living, working experience of life as it was in the Great North in the early 1800s and 1900s. Beamish, set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, vividly recreates as it once was. | |
| Monday, August 24 | Durham | |
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Our first stop today will be the historic market town of Barnard Castle where you can do some shopping. We'll visit the John Bowes Museum, a French chateau housing the most significant textile collection of European tapestries from the 15-19th centuries. You'll see French upholstery, needlework and tapestries in addition to a large collection of quilts. Other features include haute couture, wedding dresses and The Blackborne Lace Collection. | |
| Tuesday, August 25: | To York | 2 Nights |
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This morning after breakfast you'll head north to York, Your Tour Escort will show you around this medieval town with tangled cobble-stone streets and exquisite architecture. You'll see the imposing York Minster, one of the greatest gothic cathedrals in the world. You'll see traces of every age from the Roman occupation of York to today. Take some time to yourself to indulge in the city's vibrant café culture or enjoy one of the talented street entertainers. | |
| Wednesday, August 26: | York | |
The highlight of your study tour, we'll spend time at the Quilt Museum: Home to the Quilters' guild of
the British Isles, you'll have a private viewing of its world-famous Heritage Quilt Collection and the Handling
Collection (ok to touch). Volunteers have been sewing replicas of 19th century heritage quilts in the "Warp,
Weft, and Printer's Block" exhibition. They use the style called English Paper Piecing - one of the oldest and
most traditional styles. This time consuming project requires quilters to match the colors and style of the
traditional fabrics.Presentation by Lilian Hedley: A Taste of the North Country Quilting Learn how to draw feathers without drawing skills, make templates (3-hr, max 15 ppl) |
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| Thursday, August 27: | To Stoke-On-Trent | 1 Night |
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Your last full day in the UK takes you to Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire, the Elizabethan manor home set in tranquil grounds while featuring opulent interiors. Queen Elizabeth I's 450 anniversary of accession to the throne is honored by a striking exhibition of her portraits. Several rooms are devoted to the RBKS Textile collection featuring needlework, lace and costume assembled by the former owners. | |
| Our route takes us through the English Midlands, an area synonymous with ceramics, where we'll stop at the famous Wedgewood Museum, an estate situated on 200 acres. View their exhibitions and 20-minute film telling the history of the company from the Industrial Revolution to the enlightenment of Britain. Craftsmen demonstrate the manufacturing process of this renowned ceramic, even giving you the chance to try your hand at the potter's wheel. You might even bring something home after you see the discounts available. Farewell Dinner | ||
| Friday, August 28: | Depart from Manchester Airport, connecting in London | |
| You'll be transferred to the Manchester airport for your flight home - arrival same day | ||
$2,789.00 Per Person
Based on sharing a twin room
Land Package Inclusions
| Hotels 11 Nights / 13 Days: | Meals: |
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3 Nights - London 3 Nights - Birmingham 2 Nights - Durham 2 Nights - York 1 Night - Stoke-on-Trent |
Continental Breakfast Daily in Hotels Welcome Dinner Aug 20 Festival of Quilts Gala Dinner Farewell Dinner |
| Entry Tickets Included: | Package Inclusions: |
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Festival of Quilts 2 Days Victoria & Albert Museum Kensington Palace Hampton Court Quilt Museum Beamish Museum Bowes Museum Wedgewood Factory |
Airport Transfers Tour Escort and/or Local Guides Daily Transportation as noted in itinerary Baggage Handling at 2 Hotels, 2 Bags pp. |
Featuring Exclusive Demonstrations by Experts
Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan: Wet & Wild Demonstration
Lilian Hedley: A Taste of North Country Quilting
Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan: Wet & Wild Demonstration
Lilian Hedley: A Taste of North Country Quilting
Airline Reservations
Contact us for a quote from your North American departure city
Presented by Virgin Vacations in conjunction with Twisted Thread:
In the US call 877-700-7005 ext 3
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