QuiltCon and Pennsylvania Quilting Highlights
Take the fantastic opportunity to experience QuiltCon, the largest modern quilting event of its kind! Join Janice Gunner in North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh, with two full days at QuiltCon, as well as enjoying an exploration into Pennsylvania’s quilting traditions. On this tour, you will explore Pennsylvania’s largest city, Philadelphia, learn all about the Amish culture in Lancaster County, and take part in fantastic workshops with Janice. You will also have the opportunity to hit the shops for some retail therapy!
Your Tour Includes
- 8 nights accommodation in 3-star hotels
- Internal flight from Philadelphia to Raleigh
- 2 half-day workshops with Janice Gunner
- Entrance to QuiltCon
- Services of an experienced Tour Manager
- Travel package includes return flights from London to Philadelphia and Raleigh to London with 1 piece of checked luggage
- Entrance fees and excursions
Janice Gunner
Janice is an award-winning textile artist, teacher and author. Her most recent award being the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in Quilting at The Festival of Quilts 2019. She has published two books and has been teaching Textiles for over 30 years. Janice’s work is informed by the natural world and traditional textile techniques from many countries including Japan and Africa and her work is exhibited frequently. She is currently researching natural dyes as part of her MA in Textiles. Janice has a particular interest in traditional Japanese textile techniques including Shibori which was the subject of one of her books. When she is not travelling, Janice likes to visit museums and art galleries, listen to music, photography and reading.
Itinerary
Meet Janice and your tour manager at London Heathrow airport for your flight to Philadelphia. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Philadelphia is known for its fascinating museums, national historic sites and delicious food. This morning we will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour with a local guide. During the tour we will see a number of attractions, including visits to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Our tour ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where you will have some time at leisure to have something to eat before visiting and exploring the museum.
Included Highlights
This morning we check out of our hotel in Philadelphia and head to Fabric Row, where textile shoppers have journeyed to for more than a century. The historic thoroughfare is filled with fabric vendors, restaurants, new boutiques, and other businesses. Enjoy time at leisure to explore and browse the shops. After, you will be transferred to Philadelphia’s famous indoor farmer’s market – Reading Terminal Market. The market is home to more than 80 merchants and a visit to Philadelphia wouldn’t be complete without stopping here to shop and dine.
Later this afternoon, we will depart Philadelphia and drive to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, home to some of the oldest Amish communities in the country.
Included Highlights
Today we visit The Amish Farm and House where you will learn all about Lancaster’s Amish culture and how their lives have evolved in modern times. Enjoy a three-hour countryside tour exploring the farm and this afternoon enjoying browsing the Log Cabin Quilt Shop.
We will return to the hotel late afternoon, and you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Includes Lunch
Included Highlights
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum is a 100-arce living history museum that interprets Pennsylvania German life and culture from 1740 to 1940. Our visit to the museum today includes exploring the historic buildings, wandering through the gardens and seeing the artistry and craftsmanship from spinning, weaving, quilting, hearth cooking to leather making. We will see one of these crafts up close as we watch a demonstration.
This afternoon we will return to the hotel where you will enjoy a workshop with Janice.
Included Highlights
Enjoy your second workshop this morning with Janice at the hotel.
This afternoon we will leave Lancaster and drive to Philadelphia airport for our evening flight to Raleigh in North Carolina.
Included Highlights
QuiltCon is the largest modern quilting event of its time and this year it is being held in Raleigh. We will enjoy two full days at the event where you can browse stands, admire quilt exhibits and participate in workshops.
Included Highlights
This morning we will visit the North Carolina Museum of History, where you can discover artifacts and other historical materials relating to the history and heritage of North Carolina. Here we will enjoy a private viewing of some of the quilts and have time at leisure to explore the museum.
Later this afternoon, we will drive to Raleigh airport for our overnight flight to the UK.
Included Highlights
This morning we will land in London and say our farewells.
Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get
the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short
distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach
unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight
the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and
the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve
being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are
taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you
should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers.
Crafted for Quilters
Specially designed for quilters, this Stitchtopia quilting holiday is the ideal opportunity to indulge in your favourite hobby and pick up some new crafty tips and tricks. Our talented quilting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to spark your creativity.
Accommodation
You will stay for two nights at the 3-star Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, three nights at the 3-star Wyndham Lancaster Resort & Convention Center, and three nights at the 3-star Courtyard by Marriott Raleigh Midtown.