Our adventure begins with an evening flight from Newark Airport. Please check-in 3-4 hours before our departure time. We will meet at the gate area. On our flight, a light breakfast will be served. B

This morning we will change planes in Paris as we continue our journey onto the London Airport. A light breakfast snack will be served on the plane. We will pass through customs, collect our luggage and meet our driver and tour guide who will take us on a PANORAMIC TOUR OF LONDON. We will drive past many recognizable sights like the Tower of London, Harrods Department Store, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Temple Station, Notting Hill, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, the West End, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalger Square, and more. There will be time to stop and enjoy lunch on our own before driving to our first-class hotel. We will check into our hotel in the middle of the afternoon where we will unpack and relax. Tonight, we will all enjoy a special “Welcome Dinner,” and have an opportunity to meet our fellow travelers and Sew Many Places founder, JIM WEST. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B, D

This morning, following breakfast, we will visit the famous VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM, where we will have an opportunity to view their outstanding collection of patchwork quilts and tapestries. A private curator from the museum will provide an extraordinary tour for our group. The afternoon and evening are free to enjoy at your leisure. B

More about what we will see at the museum:
This exhibition will showcase a collection of patchwork and quilted covers to bring together over 300 years of British quilting history, from the spectacular bed hangings and silk coverlets of the 18th century, to the creative reinvention of the quilt by contemporary artists. Each quilt has a unique story to tell, revealed under the broader themes of consumerism, luxury and utility, creativity and confinement, taste, the domestic interior, travel, national and regional identity, and commemoriation. The exhibition will celebrate the astonishing vision involved in the design and making of each quilt, and attempt to unravel some of the complex and individual narratives embedded in its history.

Quilts and textiles at the Victoria & Albert Museum:
Quilting can be traced back at least to the Middle Ages. Examples from Europe, India and the Far East can be seen in the Museum, but quilting has also been practised in Persia, Turkestan and Moslem Africa. The word `quilt' seems to have first been used in England in the 1200s, and connects with the Latin word ‘cucita’ meaning a bolster or cushion. Quilting usually means two layers of fabric sandwiching a thickish padding or interlining, all held together by lines of stitching. However, it is not essential to have the middle layer; for instance in early 18th-century English quilting, just the two outer layers of fabric were used, and in 'Italian' or corded quilting, strands of cord or thick wool are threaded between parallel lines of stitching to make the raised pattern.

Quilting Stitches:
In any quilting, the stitching is very important. It can be just basic running stitch or back stitch, but each stitch has to be made individually to make sure it catches all the layers. In quilts where the stitching is laid down in decorative patterns, it can be extremely fine work. Traditional titles for many popular stitching patterns include such names as Broken Plaid, Hanging Diamond, Twisted Rope or True Lovers' Knot. Because of the large areas to be dealt with, for example on bed covers, it is very easy for quilt making to become a social occasion where lots of people share the sewing. Particularly in America, where early settlers from England and Holland established quilting as a very popular craft, there is still the tradition of a quilt-making 'bee' for a girl about to get married, with the aim of stitching a whole quilt in one day.

Uses of Quilted Fabric:
The earliest quilting was used to make bed covers: very fine quilts are often mentioned in inventories from medieval times and frequently became family heirlooms. In the Middle Ages quilting was also used to produce clothing that was light as well as warm. It was also used for protective wear such as the padded jackets worn under armour to make it more comfortable or even, if very thick, as the top layer for people too poor to afford metal armour. Quilting was at its most popular in this country in the 17th century: in the early years for the quilted silk doublets and breeches worn by wealthy courtiers, and later on for petticoats, jackets and waistcoats.
In England during the 17th century, the desire to create interesting sculptural effects on textiles led to amazing heights of artistry in the hands of skilled needleworkers wanting to decorate boxes such as jewel caskets or make framed three-dimensional scenes. Various embroidery stitches could easily create a textured surface on a fabric with just yarn, for instance laid or couched work, where threads are laid across the fabric and then stitched down, French knots, or Turkey work, where knots are hand tied exactly like a pile carpet. However, there was also an exciting range of trimmings such as lace, cords, tassels, beads, seed pearls, metal sequins (spangles) or even pins arranged so that the heads made a decorative pattern as in pinstuck pincushions, which could be utilised to further decorate or raise the surfaces.

Today, following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the bustling city of BATH. Along the way, we will see the famous tourist attraction of STONEHENGE, the most famous standing-circle stones in the world. There will be a brief stop for photographs. We will continue our drive to the American Museum, which houses American woven coverlets, Navajo weaving and an extensive array of quilts. Later in the afternoon we will check into our charming hotel and enjoy dinner all together. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel and drive northeast through the Cotswolds, until we reach the quaint town of STRATFORD UPON AVON, the home to William Shakespeare. We will check-in to our first-class hotel. You will have time to visit some of the sights related to this famous author, including Shakespeare’s home. There are also specialty shops with great shopping and charming restaurants and pubs where you can enjoy a delicious meal. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. B

This morning, following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the beautiful city of BIRMINGHAM. Along the way, we will stop at the famous Cadbury Chocolate Factory and sample some of the chocolate delights. We will enjoy a PANORAMIC TOUR of Birmingham before we arrive at our first-class hotel, check in, and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure. B

This morning, following breakfast, we will visit the N.E.C. Exhibition Center and attend the FESTIVAL OF QUILTS. You will have the entire day to explore the largest quilt gala ever staged in the United Kingdom! Here you will see quilts in all shapes and forms. There are over 1000 quilts in competition, 170 vendors and 30 galleries. There’s so much to enjoy, from the competition displays as well as galleries featuring the work of individual artists, along with priceless historic pieces brought together from throughout the world. This event is sponsored by The Quilter’s Guild of the British Isles and is one of the most significant quilting events in Europe. For an additional cost you can participate in some of the workshops. The entire day is at your leisure. Enjoy your day! B

This morning, following breakfast, you will have the entire day to do as you please. You can return to the FESTIVAL OF QUILTS on its final day, shop in the city, visit museums or art galleries, take a stroll through the city gardens or simply relax. Tonight, we will bring this very special tour to a close with “farewell dinner” at a local restaurant. B, D

This morning very early we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Birmingham Airport. We will board our plane, taking us back to the Newark Airport. We will change planes in Paris. Lunch will be served on board the plane. Box Breakfast, L