BONNIE HUNTER

Bonnie K Hunter is passionate about quilt quilting, focusing mainly on scrap quilts with the simple feeling of “making do”. She started her love affair with quilting in a home economics class her senior year of high school in 1980 and has never looked back. Before quilting became her full time career, Bonnie was the owner and designer of ""Needle in a Haystack!", creating more than 70 patterns for dolls and stuffed animals with a country primitive feel.

Many of her designs were licensed through the Butterick Pattern Company, translated into 7 languages and sold around the globe through fabric stores. But quilting has always been Bonnie’s first love. She has been machine quilting since 1989 and professionally long arm quilting for the public since 1995, retiring in 2009 when she no longer had the time due to her teaching, traveling and writing schedule. She has been featured in magazines both for her quilt patterns and articles she has written on scrap management and using that stash to its full potential.

Bonnie received the 2012 “Teacher of the Year” award through a global internet poll hosted via Sew Cal Gal, and was completely flabbergasted, not to mention honored and humbled at the same time.

Dedicated to continuing the traditions of quilting, Bonnie enjoys meeting with quilters, teaching workshops and lecturing to quilt guilds all over the world, challenging quilters to break the rules, think outside the box, and find what brings them joy.

When not traveling and teaching, she spends her time piecing scrap quilts, enjoying the peaceful reward of English paper piecing and hand quilting as much as machine work, and loving life in her wooded surroundings in beautiful rural Wallburg, North Carolina, a suburb of Winston-Salem. She and her husband, Dave are the proud parents of two grown sons, Jason, and Jeffrey. They round out their household with Sadie the dog and two cats –Emmy Lou, who loves life inside only, and Chloe who only loves life on the outside—keeping Bonnie company while she designs, quilts and plays happily with her fabric.

Bonnie also writes a regular column for Quiltmaker Magazine entitled "Addicted to Scraps" with the main intention to help you to put various aspects of your own Scrap Users System to good use!

Bonnie’s favorite motto? “The Best Things in Life are Quilted!!” of course!

Becky Galambos , Florissant, MO - This was the most amazing trip. Being in ancient places, seeing the history I have studied, and experiencing the food, culture, and atmosphere of modern Egypt was an experience that profoundly affected me. The group bonded immediately, and took care of one another over the week like a family.

Jenny Hall , Wellington, New Zealand - Loved the trip we couldn’t have been looked after better by our Egyptian tour guides and your own Betsy.

Nikki Wells , Las Vegas, NV - Absolutely loved every minute. Our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. He really made it all come to Life.

Bob Hall , Wellington, New Zealand - High quality accommodation including Nile Cruise boat. Excellent guides. Very safe at all times. Quick access made easy by guides working to ensure we skip long queues.

Leslie Tanner , Provo, UT - Egypt is magical and craftours were our magic carpet ride! The itinerary was wonderful and so were our accommodations, the food also was excellent!

Valerie Salter , Frisco, TX - The Egyptian tour was a lifetime experience and our tour guide was top of the line.

Marilyn Fisher , Arlington, WA - I have always wanted to visit Egypt, this trip was the experience of a lifetime. A piece of my heart remains in Egypt and a piece of Egypt came home with me.

Pat Miles , Gresham, OR - I tried to go to Egypt with no expectations, but I could have had very high expectations and they would still have been exceeded.

Sharon Sato , Freemont, CA - This tour was fantastic!!! It was very very hot, but the tour guides made it possible for us to see the temples when the weather was a little cooler.

Steve O'Connell , Wildwood, MO - The hotel choice, security, coordination of inter-country air travel, adaptations (when situations changed), food and of course our tour support group (Joseph, Betsy and Mohammad) were excellent. At the conclusion of the tour, I felt the itinerary enabled me to see a good representation of what Egypt has to offer.

Marcia , Lawson, MO - The guides and escorts were excellent! We felt very safe and well-cared for during our outings and traveling through airports.

Kim Orosz , South Bend, IN - All the Guides we had including Betsy from Craftours and The local people Muhammad and Youssepf were fantastic. Muhammad got us through all the bureaucratic channels of the airport and tickets into places to Youssef and all his knowledge on the history of the places. That they helped create a "Family " out of 40 strangers was wonderful.

Pat Christenson, Kirkland, WA - "I enjoyed this tour very much. I have been fascinated by Ancient Egypt for as long as I can remember, so finally going there and walking in the footsteps of the people that I have admired for so long was a dream come true. Modern Egypt was very eye opening also."

Leslie Gordon, Neskowin, OR - "This tour completely exceeded my expectations. Mohamed, our tour guide was the best guide I have ever had for any tour. Our accommodation, both hotel and boat were excellent, both the room and the food. I found the Egyptian people to be very honest, friendly and accommodating. I also felt safer, even in Cairo, as I often do in the US. I walked by myself in the morning along the Nile and felt completely safe. The places we were taken were all excellent and some would not be on any other tour, especially the Tent Makers of Cairo who are amazing quilt makers."

Roberta Allen, Oceanside, CA - "This was an incredible tour! The small group added to the experience. Having lunch across from the Sphinx to sailing on a boat to Abu Simbel...each experience on this tour was outstanding and so memorable. I highly recommend this tour, it’s a must on your bucket list!"

Magdalena Muller, Cornelius, NC - "Egypt has always intrigued me. I admired their art very much. When Craftours offered a trip to Egypt, I jumped on it right away along with my friend. Seeing all the ancient treasures was a marvel forme! We had an excellent tour guide, Mo, who you could tell loves his country and knows it very well. He was more than happy to share his love and knowledge of Egypt. I am so happy I got the opportunity to see Egypt."

Nancy Nelson-Kremer, Brandon, SD - "Fantastic tour where we learned about the history while seeing it in person."

Carol Dunn, Salem, WI - "This was the most amazing tour. I saw and learned so much. Mohammed was amazing in his knowledge of his country and the wonderful Treasures of Egypt."

Avis LaFayette, Brooksville, FL - "This is definitely the trip to take if you are interested in the history of Egypt and how it relates to the modern world. Pictures don't do justice to the pyramids, temples, etc. Seeing them in person takes your breath away. Our local guide, Mo, was an expert in Egypt which made the experience that much more enjoyable. Heike, the Craftours guide was very helpful and knowledgeable about traveling in this part of the world. As usual, the accommodation were wonderful and the Nile Cruise a highlight of the trip."

Sunset Regall, Santa Fe, NM - "This trip far exceeded my expectations!! Throughout the entire tour, we were well cared for in accommodation, transportation, education, and all meals! Between Heike and Mohammed, I felt safe and enjoyed every minute of my tour. I would definitely take this exact tour again and it would have to be with Mohammed and Heike! Mohammed made what we were seeing understandable and recognizable. His passion for Egyptian history made it come alive through his storytelling and explanations. I really appreciate his expertise and feel super lucky to have had him for our guide!!"

Kathy Durance, Sooke, BC - "One of those "bucket list" trips. So important to go & see & experience new cultures."

Zerelda Butler, Powder Springs, GA - "This was the most beautifully planned and executed tour that I have ever taken. Yes, it was hot, and yes, it was a lot of walking, but it was worth every step. I learned so much about Egypt, and I can't wait to return!"

Betsy Martinson, Denver, CO - "This was an amazing adventure that explored not only the historical landscape, but delved into the modern man-made developments and consequences. I learned so much about the culture, the art, and life along the Nile. Highly recommend it!"

Barry Basiliere, San Antonio, TX - "The itinerary, accommodation and guides were exceptional."

Holly Haack, West Hollywood, CA - "Trip of a lifetime!"

Stella Bouldin, Lafaytte, OR - "My last trip with Craftours was in 2007 to Egypt. I enjoyed traveling with the small group and the great guides we had."

Leslie Gordon, Neskowin, OR - "This tour completely exceeded my expectations. Mohamed, our tour guide was the best guide I have ever had for any tour. Our accommodation, both hotel and boat were excellent, both the room and the food. I found the Egyptian people to be very honest, friendly and accommodating. I also felt safer, even in Cairo, as I often do in the US. I walked by myself in the morning along the Nile and felt completely safe. The places we were taken were all excellent and some would not be on any other tour, especially the Tent Makers of Cairo who are amazing quilt makers."

Magdalena Muller, Cornelius, NC - "Egypt has always intrigued me. I admired their art very much. When Craftours offered a trip to Egypt, I jumped on it right away along with my friend. Seeing all the ancient treasures was a marvel forme! We had an excellent tour guide, Mo, who you could tell loves his country and knows it very well. He was more than happy to share his love and knowledge of Egypt. I am so happy I got the opportunity to see Egypt."

Avis LaFayette, Brooksville, FL - "This is definitely the trip to take if you are interested in the history of Egypt and how it relates to the modern world. Pictures don't do justice to the pyramids, temples, etc. Seeing them in person takes your breath away. Our local guide, Mo, was an expert in Egypt which made the experience that much more enjoyable. Heike, the Craftours guide was very helpful and knowledgeable about traveling in this part of the world. As usual, the accommodation were wonderful and the Nile Cruise a highlight of the trip."

Sunset Regall, Santa Fe, NM - "This trip far exceeded my expectations!! Throughout the entire tour, we were well cared for in accommodation, transportation, education, and all meals! Between Heike and Mohammed, I felt safe and enjoyed every minute of my tour. I would definitely take this exact tour again and it would have to be with Mohammed and Heike! Mohammed made what we were seeing understandable and recognizable. His passion for Egyptian history made it come alive through his storytelling and explanations. I really appreciate his expertise and feel super lucky to have had him for our guide!!"

Zerelda Butler, Powder Springs, GA - "This was the most beautifully planned and executed tour that I have ever taken. Yes, it was hot, and yes, it was a lot of walking, but it was worth every step. I learned so much about Egypt, and I can't wait to return!"

Leslie Gordon, Neskowin, OR - "This tour completely exceeded my expectations. Mohamed, our tour guide was the best guide I have ever had for any tour. Our accommodation, both hotel and boat were excellent, both the room and the food. I found the Egyptian people to be very honest, friendly and accommodating. I also felt safer, even in Cairo, as I often do in the US. I walked by myself in the morning along the Nile and felt completely safe. The places we were taken were all excellent and some would not be on any other tour, especially the Tent Makers of Cairo who are amazing quilt makers."