Sulky of America

(excerpt from Craft Industry Alliance (craftindustryalliance.org) Corporate Member Profile by Aimee Davis; used with permission)

Before Sulky was a household name, Joyce and Fred Drexler were running a sewing and fabric storefront in Florida, which led to Joyce founding Speed Stitch in 1980. Through Speech Stitch, she taught thousands of store owners all over North America how to teach free-motion embroidery to their customers with just a basic zigzag stitch on a sewing machine. These were the years before the home embroidery machine took off and her extensive knowledge and experience with the many different threads and stabilizers were quickly catching on. Realizing that there was a market for stabilizers and threads for the home sewist, the Drexler’s joined up with Chris Gunold, of Gunold Worldwide, in 1987 and the Sulky brand was born. Joyce continued teaching how to use all these different materials through the 22 books that she authored over 28 years and numerous in-store and guild seminars that Sulky National Educators taught. After Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida, the Drexlers moved their operation to Georgia; which is where they are to this day.

The mission statement of Sulky truly sums up the heart of their company: Sulky longs to help bring beautiful things into the world; to inspire others and help creators have confidence. Their passion is to provide the tools and education for them to do that.

Sixty percent of Sulky’s product lines concern machine embroidery, with their rayon threads and stabilizers being sold through JoAnn’s, while the other forty percent is split between quilting, sewing, and handwork. Independent retailers have the exclusive rights to sell Sulky’s cottons; including their Cotton Petites. While you can order threads and materials through their main website, once the order goes through Independent Retailers are given the opportunity to fulfill that order before Sulky takes over. This is truly evidence of their eagerness to encourage and support your small local quilt shop.

One of their most recent products is their collaboration with Cotton + Steel. Their partnered collection offers one hundred different colors of 50-weight cotton threads designed to match any Cotton + Steel fabric selection. Watch to see how Sulky Cotton + Steel threads are made from cotton to spool.

The world of home sewing has changed drastically since the Drexler’s began their storefront over 49 years ago. When Sulky was born in 1987 they were the only thread company selling decorative threads. Indeed, they created the category. Fast forward to today and there are twenty-six. Sulky is answering the question of how to stay relevant in this crowded and ever-changing market by striving to set themselves apart through education. The sulky.com website offers a wide selection of education videos with both free and paid content. With Sulky, you do not just receive a product, but you receive access to loads of education and ideas on how to use that product.

Sulky is active on Instagram, Facebook and through their blog. Their blog is updated regularly and is full of project ideas to inspire your creativity.

Ellen March is the Director of Content for Sulky. She manages the overall marketing strategy with an emphasis on video and digital content. Ellen uses her in-depth background in sewing, embroidery and quilting for both television and print to enrich the Sulky product line, education and distribution. In addition, Ellen hosts monthly Sulky Webcasts and Videocasts, YouTube videos and the popular weekly Facebook Live “Sew What?” streaming series. Ellen was the former host of Sew it All TV on PBS for nine seasons, teaching sewing with industry experts and “sew”lebrities.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST ENGLAND TOURS:

Donita Gentry , Seattle, WA - It was a wonderful trip! Going to the studio that Harry Potter was filmed at was a lot of fun. Highclere was beautiful. We were there when it was all decorated for Christmas, all the trees were so beautiful [decorated with lots of purple ornaments]. Getting to go to Stonehenge was such a treat.

Becky Thompson , La Vernia, TX - This was a bucket list tour for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Starting off each city with a guided bus tour set the stage for all the other days so we knew basically where we were and what we were looking at.

Colleen Eager , Worcester, NY - Absolutely loved it. Harry Potter, Stonehenge. Loved the free time. Enjoyed not having a strict timetable and just going with the flow. Betsy was wonderful, helpful, and friendly.

Linda Powell , Stevensville, MT - The trip was wonderful and relaxing.

Karen Giordano , Holtsville, NY - Fun Tour.

Joann Briggs , Normal, IL - I would say this was a “taste” of London and Bath. We got to experience many places, but I would love to go back and spend more time in each place. Highclere Castle was the highlight of this trip. It was really special!

Cheryl Dolence , Salem, OH - It was a great trip that only needed more time at Windsor Castle. I would suggest allowing a whole day at that destination. Otherwise, it was perfect!

Lori Naczynski , Crossville, TN - It was good.

Patti Johnson , Friendswood, TX - The Craftours Christmastime Adventure was a great experience. It was very well organized and had flexibility in it. I highly recommend this tour.

Bunny Bayles , Tuscaloosa, AL - The Christmas time. Adventure was so much more than I expected.... Jim had the entire trip so impeccably planned that there was no need for questions. The accommodations were top of line from bell men to waiters to the cleaning ladies. The hotels were all clean...attractive and all the personal were polite and courtesy. The bus driver went out of his way to help and always greeted us with a smile…

Jan Rich , Friendswood, TX - The trip to England, December 2023, took us to ALL the most wonderful sites of London, and surrounds. Every detail was carried out seamlessly, and gave me a "Full English" experience. Jim is so much fun, so informative, and definitely shows he cares about your business! All trip participants were delightful people to share this awesome trip with! I could not ask for more out of a trip! Thanks, Jim!

Kathie Chapman , Sequim, WA - As always, this tour was first class all the way. It was wonderful to see all the sights, visit places you've always heard about and meet some wonderful people.

Joy Howard , Ellicott City, MD - This was my 3rd Craftours tour. Our guide Ana was excellent, friendly and caring. Our driver Sam was an excellent driver, very friendly and warm. I felt very well cared for. I will definitely travel with Craftours again.

Denise Jo Crangle , Sunnyvale, CA - Overall, I had a lovely time. Coming to this with knowing no one ahead of time, I had a great group. We all got along well and had a lot of laughs. Our escort and driver were wonderful.

Rhonda Richter , Egg Harbor, NJ - The Cotswolds tour was a lovely visit to the beautiful countryside of quaint villages, castles and palaces.

Dena , Reston, VA - The mixture of visiting historic places/gardens and small towns was just right, Ana (our tour manager) and Sam (our coach driver) were excellent!

Teresa Bickmore , Salt Lake City, UT - The trip was amazing. It was a small group, which I loved. It made it possible to save time coordinating arrival times and departure times. Everyone was so nice and it worked out to be all women close to my age so very relatable. Jim has a great way of motivating the group and keeping a fast, fun pace. I would love to go on another tour because my experience was so great. It was a great mix of tours and crafts.

Carol Margolis , Staten Island, NY - Incredible experience.

Cynthia Robinson , Columbia, SC - The Cotswold trip was lovely and memorable. I liked traveling with a smaller group. I especially loved meeting Jim West and experiencing the Cotswolds through his eyes.

Karla Murphy , Sioux Falls, SD - Great trip, enough opportunities to separate from the group as desired, unique crafting options, super cozy accommodations both in London and Lower Slaughter.

Linda Fukunaga , Sequim, WA - I would recommend it if you've always wanted to just stay a little longer in the Cotswold. It was charming.

Barbara Littlefield , Eagle, ID - Excellent trip. Our guide Holly Brown was the perfect host, showed us the sights and also let us explore on our own. Our hotels were very comfortable and the food provided was plentiful and delicious. I had an excellent experience.

Rita Faye Brevig , Tempe, AZ - This was my first time in England. The tour gave me a wonderful overview of so many cities. It was a great way to get an overview of England and know what areas I would want to come back and visit.

Cynthia Dimitrijevic , Holt, MI - Saw some beautiful areas; enjoyed the International Quilt Show.

Dianna Brown , Deltona, FL - it was wonderful til the end

Julia Graves , Leesburg, VA - Trip was well organized, went to places I was interested in, and had lovely fellow passengers.

Nancy Lathrop , Berthoud, CO - This was a spectacular tour! It was my first time across the Atlantic. The tour picked out the best towns to see in a nine-day tour, which included the Festival of Quilts, in Birmingham. The hotels were superb, and the tour bus that guided us was a new Mercedes. The tour manager was experienced and professional as was our courteous and highly traveled bus driver. He drove by Stonehenge slowly enough that everyone on the bus should have gotten an excellent shot of the site. The 2 professional tour guides (Bath and London) were so knowledgeable and entertaining. The Craftours welcome and farewell dinners were deluxe and delicious. The hotel's buffet breakfasts really spoiled me. I'm so impressed that I'm looking to book my next tour!

David Graves , Leesburg, VA - I enjoyed the trip very much.

Joanne Bouchard , Henderson, NV - I had a wonderful time on this tour through England. The quilt show was great, we had very informative guides in Bath and London. All the hotels were first class and our guide Holly and bus driver Sam were the best. Thank you for a wonderful time.

Kage buckley , Ave Maria, FL - Loved Burton on the water and would have liked more time there. Sam, the driver I found to be excellent! He actually escorted myself and a few other ladies to a great restaurant in Bath. The markets in Bath were Awesome. It was my first time in London and there is so much to do! I would like to take this trip again.

Peggy M. Carter , Jenkinsburg, GA - The trip was good. Alice was very thoughtful and helpful and pleasant. I enjoyed the double decker bus tour of the Christmas lights that she helped us book. Westminster Abbey was amazing. The Christmas markets were great. I really enjoyed Bath and my friend and I had a very nice afternoon tea at the Pump Room Restaurant.

Kathy Sawicki , Commerce Township, MI - A delightful itinerary visiting both well known sites (e.g. changing of the guard) & lesser known locations (The Dickens Museum). Our visit to Highclere Castle (aka “Downton Abbey”) was a highlight — especially with the current countess actively, & graciously, managing the tour operation at her home.

Linda Wirth , Venice, FL - Just returned from 'Christmastime at Downton Abbey & Jolly Ole England' tour and enjoyed all of the experiences immensely!

Dana Warner Fisher, Greensboro, NC - "This tour provided lots of excellent experiences in several British cities not usually covered on tours. Getting the chance to visit Birmingham and Bath was especially attractive to me."

Marilyn Nance, Chicago, IL - "Overall, this was a very good trip! The hotels were very good and well located."

Dolores Byrnes, Havertown, PA - "I really enjoyed the tour."

Lynette Eggers, Valparaiso, IN - "This trip was on my bucket list for a long time. It fulfilled every expectation. I not only experienced new things, I saw new areas of England and best of all made new friends."

Janice Novachcoff, Royal Oak, MI - "Overall it was a great experience. I was pleasantly surprised at the accommodation to my vegan diet. Hotels were all nice, especially the one in Bath which had the most environmental programs in place."

Beverly Brown, Bloomington, IN - "The quilt show part of this experience was wonderful! Show was spread out and easy to move around even when busy. The Warwick Castle and Highclere Castle experience were extremely enjoyable and highlights of the trip. Shopping at Liberty of London was a great addition to the trip."

Susan Rotilie, Minneapolis, MN - "I enjoyed the focus on smaller towns as well as London on this trip. Seeing the Cotswolds was a real treat."

Linda Babbs, Seminole, FL - "This tour was packed with many highlights of the city of London and the countryside. Traveling in a smaller bus made it very intimate and easy to interact with other travelers. We had a small group of 13 and that increased the enjoyment of my experience."

Vicki Hauser, Overland Park, KS - "Overall the tour was quite lovely and encompassed a great deal of the English countryside. The biggest plus was getting to see both Highclere Castle and Buckingham Palace!"

Linda Evans, Farmington Hills, MI - "This was my first trip to England and I enjoyed the experience. A lot to see and treasure!"

Joy Howard, Ellicott City, MD - "I enjoyed the overall experience. One in particular that stands out was the visit to Buckingham Palace. That was spectacular."

Patricia Esterline, Fort Worth, TX - "Enjoyed the experience. Seeing the state rooms at Buckingham Palace was an unexpected treat."

Carolyn Anderson, Middleboro, MA - "The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham was wonderful. The amount of vendors was extraordinary and diverse in what was offered. The tour was well organized and covered a lot of ground from Stratford Upon Avon to the lovely village of Bourton-on-the-Water to the cities of Bath and London. We spent an extra day in London to extend the fun. A great time."

Terry Aske, New Westminster, BC Canada - "It was a wonderful tour! We loved the variety of quilts and other fibre arts at the Festival of Quilts. The bus tour through England was a perfect blend of quaint historical towns and scenery, and the excitement of London. The ratio of planned activities to free time was perfect for us. This was my first visit to England, and I loved it!"

Linda Henderson, Junction City, KS - "This was my first international travel. The cities we visited were wonderful and I enjoyed the experience."

Anne de Verteuil, Victoria, BC Canada - "I loved the Quilting Tour, our guide was very helpful, the pace was just right. There was just the right amount of time to relax and explore on our own in addition to the guided tours and planned activities."

Gail M Lopez, Charleston, SC - "The tour was very nice. It was my first and Agnes did a wonderful job. Got to see quite a variety of England and experience different cultures and foods. The knitting and stitching show was good, not what they have here in the states, but I did enjoy it. Great Job Agnes!"

Jean McCurdy Stein, Muskegon, MI - "This was a lovely trip to England in the fall. We were able to see the beautiful countryside outside London as well as enjoy the Knitting & Stitching Show and other activities in the city."

Arlene Kilborn, Leesburg, VA - "This tour was above and beyond my expectations."

Betty Kieran, Bellevue, NE - "Quiltville in England Tour was fun and filled with opportunities to inspire unique quilting creativity."

Michaela Burgnon, Odenton, MD - "A well planned and delivered tour. A good taste of England that will make you want to return. Good hotels. Tour guide was wonderful."

Suzette Lee, Bradenton, Florida - "England and the sites were great if you made the most of your time!"

Joan R. Barnes, Orland Park, Illinois - "I'm a traveler, and I was totally impressed with this trip."

Sherly Giglio, Boyds, Maryland - "Loved the trip! Glad we had some free time to do and explore."

Stephanie Rodgers, Washington Township, New Jersey - "The trip was a lot of fun, but very exhausting. I would've preferred more classes, and less bus traveling. My least favorite place was Bath, only because I'm not much of a shopper. On vacation, I'm more into shopping like at Burton on the Water. Absolutely loved Stratford-Upon-Avon!"

Mary Harrell, Milton, Georgia - "At first I was a little nervous about going on the trip as a single, but I quickly made 24 new friends. The trip was wonderful. It was the perfect mix of crafting, sightseeing and camaraderie."

Betty Brown, Englewood, Florida - "Such a wonderful trip, so much to see and do. God willing I will go again on one of your trips."

Karen Morey, Omaha, Nebraska - "The tour was outstanding! My friends and I enjoyed the mix of organized time and free time so we were able to go off on our own adventures (including 3 shows in London!). Our guide, made it a very personal experience, and I would definitely take another tour with Craftours!"

Nancy Jo Marsden, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania - "This was my first tour with McCalls. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to England from beginning to end. The hotels were first class with excellent service & food. Great Quilt Show in Birmingham! Craftours and their staff were very organized, helpful & friendly. Alice went beyond her duty by taking 17 of us on a personal tour of London on our last day. That was the best!"

Cynthia Stanhope, Parksville, British Columbia - "I loved every minute of it. All places were on my bucket list. Sometimes I find it hard to believe it happened!"

Diane Hickey, Highland,Illinois - "This is a wonderfully comprehensive tour which encompasses several quilt venues as well as many outstanding tourist sites. I recommend it highly"

Terri Westberg, Oscoda, Michigan - "I had a lovely time, and what a grand adventure. All the sites were just as beautiful as hoped. We had a good balance of directed activities and freedom to go off on our own.The Hotel and food arrangements were very comfortable and I truly felt a bit spoiled! Thank you!"

Mary Lou Palmer, Waverly, New York - "The tour was so well organized, we didn't have to worry about a thing."

Linda Kelsey, Bloomington, Indiana - "I very much enjoyed the tour and was especially pleased that nothing, except for showing up at the bus on time, was mandatory. I think that more explanation about public transport in London would have been helpful for some people."

Lu Tormaschy, Dickinson, North Dakota - "The trip was well organized and very enjoyable for me and my first travel experience to England. Awesome experience! "

Jinny Beyer, - "I’ve recently returned from a fabulous trip to Indonesia. It was spectacular. Craftours certainly knows how to run a tour. We stayed in a first class resort and took day trips from there. We did lots of sight seeing, sewing, and eating the delicious Indonesian food! This is the third trip that I have taken with them. In all of them the accommodation were first class, the organization exceptional, and on each trip the local guides that were arranged have been awesome....so much planning, knowledge and information has gone into these trips and I recommend them highly."

Katherine Madewell, Bixby, OK - """I wanted to take the time to tell you how much I enjoyed the trip to England. We did really luck out on the weather and I was thrilled to see the wonderful things I experienced. My main regret is that it could not have been twice as long, but then no matter how long you are at a great vacation spot, it is never long enough to see everything you want to see. The best thing is that I no longer feel intimidated at the thought of traveling in most other countries, and that is because of having the chance to explore on my own and being able to travel the subway to get back to the hotel.
The accommodation you provided were first rate and were in great locations. The rooms were beautiful and the areas felt safe. I also believe my husband would have a great time on one of your trips. We will definitely be checking it out. Mostly I understand you and your staff spent a lot of time planning and executing such great plans for a wonderful vacation for us all and I wanted to tell you I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to another trip in the future."""

Avis LaFayette, Valrico, FL - "A trip to England has been one of my bucket list wishes and this trip lived up to my high expectations. As always, Craftours had a wonderful schedule planned and the best places to stay. Really enjoyed the time in Bath, England."

Dianna Otte, Tarpon Springs, FL - "This was my first tour and I am very happy that I picked Craftours. I loved England and I met so really wonderful quilters. I could really just go again tomorrow and enjoy it again."

Peggy Chudzy, Calgary, Alberta - "I loved the pace of this tour. You had time to explore on your own from a wonderfully chosen and located hotel and plenty of time for organized activities. Our tour guides and drivers were exceptionally accommodating and full of great information. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in England and are contemplating our next trip. What a sense of fun!"

Anne Davidson, Churchton, MD - "Great tour - enjoyed it very much"

Kathi Madewell, Bixby, OK - "This tour of England is wonderful. The hotels are first rate, beautiful, and centrally located to walk to most sightseeing locations. Each day we started with a great breakfast followed by either a planned day of activities or some free time to experience the areas on our own."

Patty Quattlebaum, Charleston, SC - "This trip was a dream come true. It was beyond all expectations."

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT CRAFTOURS ON ENGLAND TOURS:

Becky Thompson , La Vernia, TX - This was a bucket list tour for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Starting off each city with a guided bus tour set the stage for all the other days so we knew basically where we were and what we were looking at.

Colleen Eager , Worcester, NY - Absolutely loved it. Harry Potter, Stonehenge. Loved the free time. Enjoyed not having a strict timetable and just going with the flow. Betsy was wonderful, helpful, and friendly.

Patti Johnson , Friendswood, TX - The Craftours Christmastime Adventure was a great experience. It was very well organized and had flexibility in it. I highly recommend this tour.

Bunny Bayles , Tuscaloosa, AL - The Christmas time. Adventure was so much more than I expected.... Jim had the entire trip so impeccably planned that there was no need for questions. The accommodations were top of line from bell men to waiters to the cleaning ladies. The hotels were all clean...attractive and all the personal were polite and courtesy. The bus driver went out of his way to help and always greeted us with a smile…

Jan Rich , Friendswood, TX - The trip to England, December 2023, took us to ALL the most wonderful sites of London, and surrounds. Every detail was carried out seamlessly, and gave me a "Full English" experience. Jim is so much fun, so informative, and definitely shows he cares about your business! All trip participants were delightful people to share this awesome trip with! I could not ask for more out of a trip! Thanks, Jim!

Jean Burke, Havertown, PA - "Our Craftours England Experience was tremendous! The whole trip was well planned and the attention to detail was much appreciated. The meals were delicious, and the coach was very comfortable. The daily information from our guide was very helpful as were her tips about the places we saw. These just added to our enjoyment of our time spent exploring on our own."

Mike Kolodka, Penney Farms, FL - "Our tour supervisor, Holly, was absolutely terrific! She was always upbeat and went out of her way to be helpful."

Anne de Verteuil, Victoria, BC Canada - "I loved the Quilting Tour, our guide was very helpful, the pace was just right. There was just the right amount of time to relax and explore on our own in addition to the guided tours and planned activities."

Gail M Lopez, Charleston, SC - "The tour was very nice. It was my first and Agnes did a wonderful job. Got to see quite a variety of England and experience different cultures and foods. The knitting and stitching show was good, not what they have here in the states, but I did enjoy it. Great Job Agnes!"

Carolyn Cassity, Olathe, KS - "The Knitting and Stitching show was amazing. We stayed in comfortable hotels. Our guide, Agnes, was top notch."

Susan Courtney, Leesburg, VA - "Traveling with Craftours was a very pleasant experience. I appreciated their attention to details so I didn’t have to!"

Michaela Burgnon, Odenton, MD - "A well planned and delivered tour. A good taste of England that will make you want to return. Good hotels. Tour guide was wonderful."

Karen Morey, Omaha, Nebraska - "The tour was outstanding! My friends and I enjoyed the mix of organized time and free time so we were able to go off on our own adventures (including 3 shows in London!). Our guide, made it a very personal experience, and I would definitely take another tour with Craftours!"

Nancy Jo Marsden, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania - "This was my first tour with McCalls. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to England from beginning to end. The hotels were first class with excellent service & food. Great Quilt Show in Birmingham! Craftours and their staff were very organized, helpful & friendly. Alice went beyond her duty by taking 17 of us on a personal tour of London on our last day. That was the best!"

Terri Westberg, Oscoda, Michigan - "I had a lovely time, and what a grand adventure. All the sites were just as beautiful as hoped. We had a good balance of directed activities and freedom to go off on our own.The Hotel and food arrangements were very comfortable and I truly felt a bit spoiled! Thank you!"

Lu Tormaschy, Dickinson, North Dakota - "The trip was well organized and very enjoyable for me and my first travel experience to England. Awesome experience! "

Karen Phillips, Shoreline, Washington - "Nicely organized tour"

Jinny Beyer, - "I’ve recently returned from a fabulous trip to Indonesia. It was spectacular. Craftours certainly knows how to run a tour. We stayed in a first class resort and took day trips from there. We did lots of sight seeing, sewing, and eating the delicious Indonesian food! This is the third trip that I have taken with them. In all of them the accommodation were first class, the organization exceptional, and on each trip the local guides that were arranged have been awesome....so much planning, knowledge and information has gone into these trips and I recommend them highly."

Bonnie Hunter, - "I’ve been honored and blessed to have been traveling with Craftours over the past several years as a teacher, lecturer and as a tour escort. The attention to detail and organization of every aspect of the tours from travel logistics, to lodging, activities and highlights are unsurpassed. Be it a cruise, a land tour or other excursion, be prepared for phenomenal itineraries, first class accommodation, knowledgeable and engaging tour guides, and even fabulous and fun bus drivers (land tour) who will give you the trip of a life time. This is the stuff that travel dreams are made of. These are memories that will last a life time. The folks I have met while traveling with Craftours have become friends for life. There are Sew Many Places to see! There are Sew Many Places to discover!"

Kaye England, - "I consider myself very lucky to have traveled with Craftours. I have seen China, Italy, Bali, Africa, Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland and sailed the seas all while looking at things through a "Quilters Eye". All of the trips have exceeded my expectations with great attention to the details. I have met wonderful people, seen wonderful sites and made a lifetime of memories on our quilting tours. Craftours has a tremendous focus on hotels, food and tour guides which makes the trip memorable for all. I recommend a trip with Craftours as a delightful way to see the world."

Katherine Madewell, Bixby, OK - """I wanted to take the time to tell you how much I enjoyed the trip to England. We did really luck out on the weather and I was thrilled to see the wonderful things I experienced. My main regret is that it could not have been twice as long, but then no matter how long you are at a great vacation spot, it is never long enough to see everything you want to see. The best thing is that I no longer feel intimidated at the thought of traveling in most other countries, and that is because of having the chance to explore on my own and being able to travel the subway to get back to the hotel.
The accommodation you provided were first rate and were in great locations. The rooms were beautiful and the areas felt safe. I also believe my husband would have a great time on one of your trips. We will definitely be checking it out. Mostly I understand you and your staff spent a lot of time planning and executing such great plans for a wonderful vacation for us all and I wanted to tell you I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to another trip in the future."""

Avis LaFayette, Valrico, FL - "A trip to England has been one of my bucket list wishes and this trip lived up to my high expectations. As always, Craftours had a wonderful schedule planned and the best places to stay. Really enjoyed the time in Bath, England."

Dianna Otte, Tarpon Springs, FL - "This was my first tour and I am very happy that I picked Craftours. I loved England and I met so really wonderful quilters. I could really just go again tomorrow and enjoy it again."

Peggy Chudzy, Calgary, Alberta - "I loved the pace of this tour. You had time to explore on your own from a wonderfully chosen and located hotel and plenty of time for organized activities. Our tour guides and drivers were exceptionally accommodating and full of great information. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in England and are contemplating our next trip. What a sense of fun!"

Eleanor Balaban, Glen Echo, MD - "Well organized and specific to our needs,desires and talents. Very flexible and accommodating."

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT THE CRAFTS ON ENGLAND TOURS:

Beverly Brown, Bloomington, IN - "The quilt show part of this experience was wonderful! Show was spread out and easy to move around even when busy. The Warwick Castle and Highclere Castle experience were extremely enjoyable and highlights of the trip. Shopping at Liberty of London was a great addition to the trip."

Terry Aske, New Westminster, BC Canada - "It was a wonderful tour! We loved the variety of quilts and other fibre arts at the Festival of Quilts. The bus tour through England was a perfect blend of quaint historical towns and scenery, and the excitement of London. The ratio of planned activities to free time was perfect for us. This was my first visit to England, and I loved it!"

Anne de Verteuil, Victoria, BC Canada - "I loved the Quilting Tour, our guide was very helpful, the pace was just right. There was just the right amount of time to relax and explore on our own in addition to the guided tours and planned activities."

Stephanie Wexler, Los Angeles, CA - "I loved it ! The Festival of Quilts was amazing and we enjoyed the tour."

Carolyn Cassity, Olathe, KS - "The Knitting and Stitching show was amazing. We stayed in comfortable hotels. Our guide, Agnes, was top notch."

Jean McCurdy Stein, Muskegon, MI - "This was a lovely trip to England in the fall. We were able to see the beautiful countryside outside London as well as enjoy the Knitting & Stitching Show and other activities in the city."

Betty Kieran, Bellevue, NE - "Quiltville in England Tour was fun and filled with opportunities to inspire unique quilting creativity."

Stephanie Rodgers, Washington Township, New Jersey - "The trip was a lot of fun, but very exhausting. I would've preferred more classes, and less bus traveling. My least favorite place was Bath, only because I'm not much of a shopper. On vacation, I'm more into shopping like at Burton on the Water. Absolutely loved Stratford-Upon-Avon!"

Mary Harrell, Milton, Georgia - "At first I was a little nervous about going on the trip as a single, but I quickly made 24 new friends. The trip was wonderful. It was the perfect mix of crafting, sightseeing and camaraderie."

Nancy Jo Marsden, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania - "This was my first tour with McCalls. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to England from beginning to end. The hotels were first class with excellent service & food. Great Quilt Show in Birmingham! Craftours and their staff were very organized, helpful & friendly. Alice went beyond her duty by taking 17 of us on a personal tour of London on our last day. That was the best!"