Travel Managers

I am happy to introduce you to our fabulous Craftours Travel Managers! Each brings their own personality and professionalism to every tour we plan. We have over 70 tour guides around the world who work with us locally, but these ladies are responsible for keeping everything running smooth during the tour, and travel to make sure the level of service is 5-star. I appreciate their hard work and their incredible talent to orchestrate a well-designed travel experience for our guests.
Here are the lovely Travel Managers at Craftours…….

Holly Brown

Holly Brown has been working for Craftours for 5 years. She is easy going and fun loving. She loves traveling and experiencing new adventures around every corner. You never know what you might discover. The love of travel was sparked at a young age when her family moved to Seoul Korea. Holly loves making new friends, and doing crafts all over the world. She has been crafting all her life. Photography, crocheting, and sewing to name a few. She has been quilting for 20 years and owns a longarm. She is also an avid reader. Holly lived in Northan Virginia for most of her life before retiring from NFCU in 2016. She currently resides in SW Florida with her husband, Darrell, and their two cats, Honey, and Sugar. They have 2 grown children and 5 grand kids.

Deb Haugen

Aloha from my little piece of paradise, my name is Deb Haugen, and I’m an artist/designer from Hawaii. My art career started more than 40 yrs ago, and throughout my career it has traversed many mediums, and paths. I’ve always loved color, and to draw and paint, that led me to work in Hollywood in the entertainment arena.  I then worked in film production as an “On Set” dresser, and an Art Director for an Independent feature film.  I soon realized that supplying my own personal art was a very profitable idea and have been renting my art for years.

You’ve probably seen my art many times on your favorite TV shows & feature films, NCIS, to CSI, Microsoft, or The Muppet Movie, to name a few. I also taught Art in my own studio to model makers, fabric designers, painters and prop people, specializing in airbrush realism, and still learn so much from the many artists I meet. I have licensed thousands of pieces to to Crate and Barrel, Target, Neiman Marcus, Urban Outfitters, and to hospitality Internationally just to name a few. I also had the great opportunity to own the men’s Aloha clothing line of the great Olympic swimmer and “Father of Surfing”, Duke Kahanamoku.

Betsy Martinson

Betsy is a life-long, free choice learner, always interested in exploring the world, experiencing new cultures and gathering a greater understanding and appreciation of the people and places she is lucky enough to visit. After acquiring a BFA in Studio Art, and an MA in Art History, Betsy shifted her focus to history and spent over thirty glorious years in the Museum field focusing on interpretation, administration, and visitors studies. Retiring in 2020, Betsy is thrilled to slide into the role of Tour Manager for Craftours.

Her passion for learning and interpretation continues. Never having met a craft she didn’t like, you will usually find Betsy traveling with a knitting or beading project, always happy to share her hobbies and to learn about those of everyone she meets. Betsy still embraces her role as educator and looks forward to guiding and assisting others as they pursue their own crafting and cultural explorations.

Alice Ridge

I learned how to sew and embroider by hand when I was in second grade, taught by my grandmother and my great aunt. I got my first sewing machine when I was in 5^th grade and have been sewing ever since. I have been quilting on and off for over 40 years. Quilting “obsessively” (as my husband says) for the last 20+ years. I have been a Traveling Quilt Teacher and Speaker for about fifteen years. Just about all quilting styles appeal to me. Handwork and machine, traditional to art quilts. I love to try new techniques and ‘tweak’ old ones to make them new and fresh! I have a small rigid heddle loom to weave my own fabric to incorporate into some of my art quilts. I love playing with the different textures that you can get from different fibers! I also crochet and knit, and am learning how to tat lace. Never a dull moment!

Her passion for learning and interpretation continues. Never having met a craft she didn’t like, you will usually find Betsy traveling with a knitting or beading project, always happy to share her hobbies and to learn about those of everyone she meets. Betsy still embraces her role as educator and looks forward to guiding and assisting others as they pursue their own crafting and cultural explorations.

Personal info: I am married to a career Army man ( he finally retired after 35 yrs Active Duty !!) and have traveled all over the world. We have lived on 3 continents…. We moved 22 times in 35 years. We bought our “forever” house and I don’t intend to ever move again!! 3 children – 2 daughters and 1 son. The girls are in Indiana, my son is in the Army and his location changes as often as ours did! Such is life in the military! 4 grandchildren – 2 girls and 2 boys, all of them in Indiana. Thanks for Sharing in my Quilting Adventures!!

Karen Stock

Best known as the previous owner and Creative Director of a large paper craft company in Australia. Karen has experience in many creative endeavours from quilting to paper crafting and everything in between. Karen has wanderlust which perfectly complements her passion for travel, photography and travel art journaling. An avid explorer, Karen has escorted groups to many countries and has a personal wealth of travel experience. She has also extensively explored Australia, including many trips to the outback in her husband’s custom-built tray top camper – aptly named ‘Ted Tardis”. Karen’s curious nature, love of meeting new people, learning about other cultures and her sense of fun spurs her on to seek out new adventures. Some of the tours Karen hosts will offer you the opportunity to create your very own Travel Art Journal! The tour will include the supplies you need, and Karen will teach you how to capture the true essence of your adventure ensuring you unwind and enjoy the journey! Karen currently lives in South Australia, Australia with her husband. She is a young Nana and loves spending time with the grandchildren. Travel and Journal your Passion!

Agnes Warren

Living in the beautiful West of Ireland, Agnes has been a member of the Craftours family for eight years. She has escorted many tours around Europe and her beloved Ireland, sharing her love of travel and crafts with countless Craftours guests. She is a qualified Irish National Tour Guide and holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Business Enterprise. Trained in Group Facilitation and Adult Education, she combines these skills with her love of textiles, art, and all things fabric related by sharing her passion with others. She is currently the Chairperson of The Irish Patchwork Association Western Branch and credits her grandmother with introducing her to crazy patchwork quilting at a very young age, sewing recycled fabrics onto Foxford blankets.

Margie Westlake

Margie was born in Adelaide South Australia where she raised her family and met her husband Craig. In 2013 they decided to move to Hobart Tasmania to work and enjoy the spectacular sailing, lifestyle and beauty Tasmania has to offer.

During 2015 Margie was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer and underwent surgery and significant treatment which continued for twelve months. After this experience Margie and Craig decided to take a break from their working lives and spent the year of 2020 sailing the East Coast of Australia. They had originally planned to travel to Fiji to support Breast Cancer Survivors in remote locations, however, 2020 saw everyone’s plans change and they remained in Australian waters.

As Margie and Craig are both avid lovers of the sea they currently live on their Beneteau Oceanis 473 yacht with their dog Molly.

As a proud breast cancer survivor with a keen sense of adventure and an enthusiasm for enjoying different cultural experiences, Margie is looking forward to enhancing your travel experience, and ensuring that you have a wonderful fun-filled adventure.