Day 2 Tuesday 15 September 2009 Paris
This morning we arrive in Paris, where we will be met by our tour manager and be transferred into the city of Paris. We will have an orientation tour with a local guide. During the tour we will see the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elyssés, the Arc de Triomphe, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and more. In the afternoon we visit Musee du Moyen Age. This museum was founded in 1843 and contains a collection of costumes, tapestries, and coins from the Middle Ages. You will marvel at the tapestries, especially the famous Lady with the Unicorn tapestry from 15th century Brussels. This evening we have a welcome dinner. Michelle Marvig will welcome the group and outline the wonderful experiences we will have during the tour. D

Day 3 Wednesday 16 September 2009 Paris
This morning we will visit the Toile de Jouy Museum. This museum was created in 1977 and dedicated to the activity of the Jouy factory and textile printing. More than three thousand original Toile de Jouy designs exist. In the technical exhibition room we will see engraving tools, wood blocks, plates and copper rollers. We will follow the evolution of Toile de Jouy in the display of bed hangings, ornaments, textile panels and dresses. In the afternoon we will visit Le Rouvray. Founded in 1974, located at first in an historic French farm whose buildings date back to the Middle Ages. The owner Diane de Obaldia is originally from the United States. It displays French style fabrics and has a good selection of provincial prints, Toile de Jouy and American fabrics and books.

Day 4 Thursday 17 September 2009 Paris
This morning will be free for individual activity. The tour manager will help the group with suggestions for visits. In the afternoon we will visit La Boutique du Patchwork, where we will see a large selection of fabrics. Michelle Marvig will meet those wishing to dine with the group in the lobby.

Day 5 Friday 18 September 2009 Mulhouse
After breakfast the group will travel through the beautiful French countryside east to the city of Mulhouse, established as an Imperial city at the end of the 13th Century. It was a textile centre already, when in 1746 three citizens founded the first mill producing calico cotton fabrics. This led to the establishment of large-scale production of fabrics and the development of printing techniques. We will visit the Musee de l’Impression sur Etoffes this afternoon. Our visit will explain the history of printed fabric and the history of design. The first samples of indiennes, printed cotton fabric were imported to the area in the 19th century. The secret of the famous rouge turc dye was unravelled and bought riches to Mulhouse. Michelle will meet tour members in the lobby to suggest nearby restaurants for dinner.

Day 6 Saturday 19 September 2009 Mulhouse
We travel to Sainte Marie aux Mines to visit the 15th European Patchwork meeting. We will see over eight hundred antique, traditional and contemporary textile works. Quilts from many countries including South Korea, South America, South Africa and Finland are on display and there are interesting lectures to attend. Michelle will advise on how to make the most of our visit.

Day 7 Sunday 20 September 2009 Mulhouse
We travel to Colmar, where we have free time for sightseeing. The town has prospered on the proceeds of the wine trade since the 13th century. The heart of the old town contains many picturesque old houses with turrets, oriel windows and half timbering. We continue to Sainte Marie aux Mines, where we spend the rest of the day at the Patchwork meeting.

Day 8 Monday 21 September 2009 London
Today we fly to London. On arrival we will be transferred to our hotel. Michelle and the tour manager will point out local restaurants nearby and join those wishing to dine together.

Day 9 Tuesday 22 September 2009 London
This morning we will have a city tour escorted by a local guide. Some of the great landmarks we see include Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. This afternoon we will visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. This museum houses the National Collection of Textiles, which covers a period of more than two thousand years. Most techniques are represented, including woven, printed and embroidered textiles, lace, tapestries and carpets.

Day 10 Wednesday 23 September 2009 London
We get the chance to buy up big on fabrics today. We first visit Tikki, where we see hundreds of bolts of fabric, books and notions. We continue to Creative Quilting, which houses about a thousand bolts. It has shop samples and a generous selection of patterns and books.

Day 11 Thursday 24 September 2009 London
This morning is free for individual exploration. The tour manager will suggest places to visit. In the afternoon we visit Berwick St, in the heart of Soho. There are many interesting shops in the area including Textile King and Silk Society. We stop at Liberty of London, where beautiful fabrics are available.

Day 12 Friday 25 September 2009 Bath
Today we travel west to Bath. We will visit Montacute House, a magnificent stone house built in the late 16th century. The splendid staterooms are full of fine 17th and 18th-century furniture and wonderful textiles including samplers from the Goodhart collection. We will be staying in Bath at the time of the Jane Austen Festival. During this time there will be Europe’s largest promenade of people dressed in regency costumes parading along the grand Georgian terraces. There will be walking tours and specialist talks at the Fesival. Michelle and the tour manager will meet those wishing to dine with the group in the lobby.

Day 13 Saturday 26 September 2009 Bath
This morning we have a tour of Bath with a local guide. Bath has been listed as a world heritage city. Founded around naturally occurring hot springs. The Romans built baths and a temple. During the Georgian period, Bath became a popular spa resort. We will see the Roman Baths and Georgian assembly rooms as well as the beautiful terraces built during Georgian times. In the afternoon we visit the Jane Austen centre, where we will get a snapshot of life during Regency times and explore how living in this magnificent city affected Jane Austen’s life and writing.

Day 14 Sunday 27 September 2009 Bath
This morning will be free for individual exploration. The tour manager will suggest activities to undertake. In the afternoon, we visit The American Museum in Britain. In the Manor House you will visit the American Heritage Exhibition. There is also a Folk Art exhibition. After visiting the museum there are three shops to explore: The Country Shop, the Herb Shop, and the Gallery Shop.

Day 15 Monday 28 September 2009 Llandrindod Wells
We travel through the picturesque Welsh countryside to visit Jen Jones Welsh Quilts. The shop has a constantly changing stock of over a thousand quilts and blankets made between 1820 and 1939. There are Floral and Paisley whole clothes, shawls and gift ideas. We continue through Wales to Llandrindod Wells, where we stay overnight. We enjoy an included dinner this evening. D

Day 16 Tuesday 29 September 2009 Manchester
We continue north to Manchester, visiting Erddig on the way. This interesting house has an extensive range of outbuildings including a laundry, bakehouse, stables, sawmill, smithy, and joiner’s shop. The staterooms display most of their original 18th and 19th century furniture and furnishings. Most rooms have no electric light and many have not been restored. We travel on to Manchester, the first industrial city and capital of the north. It played a central role during the industrial revolution and is now the centre for the arts, media, higher education and commerce.

Day 17 Wednesday 30 September 2009 Manchester
We travel to visit Gawthorpe Hall, built between 1600 and 1605 for the Shuttleworth family. The Honourable Rachel Shuttleworth was the last member of the family to live at Gawthorpe. It was here that she formed the nationally important textile collection. She was particularly skilled in the art of embroidery and lacemaking and was eager to impart her immense knowledge to others through the medium of examples collected in her lifetime. We travel on to visit the Queen Street Mill. This is Lancashire’s last 19th century steam powered weaving mill. This evening we will have a farewell dinner to celebrate our wonderful time in Europe. D

Day 18 Thursday 1 October 2009 New York/In flight
Tour members continuing on the USA tour will fly to New York today. They will spend an extra night in New York. Those returning to Australia will travel to Manchester airport this morning for a flight to Australia.