Testimonials
"The
textile study trip to France was one of those travel experiences that holds some
treasured memories for me. Deb Roberts' tour was very well organized and had
some additional surprise events that made the experience very rich. I loved
being able to see some textiles that I never would have seen had I been
traveling alone, and this included some special archives. This opportunity, in
itself, made the trip worthy and invaluable. It was important to be able to
visualize these designs in the cultural and historical context in which they had
been created. Our tour guide, provided us with the history of each area
as well as anecdotes along the way, and this added another dimension to the
entire experience that I had not anticipated, but found worthy and delightful.
One of the highlights was being able to meet and learn from Kathryn Berenson, a
truly knowledgeable and expert textile historian. Last, but not least, I met
some wonderful women along the way, some that I have maintained contact with and
will visit in the years to come. I definitely would partake in one of these
tours again. I believe it was time and money well invested." -
- -Portland, Oregon
"A tremendous opportunity of a lifetime! I was treated to the superbly organized Vintage Textile Tour of France that gave me the opportunity to see first hand many of the textile and quilting treasures of France that would not normally be accessible to a lone traveler. The camaraderie of sharing this experience with 36 other textile and quilt enthusiasts from North America and the South Pacific certainly added to my overall enjoyment of the trip. Without reservation, I have and will continue to recommend this trip and other trips offered by Deb Roberts to anyone interested in the European influences on our North American quilting heritage." - - -Alberta, Canada
I went on this trip last summer, and it was
**wonderful**! We stayed in very nice hotels, had a luxury coach for
travel, with room to spread out, and were personally escorted by a French guide
who was the most delightful and diversely educated young man (who is rumored to
be the guide again in 2006). At each of the sites we visited we were
treated like visiting experts and were given informative lectures and guided
tours of the exhibits, and also time to linger on our own.
And there was shopping, for those who never have enough fabric! We had great
"show & tell" sessions in the evenings, and managed to pass around a surprise
signature quilt top made of French fabrics, which we gave to tour creator Deb
Roberts on the last evening. I would encourage any BQHL member with an interest
in antique fabrics and fabric production to consider this tour - I guarantee it
will be unlike any other you have taken." - - - Repeat Traveler
Kokomo, Indiana
"Thank you Deb for all you have done to organize this incredible trip. I did not know what to expect, but I have been completely overwhelmed. I appreciate so much the extra touches you provided and your special care toward each of us. I did not think I would ever have an opportunity to travel like this. It was my first time out of the country, and I cannot wait to go with you again." - - -Olympia, WA
"The trip provided me with an invaluable wealth of knowledge for my work in quilt history and appraisals. Organized well - structured enough to keep us all busy and learning, yet flexible enough to change when special needs and interests arose. It was fabulous beyond my expectations. It was a perspective-altering experience. I see fabric, history, and culture in a new light - not just Anglo-American, but European-American.
Personally, there isn't a day goes by in which I don't remember some experience - the rich history, the fabric techniques, the sights, the food, and most of all, my fellow travelers, as well as the people. It's worth taking more than once." Repeat Traveler - - - Wayne, PA.