You have an outstanding opportunity to spend a week with four extraordinary teachers aboard Holland America Line's ms Statendam. This fantastic group was chosen because they are all exceptional instructors who are friendly, fun-loving and warm. All are internationally/nationally known for their excellent teaching skills and the books they have published.

Sue has been quilting for 28 years, starting by hand and gradually focusing on machine work. Sue has been teaching machine techniques for the past 18 years. Sue has taught and lectured nationally for shops, guilds and major conferences, including AQS, IQA and NQA. She has also taught internationally in England, Norway and Spain. Sue's major awards include 1998 AQS Best of Show for "The Beatles Quilt" made by Sue and her sister, Pat Holly. Their quilt, "The Space Quilt" won the 2003 IQA Master of Machine Artistry Award and the 2004 AQS Machine Workmanship Award. Sue books include Machine Quilting: A Primer of Techniques and her newest book Stitched Raw Edge Appliqué is co-authored with Pat and was released in February 2006. Sue's priority in the workshops she teaches is to provide a relaxed environment for students to learn machine techniques that are timesaving. Sue emphasizes the best quality workmanship, never compromising quality for speed! Visit her web site at www.Sue-Nickels.com.

Karen is an internationally known quilter, teacher, author and designer who has been nominated by students for Quilt Teacher of the Year in 1995, 2000 & 2005. Teaching since 1989, she is in high demand as a teacher who encourages her students, makes learning fun and makes the complex easy to understand! Karen is fascinated with optical illusions and quilts; this is the subject of many of her workshops. She is the author of 6 books, among them, Optical Illusions for Quilters and Combing Through Your Scraps. Her newest book is Celtic Patchwork Illusions published Fall 2006. She began designing fabrics with Blank Quilting in 2002 and is known for her innovative fabric designs. In 2009, Karen formed a new partnership with Avlyn, Inc. Her fabrics can be seen at www.avlyn.com. Karen lives in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee with her husband, Rick and a cute Shih Tzu Named Cocoa. Visit her web site at: www.karencombs.com.

Kathy is a quilt artist, teacher, judge and designer who is passionate about the health benefits of creativity. A registered nurse for 35 years, events from her life inspire her pictorial quilted paintings. Kathy loves traveling and teaching nationally about the creative process. Her quilts have been featured in museums, magazines, calendars and the AQS website. Four of the country's top Quilt Museum's have exhibited her work in solo shows. Many of her quilts are in private collections. Kathy feels that Quilts have been the medium for many centuries and in many cultures for women to express their own artistic vision, to give their life color, to make political or social statements, and to preserve family stories. Her work is energized and inspired by this rich tradition. She combines the elements of painting with the tactile and emotional response we all have to fabric. Visit her website at: www.kathymcneilquilts.com.

Stevii has been involved with quilt making since 1975 and has been a juror and judge for competitions throughout the U.S. She has been the judging coordinator for Road to California since 2002. Stevii is a past President of the California Heritage Quilt Project, has served as President of Quilt San Diego/Visions and on the boards of several quilt guilds. Her quilts have been published in numerous books and magazines as well as having been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She has edited two Visions catalogues and is the co-author of Contemporary Quilting, which was released in the spring of 2005. She currently lives in Leesburg, Virginia with her husband, Randy. Her three children live close by, as do her three grandchildren. Stevii loves all types and styles of quilt making and has worked tirelessly to be sure that quilts are displayed in a variety of venues. Visit Stevii's website at: www.steviigraves.com.