You have an outstanding opportunity to spend 11 days with four extraordinary teachers aboard Holland America Line's ms Zuiderdam. 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.

Karen began quilting in 1983, and in April of 1986 won her first quilting award in a JCPenney quilt block contest. Karen's block was joined with fifteen others and exhibited at the Great American Quilt Show in New York City. In the fall of 1986 Karen opened her own quilt shop, The Country Quilt Shop in Philadelphia, and it was a huge success. Karen entered her first major quilt competition in 1991. The "Dragon" quilt received many awards and was the start of Karen winning many local and national awards including seven Best of Show awards. She has published five books: From Basics To Binding: A Complete Guide To Making Quilts, Above & Beyond Basics, Love to Quilt...Bears, Bears, Bears, Appliqué Basics: Flower Wreaths, and Earthly Delights: The Perfect Finish. Karen has had thirteen quilts appear on the cover of major magazines. She is very passionate about what she does, loves designing her quilts and sharing tips and tricks with all her students. If you would like more information about Karen and her quilts you can visit her website.

Christine teaches and lectures throughout Britain and the US where she is also a quilt show judge and she has won awards for her quilts in both locales. She has been the co-editor of Patchwork & Quilting magazine, which is Britain's first and leading quilting magazine. In this role, she wrote many articles and did the book and new product reviews. Christine was the founder of the Cabot Quilting Conferences held throughout the UK that brought top American and other international quilters to the UK, enabling British quilters to learn from some of the best in the world. Her first book, Quilt Designs from Decorative Floor Tiles, was released in 2003. This was followed by her second book, Tessellation Quilts, in May 2006. Her quilts have been featured in books by Joen Wolfrom and she also designs patterns for Joen's company, JWD Publishing. Christine has also been a guest on Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson and has recently made two DVDs, Let's Get Started and From Fabric to Quilt – an Inspirational Journey. Visit Christine's website.

Mary Lou Weidman began her quilting life at her Grandmother's knee when she learned first to do yoyos and later on to piece nine patches, half square triangles and then Grandmother's Flower garden blocks (her favorite pattern). Mary Lou's father, Ted, encouraged her to paint and draw since he was an artist and later on they shared a studio where they both painted fine art paintings that they sold. After Mary Lou got married and had children, she did advertising and layout work and then was drawn back into quilting when her son was being treated for childhood leukemia and she had a lot of time sitting in the hospital with him. After her son was well, she started doing Story quilts with a folk art style that took the fancy of Museums and Galleries. It wasn't until later that quilters and shops enjoyed and understood her happy, whimsical style. She has written three large books: Whimsies and Whynots, Everyday Angels, and Quilted Memories. Along with that she owns a pattern company that she does booklets and patterns for. Hoochy Mama quilts and Flower Power are two publications and technique books that are popular as she travels and teaches how to's. Mary Lou has traveled across the world to many countries and all but about 7 states (US) and 3 Provinces (Canada). Her goal is to get each quilter to do a Story quilt about themselves and who and what they love so that in the future, people will know about this quilter and what was important to them. It is her belief that Story quilts will be researched and held valuable in the future. Mary Lou has been married to Mark for 38 years and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren...so far. Her favorite sayings are "Every event in life is a quilt waiting to happen" and " a Happy quilt begins with a smile." Visit Mary Lou's website.

Kathy was born and raised in Wisconsin. She began making quilts in 1974. She has been married for over 30 years to her husband David. They have 7 grown children and 18 grandchildren. After serving in Mexico as missionaries, the Kansiers moved to southwest Missouri. Kathy joined the local quilt guild and began teaching at an area quilt shop in the mid 90's. She went on to become a quilt show judge, AQS certified appraiser and began traveling to teach and share her quilt making skills. She has taught throughout the US and also in Brazil and the UK. In 2001 Kathy was nominated for the teacher of the year award and in 2008 she received the prestigious Jewel Pearce Patterson Award for Quilt Teachers. In 2009, she provided an exhibit of quilts for the International Quilt Festivals in Houston, Chicago and Long Beach. She has written many quilt related books, patterns and magazine articles. Kathy's favorite techniques are fancy edge treatments, hand quilting, appliqué, beading, embroidery and working with wool. In addition to quilt making, she enjoys basket making and rug hooking. When she is not traveling, she hosts quilting and rug hooking retreats in Branson, MO. Visit Kathy's website.