At school I always wanted to study textiles, I was a bright, creative active pupil I spent many hours drawing, designing and making clothes using my favourite Laura Ashley fabrics. I loved the outdoor life and was encouraged to study Landscape Design. It was a very creative course and I learnt how to design. I continue to learn more. The world of work as a landscape Architect seemed to be all about drainage and finance.

I joined the Embroiderers Guild and enrolled on a City and Guilds Embroidery course.

I began teaching and gained a PGCE. Looking back, it was hard, but I had found a career that I loved. I taught at Huddersfield Technical College for many years until all funding for City and Guilds classes were withdrawn and in 2006 I was made redundant.

I started running classes from my studio at home and realized that I needed to make quilts for exhibition (not just teaching samples) and started entering my work in exhibitions and competitions. To my surprise, I won a few prizes and my work was accepted into juried exhibitions.

In 2007 I joined the Contemporary Quilt Group and started to make Journal Quilts. I have been making one a month since then and currently have at least 120.

I receive invitations to exhibit my quilts all over the world and have exhibited and taught in France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic, Canada and South Africa.

It’s an exciting life!

Arrive to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India

NOTE we will collect you from the airport whatever time you arrive - day or night. 

There is no programme on Arrivals Day - our guests come from all over the world.

Sightseeing Delhi and gently easing our way into India. 

Lakshmi Narayan Temple- you always visit the Gods before a new undertaking and this temple, built by the Industrialist Birla in the 1930’s has a lovely feel. To the left of the main temple is a small description of the significance of the sacred swastika, it is an important Hindu symbol which is good to grasp at the outset as you see it everywhere and it can be a shock for Westerners (and the true depth of perversion of the Nazi’s use of it can be understood).

Raj Ghat- to pay our respects at the cremation site of Gandhi, the beloved hero of India. xx  

And a chance for people watching.

National Craft Museum – fabulous collection to enjoy and be inspired by.

In the afternoon we will convene with Gillian to get started on our Travel Journals.

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We’ll hop on our bus early and head for Mandawa, right in the heart of Shekhawati. 

Once an important stop on the Indian branch of the Silk Road, this desert region was home to some of the richest merchants in the country. What remains today are extraordinary towns filled with crumbling, beautifully painted mansions - absolute treasures to wander through. 

Tonight, we stay in a castle from the days when marauders once passed this way… a perfect setting for a little adventure!

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Poking around a few more mansions in Shekawati we are headed to Jodhpur today.

We stay right near the Clock Tower Market - well known for second hand clothes and bangles.

Our rooftop has a fabulous view of Meherangarh Fort and is a great place to work with Gillian in the afternoon.

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We’ll start the morning with a visit to Mehrangarh Fort. 

Built around 1460 and one of India’s largest forts, it feels straight out of a fairy tale. 

You can still see cannonball impressions on the bastions, and remarkably, it has never been breached  or captured by force.

Then it’s on to Pushkar, the holy city mentioned in the opening pages of the Ramayana. 

We’ll enjoy some peaceful garden workshop time with Gillian before answering the call of the market and heading out to explore. 

Dinner will be in one of the lovely cafés overlooking the Holy Lake - always a treat.

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This morning we will visit the Stiching Project to enjoy a blockprint workshop with the blocks you designed and we had carved for you. Don't forget to collect your block to take home with you!

Then in the afternoon we will head to Jaipur.

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This morning we will head out to Bagru Village, long famous for its indigo textiles. 

We will take a workshop to use mud as a resit and print cloth that we will then dip into indigo.

Free afternoon to deep dive into the markets of Jaipur.

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We’re staying in a wonderfully restored fort tonight, but on the way we’ll stop at the beautiful Anokhi Blockprint Museum and the Escher-esque Panna Meena ka Kund, a 16th-century stepwell that’s an absolute gem. 

Once we’ve settled into our fort, there’s time for a refreshing dip before an afternoon session with Gillian on the terrace. 

Then we can simply relax and soak up the magical lights and atmosphere of our incredible home for the night.

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Late check out this morning and a final session with Gillian, make sure you take time to sip chai in the garden too, then we head up to Delhi.

Farewell Dinner - let's share a dinner together and celebrate new friendships, a stimulating workshop and travels through exotic Rajasthani India.

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Departures from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India

We'll drop you to your flight any time night or day.

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Materials List

Pencil, sharpener

Large scissors

Small scissors

To be announced.

Physical Fitness for Sightseeing 

This adventure is crafted for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.

To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3–4 hours a day - sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and climbing a few flights of stairs.

You may also find yourself getting in and out of local transport and navigating the occasional over-the-bath shower.

If you enjoy a bit of daily movement and love discovering new places on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour.

Just a friendly heads-up: we need to walk at an average pace - it will not be suitable for those who prefer a slow pace or need frequent rest stops.

Etiquette

• Be mindful when taking photos, especially in temples, on the ghats, or in private spaces. Always consider how you’d feel with a camera in your face.
• That said, many Indian people love a good selfie—say hello, ask politely, show them the photo, and then ask if you can take one of them. Works a charm.
• Learning a few local courtesies in the language of the region is always appreciated.

For workshops, an apron is handy for block printing and indigo.

Food

Food is a huge part of culture, and we’re there to try it all. For group meals, we usually order a range of dishes to share, exploring local specialties as we go.

Indian food is cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients, so it’s usually easy to keep track of what’s in your meal. Manufactured products (soy milk, faux meats, etc.) aren’t common.

• Vegetarian – very easy

• Vegan – possible, but a little more challenging

• Chilli-free – not really possible, but we can order mild

• Onion/garlic-free – tricky

• Wheat-free – generally easy

Remember, for Indian cooks “no chilli” feels like “please don’t breathe”—but they’ll do their best!

-Dairy free - can be done becasue we can see what goes into meals

Health

Drink only filtered or bottled water—never from the tap, even for brushing your teeth.

Stay hydrated: aim for at least 2 litres of water a day. 

You’ll feel better and be less likely to get a wobbly tummy.

• See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist before you leave.
• Bring enough medications for the whole trip plus copies of your prescriptions.
• Menstrual products: tampons can be hard to find; pads are readily available.
• And don’t forget bug spray.

Money

KNOW YOUR CARD PIN—ATMs will not accept tap.

There are ATMs everywhere, and it’s easy to withdraw cash once you have your PIN.

Tell your bank you’re travelling so they don’t block your card for “unusual activity.”

• Travel cards can be handy, but check they work before you leave.
•  Many guests have had good luck with Wise cards.
• Have a backup card tucked away in your suitcase.
• Cash is good as a backup but can be tricky to exchange at a fair rate—ask at the hotel desk.
• Credit cards: less widely accepted, and sometimes incur extra fees.

Currency: Indian Rupee.

Shopping

There will be treasures! Shopping supports the local economy.

If you know you’re interested in something (carpets, spices, textiles), do a little research—knowing prices back home helps.

Bargaining is the norm in markets. If you’re not experienced, Google a few tips and go in with a smile.

NGOs and social enterprises are usually fixed-price.

Suitcase

A normal-sized suitcase plus a fold-up soft bag for extras works best. Big cases are hard to manoeuvre on the bus.

Recommended size for a medium suitcase:

60–70 cm (H) × 40–50 cm (W) × 25–30 cm (D)

or 24–28" × 16–20" × 10–12"

It’s not easy to buy decent luggage at the last minute on the road.

Weather

Days are warm; mornings and evenings can be cool. Layers are your friend. A cardigan and socks are often appreciated.

Power

Power is 240V. European two-pin adaptors are most useful.

The older Indian three-prong plugs are now rarely seen.

Clothing

Lightweight, loose layers are ideal. Three or four outfits are usually enough, and you’ll find plenty to buy along the way.

A scarf is always useful—for cool air-con, temple visits, modesty, sun protection.

For temples, mosques, and other religious sites, wear long trousers or a mid-calf skirt and bring a scarf to cover your head if needed. Otherwise they’ll lend you a cover-up… and it’s usually a polyester sack!

Aim for modest tops: no cleavage. Midriff is surprisingly fine—just look at the aunties in saris!

Leave expensive jewellery at home.

Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes—sneakers or well-strapped sandals—are essential. Footpaths can be uneven and you’ll be too busy looking around to watch every step.

A pair of rubber thongs/flip-flops is great for bathrooms.

Laundry

Any two-night stay is a perfect time to send laundry out. Indian laundry is a joy—washed and ironed, and I’ve never lost a thing.

Fitness

We get on and off the minibus every day. Markets, monuments, and towns all beg to be explored.

You should be comfortable walking for an hour or two, and expect some steps.

Begging

• In general, please don’t encourage begging. 
• Avoid giving lollies, pens, or treats to children—it creates a begging mentality. If you’d like to donate items, we can pass them to a school.
• There’s little pension system: giving a few coins to an elderly or disabled person is a kind and appreciated gesture.
• If you love interacting with kids, a friendly chat, joke, or shared moment is far better than a gift. OR bring a bubble blower - bubbles floating through the air are a universal language of joy.

Tipping

Tipping is customary. Keep small notes handy:

• 20–50 INR for small services (bags, room service, laundry delivery)

• Around 100 INR for guides, performers, or street photo models.

Please also set something aside for our driver—they keep us safe on the roads.

As a guide, think US$2–3 per person per day. Often a group volunteer organises a thank-you at the end of the trip.

Environment

Tread lightly: conserve water and electricity, and carry your rubbish out where possible.

Say NO to plastic.

Please bring a cloth shopping bag.