Workshops :: Instructors 2002
Who was here in 2002? Lots of names you'll recognize!
Click here to see this year's instructors.
Names are listed below in alphabetical order, by surname. Workshop codes are linked in parentheses at the end of each bio.
See past instructors: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004; 2003; 2001 & earlier.
Janet Armstrong
Workshops: 2002-14; 2002-15; 2002-83
A resident of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, Janet Armstrong
specializes in creative sewing. Recycled fabrics (notably neckties and
Japanese kimono fabrics), piping, binding, and machine quilting are the
hallmarks of her wearable art. She enjoys helping students create unique
garments that fit well and look wonderful, and in the process, sharing
her passion for fabrics of all types. Top
Alexandra Brookes
Workshops: 2002-2
Alexandra Brookes resides in British Columbia's North Okanagan, where
there's an abundance of natural raw materials – namely, Ponderosa
pine. She has been making baskets since 1991 after a friend introduced
her to the concept and has gone on to develop her own unique style of
basketry. Her works have been shown and sold in several galleries
including the Vernon, BC art gallery and the Crafthouse Gift Shop on
Vancouver’s Granville Island. Top
Keith Burdon
Workshops: 2002-37; 2002-38
Keith Burdon has been carving in the East Coast folk art tradition for
10 years. He is a self-taught carver with experience as a carpenter and
cabinetmaker. His colorful, whimsical work usually has an aquatic theme
and can be seen in many locations on the Sunshine Coast as well as at
Granville Island in Vancouver BC. Top
Joan Carrigan
Workshops: 2001-25; 2002-1
For ten years, Joan Carrigan has studied basketry with numerous
outstanding basketmakers, acquiring a broad-based knowledge of basketry
techniques and materials. She has taught extensively while living on
Salt Spring Island, BC and is a founding member of the Salt Spring
Island Basketry Guild. Top
Kim Cowley-Adam
Workshops: 2002-28; 2002-29
Long-time weaver, spinner, knitter,dyer and accredited fashion designer,
Kim Cowley-Adam trained as an instructor of Saori handweaving in Osaka,
Japan in 1997. She operates Fyberspace Studio in Nanaimo, BC where she
teaches and creates art-to-wear hand-woven garments and home
furnishings. Top
Will Cummer
Workshops: 2002-30; 2002-31; 2002-32
Will Cummer has been a woodworking artisan for 30 years. He has designed
hundreds of products but now finds excitement in using driftwood to
create amazing furniture and artworks. Often featured in newspaper and
magazine articles, he is working on a book which will distill his
beachcombing and woodworking knowledge for others. Top
Carole Davidson
Workshops: 2002-19; 2002-20; 2002-85
For over twenty-five years, Carole Davidson has been weaving and
actively involved in the Gold River and Victoria, British Columbia
weaving guilds. Her passion is integrating handwoven fabric with paper
to create professional looking one-of-a-kind greeting cards and
invitations. Her weaving has won awards for design, technical and
artistic excellence. Top
Wes Giesbrecht
Workshops: 2002 Demo in Dougall Park
Wes Giesbrecht’s first job was in a sawmill. Wood has been in his
background even during other careers as a musician, store owner, driver
and sailor. He is a journeyman joiner, cabinet maker and furniture
maker. Co-founder of the Fraser Valley Woodworker's Guild, he has also
taught at the University College of the Fraser Valley. Top
Dan Gillis
Workshops: 2002-39; 2002-40
Dan Gillis is a marine biologist by trade, and has been a woodworker
since the age of 15 when he helped his father, a shipwright, build a
boat. Dan's wife is Japanese and her culture inspired his interest in
Shoji, the use of paper and wood in house building. He specializes in
traditional and contemporary Shoji screens and lamps. Top
Pam Godderis
Workshops: 2002-18;
Welcome Reception speaker
Based in Vancouver BC, Pam Godderis, B.Ed., is a fibre artist and
freelance teacher working with guilds and organizations across North
America. She has authored correspondence courses, numerous articles, and
books, and won several awards including "Outstanding Achievement in
Fibre Art" from the Province of Alberta. Pam's sense of humor and
calm professionalism encourages her students to explore their natural
creativity. Top
Ellen Hamilton
Workshops: 2001-1; 2002-10; 2002-82
Ellen Hamilton began spinning, dyeing and weaving in the early 1970’s.
In the 1980’s, she began raising Angora rabbits, followed by Angora
goats. At the same time, Ellen’s fibre interests expanded to include
felting and basketry. She continues to add new techniques to her
repetoire, including kumihimo, shibori, bokashi, and passementarie.
Ellen lives in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. Top
Wendy Henderson
Workshops: 2001-5; 2002-11; 2002-84
Wendy Henderson designs and knits garments that showcase her interest in
color and fine-finishing details. She is a published designer and has
won awards for her work. She teaches at both the Okanagan and Island
Knitting Retreats, where she endeavours to inspire knitters to try new
techniques and challenges. Top
Jen Hiebert
Workshops: 2002-27
Jen Hiebert is a Vancouver BC-based tapestry artist who has been weaving
in various forms for over ten years. A graduate of the well-known
Capilano College Textile Arts Program, her work has been exhibited in
various venues around Vancouver. Her current tapestries merge
traditional technique, pop culture, art, and craft. Top
Naoko Hirano
Workshops: 2002-24
Naoko Hirano has been teaching quilting in Japan for over twenty years.
She has exhibited her work around the world, and is devoted to
introducing Japanese culture through her quilts. Naoko uses vintage
kimono fabrics and traditional paper-folding (origami) techniques to
create images from nature and Japanese mythology. Top
Laszlo Józsa
Workshops: 2002-35; 2002-86
Laszlo Józsa is a recognized expert on wood, having published over 150
scientific papers, technical reports and articles. He has served as an
expert witness in forensic dendrochronology in the Supreme Court of
Canada. Les has also mastered the art of carving and much of his work
reflects the folk art traditions of his native Hungary. Top
Gary Kelly
Workshops: 2002-33; 2002-34
Gary Kelly is a self-taught wood turner. Upon purchasing his first lathe
in 1980, he was instantly hooked on turning wood. His work ranges from
tiny miniatures to architectural columns nine feet tall and has found
its way as far as Europe and South America. He enjoys introducing young
people to wood turning at the high school in his home town of Gibsons,
British Columbia. Top
Phil Kirkland
Workshops: 2002-36
Phil Kirkland's lifelong interest in woodworking came into bloom after
his retirement from federal civil service. He operates a home-based
woodworking business from Pantomime Farm on British Columbia’s
Sunshine Coast. He firmly believes that "old geezers" (his
words!) have a lot to offer and his extensive teaching experience bears
that out. Top
Eric Langley
Workshops: 2001-26; 2002-5; 2002-6
For over twenty-five years, Eric Langley has been using traditional
wax-resist batik methods with fabric paints and dyes and producing
hand-made, often beaded and guilded, wearable art garments, wallhangings,
and soft furnishings. His work has been in fashion shows and art
exhibits in Vancouver, Ottawa, and New York. Eric lives in Pender
Harbour on BC’s Sunshine Coast, and says that the Fibre Arts Festival
gives him an opportunity to share this art form, ancient and new at the
same time. Top
Lillian Loewen
Workshops: 2001-13; 2002-21
Lillian's background is in sewing and dressmaking, but when she took a
class from Pat Crucil, she was inspired to take up quilting, too. She
says she's been hooked ever since! Lillian continues to add to her
knowledge and has been teaching for several years. She lives on British
Columbia's Sunshine Coast. Top
Lynn McKitrick
Workshops: 2001-14; 2002-22
Courtenay, British Columbia-based quiltmaker and fibre artist Lynn
McKitrick has taught throughout this province and Washington State. She
uses both traditional and contemporary styles, and emphasizes technique
and original design. For Lynn, teaching is fun, and she endeavours to
create a relaxed atmosphere in which her students can learn and enjoy. Top
Pam Mahoney
Workshops: 2002-23
Pam Mahoney immigrated to Canada from Australia in 1967. She took her
first quilting lesson in 1981 and since then has been connected to
fabric. She currently lives in Prince Rupert, British Columbia where she
manages a fabric shop and gives lessons. Pam is known to many quilters
for her teaching at the annual Tumbleweed Retreat in Ashcroft, BC. Top
Bettina Matzkuhn
Workshops: 2002-81
Bettina Matzkuhn has worked in fibre for over twenty-five years,
exhibiting both nationally and internationally. She has used
contemporary embroidery in animated films and continues to focus on
narrative in textile work. She holds a BFA from Simon Fraser University
in Vancouver BC and is currently working on her MA in Liberal Arts. Top
Paula Seifred O'Brien
Workshops: 2001-10; 2002-13
Trained in textiles as fine art medium at Goldsmith's College, London,
Paula Seifred O’Brien explores surface potential in an innovative way.
With more than twenty years of experience, she creates wonderful
wearables for the body and home, and her Pavelka Design patterns are a
great way to make every day a colourful one. Paula currently brightens
BC’s Sunshine Coast. Top
Dan Richter
Workshops: 2002 Demo in Dougall Park
Dan Richter has been making instruments for eight years after studying
guitar-making at Timeless Instruments in Saskatchewan. His guitars and
basses feature unique designs and inlays, and are sought after by
musicians of many genres. He currently works from his studio, Dragonfly
Instruments, on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Top
Carola Russell
Workshops: 2002-17
Carola Russell has been an avid sewing educator for 18 years, and is
well-liked for her patient teaching style. She travels extensively
across the US and Canada teaching and sharing her knowledge at sewing
shows, workshops and retreats. Carola’s work has been featured in
magazines such as Sew News, Creative Machine Embroidery
and Sew Beautiful, and when you see the many samples she brings
to her classes, you’ll know why … and be inspired! Top
Sean Champagne
Workshops: 2002-41
Sean Champagne is co-owner of Dakota Creek Lumber, a portable milling
company based on the Sunshine Coast. He's been custom milling for over
five years. Prior to establishing his own business, Sean worked at the
log booming grounds in Howe Sound. When he's not milling, Sean enjoys
working with wood. In fact, he was part of a team that recently competed
in an April Fools Day wooden boat building contest. Their boat – completed in just three hours –
was one of the few that didn't leak!
Clearly, Sean knows his wood. Top
Ruriko Shimomae
Workshops: 2002-7
Ruriko Shimomae was born and completed art college in Japan and has over
twenty years’ experience in Katazome, traditional Japanese fabric
dyeing. Her concern for the environment led her to use plant dyes native
to Japan, and since immigrating to British Columbia in 2000, Ruriko has
added a range of indigenous British Columbia colours to her palette. Top
Michelle Sirois-Silver
Workshops: 2000-4; 2001-29; 2002-25
Michelle Sirois-Silver is a Vancouver BC-based hooked rug designer and
instructor interested in rug hooking as metaphor for everyday life.
Michelle teaches in the Greater Vancouver area and on the Sunshine
Coast. She is an accredited McGowan Instructor. Top
Sunshine
Coast Spinners' & Weavers' Guild
Workshops: 2002-26
Founded in 1986, the Sunshine Coast Spinners' & Weavers' Guild
is a dedicated and fun-loving group of talented spinners, weavers, dyers
and felters. The Guild enjoys sharing their various skills and
encouraging participation in our craft. Top
Coralie Swaney
Workshops: 2001-30; 2002-3; 2002-4
Preferring to think of herself as a "creator of characters,"
Coralie Swaney is a self-taught doll artist with a background in
portraiture and costume design. Originally from New Zealand, Coralie
currently lives on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, and is a member of
the local arts co-op, Circle Craft in Vancouver, and the Canadian Doll
Artists Association. News article
Top
Barbara Trowbridge
Workshops: 2002-8; 2002-9
Barbara Trowbridge, textile artist, designer, and teacher, works in
gutta-resist, Japanese rozome (wax-resist), shibori and Japanese stencil
techniques using Procion H, Japanese acid and natural dyes. She has a
B.Ed and an M.Sc. (Merchandizing, Apparel & Textiles). Now retired
from her high school and university teaching career, Barbara works and
teaches from her studio on the Cowichan River in British Columbia. Top
Janet Tufnall
Workshops: 2001-11; 2002-16
Since she was a child in England, sewing has been Janet Tufnall’s
passion. She is intrigued by new techniques, especially on the sewing
machine. She has taught both hand and machine sewing on British Columbia’s
Lower Mainland and on the Sunshine Coast, and creates and sells
decorative clothing, home décor, and quilts. Top
Michael Vaughan
Workshops: 2002-41 (Note - as of June 18,
Michael Vaughan will not be teaching Workshop 41. The Festival welcomes
instructor Sean Champagne to take
Michael's place.)
Michael Vaughan has been milling timber and making rustic furniture for
25 years. He trained and worked with his grandfather, internationally
renowned carver and sculptor Dudley Carter. Michael worked on the
chainsaw milling for First Nations longhouses in both Prince Rupert and
Vancouver. Top
John Verge
Workshops: 2002-42
John Verge has been a timberframe and log home builder for 14 years. His
specialty is compound joinery which he has taught to many professionals.
John is known for his easygoing manner and clear instructions. Top
Beverley Walker
Workshops: 2002-12
Beverley Walker has been exploring spinning and weaving for several
years who now spends much of her time pursuing the many aspects of
lacemaking. She is editor of the Canadian Lacemaker Gazette.