Workshops :: Instructors 2005
Who was here in 2005? Lots of names you'll recognize! See this year's instructors.
Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival guests have enjoyed meeting instructors from the Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and further afield.
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, 2004, 2003; 2002; 2001 & earlier.
Kris Abshire
Workshops: 2005-3
Kris has lived and worked in Alaska 37 years, increasingly pursuing
her creative muse during the past 22 years, as a self-taught weaver and
surface design fibre artist. Inspiration for her work comes from many
years of venturing into Alaska’s wilderness, and from the wildlife and
seasonal colors and textures surrounding her studio in the magnificent
Matanuska Valley.
Cindy Buis
Workshops: 2005-14
Cindy discovered Fibre Arts while studying at the Nova Scotia College
of Art & Design in Halifax, N.S. She obtained a B.F.A. in 1982. She
owned & operated a picture framing shop in Gibsons Landing from 1984
to 1997. Prior to opening her own shop she worked and taught for two
years in Calgary. Cindy has taught one-day picture framing workshops
many times.
Keith Burdon
Workshops: 2005-29
Keith is a self-taught carver who has been carving for over 10 years and has taught
previously at the Fibre Arts Festival. His style is whimsical, unique
and wrought with humor and vibrant colors. He usually portrays an
aquatic theme in his work and sells much of it on Granville Island and
the Sunshine Coast.
Nancy Climie
Workshops: 2005-18
Nancy has been a popular instructor of quilting, sewing courses and
workshops for about 20 years in the Toronto and Markham areas of
Ontario, through shops, guilds and the Creative Sewing and Needlework
Festival. Her move to Sechelt, BC in 2003 is offering her new
opportunities to share her enjoyment and enthusiasm for these skills.
She also designs and markets patchwork and quilted items through craft
sales.
Janet Collins
Workshops: 2005-5
Janet, a self-taught needle felter, has shown her work in national and
international galleries and in a feature film. Her figures are made
using a simple technique that she has taught to school children, seniors
and members of various fibre arts guilds throughout southern BC. She is
an associate of the Weaving Studio on Granville Island, Vancouver. Janet
lives and works on the Sunshine Coast.
Pat Crucil
Workshops: 2005-15
Pat started making traditional quilts over 25 years ago and has
gradually begun working in a freer style. At the present time she views
her work as an art form in which she expresses her ideas using fabrics
as her medium. Her methods have changed to a more contemporary and
abstract style with a heavy emphasis on colour. She was born and raised
in Manitoba, taught elementary school and now lives in Sechelt, B.C. She
studied art through Emily Carr, textiles at Capilano College and
quilting with various individual teachers.
Will Cummer
Workshops: 2005-26, 2005-27
Will is a local woodworker who has over 30 years experience. His work
has been featured in many newspaper, magazine and television stories. He
enjoys teaching others how to choose and assemble driftwood to make
furniture that is comfortable as well as beautiful. His workshops are
fun and empowering.
Wendy Henderson
Workshops: 2005-6, 2005-7, 2005-8
Wendy designs and knits garments that highlight her interests in colour and
fine-finishing details. She is a published designer and has won awards
for her work. Wendy teaches at both the Okanagan and Island Knitting
Retreats, where she endeavors to inspire all knitters to try new
techniques and challenges with no "knitting police" in sight!
We welcome her back to the Festival.
Elena Iove
Workshops: 2005-10
www.bestneedleart.com
Elena has loved needlework since childhood. Born in Romania, she
immigrated to Canada 18 years ago. She taught Romanian Point Lace,
crochet, and knitting as a substitute teacher in Romania. In Canada she
has been teaching RPL at shops and lace guilds, and demonstrates at
different multicultural events in Vancouver/Lower Mainland. Her designs
have been displayed at different craft shows across Canada. They are
also advertised in Embroiderers Association of Canada magazine and
published in Canadian Lacemakers Gazette.
Freda Jackson
Workshops: 2005-22
Freda began rug hooking in the early 1990's while stationed in Nova Scotia. She trained
under Carol Morse, whose work has been published in several rug-hooking
magazines. Freda attended the Nova Scotia Rug Hooking School and has
participated in numerous workshops.
Les Józsa
Workshops: 2005-31
Les has been drawing and painting all his life and discovered the medium of wood in his mature
years. His woodcarvings range from small decorative wall hangings to
water fountains and monumental garden gates. Much of his work reflects
the folk art traditions of his native Hungary. He is a recognized expert
on wood, having published over 150 scientific papers, technical reports
and articles.
Gary Kelly
Workshops: 2005-32, 2005-33
Gary is a self-taught wood turner. Beginning with the purchase of his first wood turning lathe
in 1980, his passion and commitment to wood turning has continued to
grow. His expertise ranges from production work to one-of-a-kind unique
pieces. Gary enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of wood turning with
others and he conveys these elements with a sense of fun in his classes.
Kathy Klassen
Workshops: 2005-20
Kathy has been passionate about quilting for 25 years and about
teaching for the last 8 years. Her excitement about colour and design
finds its way onto the canvases of her quilts. Her philosophy of 'there
has to be an easier way' has led to some innovative and fun new
techniques. She has organized several shows at the Community Arts
Council Gallery in Courtenay and was well received at her show in
Winnipeg in the spring of 2004.
Mike Komick
Workshops: 2005-30
www.preferrededge.ca
Mike started work in the metal trade over 37 years ago as a 'Class A'
welder, progressing from welder to instructor and inspector. Wood and
woodworking have been life long hobbies, and when asked a few years ago
to make some chip carving blades, this new hobby soon led to a full time
business. Michael works and lives in Maple Ridge, B.C. and his tools are
sold locally to select First Nation Artists, as well as distinctive
artists throughout the world. (A retailer in Metten, Germany is one of
his largest customers.) Michael taught this class at Sardis Secondary
School where the students then used their knives in conjunction with a
woodcarving class that followed.
Kim McKenna
Workshops: 2005-4
Kim does custom dyeing and textile work for other artists as well as
pursuing her own creative endeavors. Kim also teaches, helping others to
hone their spinning and dyeing skills and to learn the intricacies of
the dye and the fibre at hand. She lives in Langley, BC and has worked
with Treenway Silks.
Marg Marlow
Workshops: 2005-19
Marg is an accomplished quilter and embroiderer who uses her sewing
machine like an extension of herself. She has sewn all her life and
opened a fabric shop in 1982. As she taught her customers to sew and
quilt, she discovered free motion embroidery and quilting. Specialized
techniques include trapunto, stippling, embroidery, and lace making...
all on the machine!
Kristin Miller
Workshops: 2005-16
www.kristinmillerquilts.com
Kristin has quilted for thirty years and still can’t follow a
pattern! She sews without measuring, pre-planning, or copying, using
"decide-as-you-sew" methods explained in her book "The
Careless Quilter." Kristin makes dazzling medallion quilts,
free-form patchwork spirals, richly textured 3D landscapes and abstract
art quilts. Her workshops are lively, unpredictable, and fun.
Fran Nadeau
Workshops: 2005-1
Fran studied basketry and chair caning in England in the early 1990's. Her passion for caning
inspired her to start a business called U-Neek Chairs, which grew to
service a widespread clientele and several ongoing contracts with
furniture refinishing companies. She now works from Victoria, BC, surrounded by her collection of over seventy-five antique
chairs gathered in the United Kingdom and Ontario.
Linda Pearce
Workshops: 2005-11
Linda has been a practicing artist and teacher for the past 15 years.
Over the past 2 years she has pursued canvas embroidery as part of her
practice, and finds endless fascination in the many ways of putting
colours together. She finds pleasure also in sharing her excitement with
others.
Gibsons Quilters
Workshops: 2005-21
A fun loving group of quilters having many years of experience who
meet regularly to share and perfect their skills, be stimulated and
enjoy the creativity of fabric. This group is known for its
prize-winning quilts. We invite you to come and explore your hidden
talents, share a laugh and take home a new skill.
Katie Rainwater
Workshops: 2005-23
Katie is a McGown certified rug-hooking instructor. She is an
experienced fibre artist who has worked in many different mediums. She
became a rug hooker after years of working and teaching using a variety
of fibres. Katie is continually learning and teaching, always with an
eye to pushing her creative voice and helping others find theirs.
Tricia Rasku
Workshops: Olds College Master Spinner Certificate Program
Tricia is a Master Spinner, weaver, felter, dyer, and soap maker who
lives in a ski town in B.C. She uses the fibre from her own Samoyed X
dog, and purchases other fibre from various breeders and suppliers. She
is interested in indigenous fibres and plants and wrote her research
paper on lichen dyes. She often explores dye sources while out walking
the dog.
Dan Richter
Workshops: 2005-28
www.dragonflyguitars.com
Dan has been hand making custom guitars and other stringed
instruments for nine years. He uses his own unique designs,
incorporating a wide variety of exotic woods and inlays. The inlay
decoration is where he feels he can truly be artistic and "paint"
with wood, shell or metal. Dan currently works from his studio,
Dragonfly Instruments, on the Sunshine Coast.
Carol Seeley
Workshops: 2005-21
www.fibreartnetwork.com
Carol enjoys fibre as a medium because it is soft, flexible,
forgiving yet versatile. She uses extensive quilting and embellishment
in her work to create depth and texture to entice the viewer into the
surface. Carol’s work has been exhibited in private and public
galleries throughout North America and the UK.
Jane Stafford
Workshops: 2005-25
www.saltspring.com/jstafford
Jane has been weaving since 1978. She studied Textiles and Sculptural
Form at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts and later taught at this
renowned school. She now lives on Salt Spring Island, B.C. where she
operates Jane Stafford Textiles. She produces a line of blankets,
scarves and stoles using luxurious yarns in an astounding range of
colours. In addition, she markets the largest inventory of quality
yarns, looms, books and accessories for weavers and spinners in Western
Canada. Jane teaches and lectures throughout North America.
Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild
Workshops: 2005-24
This Sunshine Coast Guild is a talented group of fibre artists with
varying expertise in spinning, weaving, dyeing, and felting. Several
members will share their expertise and enthusiasm for the wonderful
craft of spinning & give you an opportunity, using the ancient drop
or hand spindle, to try your hand and explore this traditional art of
making yarn.
Coralie Swaney
Workshops: 2005-2
www.fibreartnetwork.com
Coralie is a self-taught doll artist with a lifetime of experience.
She has a background in portraiture and costume design, is a member of
the Canadian Doll Artists Association, Circle Craft in Vancouver, and
the Co-op Gallery in Gibsons Landing. Originally from New Zealand,
Coralie now makes her home on the Sunshine Coast, where the many great
characters who live here inspire her. Coralie says there has never been
a time when she has not made dolls. Over the years, the medium has
changed, but the attitude remains the same—doll making is even better
than chocolate!! Coralie has settled on polymer clay as her medium of
choice and now prefers to be described as a "creator of characters."
Mary Walker
Workshops: 2005-13, 2005-17
www.cabc.net/mem_sect/MemSites/mwalker/bio.html
Mary is attempting to revive the lost art of Quilling, helping both
young and old express their interests using simple skills and
imagination. She began teaching Quilling as an art form in 2001. Various
galleries and the British Columbia Artists Association have recognized
her for her work.
Mary has also taught quilting for over 20 years. She believes everyone should open their creative door—and that artists do not make mistakes, they make beauty. She was a student of Eleanor Burns, of TV fame.
Carol Wang
Workshops: 2005-9
www.chineseknotting.org
Carol is from Burnaby, BC. She was introduced to Chinese Knotting
over 25 years ago, and has been obsessed ever since. Carol is a member
of a number of Guilds.
Nadine Wong
Workshops: 2005-12
www.artescapestudio.com
Nadine has been teaching in various media for 25 years. For the past
12 years she has been working in paper: making it, painting it, pasting
it, stamping it, folding it, sculpting it, cutting it, printing it,
collaging it and montaging it. Today, Nadine’s passion is Paper and
Book Arts: making, altering and recycling books. Nadine shares her
knowledge and her sense of excitement as each student begins to develop
their artistic path in paper arts. This fuels her love to teach. Nadine
now works out of her studio in Halfmoon Bay, B.C.