Workshops :: Instructors 2001 & earlier
Who's been here before? Lots of names you'll recognize! 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; 2002.
Esther Anderson
Workshops: 2000-11
Esther creates exclusive knitwear pieces by machine and hand. She's been
a professional knitter for over thirty years. Top
Janet Armstrong
Workshops: 2001-5
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
Janet
Armstrong, Gloria Hanson, and Wendy Henderson
Workshops: 2001-5
Janet, Gloria, and Wendy are passionate about knitting with all types of
yarns to create unique and exciting garments. They readily share their
expertise, which they admit, was gained the hard way – by creating
many disasters and figuring out how to fix them! The members of this
avid knitting team have all won prizes for their work, and live in
British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and Gulf Islands. Top
Anne Babchuck
Workshops: 2000-10; 2001-27
Anne lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she is the coordinator
and resident instructor for Maiwa Handprints textile workshops. Indigo
dyeing is one of her passions, and she's committed to sharing the
techniques and processes of this magical craft and other textile
processes. Top
Jean Betts
Workshops: 2001-18; 2001-21
For over 25 years, Jean has been spinning, weaving, and actively
involved in the Salt Spring Island and Victoria, British Columbia
weaving guilds. In 1987, Jean studied weaving and dyeing in Kyoto,
Japan. She's won several awards for her spinning, design, and technical
skills. Top
Anna Billy
Workshops: 2001-24
A resident of Squamish, British Columbia, Anna has been making
traditional Coast Salish baskets for many years. She learned from her
mother, who, in turn, had learned from her mother. Anna is well-known
for her baskets, and is often called upon to teach this centuries-old
craft. Top
Laura Blackmore
Workshops: 2000-3; 2001-3
Laura started knitting over a decade ago, and has been spinning her own
yarn for the past three years. She enjoys the freedom of designing her
own patterns, one of which has been published in Knitwear Architect's
catalogue, and encourages other knitters to follow suit. Laura is a
member of the Sunshine Coast Spinner's and Weaver's Guild in British
Columbia. Top
Audrey Bryant
Workshops: 2001-12
Audrey holds certificates in design and embroidery from the City and
Guilds of London Institute. She uses stitching, felting, beading, dying,
painting, and "whatever!" in the making of her creations.
Audrey eagerly shares her expertise and creative ideas with other fibre
enthusiasts, and her fun classes are known for inspiring students to try
something new. Audrey lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Top
Judy Caldwell
Workshops: 2001-7
Ten years ago, Judy took a three-year intensive tutorial with Leonida
Leatherdale. She's taken several courses since that time, and has been
an officer of both the national and local embroidery guilds. An
accomplished needlecrafter, Judy enjoys encouraging students to take the
next step in their craft. Judy lives on the Sunshine Coast, British
Columbia. Top
Joan Carrigan
Workshops: 2001-25
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
Betty Caskey
Workshops: 2001-15
A resident of Olds, Alberta, Betty has been teaching various textile
arts for the last 20 years. Ten years ago, she started developing kits,
patterns and videos that use the techniques she teaches in her classes.
Betty believes that everyone is creative, and inspires her students to
try something new and different. Top
Louisa Chadwick
Workshops: 2000-8
Louisa is an accomplished crafter, writer, and workshop instructor. Her
current interests include kumihimo, tablet weaving, bobbin-lace making,
beadwork, as well as spinning, weaving, and dyeing. Top
Dianne Cross
Workshops: 2000-12; 2001-17
Diane began weaving twenty-five years ago with the Deep Cove Weavers and
Spinners Guild in Sidney, BC. Her formal training includes the Master
Spinner's Certificate she earned in 1990 from Olds College, Alberta.
Dianne teaches in her studio on Vancouver Island and throughout British
Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon. News
article Top
Pat Crucil
Workshops: 2000-2
Over her 20 years of quilting, Pat has moved from traditional styles to
quilting-as-art. Pat studied surface design at Capilano College in North
Vancouver, British Columbia. Top
Laura Fry
Workshops: 2000-1
Laura began weaving over 20 years ago, and has attended workshops in
Canada, Finland, and the USA. A Master Weaver, Laura creates household
textiles and fabric for fashion designers and ethnic dance costumers. Top
Maureen Goldsmith
Workshops: 2000-6
In 2000, Maureen was nominated for the Canadian Quilting Association's
Teacher of the Year award. She's been an avid quilter for over 25 years. Top
Val Haines
Workshops: 2001-9
Val has been exploring the quilting medium for the past 12 years, and in
the past 3, has been experimenting with the unlimited potential of
textile embellishment. An accomplished quilter, Val won the 2000 Sulky
of America award in the professional division. (Her 2nd prize wall
hanging from 1999 will be on display at the 2001 Festival.) Val
currently resides on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia. News
article Top
Ellen Hamilton
Workshops: 2001-1
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
Gloria Hanson
See "Janet
Armstrong"
Gina Hartley
Workshops: 2001-6
Gina has been teaching machine knitting for almost 19 years. Her varied
fibre arts background includes owning a Brother knitting machine
dealership for many years. Gina also taught high school home economics,
as well as dressmaking and tailoring at night school. She lives in the
Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Top
Wendy Henderson
Workshops: 2001-5
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
Eric Langley
Workshops: 2001-26
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
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
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
Linda MacPhee
Workshops: speaker, March 13 & 14, 2001
Linda is well-known as the host of HGTV's Sew Much Fun. She's
also well-known for her energy, creativity, and enthusiasm. Join Linda
in Gibsons Landing for her wearable art fashion show and lecture
presentations – you're bound to go away full of ideas for your own
creations. Top
Joan Marshall
Workshops: speaker, Festival 2000
A resident of the Sunshine Coast, Joan holds a Master's Degree in
textile conservation, and has Canadian professional accreditation. She
works for private clients, museums, and institutions in Ottawa and on
the West Coast, caring for a diverse range of textile treasures. Top
Paula Seifred O'Brien
Workshops: 2001-10
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
Barby Paulus
Workshops: 2001-22
Barby has been weaving for 20 years, and has studied with many
well-known weavers, spinners and dyers. She works from her studio on the
Sunshine Coast, creating finely-crafted functional and wearable fibre
art pieces – table linens, luxurious wool and mohair shawls, and
handpainted silk and rayon scarves. News
article Top
Judy Ross
Workshops: 2001-16
Judy lives on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia and is a lifelong
quilter. She began piecing quilt blocks as a child, and finished her
first quilt when in her teens. Having retired from post-secondary
teaching, Judy quilts full time. She's particularly interested in
creating quilts that use traditional blocks set in unusual ways. In
1999, Judy won Viewer's Choice–Miniature Quilt at the Sunshine Coast
Quilter's Guild Biannual Quilt Show. Top
JoAnne Ryeburn
Workshops: 2001-28
JoAnne is fascinated by the interplay of colour and structure in fabric.
She has taken many workshops and has appeared in several publications,
including Weavers, Complex Weavers, and Handwoven. She is president
(2001) of the Vancouver, British Columbia, Weaver's & Spinner's
Guild. Top
Alma Schofield
Workshops: 2001-2
Alma received her art training at Liverpool College of Art in England,
as well as in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Victoria,
BC. She has taught and exhibited in solo and group shows in Canada,
Britain and Germany. Alma now makes her home on Hornby Island, British
Columbia. Top
Heather Schwartz
Workshops: 2000-9
Heather hasn't looked back since her first basketry workshop in 1988.
Her work is sold through the Canadian Craft Museum in Vancouver and at
other shops. Top
Michelle
Sirois-Silver
Workshops: 2000-4; 2001-29
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
Marcela Smith
Workshops: 2001-19
Marcela's fine arts training includes a 4-year apprenticeship in a
textile factory, after which she attended the School of Textile Arts in
the Czech Republic. She also studied graphic arts in Toronto. Since
moving to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, Marcela has focused on
tapestry weaving. She uses traditional techniques, though her style is
clearly contemporary. Top
Jane Stafford
Workshops: 2000-5; 2001-20
Jane started as a student and progressed to teacher at the renowned
Banff Centre School of Fine Arts. She now teaches and lectures
throughout North America, sharing 22 years of experience in the field of
handwoven textiles. Jane currently resides in British Columbia's Gulf
Islands. News article Top
Dianne Stevenson
Workshops: 2000-7
Influenced by her mother and grandmother, Dianne learned to quilt in the
Mennonite tradition. She has taught for 25 years, and is regularly
commissioned to create quilts for private clients. Top
Coralie Swaney
Workshops: 2001-30
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
Marion Topping
Workshops: 2001-4
Marion taught in the Richmond, British Columbia public schools for over
twenty years, and now enjoys instructing in the fibre arts. She is an
accomplished knitter and designer, and is presently designing a theme
sweater for Knit With Us in Yellowknife, June 2001. Marion resides in
the Vancouver, BC area, and is president of the West Coast Knitters'
Guild (2001). Top
Janet Tufnall
Workshops: 2001-11
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
Gerda Warren
Workshops: 2001-8
A resident of British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, Gerda is a past member
of the St. John's (Newfoundland) Guild of Embroiderers, and a member of
the Embroidery Association of Canada. She has successfully completed
Level 4 in a five-part course with Bunty Severs. Embroidery has been her
joy since she was a youngster, and she looks forward to sharing her
expertise with you. Top
Michelle Wilman
Workshops: 2001-23
A resident of Calgary, Alberta, Michelle is a graduate of the City and
Guilds of London Institute. Her work has been included in juried shows
in England, Washington, Oregon, and Alberta. She's appeared on many CBC
radio and television programs, and has written several articles as well.