Tom Knisely has made his career from his interest and love of textiles from around the world. Tom has been studying, collecting, and teaching others about weaving and spinning for more than four decades.
Sara is the owner and resident instructor of Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center. Many of Sara’s students praise her ability to guide students through the challenging world of color theory, specifically relating to weaving.
Rodrick Owen’s more than four decades of research into the braided textiles of pre-Hispanic Peru has helped raise awareness and appreciation for these gems of textile art.
First a professional teacher and then a spinner, Joan Ruane has been teaching spinning classes throughout the U.S., Canada, UK and New Zealand since 1980. Active in local and regional Guilds, she has also owned and operated fiber shops in both Florida and Arizona.
Gay McGeary has been researching and weaving coverlets for over twenty-five years. Nineteenth century coverlet patterns, weave structures and fringe techniques fascinate her.
Susan Weaver has been weaving and teaching hand weaving workshops for almost 30 years. She began her studies at The Mannings Handweaving School, in East Berlin, PA.
Jen Weber has been a craft enthusiast all her life. Her background and love for mathematics and science has a clear influence on her fiber arts pursuits. Her passion for complex designs and symmetry can be seen in her weaving, but most significantly in her obsession with Japanese temari.
Melissa is a traditional hand-weaver and spinner with 36 years of experience working on antique equipment to produce 18th and 19th century style textiles.
Roxanne Eklund has been in the creative arena for her entire career. 29+ years as shoe designer, and creator and owner of several branded footwear companies 14 years designer and partner in Three Ladies jewelry manufacturer 9 years Adjunct Associate Professor at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY/ Fashion Design.
Rae Cumbie is Creative Director at Fit for Art Patterns which offers patterns for modern wardrobe basics that focus on fit and artful design. Her coaching, blog posts and articles for Threads and Sew News encourage sewers to stitch up a fun, comfortable wardrobe and design more creatively.
I have been a fiber fan for as long as I can remember – have always enjoyed needlework and crafting with my mother and grandmothers and designing pieces. I taught myself tatting about 30 years ago and find it so fascinating – what can be done with those knots.
Amy has degrees in modern dance, kinesiology, and physiology. Her art and science backgrounds give her a keen understanding of learning movement skills, composition, pattern recognition, and systematic exploration.
Catharine Ellis has been a weaver and a dyer for over 40 years. After three decades of teaching the Fiber Program at Haywood Community College in NC she is now dedicated to studio work, focusing on natural dye processes.
Lorraine has been weaving baskets since 1998 when she took a basket weaving class with some friends and absolutely loved it. At those same friends’ urging, she started teaching basket-weaving classes shortly after!
“Happy” Kathy Eckhaus is a member of the Magdalena Rug Hooking group from Perry County, PA and has been hooking rugs for many years. She is a weaver, photographer (including photos for Rug Hooking Magazine and weaving/hooking books), teacher of preschool music, and world traveler. She hopes to keep practicing her fiber arts and making music for many years to come.
Terry Newhouse Flynn is a textile artist and art educator who creates garments, accessories, and sculptures that combine her interests in woven, braided, and knitted textiles.
Nancy Farr Benigni studied Fiber Art at Kent State University, and has been weaving since college days. She has also worked in other media, including silkscreen and batik. She has worked extensively with dyes, both synthetic and natural, including organic indigo.
