Presenter Information 2010
Garand, Julie (Wet Felting)
Julie Garand lives in New Lenox, IL with her husband and two children. She is a graduate of Ray College of Apparel Design and has been a fiber artist all her life. She is working on completing her Bachelors Degree and hopes to bring art to people in a therapeutic way.
Goldsmith, Maryella (Triangular Loom Weaving)
Maryella has been doing needle projects for over 40 years, selling much of her work since she was a teenager. Maryella sewed clothes and knitted hats and mittens for her 5 children when they were small. The older Maryella got the more diversified her interests became, leading her to the Bishop Hill Fiber Guild where she has been a member for 12 years. Tom Svihla taught her how to weave on the Triangular Loom.
Hartley, Mary (Color Blending on the Drum Carder) Booth #10
Mary has been spinning for over 25 years. She and husband, Richard, have a flock of Romney / Merino sheep numbering over 300 that lead them to spinning, knitting, and weaving with handspun. Mary is skilled in all fiber arts and happy to share her knowledge.
Hartley, Richard (Wheel Mechanics I and II)
Richard says he has been spinning, weaving, etc. since forever and has been raising Romney/Merino sheep even longer than that. Richard thinks his wife, Mary, keeps him around only to repair the equipment that she breaks and to provide veterinary services on the sheep.
Huggins, Judy (Reclaim Refurbish Reuse Lawn Chairs)
Judy learned to knit from her mother at age 7 and has been interested in a wide variety of fiber arts ever since then. She started reclaiming aluminum chairs with macrame in 1990. Judy works, fulltime, in a local hospital lab and raises dogs and sings in her spare time.
Junis, Judy (Australian Locker Hooking)
Judy, a counselor by vocation and former home-ec teacher, includes spinning and knitting in her skill set. She enjoys those as well as dyeing fiber and nuno felting. She learned Australian Locker Hooking at a guild meeting many years ago, has made numerous projects using the technique, and has taught this craft many times.
Kingsbury, Kathy (Drop Spindle Spinning)
Kathy has been spinning for over 20 years and is an excellent drop spindle spinner. She is also an avid knitter, having learned to knit from her grandmother, dyes her own fiber, weaves, is a pencil artist, and a member of the Illinois Art League. Kathy loves to work with all types of fiber.
Sanders, Susan (Bead Soup Bracelet)
Susan Sanders, of Bartonville, has been knitting for 5 years and crocheting for 40+ years. She learned to knit at an early age but, until recently, preferred crocheting. She also likes making jewelry, whether knitted, crocheted or with wire (Viking Knitting).
Staley, Rose (Furoshiki Scarf Folding)
Rose is a long time guild member who says she is a do-er of much, master of none. She says she is not an expert at anything, but has tried everything! Rose prefers primitive crafts. She enjoys finger weaving and making grass coiled baskets and sharing those skills with others. She recently learned the Japanese art of Furoshiki and is happy to share it with you today.
Svihla, Tom (Beginning Spinning and Let's Ply: Beyond Beginning Spinning)
Tom has been a member of the Guild since 1995. He and his wife are owners of TOJAPA alpaca farm and are actively involved in the fiber arts. Tom has taught beginning spinning at the Spin-In for the past several years. He says his favorite fiber to spin is silk, but he is also a weaver, blacksmith, and avid woodworker. Tom builds and repairs spinning wheels and looms.
Varda, Jo Ann (Needle Felting)
Jo Ann learned to knit in 1968 in nursing school. She knit on and off until November 2004, when her interest was rekindled in the spirit of her mother. Jo Ann loves to knit with her many knitting friends. She enjoys learning new techniques, felting purses and other objects, needle felting, making baby hats, stamping, and adores buttons, kittens, and children.