Get To Know Your
Instructor
Ayala Talpai
Ayala is a folk artist who has intentionally avoided the often political world of art galleries. Shehas supported
herself with her art, and this, to her, represents true accolades--
At a booth in Eugene OR Saturday Market these 17 years past; as creator of garments for ceremonies both on and off
the beaten path; as Artist-in-Residence for the county public schools, teaching woolwork to people of all ages and abilities
all over the place. Ayala brought felting needles to the fiber world. Her approach is simple, affordable, and applicable anywhere
fiber is found. Prepare for lively productive workshops (and quite likely, a lifetime's absorption in needlefelting)
(see picture at bottom of page for an example of the type of wondrous thing
you will be creating in Ayalas' class)
Sandoval McNair
Sandoval McNair is an avid felter and has made many wonderful felted
creatures.
Trish Anderson
Trish Anderson teaches spinning and
dyeing as well as she has her own business Tanglewood Fiber Creations.
Jessie E. Turner
I
earned my BA in interdisciplinary studies from Marylhurst Univerary. I have been an staff with Aurora Colony Historical Society
since 2002. I also volunteer at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center giving history talks.
I am the author of a book of poetry, Silhouettes of Thought (1980 Hawkes Publishing),
a Young Adult Fantasy, Moon in the Day Sky (2006 Inkwater Press) and children's nonfiction book, Is Anybody Buried in
the Cellar? (2008 Publish America).
Kay Fielding
I am a
graduate of Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. Also for those who have been spinning for along time, I was Custom Colors offering
hand dyed cotton blends in multicolored roving, so I do love spinning lovely yarns. Currently and for the last few years I
have been fabricating sterling silver and gold jewelry including a line of fiber animal pins and earings. Also I teach jewelry
classes and workshops for Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR and beginning handspinning for Mission Mill Museum in Salem
also.
Nancy Kurz
Nancy
is a teaching artist in the Willamette Valley. She teaches clay, watercolor & drawing.
Diane Cutler
I
am a spinner, knitter and weaver of many years. The last eight years my focus has been on dying and spinning. I came up with
this process of striping and it has taken over my life. The colors are so exciting, I am always looking for new color ways.
Barbara Quinn
Barn
Quinn is a string slinger. She has been slinging string for over 50 years and has been a member of NwRSA for over 20 of those
years. She knits, tats, crochets, beads (both on and off loom), works on leather and has tried her hand at weaving.
In the process of pursuing her past time, she has been known to design a sweater
or two. Hand spinning (both wheel and spindling) has opened new doors for creation finding that handspun yarns didn't
have the same properties as commercial yarns. This brought her to explore yarn structure, fibre properties and knitting original
garments. She willingly shares her knowledge with anyone who will listen.
She lives in Vancouver, Wa, retired, and gives her time to teach, travel and enjoy the company of her Spinger
Spaniel, Zoe and Hannah Belle, her mini-dachshund. She has been teaching needle arts for nearly 30 years.
Shelia January
Spinning and Knitting Instructor
Diane McKinnon
Spinning
and Weaving Instructor
Diane Bentley-Baker
Diane Bentley-Baker is a spinner who knits, and works with natural dyes. She
earned her Certificate Of Excellence in Handspinning, Part 1, awarded by the HGA and has taught spinning, knitting and yarn
design for many of the 36 years she has spun, both in the Northwest and the Southwest. She mentors her classes with a laid-back
sense of humor. She has taken the Judging Class with Northwest Regional Spinners Association, and is currently serving as
President of that organization. Her first novel "Children of Light" is dedicated to themes of spinning, knitting,
and natural dyes. She makes mostly socks, but gives them all away. She and her husband live with a long yellow cat in Eugene,
Oregon.
Below is a picture of Ayala Talpai with a Calla Lilly
and it's inhabitant.
Photo courtesy of Chris Mihulka.
