Seminar 2009 - UFO: Universe of Finishing Opportunities

Kim Hollifield, Round Rock, TX, graduated from the University of Texas and taught Kindergarten for nine years. When she began staying home with my sons, she decided to try to finish her own needlework projects. A local shop owner saw her work and asked if she would be interested in finishing for the shop and the rest is history! Kim received a special honor when she was asked to assemble some of the angel ornaments for the Texas Governor's Mansion Christmas tree and ANG National Seminar auction. Kim always tries to encourage needle workers to try finish their own projects and she's happy to share the techniques she has learned with others. Kim is a member of the Austin Stitchery Guild and lives in Round Rock, Texas with my husband and two sons.

Jo Hopper is a life member of ANG. With Eula Malson, she teaches needlework finishing techniques and cording. She served as ANG's Seminar Director from 1992-1997. Eula and Jo have voluntarily done finishing for ANG's Auction for a number of years and chaired the Auction in 2003. Jo first began doing needlework with her grandmother and her mother some 50 years ago. In 2001, she created Flying Needles, a wholesale/retail needlework e-business.

Carole Lake, Austin, TX, is an EGA-certified teacher who specializes in manipulating common and uncommon threads and stitches to create textured effects, with a special interest in the effect and symbolism of color. Her award-winning work has been displayed in exhibits throughout the southwest. She has been actively teaching and designing for over twenty years. A native Texan and graduate of Rice University, her enthusiasm for the needlearts has translated into a strong desire to exchange ideas, explore techniques, and share the love of stitching.

Betty Chen Louis, Santa Rosa, CA, was born in Peking and is a nationally known Fiber Artist, needlework teacher, and lecturer. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College, has studied color and design under Pat Lambert, and apprenticed with Rita Klein. Betty has researched at the Textile Study Rooms of many institutes around the word, including the Metropolitan museum of Art, China Institute, Royal Ontario Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the national palace Museum in Taipei. She has taught at national and regional ANG and EGA seminars, NAN, Callaway Gardens, NSCAE Seminars, Melbourne Seminar, as well as her own studio at home. She has lectured on the History of Chinese Embroidery and Tapestry and the Untraditional Uses of Blackwork.

Eula Malson graduated with a BS degree in Secondary Education with a major in Home Economics. She taught sewing classes at JL Long Jr. High in Dallas, Texas. From 1996-1998 Eula was National President of the American Needlepoint Guild. Since that time her focus has been teaching finishing classes for the ANG National Seminar and local chapters of ANG and EGA. Eula is a charter member of The Woodlands EGA chapter.

Tony Minieri was formally educated at the Stevens Institute of Technology and affiliated with ANG, NETA, EGA and NAN. His needlework education includes the national Seminar, The Callaway School of Needle Arts, ANG and EGA workshops and Level I Certification (NAN0. He has taught at the Callaway School of Needle Arts, TNNA, ANG and EGA chapters, the new England Regional (1994), the Canadian national (1995) and at local shops. His accomplishments include commercial designs through Brite Ideas and for Lois Caron and production of stitch and thread guides for Sunrunner and Renaissance Designs.

Sandra Maag Reddell, Swiss Alp, TX, is a certified Senior Master Teacher through ANG, and is a certified Master Craftsman in Canvas through EGA. She is also pursuing certification in Crewel Embroidery. Sandra has taught canvaswork, surface stitchery and multi-media since 1981, teaching for ANG and EGA chapters and regions across the country, and the fast fifteen ANG national seminars. Sandra lives on a ranch near LaGrange, Texas with husband Ralph Fisher, and their Texas Longhorns, Brahmans, horses, mules, burros, chickens, armadillos, and a buzzard named Oscar.

Gay Ann Rogers, La Jolla, CA, has taught at national and regional seminars for EGA and ANG and at Callaway School of Needle Arts for more than 20 years. She is EGA-certified in canvaswork and has served on the EGA Teacher Certification Committee. She has written four books and too many magazine articles to count, for publishers in the US and in London. Her book, An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools, was translated into German and published in Zurich as well. Gay Ann is an avid collector of needlework tools, lace and lately cameos for which she has designed a series of needlepoint projects. Her favorite assignment in the past few years: she wrote an article for Needle Arts on Audrey Francini, whose work she greatly admires.

Marion Scoular, Duluth, GA, is a three-year Mark Excellent graduate of The Royal School of needlework and a City and Guild's Silver medalist. She has taught in English High Schools, owned The Robin Hood Wool Shop for thirteen years, taught adult education for Clemson University and has judged, lectured, and taught in 44 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is the author of many booklets and articles on Embroidery techniques.

Joan Thomasson is an ANG Master Teacher and has taught nationally for ANG, EGA, Callaway School of Needle Arts, and NAN. Her designs have been featured in Needlepoint Now, Needle Arts, Needlepointers, Needlepoint Plus, McCall's Needlework and Craft's, Neiman Marcus' Horchow Collection and the Clinton White House Christmas Trees.. She is past president of the National Embroidery Teachers Association (NETA) and the International Council of Needlework Associations (ICNA). She is the owner of Stitchin' Stuff, Inc., which markets her designs internationally.

Jane Timmers holds B.F.A. degrees in Music and in Theatre. Having begun her needlework journey with machine sewing at age 5, she continued with dressmaking and costume design throughout her college career. Her embroidery education began in earnest after developing a serious interest in historic needlework. Jane designs a wide variety of small sewing accessories that combine her love of historical costume with the many hand-sewing and mounting techniques that are required for finishing. She markets her designs through her business, Fancy Work. She has taught for EGA, sampler guilds and needlework shops on the local, regional and national level.

John Waddell, has stitched for over 35 years and is a member of EGA, EAC, ANG and NETA. For the past eight years he has taught weekly open stitch classes in Houston. Currently he teaches three classes per week. He has completed numerous teaching assignments with both EGA and ANG Guilds nationally. John has taught classes at the national ANG and EGA Seminars, at Calloway School of Needle Arts, and at The National Needlework Association (TNNA). Two articles of his were published in Needlepointers March 2002 and July 2004. He is the past President of the National Embroidery Teacher's Association NETA. John is also a juried member of EGA Fiber Forum.