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2009 Educator Yearbook

Professional Educators Are Your Key to Sales Through Education!

A professional sewing, quilting, or embroidery educator is invaluable in getting your customers excited about “what’s new” in the industry. These educators are trained in various areas of technical expertise, and they are always ready to share their love of sewing, quilting and creating with your customers. When your customer base gets energized by a successful educational event, they are motivated to buy product. That means increased profits for you!

Classes and workshops taught by these professionals can keep your regular customers coming to your store often and can attract new customers who want to learn something fun and interesting. When you plan your events for next year, use this yearbook to get in touch with some of the best educators in the industry. They are ready to share their passion for sewing, quilting and embroidery with you, your staff, and your customers.
All members listed in this Educator Yearbook are members of the Sewing Educators Alliance!

Members:

Marci Baker
Alicia’s Attic
204 N Link Ln #7
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 1-970-224-1336
Fax: 1-970-224-1362
E-mail: info@aliciasattic.com
Web site: www.aliciasattic.com
Places will travel: International
     Marci Baker has loved sewing for years. She began teaching quilting in 1989 for her local quilting guild and shops. Marci graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in math. In 1993 she started Alicia’s Attic with the concepts that combine her love of math with her love of quilting. Quilting became a great way to share her knowledge with others. As an admirer of traditional quilts, Marci was inspired to author books on Not Your Grandmother’s™ Quilts. This series uses the traditional patterns people associate with their grandmother and simplifies the technique. She has invented several tools to help make quilting easier for all. Her Know Before You Sew™ solution cards take common problems quilters encounter and provide easy-to-understand solutions. In 2006 she expanded Alicia’s Attic by purchasing Clearview Triangle from Sara Nephew. They are collaborating on new designs and techniques. These ideas and Marci’s simplifying methods have come together as “The Clearview of Quilting”; inspiring today’s quilter.

Melinda Ballard
A Creative Bent
12720 S. Bethel Avenue
Selma, CA 93662
Phone: 1-559-896-5958
E-mail: Melinda.Ballard@mervyns.com
Places will travel: National
     Melinda Ballard’s areas of expertise include alternative, restorative, and redesign. She has 35+ years costuming and has taught after school sewing programs and hobby sewing. Her focus is on getting new enthusiasts on board with basics and design capabilities.

Janith Bergeron
The Sewing Tree
6 Cross Lane
Barrington, NH 03825
Phone: 1-603-664-6944
E-mail: janith@metrocast.net
Web site: www.thesewingtree.com
Places will travel: National
     Designs by Janith, custom sewing and alterations since 1990, has proven to be a unique education in re-constructing garments. A sewing educator for The Sewing Tree, she offers “Step into Sewing Series” to schools, youth programs, and adults. She works with retailers promoting sewing and serger events, teaching the skills that bring fun into every stitch. New classes in theatrical costuming techniques and “know your machine” are exciting for all. Janith is a Master CSE for SEA and has been a contributor to Threads Pattern Review since 2003. She has also been a Trained Sewing Educator/HSA since 2002.

Sue Barnabee
Creative Creations
21795 E Barnabee Road
Farmington, IL 61531
Phone: 1-309-647-0111
E-mail: scbarn@worldnet.att.net
Places will travel: National
     Sue Barnabee is a professional seamstress and educator who has taught all phases of sewing to young people and adults throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her areas of expertise range from fitting to alterations; infant to men’s wear; basic sewing to couture; machine embroidery and embellishments to wedding attire; home dec to quick and easy serging. Her business, Creative Creations, began in 1987. Her current focus is on education and custom sewing for businesses, publications, and the individual.

Patricia C. Barry
By Design Quilting
5640 Tracy Circle
Racine, WI 53402
Phone: 1-262-681-2000
E-mail: Pat@ByDesignQuilting.com
Web site: www.ByDesignQuilting.com
Places will travel: International
     Patricia Barry is a professional quilter, author of ABCs of Longarm Quilting (Krause Publications), inventor (Quilting Template System, Patent #7,383,640), sales representative for Quilt Center & Gammill Quilting Systems, Certified Statler Stitcher instructor, author of the CreativeStudio™ software user manual. Like most quilters, Patricia has been sewing for years. The passion for quilting exploded after she retired and she now focuses on teaching people how to master their longarm quilting systems.

Fred Bloebaum
LaFred
4200 Park Blvd. #102
Oakland, CA 94602
Phone: 1-510-893-6811
Fax: 1-510-663-8408
E-mail: jfred@lafred.com
Web site: www.lafred.com
Places will travel:
International, National
     Fred Bloebaum is a nationally-known speaker and sewing instructor based in the San Francisco Bay area. She is the owner of the highly-acclaimed La Fred pattern line and Sew…Santa Fe, sewing retreats in New Mexico. Fred offers a large selection of fashion-conscious classes, including sewing with special fabrics, tailoring, designer details and personal image and wardrobe selection. As an instructor, Fred combines a friendly, approachable style with an extensive knowledge of techniques and a keen eye for style and color.

Kim Boyles
7208 Green Meadow Lane
Oklahoma City, OK 73132-3978
Phone: 1-405-830-7416
Fax: 1-405-721-1470
E-mail: miskimcreates@cox.net
Web site: www.KimBoyles.com
Places will travel: National
     Kim Boyles is a freelance educator for SVP Worldwide Inc. as well as a Martha Pullen Licensed Beginning Sewing Teacher and a Licensed Serger Teacher. She has taught software at ETA Dallas and ETA Long Beach, appeared on America Sews with Sue Hausmann and has represented Singer and Viking at various quilt shows. Her innovative program “See it Before you Sew it” brings quilting design into the computer age by educating quilters how to utilize software to visualize their quilts before they start to sew. She is available for seminars, classes or demonstrations anywhere in the USA.

Marcie Brenner
Sew Beary Special
1025 East 28th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Phone: 1-718-951-3973
E-mail: sewbeary@aol.com
Places will travel: National, International
     In her more than 30 years of teaching, Marcie Brenner has conveyed her love of sewing and quilting, demonstrating her extensive knowledge with a sense of humor whether she’s working with beginners or professionals. She has taught at local and national level sewing and quilting shows and from junior high to university level courses. For the past 15 years she has run her own sewing school and quilt shop, with classes covering all phases of sewing, quilting and home dec. Additionally, she is employed in the garment industry as a technical designer and was a technical writer for a pattern company. She has an A.A.S. in applied apparel design and patternmaking, Fashion Institute of Technology, a B.A. in home economics and women’s studies, Brooklyn College, with Graduate courses in education. Marcie is available to travel nationally and internationally, implementing unique programs to meet participant needs.

Kay Brooks
RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail: info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Kay Brooks, co-founder of RNK Distributing, has become known for her passion for embroidery. She has developed and created new products for sewers of all kinds to help make them more successful with their hobby. Kay has taught sewing, quilting, and embroidery seminars from coast to coast in the U.S. as well as internationally. She has appeared on numerous television segments pertaining to sewing, including Martha’s Sewing Room with Martha Pullen, and Creative Living with Sheryl Borden. She has produced two embroidery training DVD’s titled Stabilizing Solutions and her projects have been published in numerous sewing, quilting, and embroidery magazines and Web sites. Kay has taught in venues such as Houston Quilt Market, Martha Pullen’s School of Fashion, and the national convention for sewing related businesses. Before starting RNK with her husband, Ricky, she owned a sewing machine retail business for 14 years and became acquainted with most brands of sewing, quilting and embroidery machines. She also spent time overseeing one of the most extensive educational programs offered to sewers. Her expertise along with a relaxed personality makes her classes fun and informative.

Maddie Bushman
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: maddie@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Maddie Bushman is the international educator for Janome America, Inc. She teaches embroidery for the beginner/intermediate, digitizing, customizing, garment construction, pattern fitting, quilting, home decor and crafts. She is a proficient serger sewist. Several of her projects were featured on the Janome Web site and in the Janome Digest. She has also been a television guest several times on Kaye Wood’s show Kaye’s Quilting Friends and on Quilt Central TV.

Mary Carollo
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: mary@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Mary Carollo has over 30 years of experience in the sewing industry, managing a custom bridal business to owning her own retail sewing and fabric store. Her original creations have been featured in many sewing publications including Designs In Machine Embroidery and many television shows. Her classes incorporate the ease of today’s computerized sewing with software technology for various types of projects. Her classes are designed to inspire every skill level.

Pam Clarke
Log Cabin Dry Goods Homestitches
Designs With Lines
4922 East Union Avenue
Spokane, WA 99212
Phone: 1-509-747-0315
Fax: 1-509-624-0383
E-mail: sales@homestitches.com
Web site: www.homestitches.com
     A noted machine quilter, teacher and artist, Pam Clarke has been machine quilting and creating her own quilting designs since 1986. Designs with Lines, a company started by Pam in 1988, has several stencils and sketchbooks available with hundreds of sketches to guide machine quilters in creating a style of their own. Pam’s work can be seen in several published magazines and books. She has been creating her own stencils for several years, and her technique is used for home machine quilting as well as the longarm machine quilting. Be sure to visit Pam on the Web at www.homestitches.com. Pam also owns Log Cabin Dry Goods, a quilt shop that offers longarm supplies, fabric, and longarm rental machines.

Melanie Coakley
National Education Coordinator for RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Melanie Coakley is national education coordinator for RNK Distributing. She is known for her love of sewing, textiles, embroidery and digitizing. Melanie’s passion for the sewing industry has taken her all over the country teaching the art of embroidery. Before the introduction of computerized machines, she trained in Switzerland in the art of free motion embroidery and sewing machine techniques. She recalls the “WOW” factor when she saw her first computerized embroidery machine, and of course had to have one, then two, and so on! She decided to add custom digitizing, and trained in the art of digitizing with Walter Floriani. She quickly realized there was a market for her talents and started her commercial embroidery business in 1990. She was recognized within the industry and began teaching at educational events throughout the United States. She is a writer for industry magazines, enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge in how to produce beautiful embroideries from start to finish. She is a frequent speaker at industry events where she loves to share her 20 plus years of embroidery knowledge. Her energetic presentation and way of sharing in depth information will keep you in stitches!

Nancy Cook & Robin Peters
Fabric FUNatics
W9383 Wendt Drive &
106 Clarence Court
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 1-920-887-8612
1-920-885-6805
E-mail: barbadoscook@charter.net & rlsp@sbcglobal.net
Web site: http://fabricfunatics.tripod.com
Places will travel: National and Regional in the Midwest
     Fabric FUNatics Nancy Cook and Robin Peters are trained sewing instructors with over 50 years of sewing and teaching experience. Their mission is to help sewers with varying figures have fun, create easy, flattering fashions using unusual fabrics and embellishments, teach students to “think outside the box” and develop their own creative style. Their opportunities have included teaching at sewing guilds, stores, assisting Linda MacPhee at national sewing shows and appearances on her television show.

Bernadette Coppola
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: BCoppola@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
Places will travel: National
     Bernadette Coppola is an educator coordinator for Janome America, Inc. Prior to joining Janome’s staff, Bernadette’s quilting expertise grew as the owner and operator of a quilt shop in northeast New Jersey. Her credentials included the publication of many quilts in various magazines including The Quilter Magazine, Fabric Trends as well as the Janome Digest. She is recognized as an expert on the Janome 1600P and the popular Gracie quilt frame, which she taught at the recent Janome dealer’s convention. Currently teaching classes on all the Janome sewing, quilting, embroidery and serger machines, Bernadette travels the United States promoting Janome sewing machines and the love of all sewing projects.

Connie Crawford
Fashion Patterns by Coni
P.O. Box 370
Hansville, WA 98340
Phone: 1-360-638-2629
Fax: 1-360-638-0296
E-mail: fashionpatterns@centurytel.net
Web site: www.fashionpatterns.com
     Connie Crawford is a licensed designer for Butterick Patterns and is owner of Fashion Patterns by Coni. She is a nationally recognized lecturer, fashion specialist, educator, and author of sewing and pattern books, including A Guide to Fashion Sewing, The Art of Fashion Draping, and Patternmaking Made Easy. Drawing on her 35 years of experience in apparel manufacturing and 23 years teaching fashion design classes in patternmaking, sewing and draping at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, Connie created her own pattern line with true-to-body fit from sizes X-Small to 6X.

Pam Damour
The Decorating Diva
495 Point Au Fer Road
Champlain, NY 12919
Phone: 1-518-297-2699
Fax: 1-518-297-2698
E-mail: decor8d@aol.com
Web site: www.pamdamour.com
Places will travel: International, National & All Regions
     Known as the “Decorating Diva,” Pam Damour offers professional drapery workroom training to the trade. Co-author of Pillow Talk, Pam is generous in sharing the knowledge of her 27+ years as an interior designer and sewing professional. As a seasoned career speaker, she’s a member of SEA, ASG, and AQS. Pam travels internationally teaching her specialty techniques that have brought her years of continued business as the “Couture of Home Dec Sewing.” Producer of 13 how-to DVDs, national spokesperson for The Warm Company, Heavenly Home and Rowenta, Pam enjoys the hands-on aspect of the window treatment industry. She has developed a 12 part template system to make custom window treatments that’s taking the industry by storm! Pam lives on the shore of Lake Champlain in a log cabin, nestled at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, where she teaches sewing retreats and her teacher certification programs.

Janet C. Dapson
Fabrications LLC
8860 N. 32nd Street
P.O. Box 708
Richland, MI 49083
Phone: 1-877-629-0190
Fax: 1-269-629-0191
E-mail: janet@fabricationsonline.com
Web site: www.fabricationsonline.com
Places will travel: Midwest Region
     Janet Dapson is a Palmer/Pletsch Educational Associate and Certified Sewing Instructor, specializing in garment fitting, construction and tailoring techniques at her fabric store (Fabrications) near Kalamazoo, MI. Besides regularly scheduled classes, individual instruction and group programs are available. Group programs may be conducted at Fabrications or at the group’s meeting place. Presentations range from one hour lectures to all day hands-on sessions.

Eric Drexler
Sulky National Educator
P.O. Box 494611
Port Charlotte, FL 33707
Phone: 1-800-874-4115, Ext. 164
E-mail: eric.drexler@sulky.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     With over 25 years in the sewing industry, Eric Drexler has developed a wide spectrum of expertise. As a senior in high school in 1983, Eric started working in Joyce and Fred Drexler’s Sewing Center as their sewing machine mechanic. Over the next 15 years he went on to become a teacher, manager and co-owner until the business was sold in 1998. For the last 10 years he has been a full-time employee of Sulky of America during which time he has become more heavily focused on his creative side, while continuing to indulge his passion for sewing machine repair in the evenings and on weekends. Free-motion artistry has been Eric’s other life-long passion ever since he was inspired by Joyce when, at age 10, she first taught him the technique. He has made numerous large and small works of machine art, some of which have been featured in Sulky books and at trade and consumer shows all over the country. Through his association with Sulky of America during all the years of its existence, he has had the pleasure and honor of being inspired by some of the world’s greatest creative sewers and quilters. For the 10 years of its existence, he managed the Sulky Challenge and was responsible for its appearance all over the country.
     Eric loves life and he loves to teach and share his exuberance for creative sewing. He is passionate about inspiring students of all ages so they can discover and enjoy a lifetime of creative fun.

Karen Eckmeier
The Quilted Lizard
19 South Road
Kent, CT 06757
Phone: 1-860-927-4201
E-mail: karen@quilted-lizard.com
Web site: www.quilted-lizard.com
Places will travel:
International, National
     Karen Eckmeier is an award winning fiber artist, international teacher and author. Her Accidental Landscapes workshop/book/patterns demonstrate her layered topstitching technique, which accidentally creates luscious fabric landscapes. Her Happy Villages workshop/book uses collaged step and window shapes that mysteriously evolve into unique villages. Karen’s spontaneous approach to working with fabric creates a relaxing atmosphere in her workshops. Whether learning her unique layered/topstitching technique or the process of fabric collage, students go home with an “I can do that” attitude.

Diane Faulkner
She Sews Fine
323 Calm Ct
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Phone: 1-770-421-1127
E-mail: sewfine@bellsouth.net
Web site: www.shesewsfine.com
Places will travel: National, International
     Diane Faulkner’s love of sewing began at a young age. Since then she has owned her own custom sewing and alterations business for 25+ years and has taught classes to all ages for the past 12 years. Her business experience has made her very knowledgeable in all areas of sewing; garment construction, fitting, wearable art, embroidery and embroidery software plus much more. She continues to update her sewing skills with the newest information. Diane is a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Instructor; a member of the Sewing Educators Alliance, and the Association of Sewing & Design Professionals. Diane has taught classes all over the southeast. In the summer 2007, she gave a well received, hands-on, Intermediate Serger Techniques Class for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. She would love to repeat it, as well as other classes at your location. Brochures and fee schedules are available upon request.

Alba Fekete
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: Afekete@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Alba Fekete joined Janome America, Inc. in April of 2007 as an in-house educator. She has run her own sewing business from her home for the past 16 years. As part of her business she has designed and sewn garments as well as home decorator sewing of all kinds. In the past four years Alba’s business has led to teaching beginning sewers, parent/child classes and quilting classes, her true love and passion. Alba’s projects have been featured in Janome Digest.

Nancy Fiedler
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: Nfiedler@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Janome Educational Coordinator Nancy Fiedler has been teaching sewing techniques for over 20 years. She has been a regular contributor to Janome Digest since 1996. She has also been a contributor to Creative Machine Embroidery, Designs in Machine Embroidery, Clotilde’s Sewing Savvy. Nancy joined the Janome education department in 2004. She specializes in embellishment techniques utilizing the features and accessories of Janome sewing machines, embroidery machines, and sergers.

Lee Fletcher
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
23992 Steelhead Drive
Corona, CA 92883
Phone: 1-951-277-2571
E-mail: lfletcher@pat-e-patterns.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Lee Fletcher’s mother supported her family as a dressmaker and embroidery artist using an old Meistergram machine before computers controlled them. Lee got her first machine at 10 years old because her mom got tired of her begging to use the power equipment and has been sewing ever since. In college she was responsible for the costumes in several school drama productions. Her major was home economics specializing in textiles. Lee has been involved in costume making for ballet, owned her own manufacturing company producing her designs, and now owns Fletcher Ross Designs which produces sewing patterns created as skill builders for quilters and non-quilters, alike. She supports her customers by teaching classes. Lee has also enjoyed an extensive career in sales management for consumer product companies. Lee LOVES to sew and to teach sewing.

Walter Floriani
RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Walter Floriani is the fifth generation of the Floriani Embroidery Legacy. He is known as The Embroidery Guru. Walter is a world renowned embroidery creator, production specialist, consultant, educator, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. His family’s history spans back to the beginning of the mechanized embroidery process. His knowledge of mechanized embroidery is only overwhelmed by his love of his family history and the sharing of their embroidery knowledge with others. He has owned and operated the family business since 1981.

Sam Fung
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: sfung@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Sam Fung has been sewing for the past 30 years. Prior to joining Janome, Sam had his own custom sewing business in Texas where he designed and made wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and home décor. Some of his creations included costumes for the opening numbers of the Miss Texas Pageant. He also taught children and adults alike to sew. Sam has a passion for sewing and you can see it when he is teaching a class or talking to other sewers.

Marilyn Gatz
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: Mgatz@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Marilyn Gatz began her 35 year career in the sewing industry working for a local Stretch & Sew Store. Marilyn attended the college of DuPage concentrating on fashion design, fashion illustration, and flat pattern. As a national educator for Chilton Book Co., Sulky Threads, she has taught classes in tailoring, fabric painting, embellishments, and fashion sewing, designed custom bridal wear and has been a guest designer and contributor to several sewing publications. Marilyn joined Janome in 2004 as an education coordinator.

Gay Gerlack
Sewabration
18 Dickson Lane
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 1-925-228-6717
Fax: 1-925-370-1267
E-mail: sewabration@aol.com
Web site: www.sewabration.com
Places will travel: National
     Gay Gerlack is the owner of Sewabration. She has a line of patterns and booklets, and is available to teach at educational seminars. Gay has taught for the Original Creative Festivals, the Sew, Quilt and Embroidery Festivals; the Creative Embroidery Conference; the Machine Enthusiasts Embroidery Conference; the Sewing and Stitchery Expo; the Janome Sew Easy Retreat; the Indiana Embroidery Conference; the Sparkle Cruise; the Valley Stitchers Guild; an independent retreat in Indiana; chapters of the American Sewing Guild and various sewing centers. She has had her designs featured in Threads Magazine, Sew Stylish, Designs in Machine Embroidery, and The Embroidery Journal. She has also written articles for Pattern Review. The classes and projects are part of a simplified sewing series designed to make sewing fast, fun and creative….a Sewabration!

Dianne Giancola
DG Communications
14 Westover Avenue
Stamford CT  06902
Phone: 1-203-325-3286 
Fax: 1-203-359-2418
E-mail: diannesews@aol.com
Places will travel: National
     Dianne Giancola is a well-known educator specializing in sewing notions and fabric dyeing. She has appeared on many TV shows, including Quilting Arts and Sewing with Nancy. Dianne also has experience working in the home sewing industry as education manager for a large thread manufacturer and as director of communications for a sewing notions company. Dianne enjoys writing, teaching and demonstrating.

Diane Gloystein
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
6741 Crooked Creek Drive
Lincoln, NE 68516
Phone: 1-402-421-3365
E-mail: lgloystein@neb.rr.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Diane Gloystein’s mother taught her to sew and ripped out her early sewing mistakes until she eventually developed a passion for sewing. Ten years of 4-H sewing followed by a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska with an emphasis in textiles, clothing and design gave her a strong foundation in the area of textile arts. Diane has been privileged to study under renowned fiber artists including Dr. Robert Hillestad, Vince Quevedo and Tim Harding. She has served as a board member for Friends of the Hillestad Gallery, a fiber arts gallery in Lincoln, NE. Diane’s professional background includes managing clothing stores, owning her own fashion accessories business known as In Perfect Harmony, and working as an enrichment lecturer aboard cruise ships speaking on the art of being a well-dressed woman. Her current position as a national educator representing Sulky of America is the fulfillment of a dream which offers her the opportunity to inspire students with a myriad of sewing techniques, surface design and embellishment ideas. She travels extensively, teaching at the Original Sewing & Quilting Expos as well as presenting Sew Exciting Seminars in quilting and fabric stores across the country where her high energy presentations, incredible array of inspiring samples and infectious enthusiasm are met with rave reviews. Diane is a featured artist with her quilted Fiber Bubbles jacket in Sulky’s newest book Quick & Easy Weekend Quilting with Sulky.

Valora Hammond
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: Vhammond@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Valora Hammond joined Janome America, Inc. in 2002. She started sewing when she was eight years old. She has been doing custom sewing since she was in high school expanding to creating garments for contests, stage and special occasions. She is a graduate of Colorado State University with a secondary teaching degree major and a minor in apparel production. She loves to share her passion and enthusiasm in a classroom setting allowing the consumer a chance to grow with their art.

Barbara Hershey Handler
The Quilt Handler
1800 Kinglet Lane
Knoxville, TN 37919-8917
Phone: 1-865-212-0079
Fax: 1-865-584-1408
E-mail: thequilthandler@aol.com
Web site: www.thequilthandler.com
Places will travel:
International, National
     It all started in a class with Jodi Barrows, originator of the Square in a Square technique! Barbara Hershey Handler become one of the first certified instructors for this awesome method. Recently, she has added Creative Curves and Jenny Haskins’ techniques to her certification list. She is an experienced teacher who likes to combine technique and humor in the classroom. Barbara has taught at major shows in both quilting and embroidery and loves to combine the two.

Laura Haynie
RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     For several years Laura Haynie managed the Jenny Haskins Schools of Embroidery in the USA. Helping others produce their best possible work and inspiring them to spread their wings and continue onward and upward is Laura’s true goal. This she achieves by calming fears, careful step-by-step instruction tailored to individual student’s capabilities and kind encouragement. Laura’s classes and seminars are inspiring. She has taught at the International Quilt Market and Spring Markets, Martha Pullen School of Fashion, dealer conventions and numerous other sewing and craft expos.

Joan Hinds
Fancywork and Fashion
P.O. Box 3554
Duluth, MN 55803
Phone: 1-218-728-7966
Fax: 1-218-728-7966
E-mail: joan@fancyworkandfashion.com
Web site: www.fancyworkandfashion.com
Places will travel: International
     As the author of many sewing books and patterns for the popular 18-inch doll, Joan Hinds specializes in classes and seminars for sewing for dolls. She also teaches a variety of embellishment techniques for both humans and dolls, including machine and hand embroidery, smocking, etc. Her latest book, Machine Embroidery for Special Occasions, is a departure from dolls. It features innovative sewing projects for a variety of celebrations and includes a CD with 40 original embroidery designs.

Debbie Homer
RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail: info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Debbie Homer is the Jenny Haskins Products Division Manager for RNK Distributing. She started sewing as a child raised in rural Idaho. Debbie’s childhood on the farm was the perfect setting for her introduction to sewing of all kinds. She not only sewed most of everything she wore but learned all facets of home dec and quilting. For some, this would have been out of necessity, but for Debbie, it became her passion. Life took Debbie through a series of successful professions while she raised her three children but she has now returned to her first love and made it her ultimate dream career of teaching sewing.

Kathi Johnson
Sew Crazy
14 Hall Road
Sebago, ME 04029
Phone: 1-207-650-1933
E-mail: sewcrazy14@yahoo.com
     Kathi Johnson has been teaching quilting and sewing to teens and adults since 1990.

Pam Laba
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
2924 Phoenix Palm Terrace
North Port, FL 34288
Phone: 1-941-423-4406
E-mail: plaba1@comcast.net
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Creativity, inspiration, sharing, and fun are what Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars are all about, and Pam loves being a part of these events. Pam’s enthusiasm for sewing began as a very young girl and hasn’t stopped for a minute. Her repertoire of sewing includes fashion garments, quilting, home dec, and soft sculpture dolls. From 1975 to 1985, Pam owned Creative Needle, Inc., a needlework shop in Michigan. In that adventure she discovered her love of teaching in her store plus teaching/lecturing in her travels to guilds and conferences. This led to teaching at sewing machine dealerships when she “retired” from owning her own business. When she and her husband moved to Florida, Pam worked for several independent stores including Drexler’s Charlotte County Sewing Center. She taught a variety of classes that included free motion, computerized embroidery, software, and wearable art. Her teaching journey led to her association with Sulky of America, working in the Florida office. Pam started sewing creative projects for Joyce Drexler, which led to designing “Kitchen Goodies” in Joyce’s latest book for Sulky, Quick & Easy Weekend Quilting with Sulky.

Fred Lebow
Lebow Consulting
P.O. Box 1240
Marion, MT 59925
Phone: 1-406-854-2322
Fax: 1-406-854-2320
E-mail: flebow@lebowconsulting.com
Web site: www.lebowconsulting.com
Places will travel: National
     Fred Lebow is key accounts manager for Cotswold Industries, a manufacturer of top-quality embroidery stabilizers based in New York. He has been developing nonwovens and interlinings for the sewn products market for 33 years. For the past 22 years, he has focused on embroidery stabilizers and has been a pioneer in the development of many new products that are in widespread use today. He is a contributor to industry trade publications such as Impressions and Stitches as well as a speaker at the Imprinted Sportswear Shows.

Pamela Legget
Pamela’s Patterns
1101 Bartram Avenue
Collingdale, PA 19023
Phone: 1-610-534-4182
Fax: 1-610-534-4182
E-mail: pamela@pamelaspatterns.com
Web site: www.pamelaspatterns.com
Places will travel: National
     Pamela Leggett has been teaching sewing to adults and children since 1981. Specializing in serger techniques, pattern fitting, and fine garment skills, she has developed a fun and informative teaching style that is now available in her pattern line, Pamela’s Patterns. One of Pamela’s passions is creating garments that flatter and fit the wearer. Her desire to teach others to achieve the perfect fit led her to the Palmer/Pletsch pattern fitting method, which she has used to help hundreds of women successfully achieve good fit and a renewed love of garment sewing. It is with this knowledge that she created a line of patterns that have many fitting issues and adjustments built in to the patterns. Pamela’s Patterns have been reviewed and featured in Threads and Sew News magazines, Sawyer Brook Distinctive Fabrics, PatternReview.com, GeorgeousFabrics.com and Nancy’s Notions Catalogue. She is speaker and instructor for many American Sewing Guild events, a contributing author for Threads magazine, a project creator for Janome for Hancock Fabrics and manages Steve’s Sewing, Vacuum, and Quilting in King of Prussia, PA.

Janet Malwitz
And Sew Forth
P.O. Box 303, 16 Orchard Street
Muse, PA 15350
Phone: 1-724-746-1540
Fax: 1-724-746-1540
E-mail: janmalwitz@yahoo.com
Places will travel: National
     Offering a variety of seminars and hands-on workshops, Janet Malwitz brings extensive training and over 15 years of teaching to classes, making learning fun. She is a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor, a Martha Pullen Licensed Instructor (Pfaff, Viking and serger) and a Cotton Theory Certified Teacher. Janet tailors her classes to meet her clients’ needs and helps promote their products. Her goal is to help students learn a variety of new techniques they can incorporate into any project.

Jennifer Mason
JM Exclusive Designs
P.O. Box 433
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
Phone: 1-708-297-1088
Fax: 1-763-647-1088
E-mail: sewinginstructor@yahoo.com
Web site: www.exclusivedesignsinc.net
     Jennifer Mason has been sewing since age nine. For over 30 years she has made everything from doll clothes to prom dresses and tailored business suits for her friends, family and customers. Majoring in art enhanced her design ability and she went on to work for a women’s clothing company based in Chicago as a production manager. Later she developed her own custom clothing business which focuses on modest formal and business wear for the working woman who desires to be covered but stylish at the same time. Jennifer is known for her attention to detail and modest clothing styles. She teaches basic and intermediate sewing classes and continues to attend lectures and workshops. JM Exclusive Designs has been featured at benefit fashion shows from New York to California.

Mary McCarthy
17 Burlington Ave.
Rockledge, FL 32955
Phone: 1-321-635-8640
E-mail: mmsewing@bellsouth.net
Web Sites: www.marymccarthy.net & www.custombridalwear.com
Places will travel: International, National, Regional
     Mary McCarthy has an extensive background in sewing, teaching, and business. A custom clothier and designer since 1991, her background includes a B.S. in clothing and textiles, and M.B.A. She is currently an adjunct professor of clothing construction at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, FL, and also teaches the Trained Sewing Instructor Program for the Sewing and Craft Alliance. She has authored two books on sewing techniques, and her work has been featured in Threads, Sew News, and Pattern Review.

Marsha McClintock
SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns
15942 SE Brooklyn Street
Portland, OR 97236
Phone: 1-503-761-6460
Fax: 1-503-762-1617
E-mail: marsha@saf-t-pockets.com
Web site: www.saf-t-pockets.com
Places will travel: International, National
     Marsha McClintock is the designer and owner of SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns, where she creates patterns suited for travel or everyday. She taught for the past five years at the national American Sewing Guild conferences, the Palmer/Pletsch Sewing School, and sewing shows across the U.S. Her sense of humor and knowledge make fun and informative classes. She is a past president of PACC, Oregon Chapter, owned an accessory business and was a custom dressmaker for over 20 years.

Julie McEathron
Little Brown House Studios
609 N. Eagle Pass Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone: 1-785-550-5312
E-mail: lilbrownhouse@yahoo.com
Web site: http://lilbrownhouse.tripod.com
Places will travel: National
     Julie McEathron is the owner of Little Brown House Studios, formerly McEathron Quilts. Julie is an award-winning quilter and seamstress who teaches beginning sewing skills, basic and intermediate quilting for home sewers, pattern drafting and pattern alterations. Julie teaches regularly in Kansas and is available for workshops, classes, and lectures throughout the USA.

Carol McKinney
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: CMcKinney@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Carol McKinney, a self-taught sewist, became an education coordinator for Janome America, Inc. in 2004. She began designing and marketing wearable art vest patterns and teaching classes on the appliqué cut-work construction. Carol has been featured in several publications including January 2002 Threads Magazine, 1997 Serger Art by Diane Bossom and several projects in Janome Digest. In 1997 she won first prize in the Sulky Challenge and had projects featured in two Sulky concepts books.

June Mellinger
Brother International
Director of Education,
Home Appliance Division
100 Somerset Corporate Blvd.
Bridgewater NJ  08807
Phone: 1-908-252-3044
Fax: 1-908-575-3874
E-mail: june.mellinger@brother.com
Web site: www.brother-usa.com/homesewing
Places will travel: International, National, Regional
     June Mellinger is the director of education for Brother International. June and her staff offer a wide variety of machine training and education programs to authorized Brother Innov-is dealers. The programs include new product introduction and employee training, consumer events at authorized trade shows, local and national television. Event topics change on a seasonal basis, as new product is introduced or by regional interest. For more information on how to utilize the vast array of services offered by Brother International, contact June. Visit www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/ to view their calendar to see the range of events offered.

Alta Meunier
Custom Parent Gear
PO Box 606
Pine, Colorado 80470
Phone: 303-564-6479
E mail: quiltr9k@msn.com
Web site: www.customparentgear.com
Biography: Living in the Colorado foothills allows for lots of "creative juices to flow freely. I have been sewing for 55 of my 60 years and quilting for the last 25 years. I love to make all sizes of quilts as well as clothing for babies on up and teach these skills to anyone who wishes to learn. The website was started by my daughter and I about a year ago and shows some of the diversity and quality of our products.

Darlene Miller
Clothes For You
6 Rosebud Lane
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 1-406-728-0086
Fax: 1-406-728-0086
E-mail: darlenemillercloz4u@yahoo.com
Web site: www.darlenemillercloz4u.com
Places will travel: National
     Darlene Miller, teacher, author and designer, has revolutionized the lives of countless women by redefining the standards for choosing garment styles. Her book Your Shape, Your Clothes and You – Secrets of a Successful Wardrobe teaches women how to dress based on their triangle, square, circle or oval body shape. Her unique concept fostered the development of a line of basic patterns for each of the shapes. These patterns eliminate time consuming fittings to create garments that fit perfectly. Recently she has adapted quilting techniques for her patterns so garments not only fit well, they look fabulous as wearable art. Her patterns have been reviewed in Threads Magazine and Sew News.

Sue Moats
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
109 Normandy Drive
Silver Springs, MD 20901-3032
Phone: 1-301-587-6177
E-mail: moatsue@aol.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Sue Moats is a quilt artist and teacher who loves to “play” with different fabrics to create new textures using metallic and variegated threads and yarns. As a national educator for Sulky of America, Sue enjoys teaching Sew Exciting Seminars and teaching at consumer shows. Sue, a longarm quilting expert, was a celebrity quilt teacher for Quilt Central and the Machine Quilters Showcase featuring longarm quilting. Sue really does stand UP for quilting!

Caryne Finlay Mount
P.O. Box 3103
Livermore, CA 94551-3103
Phone: 1-650-430-2311
E-mail: caryne6@gmail.com
Web site: www.kimonodesign.com
Places will travel: International,
National, & Regionally in SF Bay, East Bay, Mid-California and North California
     Caryne Finlay Mount is an internationally award-winning designer of couture artwear, textile designer, and sewing instructor for adults, teens, and children in Livermore, CA. Caryne holds a Bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Kansas, and an Adult Education Credential as well. She has been teaching sewing since 2002. Caryne also teaches surface design classes which emphasize having fun, exploring one’s creativity, and experimentation. She is married and the mother of two daughters. When not teaching, she volunteers her sewing skills to the local ballet, building tutu and other costumes for such ballets as  Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Firebird, Rose Adagio to name a few.

Mary Mulari
Mary’s Productions
P.O. Box 87
Aurora MN 55705
Phone: 1-218-229-2804
Fax: 1-218-229-2533
E-mail: marym@marymulari.com
Web site: www.marymulari.com 
Places will travel: International
     Mary Mulari has been teaching and sharing creative sewing projects since 1982. A frequent guest on Sewing with Nancy, she has written 22 books, designed embroidery/applique cards patterns, and her own line of apron and accessories patterns. Her inspirational, fun-filled seminars are available at sewing stores and sewing guild chapters across the U.S. Her special topics include applique, accessories and travel gear, sweatshirt embellishments, and zipper projects.

Luveta Nickels
The Junk Jeans People
16184 422nd Avenue
Clark, SD 57225
Phone: 1-605-532-5625
Fax: 1-605-532-5465
E-mail: luveta@itctel.com
Web site: www.junkjeanspeople.com
Places will travel: International
     Luveta Nickels specializes in recycling old blue jeans, but teaches all areas of sewing. She will introduce “All Bleached Up” techniques using her private label power drill and stones. Perfect for machine embroidery enhancement. You get a bonus when Luveta visits your store because her products can be worked on consignment. She is well versed in multi-brand machines and is anxious to work with individual stores. She promotes sales and return business after leaving her audience in awe! Luveta has appeared many times on PBS TV with Kaye Wood, Nancy Zieman, and Sue Hausmann. Her students have lightheartedly given her the title of “Denim Diva” and her classes are overflowing with information. She welcomes travel across the globe.

Ellen Osten
Sulky of America
National Education Director
980 Cobb Place Blvd, Suite 130
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 1-800-874-4115, Ext. 174
E-mail: ellen.osten@sulky.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Ellen Osten has decades of experience sewing and teaching professionally. She has contributed to numerous books and is the creator of a unique pattern line, Sew…What’s New. Ellen has been with Sulky of America, Inc. since 1988 and is the national education director. She travels throughout the country giving lectures, demos and hands-on classes. She enjoys teaching all skill levels and instructs in many subject areas including free-motion thread painting, computerized embroidery, pattern fitting, bridal, tailoring, cutwork and design. Ellen says, “My goal is for my students to have fun while learning and to feel great when they leave.”

Pati Palmer
Palmer/Pletsch Publishing
1728 SW Prospect Drive
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 1-503-294-0696
E-mail: patipalmer@aol.com
Web site: www.palmerpletsch.com
Places will travel: International
     Pati Palmer has been teaching sewing for 39 years. After being an educator for the Armo interfacing company and a department store buyer and home economist, she conducted seminars throughout North America and Australia for 15 years. In 1980 there were nine Palmer/Pletsch educators teaching 900 seminars a year. In 1985 she established the Palmer/Pletsch School of Sewing in Portland, OR, where she now trains consumers and sewing educators. Over 600 sewing teachers have been trained since 1991. She is the author of 10 sewing books and editor/publisher of 20 more books and 14 how-to DVDs. She is also the creator of eight Palmer/Pletsch sewing notion products. From 1980 to the present, Pati has designed and written instructions for more than 100 patterns for The McCall Pattern Co. Prior to that, she designed for Vogue. Pati has held the position of vice-president of education for the Home Sewing Association for five years and has spoken at consumer and trade shows in three countries. Pati holds a B.S. degree in clothing, textiles and related arts from Oregon State University.

Malah Peterson
Freelance National Educator
Representing Sulky of America
32455 Highway 34
Tangent, WA 97389
Phone: 1-541-926-2223
E-mail: stitchin@alyrica.net
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Malah Peterson teaches Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars and works as a Sulky representative at consumer shows nation wide. As a sewing machine dealer, Malah taught classes in applique, free-motion embroidery, quilting, tailoring and wearable art. After selling the store she taught from her home and at the local fabric store. Since 1994, Malah and her family have operated a commercial embroidery business, which includes digitizing designs and screen printing.

Ann A. Poindexter
Sewing With Ann
343 Montgomery Dr.
Erie, CO 80516
Phone: 1-720-939-9916
E-mail: sewingwithann@comcast.net
Places will travel: National
     Ann Poindexter is a sewing instructor, author and speaker. Her love for sewing was instilled on her mother’s knee at a treadle machine and has grown her entire life. Ann’s sewing experiences have run from sewing for her family to speaking at major sewing conferences around the country -- but her true passion is in teaching. A public school teacher for 32 years, Ann has a keen sense of what it takes to teach both children and adults. Ann received her Bachelor’s in home economics from Oklahoma Central State University and Master’s in textiles from Central Missouri State University. Ann is a Martha Pullen Certified Viking Heirloom Instructor, and a member of the American Sewing Guild/Home Sewers Associations and Professional Clothiers Association.

Darlene Pollard
National Education Coordinator
for RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Darlene Pollard is national education coordinator for RNK Distributing. She has become known for her love of sewing, quilting and embroidery. Darlene started her passion for all aspects of embroidering with the early home embroidery machines and in a short time became a professional digitizer. She began teaching others her tricks and solutions to everyday challenges in home embroidery many years ago. Darlene has worked with nearly every brand of sewing machine in the last 10 years and has been teaching instruction classes for those machines and software since their introduction.

Janet M. Pray
Islander Sewing Systems™
1385 Clyde Road
Highland, MI 48357-2216
Phone: 1-248-889-5091
Fax: 1-248-887-6020
E-mail: sewexpo@comcast.net
Web site: www.islandersewing.com
Places will travel:
International, National, Regional
     Janet Pray has an educational background in business and fine art. She is a fiber artist, fiber arts teacher and sewing instructor. Janet has exhibited her award-winning works across the United States. In 1998 Janet produced patterns for three of her most popular coat and cape designs and in 2002 the first of a series of professional shirt patterns. All of her patterns include revolutionary pattern guides designed with the Islander Sewing Systems™ techniques.

Kathi Quinn
National Education Coordinator for RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Kathi Quinn is national education coordinator for RNK Distributing. Kathi started her passion for all aspects of embroidering with the early home embroidery machines. Kathi began teaching others her tricks and solutions to everyday challenges in home embroidery many years ago. Today she has taught classes all over the country in basic embroidery techniques, all about stabilizers, sewing projects, computer software basics, serger projects, heirloom sewing, and many more. Kathi has become licensed on all major machines through Martha Pullen schools.

Leora Raikin
African Folklore Embroidery
7258 Pondera Circle
West Hills, CA 91307
Phone: 1-818-999-6094
E-mail: info@aflembroidery.com
Web site: www.aflembroidery.com
     Leora Raikin and her team of African Folkore Embroidery educators throughout the United States, give lectures, workshops and trunk shows on the multicultural artform, African Folklore Embroidery. Leora is the author of Safari Through African Folklore Embroidery and appears on HGTV on the DIY Uncommon Threads show. Her work and programs have been written about in the Los Angeles Times, Fons & Porter, Denver Post, SQE Professional and several other publications.

SuzAnne~Marie Rak
The Image at Nashua
50 Parrish Hill Drive
Nashua, NH 03063
Phone: 1--603-438-9025
sewnh@yahoo.com
Travels Nationally
Specialty – Basic Sewing, Notions, Embroidery, Multimachines
     SuzAnne-Marie Rak has been teaching others since 1979 and has been sewing for others in business since 1991. She was trained in computer software digitizing in Ohio at Husqvarna and has studied with world famous sewing professionals. Her classes bring “simple brilliance” to everyone. With comic relief and a knack for speed join the fun as this pro leads you through the pleasure completing a project in one sitting. She is a new notions nut on the scene with a sidekick cartoon you don’t want to miss. You will want to come back for more; she is a real live Mrs. Congeniality USA (It’s true!).

Kat Robinson
Sewing Yoga
#4 Oak Tree Village
Doniphan, MO 63935
Phone: 1-573-996-5016
Fax: 1-573-857-2796
E-mail: kat@activekatyoga.com
Web site: www.activekatyoga.com
Places will travel:
International, National
     Kat Robinson is the owner and instructor at Active Kat Yoga and has devoted her life to bringing physical and spiritual wellness to her students. Kat also owns “I Gotta Notion!” sewing and machine embroidery. She is an award winning machine embroiderer, winning several fair ribbons. Kat’s lighthearted, fun approach to yoga leaves everyone taking her classes feeling the natural energy she brings to a room. Kat is an AFPA certified yoga fitness instructor and has also earned her diplomas in Meridian Psychotherapy (E.F.T.), Qigong and Acupressure from Stonebridge Associated College. She is a nontraditional Usui Reiki Master. Kat, Active Kat Yoga, and Sewing Yoga have been featured in Fit Yoga, Sew News, and Sewing World (UK), Healing Lifestyles and Spas, and Threads.

Londa Rohlfing
Londa’s Creative Threads
804 Vista Drive
Savoy, IL 61874
Phone: 1-217-398-5166
Fax: 1-217-398-9853
E-mail: Londa@Londas-sewing.com
Web site: www.londas-sewing.com
Places will travel: National
     As a past shop owner herself, Londa Rohlfing understands what shops expect in guest teachers. Her niche is transforming and recycling sweatshirts into amazingly stylish jackets that people say they would never have guessed started as a sweatshirt. Informative, entertaining, and info-packed Power Point lecture classes, hands-on workshops and trunk shows “work” for both quilters and fashion sewing enthusiasts, and have been extremely well-received in her travels to national sewing expos and guilds.

Kathy Ruddy
Live Guides Inc./Unique Patterns
10207 Marine View Drive
Mukilteo, WA 98275
Phone: 1-425-743-6885
Fax: 1-206-361-6188
E-mail: kathyruddy@earthlink.net
     Kathy Ruddy, vice-president of Unique Patterns, is an international sewing celebrity, educator, pattern designer, serger and fitting expert. She is the star of 10 serger and sewing videos and author of 12 serger and sewing booklets. Her specialty is Comfortable Clothes that Camouflage. In addition, Kathy designs for Unique Patterns, and is a contributing writer for Threads, Sew Beautiful and her own company newsletter.

Nancy Sapin
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
980 Cobb Place Blvd. Suite 130
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 1-828-369-2628
E-mail: nansapin1516@verizon.net
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Nancy Sapin began sewing in earnest when she was in her 20’s. After having children, sewing and crafts took a back seat to owning and operating an electronic assembly business. She employed and taught women the art of hand winding and assembling electronic coils and transformers. After running her own business for 17 years, when the company for whom she was assembling electronic parts moved their operation offshore, she closed her business and moved to Asheville, NC, where she began a college education. Nancy has now come back full circle to sewing. She moved to Franklin, NC, after marrying her husband. Several years ago she began sewing Sulky samples to be shown at Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars and certification trainings. Becoming a national educator representing Sulky of America has combined all of her acquired talents and fulfilled her passion for teaching.

Suzy Seed
Freelance National Educator
Representing Sulky of America
14323 Muirfield Lane
Houston, TX 77095
Phone: 1-281-463-2618
E-mail: sseed@comcast.net
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators .php
Places will travel: National
     Creativity and over 30 years in the sewing industry has resulted in a focused attention toward teaching and inspiring her students. Suzy has worked in retail sales with both fabric and sewing machines, as a sales representative for a notion house and for manufacturers of sewing products. She also was a cutter and sewer for a small manufacturer and has been a Sulky educator for more than 10 years, teaching Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars across the country as well as many freelance classes. She is versed in a multiplicity of sewing machine brands. Suzy has the heart and the skills of a master teacher with a passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring people in the use of threads, machines, ideas, and tools. Suzy believes her classes and seminars should be inspiring, fun and creative.

Margo Shaw
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: MShaw@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Margo Shaw has been a Janome educator for four years. She is from Rockvale, TN, just south of Nashville. She has taught at Janome Institute, AQS in Paducah, KY, and at quilting shows and dealerships across the country. Her work has been featured several times in Janome Digest Sewist Showcase. This garment sewer from the South also delights in making dolls and unique articles of home decor.

Patsy Shields
RNK Distributing/Floriani Products
381 So. Fern Street
Sellersburg, IN 47172
Phone: 1-812-246-4079
Fax: 1-812-246-9406
E-mail: patsysews@insightbb.com
Places will travel: International
     Patsy Shields began working in the sewing industry in 1983 with a major sewing machine company. Since that time she has done Sew Better Seminars through Chilton Book Co., pants fitting and blazer construction seminars, Sew Exciting Seminars with Sulky of America and is currently working with Floriani Stabilizers and Walter Floriani. Patsy travels presenting seminars, serger workshops for groups and shops as well as workshops in free motion quilting. She also teaches at Embroidery Retreats. She has her own video on ribbon embroidery by machine. You can see Patsy at quilt shows and other national sewing events.

Linda Simmons
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
22024 SE Ash Street
Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: 1-503-674-9287
E-mail: LBHS@verizon.net
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Linda Simmons travels the United States and Canada teaching Sulky “Sew Exciting” Seminars and working as a Sulky representative at consumer shows nation wide. She has taught independent sewing and serger classes throughout Oregon and Washington. Linda’s many years of working for a sewing machine dealership has made her well versed and qualified to teach the basics of sewing machines, sergers and software usage.

Sheila Sinclair Snyder
License to Quilt
122 Knight Avenue 
Eugene, OR 97404
Phone: 1-541-517-3538
Fax: 1-541-505-8497
E-mail: Sheila@licensetoquilt.com
Web site: www.licensetoquilt.com
Places will travel: International, National, Pacific Northwest
     Sheila Sinclair Snyder has been a “longarm wrestler” since 1999.  Inspired with an attitude that “life is good” she expanded her career to include teaching, designing, lectures and workshops. She authored the book Pieced To Fit and developed a line of quilt patterns called License To Quilt. With a few thousand quilts under her belt, no wonder Sheila has a story (and a lesson) to share. She has taught several years each at MQS, Innovations, regional quilt guilds and locally including the Coburg Quilt Show, the Portland Quilt Expo and at her own studio in Eugene, OR. Visit her Web site to see her work.

Marie Stevens
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: marie@janome-america.com
Web site: www.janome.com
     Marie Stevens has been a Janome educator for 12+ years. Prior to joining Janome America, Inc. she owned and operated The Fabric Garden, an heirloom and quilt store, where she was also a New Home/Janome dealer. She was involved in the fashion industry with Jones New York for five years and then applied her creative skills designing clothing for women undergoing mastectomy and chemotherapy. Marie is a licensed Martha Pullen Heirloom Teacher.

Linda Stewart
Linda Stewart Couture Designs
49 Claremont Circle
Bristol, VA 24201
Phone: 1-276-669-3299
E-mail: LStewartCouture@bvunet.net
Web site: www.LindaStewartCoutureDesigns.com
Places will travel: International
     In March 2004 Linda Stewart launched her class series “Alterations for Professionals” to train alterations specialists. Her classes have drawn students from across the U.S. and Canada. Linda has two books on CD, Alterations for Professionals and Bridal & Formal Wear. Linda was a 2006 and 2007 Bernina Fashion Designer. She is a member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals and serves on their Executive Board of Directors.

Meg Stoner
660 S Bolling Road
Pahrump NV 89048
Phone: 1-775-513-9914
E-mail: megstoner@msn.com
Meg began learning to sew at age 12, and later earned a design degree leading to a career in the garment industry for over 15 years. She began as a pattern maker and was promoted to product development and merchandising positions. She became interested in education and began teaching in the classroom and online. Her teaching includes garment construction, alterations and fashion history.

Barbie Swanson
Fabric Art Shop
158 SW Domino Way
Lake City, FL 32025-1594
Phone: 1-386-755-0179
Fax: 1-386-755-2528
E-mail: barbie@fabricartshop.com
Web site: www.fabricartshop.com
     Barbie Swanson is a fiber artist, teacher, designer and inventor. She creates specialty hand-dyed and painted fabrics and yarns. She has developed techniques for stress-free, tool-free paper piecing and of chain paper piecing. She has also designed a technique and quilt style named “Florida applique.” She devises new fabric designs through her exploration and development of individual and unique techniques. Barbie teaches in local, regional and national venues. She owns Fabric Art Shop, an online and traveling specialty shop and holds classes and retreats at her studio. Barbie is also the inventor of the Easy Glide® tools for industrial machines, co-designer of the Easy Glide® Creator Free Motion Machine and distributes these as well as other products to quilting shops and consumers.

Linda Teufel
Dragon Threads LTD
490 Tucker Drive
Worthington, OH 43085
Phone: 1-614-841-9388
Fax: 1-614-841-9389
E-mail: linda@dragonthreads.com
Web site: www.DragonThreads.com
Places will travel:  International
     Linda Teufel is the dynamic owner of Dragon Threads quilt book publishing company and has herself authored several books about quilting and wearable arts. Linda teaches from her book Koos Couture Collage, written after long association with Koos and the fashion industry. Her large repertoire of classes also includes innovative, contemporary sewing and quilting techniques with silk to create intense, kaleidoscopic, gorgeous garments, quilts, and other unique items for the home.

Linda Visnaw
(Fibert Artist-Educator)
LMV Design
2721 Via Palma Drive
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406
Phone: 1-928-453-1942
E-mail: lmvdesign@citlink.net
Web site: www.lindavisnaw.com
Places will travel: International,
National, Southwest Region
     Linda Visnaw focuses on entry level techniques of coloring with Tsukineko Inks, designing quilting motifs, and free motion stitching on all machines. A teaching degree along with her managerial experience at a sewing machine store, and over 50 years of sewing experience has prepared her well. As a Husqvarna Viking educator, Linda feels she has the very best opportunity of her life. That is teaching others how to sew, designing for Cactus Punch and Golden Threads, and exploring the wonders of sewing machines and sergers. She brings her varied programs and classes to machine dealers throughout the country. Linda is a Sulky Artist and is certified in Golden Threads and Quilting from the Heartland techniques. Linda has appeared on America Sews and America Quilts Creatively.

Pat Welch
Freelance National Educator Representing Sulky of America
8327 Ames Way
Arvada, CO 80003
Phone: 1-303-428-8704
E-mail: patwel1@aol.com
Web site: www.sulky.com/educators/index_educators.php
Places will travel: National
     Pat Welch offers hands-on workshops as well as lectures reflecting her latest patterns and/or whatever crazy creativity she is into at the moment. Her fun, inspirational workshops and wonderful soft sell approach really sells merchandise. Pat is a freelance national educator representing Sulky of America, teaching Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars throughout the U.S. Pat has a degree in home economics education from Iowa State University and an advanced degree in clothing design from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mary Jane Witlin
National Education Coordinator for RNK Distributing
3400 Division Street
Knoxville, TN  37919
Phone: 1-865-549-5115
Fax: 1-865-549-5116
E-mail:info@rnkdistributing.com
Web site: www.rnkdistributing.com
     Mary Jane Witlin, national education coordinator for RNK Distributing, grew up in rural Pennsylvania where sewing and quilting at home was a way of life. From an early age she developed a great appreciation for sewing, fabric, and crafts. After school and college she married and had two children. When the family was grown she began working in her studio making one-of-a-kind quilts, wall hangings and related items, while keeping up with the latest techniques and materials. In 1991 she was introduced to the embroidery machines and has grown with the industry up to today. Mary Jane became an educator using most machines, conducting and demonstrating seminars for the skills and techniques. She has designed and developed many original projects for the embroidery machines and is always interested in sharing these projects with everyone for their enjoyment. Four years ago Mary Jane joined the RNK education and sales team and applied her knowledge to the advance technology and methods used for embroidery stabilizers.

Kaye Wood
Kaye Wood, Inc.
4949Rau Road
West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: 1-989-345-3028
Fax: 1-989-345-3049
E-mail: kaye@kayewood.com
Web sites: www.kayewood.com &www.kayewoodtv.com
Places will travel: International
     Quilts can be easy! Kaye Wood has eliminated the “slow downs” in making quilts. Over 75 percent of geometric quilt designs can be made using the Starmaker Master Templates as shown in her books and on her PBS-TV program, Kaye’s Quilting Friends. Kaye’s seminars, taught internationally, take you through the Starmaker process. She specializes in tips and techniques to make cutting and sewing pieces fun and more accurate.

Stacey Wood-Strickland
Just Essentials
1302 Southview Road
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 1-410-467-9657
E-mail: bestdoula@aol.com
     Sewing became a passion of Stacey Wood-Strickland when she was in her late 20’s. Now she loves to teach and learn more about sewing. She teaches basic to intermediate sewing. Garment sewing is also a focus for her.

5-15-09