Barbara Poole is an experienced fiber artist who creates exquisitely crafted handmade fashion accessories from wool, silk and glass beads. Each piece of felt jewelry, hat, wool scarf, nuno felted shawl, or handbag is a one of a kind piece of wearable art. Barbara has a Masters in Art Education from the Massachusetts College of Art and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Museum School and Tufts University. She is the principle at B. Felt where she creates handcrafted fashion accessories using exciting combinations of wet felt, dry needle felting, beading, sewing and unique fiber art techniques. Her work is always a surprising mix of Inspired elemental colors, earthy textures, and disciplined craft. Barbara's work is available at Bead + Fiber, and on the web at www.bfelt.com and at her Etsy Store at www.barbipoole.etsy.com. Check out her wonderful 100% Merino wool accessories and the felting supplies.

Ray Cooper is a glass and Precious Metal Clay artist from Blue Hill, Maine. He started in crafts as a fiber artist and still enjoys spinning and dyeing yarn. About five years ago Ray was at the Haystack School in Deer Isle assisting in a fiber class when he got the chance to make a glass bead. He was hooked and switched from fiber to glass as his medium. Around the same time he took his first of many classes in PMC, and became a Certified PMC instructor in 2006. Ray's work in glass and PMC is sold in shops and used by jewelry designers throughout the USA. In addition to teaching metal clay classes, he also etaches lamp-working in his home studio in Blue Hill. Ray is a member of the PMC Guild, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), and the Glass Art Society (GAS). His work has been published in The Bead Release, the magazine of the ISGB. Ray can be contacted at rcooper207@yahoo.com. Also, check out his website at www.copperbeads.com.

Mary Mandarino has a passion for handwoven textiles and has been weaving for over twenty years. Her weaving incorporates an eclectic collection of fibers, structure and color. Giving depth to her weaving, Mary hand-dyes the fibers she uses in many of her scarves and shawls. Mary markets her work at Bead + Fiber and at many local juried craft fairs in the New England area as a member of the Danforth Weavers. Mary's early weaving education is complimented by a myriad of special weaving workshops. She teaches beginning weaving, weekend intensive classes and private lessons. Mary is a member of the Weavers' Guild of Boston.

Jenny Mackintosh is a beadweaving and jewelry artist in Newton, MA, who caught the beading bug early on when she took a "jewelry components" class with her aunt in Boston in the late 90's. She became instantly attracted to the world of beadweaving, and her jewelry brand, J.Mack Gems, incorporates multiple beadweaving techniques into intricate one-of-a-kind pieces. She can be reached via her website: jmackgems.com, her blog: creatureofcraft.com, or via e-mail at jmackgems@gmail.com.

I have been knitting since I was ten. My aunt taught me so I would have something to do to keep out of trouble. It started as a scarf and rapidly turned into a sweater. She loved to do Fair Isle and so I got to learn how very early in the game. Next I moved on to socks. With my aunt, the General, one had to learn how to correct mistakes and read patterns. I've been knitting ever since. I have a knack for reading patterns as they look like menus, once someone explains them. Color is my passion and I have an eye for color. In knitting, like in everything else, mixing color with a pattern is important.

In knitting 101, people will learn the basic concept of casting on, to knit and to cast off. Then they can make a scarf with one ball of yarn. They will learn to look at their work, know front from back with a simple trick. They will also learn some basic rules to survive every piece they make. Advanced 101 will teach them to add purl. With knit and purl you can do wonders.

I have been a childrenswear designer and manufacturer for the past thirty years. I entered the wonderful world of beading seven years ago with a passion to first learn, then design and that inspired me to teach. My work has been published in various bead magazines and beading books. I am a collage artist as well utilizing paper, fabric and beads in my work. I can be reached at marginsky@gmail.com.

Amy Barrie started Lincoln Farm Design in 2004 after taking on this new hobby and becoming addicted! Once she completed her first project and realized the designs available were so limited and definitely not her taste. She started to create and design her own. This new approach to rug hooking has taken over and Lincoln Farm Design has never looked back. Recently thereafter she was written up in the Boston Globe and life changed for her! She currently teaches in yarn shops throughout the Boston area and focuses most of her time at Bead and Fiber where there is a large sample of her designs as well as supplies (including a large supply of Manos Del Uruguay yarn available for purchase - the main fiber in all of her kits). All supplies are available at Bead and Fiber as well as from her web site: www.LincolnFarmDesign.com. You can also reach Amy at Amy@lincolnfarmdesign.com.

Students who take this class fall in love with this craft and realize this is not "your grandmother's Rug hooking anymore"!!

Andrea has been addicted to crocheting beads for many years. She finds the traditional technique, relaxing and meditative, and loves to explore with a variety of bead materials, combinations, colors, styles and patterns. She has adorned a traditional art form with her contemporary styling.

Andrea gladly turned her out of control hobby into a full time business.Throughout her life, finding an expressive outlet in various arts and crafts, she considered a career in art (until the financial reality set in) while taking art classes at the Museum School in college. Now a recovering employment lawyer, she particularly loves making this jewelry, taking the technique to new undiscovered levels, with an international following.

In late 2009, Andrea opened BEAD + FIBER, located directly across from her studio. Andrea, who is very happy to be in the happy business, making jewelry and not practicing law, lives with her family and cat in historic Charlestown, MA.

During high school, Deborah designed funky wooden jewelry and in doing so she had unknowingly made her first foray into the business. However, college graduation led to
a rewarding career in university fund-raising leaving little time to pursue her artistic side.

In 2003, Deborah had the opportunity to return to her artistic roots and began making jewelry from natural gemstones. Encouraged by friends and family, Deborah MacFail Designs was established in the spring of 2004. During this time she also became a member of Beadesigner International, the New England Bead Society and currently serves as the President.

Inspired by nature's offerings with its many colors and textures, Deborah finds unique and unusual gemstones and creates jewelry that enhances their natural beauty.

In the fall of 2008, Deborah began teaching jewelry making classes at Bead+Fiber. She teaches basic stringing, wirework, knotting and repurposing. She enjoys meeting new people and helping them create their own unique pieces.

Camilla lives in Canton Massachusetts and is retired after a 26 year Sales Career in the Office Products and Printing Industry.

Camilla's early influence in the "Arts and Crafts Movement" began with painting floor cloths, decorating wooden boxes, sewing, knitting, quilting and beading. Over time she has become a multimedia artist with her current focus on polymer clay to customize wearable art, purses and jewelry.

She particularly enjoys utilizing various textures, colors, and materials such as polymer clay, beads, metal, precious metal clay, glass and fabric.

Her work is frequently influenced by such styles as Asian Art, Floral and Nature inspirations as well as Art Deco and Geometric Designs. Current trends and colors in fashion also inspire her work.

She enjoys taking workshops from well known seasoned polymer artists. She took her first polymer class 15 years ago at Massachusetts College of Art, taking Kathleen Dustin's workshop. Kathleen's influence has kept her motivated to work with clay and Camilla has been making beautiful creations since then.

Camilla has won 1st place in a black and white color challenge and her purse was seen in POLYMER CAFE April 2009 magazine and was also a finalist at the Bead and Button Show 2008 in Milwaukee for her "Rose Garden" Polymer Purse.

Camilla is a board member and Program Coordinator for Beadesigner International Society of New England.

Nancy Dorian is a fiber artist residing in Northampton Massachusetts with a degree in Interior Design and Fine Arts minor in Ceramics. Her company now & ZEN art to wear emerged from the belief that joy comes from doing what you love. Pottery, stained glass and jewelry are a few of her mediums, but she now works primarily with fiber. Nancy has taught fiber arts in many venues including New England Felting Supply, WEBS, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Creative Arts Center and her home studio. She creates one-of-a-kind wearable art garments using techniques such as Nuno Felting, Fiber Etching and Serti silk painting. Her work has been spotlighted in The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Republican and Preview Massachusetts Magazine and can be found at galleries and boutiques throughout the Pioneer Valley and on Nantucket. Find out more about her at www.nancydorian.com.