Sarah Bierstedt
https://www.flickr.com/photos/purplepincushion/

Purple Pincushion by Sarah Bierstedt, designer & fine crafter I am a self-taught seamstress who values attention to detail, customer service, and keeping fine craft alive and well. I design and stitch one-of-a-kind accessories for the person and home from repurposed felted wool, vintage linens, vintage findings, and other repurposed materials. I offer a wide array of products including large wool shoulder bags, cross body messenger bags, wool brooches, wool mittens, cashmere scarves, wool plush animal pillows, repurposed vintage planter pincushions, and many other unique products. My product prices range from $10-$95    

Diane Corson

I have worked with fiber since age 10, when my grandmother taught me to knit. As I explored the nearly-lost arts of spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and dyeing I developed a deep appreciation for the skills used by our foremothers to produce clothing and household goods before these items were commercially produced. My current work utilizes a combination of knitting and felting to create one-of-a-kind handbags and my signature line of hats. I love to work with color to produce the hand-dyed yarns used in many of my pieces. A new project is my own line of original knitting patterns.

Rebecca Kemble
www.rebeccakemble.com

I have been an artist my entire life. I just have a need to create, whether it involves clay, wood, metal or paint, it is something I have always done. Lately, I love exploring the combinations of stitch, fiber, paint, and found objects in my art. I enjoy working in both abstract and representational styles.

Silvia Klein

Wall pieces made with woven wools and felted, then framed with wooden frame and copper wire. Scarfs are Nuno felted on silk and merino wool.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1961, Silvia moved to the US in 1989. Trained as a teacher, worked with international commerce import-export and logistics for 25 years, after which she decided to turn her hobby into her career. Passionate about fibers and exploring different textures and all that can be woven from yarn, string, wire, plastic, and repurposed materials. As a self-taught fiber and textile artisan, demand had driven that she very swiftly began to sell her woven and felted pieces. Three continents are ever-present in her thought processes, as she is the daughter and granddaughter of WWII survivors. There is a noticeable European influence in her work. Schooling in Argentina brought with it a close connection to Andean cultures, its rich tapestries, weavings and their yarns which attracted her since early youth. Living in North America allows her to bring a unique perspective and world view to her current community through her body of work. Classes, workshops and training keep her up to date with felting, weaving, dyeing and a variety of textile techniques. She recently participated in the HeartFest a Fine Art Show in West Des Moines. Silvia lives and works in Urbandale, Iowa where her studio overlooks the woods which provides long hours of peaceful inspiration.

Sue Kluber

I am a textile/fiber artist. I love nature and color and textures and use a collage/raw edge technique  in my art.

Rebecca Loew
www.rebeccaloew.com

Rebecca Loew is a textile artist living in Grinnell, Iowa. In addition to contemporary quilted art using fabric, thread, paint, dye, and fibers, she also creates patterns and textures on cloth using the the ancient Japanese art of Shibori. Shibori techniques utilize the tying, folding, stitching, and pleating of fabric prior to dyeing to make unique forms. Using indigo and other natural dyes Rebecca creates forms inspired by nature, various cultures, architecture, and her local environment. She enjoys teaching Shibori at the Des Moines Art Center where is currently on faculty. She also creates wearable art and home decor items to make art part of one’s everyday life.

Susan Peters

My mother taught me how to sew when I was 5 years old. I made Barbie clothes on an old treadle machine. When my children were young I made most of their clothes and pajamas. A few years ago I started quilting. I started making purses, wallets, cosmetic bags and home accents.