ARTISTS WE LOVE

Jo Packham has been a leading innovator in the handmade publishing market for more than 30 years. A successful entrepreneur with her own publishing company, Chapelle, Ltd., she is currently the creator/Editor-in-Chief and partners with Stampington & Company to produce Where Women Create — Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women and its sister magazine, Where Women Cook.

Jo has personally authored more than 40 titles, including her best selling title: Where Women Create, her newest book Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration, and soon to be released, WHERE WOMEN COOK CELEBRATIONS. Through Chapelle, Ltd., Jo works with designers and artists to create coffee table, instructional, and gift publications on topics ranging from home decorating and gardening to master woodworking and antique needlework.

Between 2000 and 2005, Jo and her daughter Sara embarked on a venture that helped spark the revitalization and renaissance of Historic 25th Street in Ogden, Utah. Working together, they opened and co-owned three upscale boutiques, Ruby & Begonia, The White Fig, and Olive & Dahlia, in the heart of this old commercial district. Their vision and creative entrepreneurship was rewarded with two Gifts & Decorative Accessories Retailer awards, one for visual marketing in 2002 and another for community service in 2003.

Jo’s latest collaboration was partnering with Nancy Soriano to launch the very successful conference, The Creative Connection-a 3-day conference, crafting extravaganza and shopping emporium that brings together artists, mothers, bloggers, cooks, business owners and crafters.

Her life has been a journey that seems as if it were taken straight from the pages of a storybook. She looks forward to the promises of tomorrow and is proud to say that every single day she is blessed to be able to do what she loves, that she is surrounded by family and friends whom she adores and respects, and that she is trusted enough to represent those whose passion is to create with their hands … whether it be food or art. She resides in Ogden Utah.

Web: http://www.jopackham.com/
Web: http://www.thecreativeconnectionevent.com/

Adele Outteridge

Book artist, printmaker, sculptor, gained her BSc from the University of Melbourne in 1967, and graduated from the School of Colour and Design, Sydney in 1988. She runs a very busy studio in Brisbane and travels widely, lecturing and teaching workshops. She has participated in many Artist-in-Residence programmes and served as president of the Australian Forum for Textile Arts. She taught at the Arrowmont School, Tennessee and WSW, New York in 2003. Her work in artists' books, printmaking, sculpture and drawing has been exhibited widely, is held in private and public collections nationally and internationally, and has featured in books and magazines in Australia and overseas.

Web: www.studiowestend.com



Elizabeth Armstrong

I am always motivated by colour – it gives off such an energy of possibility. The way in which it stimulates the viewer continues to be a powerful source of inspiration. In my chosen media of wool, paint and thread and their tactile applications, I aim to create pieces that students can identify with and delight in. For me, teaching and creating are equally magical. As a full time artist, I love to see what effects paint and stitch can have on the wool. Teaching and exhibiting felt in other parts of the world has been extremely exciting and rewarding and has helped me to absorb the importance of colour in other cultures.

Blog: www.elizabeth-armstrong.blogspot.com
Web: www.frostfair.com

Ellen Legare

Ellen has a 30+ year history in the art of soft- sculpture which ultimately resulted in designing her own patterns.  She has taught children and adults in both public and private classes. The secret to success is her ability to think of her work as play resulting in creations that are always changing and evolving.

She possesses a rare talent that pleases both the conservative and avant-garde, thus generating numerous accolades and commissions.  Ellen lives in Connecticut, USA with her Electrical husband and is kept busy with her large family and her many grandchildren. .

Ellen is one of the creators of the Art Is…You phenomenon!

Blog: http://artandellen.blogspot.com/



Holly Eva Gay

I am very comfortable calling myself a craft artist because i just can’t go past a brightly coloured piece of spotted fabric and match it to a crystal bead then maybe add some paint and Lace and somehow with much ease tie it altogether and create a “Pretty wild Piece of art with alot of heart and Soul”.  For most of my life I have been a Dance Choreographer and have a passion for Live performance now after running a successful Dance Business my path has lead me back to my crafts which I feel totally at home with. I have been teaching crafts for the past 5 years from my home here in Appin.

From as young as I can remember I would alter necklaces pulling them apart and re designing them as if they were meant to be that way from the beginning. I am a sucker for Life and Living. I believe in fulfilling dreams and following your heart. I love creating from an inner place of peace and those who connect with my creations see my passion and love for life.  I look forward to sharing my workshops with all those who love to get creative with textiles paints and threads and to share with them their inner spirit in a child like manner.

Blog: http://hollyevagay.blogspot.com/



Judy Wilkenfeld

Judy is a mixed media artist from Sydney Australia who works on her unique Visual Anthologies™, life stories told through mixed media artists books and installations-type works. Judy’s produces Visual Anthologies™ documenting the lives of her clients through a mix of photos mixed media artwork and found objects. Judy’s use of symbolism is tantamount to her art pieces.

Through the use of textures, found objects and mixed media techniques, Judy conveys the stories behind her client’s lives. Each and every object, colours and texture have symbolic meanings. Bringing history to life in either wall art or book forms is part of her raison d’etre, “everyone has a story to tell”.

Web: http://redvelvetcreations.blogspot.com/
Web: http://visualanthologies.blogspot.com/



Kathryn Wardill

Kathryn is a Melbourne based contemporary jeweller who received her Master of Arts, Fine Art by research from RMIT University in 1998. As a jeweller and glass artist she has actively participated in group and solo exhibitions internationally for the last 15 years. Wardill’s dedication to researching jewellery objects which combine metal and glass has resulted in a solo exhibition in the USA as a part of an artist in residency in 2010 and new work presented at Studio Ingot Melbourne in August 2010. Wardill is currently developing a new body of work which will be exhibited at e.g.etal Melbourne in September 2011.

Web: http://www.wardill.com/





Keith Lo Bue

Keith is a jeweller, sculptor and teacher who has work in many major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and the Museum of Arts & Design in New York.

His work has been exhibited all around the US and in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland and England. Books featuring Lo Bue's work include One of a Kind: American Art Jewelry Today (US), 1000 Rings (Lark), The Art & Craft of Collage (UK), the Virtual Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery CD-ROM (UK) and The Compendium Finale Of Contemporary Jewellery Makers (Germany) as well as Metalsmith, American Craft and Ornament magazines (US). His workshops have been presented to enthusiastic reviews at Haystack, Penland and dozens of other art and craft institutions across the United States, Canada and Australia. Lo Bue lives and works in Sydney.

Web: http://www.lobue-art.com/
Blog: http://keithlobue.blogspot.com/



Linda Baldock

Born in Western Australia but now residing in Sydney, Linda Baldock is a self-taught experimental artist.  Her journey in to mixed media began with scrapbooking but quickly threw her in to extreme technique projects. Her style is dark and grungey and her attitude is light and beautiful with the belief that hands stained with inks and paints are the hands of somebody who understands that art is what we make of it, and that rules are for those who are afraid to just make a mess and have fun.

When she's not being a stay at home mum, Linda keeps busy by teaching her art all over Australia. She has been published several times is craft magazines but most proudly she was featured in the reputable Artist Palette magazine where she shared her "Flooded Canvas" art.
Too view the creations of Linda, travel to her blog Eclectic Visions of an Altered Journey

Blog: http://atclindab.blogspot.com/



Nic Hohn

Nic is a mixed media artist who has crossed the bridge from mainstream art. Embracing her love of unusual combinations with detailed grayscale drawings, messy tactile paint, loose threads, found fabrics and collected collage; Nic weaves these into the heart of her paper and canvas creations. Her signature style has been guided by Nic’s crusade of inner journeys, love of feminine beauty and her passion for self expression, where she explores, questions and affirms. Taking outside inspiration from high end fashion, yesteryear antiquities and the mix of daily life.

Nic loves to share her intuitive insights, curious discoveries and encourages the creative spirit through her online journal

Blog: www.nichohn.blogspot.com
Web: www.nichohn.com.au



Patsy Worledge

I have worked in a variety of media and have been motivated by that joy of creativity. The most evident discovery is COLOUR and its importance in my life. Making things and expressing myself has always been a part of my life, and even in the dark times I found a positivity and resilience that has always surprised me.

I was blessed to find a new way of painting in "Life, Paint, and Passion" a book written by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley in USA. This provided a breakthrough and turning point in my life, in the late nineties. I plan and set goals and challenges for myself. I follow and bring the goals to fruition.....sometimes to the neglect of other activities. It feels like something other than work. It calls me and it confronts me. It brings satisfaction and rejuvenation to my soul. Creativity is my passion. I love to feel alive in every cell of my body. After the hip operation in 2006 I experienced a TRANSFORMATION.  Variety is the spice of life.

"It is to me the most exciting moment when you have a blank canvas and a big brush full of colour and you plunge"...D.H.Lawrence.

Web: http://artistsinmotion.com.au/patsy.html



Ro Bruhn