INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

MAUREEN CARLSON has been working with polymer clay since 1979, when fellow artist Anne Fisher from the Minnesota Renaissance Festival suggested that she use it for creating her Wee Folk. Since then she has written numerous how-to magazine articles, 5 polymer clay books for Hot Off The Press, including the popular FIMO FOLK. In 2004 she wrote Art Faces in Clay, her first book for Design Originals. Her fifth book for North Light Books is Fairies, Gnomes and Trolls, released in November 2006. She was a frequent guest on the Carol Duvall show on HGTV. She and her husband, Dan, have produced 7 teaching videos, with their first video, MUG DWELLERS AND WEE FOLK, being the initial product for their mail order business, Wee Folk Creations. Dan and Maureen opened the Wee Folk Creations Creative Center in 1999, changing its name in 2002 to Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts.

Heather Campbell - in May The creation process is personal to every Artist, from their unique vision of the world to the actual materials they choose to express themselves.   My name is Heather Campbell and I live with my husband in a late 1800’s Victorian home along the Logan River in Cache Valley Utah. The Purple Door studio is located in the old summer kitchen that is separate from the main house which is near the river that runs through our back yard. It is a lovely setting and I feel lucky to have such a wonderful space to inspire me as I practice my art. I come from a family that has always encouraged creative thought and artistic experimentation. I’ve spent many years in the Arts and Crafts industry working with oil, watercolor, ceramics, wood and metals. I’m fascinated with polymer clay and have been excited to learn and share all I can about this unique art medium. I love to get lost in the touch, smells, mixing of color and magical transformation of clay.  Three dimensional art and mixed media have always been my favorites. My eclectic taste and my passion for antiques and old stuff blend in beautifully with the versatility of polymer clay. All of my jewelry and sculpture pieces are original, one of a kind, unique and intricate. They are inspired by the natural balance of color, texture and design revealed each day in our fascinating world, combined with life experience. Heather's website and blog:  www.purpledoorart.com

Lindly Haunani - in July Lindly, from Cabin John, Maryland, is an artist with a lifelong fascination with colorful repeated patterns. Working with polymer clay is a joyful and natural extension of this interest. She began teaching polymer clay workshops in 1990 and enjoys traveling to teach and lecture. Lindly has taught hundreds of workshops and is considered to be one of the best polymer clay teachers in the country. She is a founding member of the National Polymer Clay Guild, and continues to be extremely active in the polymer clay community. When Lindly is not fantasizing about growing up and possibly becoming a food stylist, a fabric designer or stand-up comic...she can be found travelling around the country to teach polymer clay workshops. The combination of her masterful understanding of color, gentle empowering teaching style, and sense of humor brings "magic" to the polymer clay classroom. For more information, please visit http://www.lindlyhaunani.com

DIANE KEELER - in June Diane has been sculpting dolls since the mid 80's. Her almost-real-enough-to-breathe ART DOLLS are in collections world-wide. Her dolls have been featured in Contemporary Doll Collector magazine, Dolls the Collector and Doll Reader as well as in numerous other publications. Diane is a member of NIADA and ODACA and travels nationally and internationally to teach. Diane lives and creates in Luck, Wisconsin. Check out her dolls at http://www.dianekeeler.com and at http://www.niada.org/DianeKeeler

BARBARA KOBE in February, March and April Barbara, from Crystal, Minnesota, has been making art dolls, therapeutic dolls and puppets for over twenty years. She has a BA in psychology, is a student of art therapy and has over twenty years experience as a graphic artist. She is a creativity and expressive arts coach. She is an expert at using a variety of materials to create shape, color, textures and moods for her dolls, which evoke feelings of mystery and awe. People say her dolls are very expressive and full of emotion. She says that is her intention as well as the creation of an image that has the potential to nurture personal growth and healing. She recently began exploring Mixed Media Art and Visual Journaling and loves the way she can create a healing image in even more deep and playful ways. Access her web sites at: www.barbkobe.com www.healingandtransformativedolls.com www.artofthedollmn.com http://healingdoll.blogspot.com/