Celebrity Appearances
Wendy RussellHost of She’s Crafty
Wendy Russell is an official craft junkie who has decided to embrace her inner craft queen as the host and creator of HGTV’s series She’s Crafty also running on IonLife in top markets across the United States.
Fun, talented and creative, Wendy’s credits include acting, producing, writing, hosting and - as the founding member of the Vancouver Craft Mafia (a division of the famed Austin Craft Mafia) - anything to do with crafting!
Her passion to craft has led to many television and newspaper interviews, and as a TV personality in addition to a D.I.Y expert, she makes regular appearances on CityTV’s Breakfast Television in Vancouver as their popular “Crafty Gal.”
Wendy’s other talents have allowed her to work as an associate producer on the hit TV series Robson Arms, Season 2, a multi award-winning short film, and two ‘how-to craft’ DVDs. As an actor, Wendy has appeared in over 30 television commercials, as well as films and television series, including Robson Arms, Alice I Think, Stargate SG-1, The 4400, Taken, and the feature film Juno with Jennifer Garner.
She’s Crafty is a dream come true for Wendy. Sharing her passion for living a fulfilling, creative life with the world makes her very happy.
Double Stitch TwinsCrochet Fashion Designers
DOUBLE STITCH is the brainchild of the multi-talented, identical twin, crochet fashion designers, Erika & Monika Simmons. Their original collection of fun and flirty hand crochet apparel has it all - one of a kind construction, limitless use of color, plush fabrication, and silhouettes that flatter all body types.
Since the launch of their brand during Christmas 2002, DOUBLE STITCH has leapt to the top of the "ones to watch" list. They have received the Fashion Group International's Rising Star Award, the YWCA Promise Award and have appeared on ABC News, Fox Morning News, NBC, and WGN morning show. DOUBLE STITCH has also been featured in numerous publications including: Women's Wear Daily, The New York Times, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Crochet Today Magazine, The Craft Report, Interweave Crochet magazine, Uptown magazine, Time Out Chicago, Upscale magazine, Brides Noir, and Ebony. Celebrity fans include: Academy-Award winning actress/singer, Jennifer Hudson; Grammy-Award winning singer, Patti LaBelle; Grammy-Award winning hip-hop rappers, Common and Eve; actress, Rachel True (UPN’s Half & Half), singers, Floetry, Kindred the Family Soul Artist, and Aja.
In 2008, Erika & Monika Simmons authored their first book, Double Stitch: Designs for the Crochet Fashionista (Interweave Press). The inspiring book earned DOUBLE STITCH favorable reviews and was included in Ebony magazine's December 2008 issue as a "must-give" Christmas gift.
The Double Stitch Twins made a fashionable splash in the craft world in January 2010, by taking their sophisticated and funky hand crochet style to the CHA Craft Super Show in Anaheim, California and are preparing to do it again in July 2010, with the CHA Summer Trade and Consumer Shows in Rosemont, Illinois.
The Twins continue to work on more Crafty collaborations, so keep your eyes on the DOUBLE STITCH TWINS, as their passion for "doing what they love, and sharing what they do" has always been a part of who they are and it continues to be the driving force behind all of their endeavors.
Don’t miss the Twins’ workshop, Remix It with the Crochet Fashionistas!, (workshop SW1302) on Saturday, July 31st from 5:30-7:30. www.doublestitchtwins.com and info@doublestitchtwins.com
Drew EmborskyThe Crochet Dude ®
Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude®, was taught to crochet at age five by his mom while snowbound in Lake Tahoe. After studying fine art in college and doing the "starving artist" thing for years, he found solace in crocheting for charity while grieving the passing of his mom. It was during this time with the charity group that he became known as The Crochet Dude, which then led to the launch of his wildly popular blog in 2005 - www.thecrochetdude.com Since then Drew has had published numerous patterns in magazines and compilations books, his own full-length books, has appeared as a guest on various t.v. programs, and is currently the crochet expert on the hit PBS show "Knit and Crochet Today". Drew lives in Houston, TX with his cats Chandler and Cleocatra.
Meet and greet with Drew at the Simplicity Creative Booth #924 or find him in the Craft Yarn Council Booth #517 on Friday, July 30th at 2:00pm and 6:00pm and on Saturday, July 31st at 11:00am and 3:00pm.
Marisa Pawelko
Meet celebrity crafter and Chicago native, Marisa Pawelko, winner of the CHA Indie Craft Contest and the host of America’s Next Top Crafter. Armed with a formal education in furniture design, Marisa used her talents to design products for the gift, toy, fashion and accessories markets before turning her focus to the craft industry. In 2005, sparked with an idea to create a recycled baby memento-keeper out of one of her son’s baby food jars, she founded Modern Surrealist LLC, which quickly developed an international following. Marisa enjoys inspiring crafters on her “Memoirs of a Modern Surrealist” blog with thrifty project ideas for “upcycling” ordinary objects, into extraordinary custom creations! Her work has been featured by PBS, HGTV, Illinois State Museum and in countless exhibitions and high end boutiques around the world. Memoir’s of a Modern Surrealist Blog, Modern Surrealist Facebook Fan Page, Modern Surrealist TV
Get crafty with Marisa at the Super Show! Be sure to attend her class in the “Craft Academy” and her Creative Workshop sponsored by Westcott!
Appearance Schedule:
Friday, July 30th
Craft-n-Doodle 10am – 11am (Scrap o Doodle LLC Booth)
Westcott 12pm – 4pm (Acme United Booth)
Saturday, July 31st
Westcott 10am -2pm (Acme United Booth) Craft-n-Doodle 3pm – 4pm (Scrap-o-Doodle LLC Booth)
Kathy Cano-Murillo
Kathy Cano-Murillo is a writer, artist, and craft product designer. She has sold her "Chicano Pop Art" crafts and products to hundreds of retailers including Bloomingdales, Target and Michaels. She has authored seven books including Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing and is the founder of www.CraftyChica.com, a wildly popular site crafty lifestyle site. She has a web series on LifetimeTV.com, has been profiled in The New York Times, USA Today, NPR and has an extensive Crafty Chica product line. Kathy's new novel entitled Waking Up in the Land of Glitter debuted in March. Kathy lives in Phoenix, AZ, with her husband, two kids and five Chihuahuas. Her motto for life is "Crafts, drama and glitter".
You’ll find her in the iLoveToCreate booth and teaching in the Craft Academy! Stop by and say hello.
Julie McGuffee
Julie has been a host of Scrapbook Memories TV show for 12 years and has appeared frequently on a variety of TV shows, in-store videos and TV Shopping channels. She is an award winning designer and author of over 40 “how to” craft books on a variety of subjects including Decorative Painting, Jewelry Making, Creative Lettering, Silk Ribbon Embroidery and more, Julie works with a number of leading manufacturers on product development, design, education and publishing and has authored regular feature columns for industry magazines both nationally and internationally.
The FiskateersCrafting Ambassadors
Lead Fiskateers, Cheryl, Angela, Rebecca and Tami, are the "go-to" gals for the Fiskateer crafting ambassador movement! They're blog-posting, shop-hopping, craft-crazy ladies who know a thing or two about spreading the "Fiskars Love"! Armed with individual strengths and styles, they come together to guide their fellow Fiskateers through on- and off-line crops, project demos and classes, crafting challenges, and RAKs. It's one big, fun-filled, orange party when these ladies are around, so if you've never had the opportunity to see them in action, you're in for quite a Fisk-a-treat! Meet up with them at www.fiskateers.com!
Pattie Donham Wilkinson
“She’s wild, she’s wacky and she’s got a million ideas to transform the humdrum into wow, bring new life to everyday objects, or create something that is out of this world and daringly stylish. Pattie Donham Wilkinson, an author-designer of more than 20 crafts books and magazines, veteran host of Aleene’s Creative Living, TV guest on numerous networks, and maven of creative madness known as PattieWack, has found designing and product development to her quirky liking.” -Santa Paula Times.
“Crafting is supposed to be fun, not serious,” Pattie says. Glittered high heels, a jean-upholstered recliner, decoupage mannequins and tie-dye fashions are much on the mind of Pattie, whose creations have strong touches of whimsy and imagination. Her designs have become a huge influence as Spokesperson and Design Studio Manager at the iLoveToCreate™ headquarters in Fresno, Calif.
“If I can’t glue it, I won’t do it!” Pattie says with a laugh, as she recently partnered with Sterling Publishing to author a serious glue bible entitled “The Crafter’s Guide to Glue” available at all major book retailers.
For more than 20 years Pattie - or “Pattiewack” as her friends call her - has been doing what she loves and eagerly shares her creative process with fans in her online videos and blog at PattieWack.com. Her media adventures include appearances in a video series for the Creative Home Arts club, the New York Daily News and Santa Paula Times, and TV Networks such as Lifetime, CBS, PBS, FOX, DIY, HSN, and QVC.
You’ll find Pattie at the iLoveToCreate™ CHA booth demonstrating the latest in crafting, and at the SuperShow Craft Academy from 6-6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30 and from 3-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, where she’ll be urging her crafty fans to “Have fun with it!”
Tiffany WindsorCrafter, Radio and Television Host
Born into an artistic, entrepreneurial family, it is no surprise that Tiffany has found success expressing her talents in many different arenas. As the daughter of Aleene Jackson, America’s beloved “Mother of Crafting” and inventor of Aleene’s Tacky Glue, Tiffany’s first love is expressing herself creatively. Her first memories of the television world were accompanying her mother who made appearances on the popular 1960’s shows such as Art Linkletter, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gypsy Rose Lee and the Dinah Shore Show. Tiffany’s first on-air experience was at the age of 13 when she appeared on her mother’s Los Angeles PBS show demonstrating rugmaking.
In 1993, Tiffany stepped in as producer and host of Aleene’s Creative Living and under her leadership, the show flourished and quickly rose to the top as TNN’s top-rated daytime show. As producer, Tiffany oversaw the production and hosted over 2,000 1-hour episodes. Concurrently, Tiffany served as the editor for the show’s companion magazine Aleene’s Creative Living.
Tiffany has made regular appearances on QVC and HSN and has authored numerous hard cover and soft cover books. She currently hosts Cool2Craft LIVE interactive craft TV (www.cool2craft.com), hosts the Inspired at Home Pajama Party LIVE show on Facebook (www.pajamapartylive.com) and hosts FaveCrafts Radio on BlogTalkRadio (www.favecraftsradio.com where she interviews today’s top creative professionals.
You’ll find Tiffany at the iLoveToCreate™ CHA Craft SuperShow booth on Friday July 30th from 12 noon – 8 pm and Saturday July 31st from 10 am – 6 pm where she will be demo’ing and broadcasting her Cool2Craft LIVE interactive craft TV show directly from the SuperShow.
Lisa Pavelka
Lisa Pavelka, is an award winner designer, instructor, author, product developer, mixed media artist and Ambassador for Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED & Swarovski Elements. She designs in many mediums but is best known for her polymer clay and metal clay expertise. She has focused her creative energies in taking polymer clay and metal clay in new directions; especially in the areas of mixed media applications. Come chat with Lisa about her techniques, polymer clay books and DVDs, share with her your passions and hear about some of hers. Her specialty areas are: jewelry, home décor, paper crafting, embellishment and much more. Lisa Pavelka will be at the Viva Décor Booth #827 during the CHA Craft Supershow. For more information about Lisa Pavelka and her products please visit www.lisapavelka.com. To learn more about Viva Décor please visit their website at www.viva-decor.us.