Mary Hettmansperger is a fiber and jewelry artist who teaches in the U.S. and internationally—Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore. She has taught for Arrowmont, Penland, Bead and Button, Convergence, national and regional fiber conferences, at art and craft schools, and for private guilds. Mary has authored and illustrated three books: Fabulous Woven Jewelry, Mixed Metal Jewelry Workshop, and Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet, all published by Lark/Sterling. Currently, Mary is working on two more books, including a new jewelry book due to be released in Spring of 2012, and an art quilt book that will be released in Fall of 2012—titles coming soon! Her work has been featured in many other books: Jewelry Design Challenge, 500 Baskets, Fiber Arts Design Book 7, the Gourd Book, Creative Scarecrows, Pushing the Envelope, Fabulous Found Object Jewelry, Teapots – Makers and Collectors, Beading with Crystals, and Creative Beading Volume 2. Mary’s creative designs have also been mentioned in magazines, including Quilting Arts, Art Jewelry, Bead and Button, Beadwork, Shuttle Spindle & Dye Pot, and Crafts Report. Mary has exhibited her work at SOFA, through the Katie Gingrass Gallery, and she is a frequent contributor to the PBS shows Beads Baubles & Jewels, and Quilting Art.
Contact:
Web: www.maryhetts.com
Amy Turn Sharp is the wood queen of 
Marilyn Scott-Waters loves making things out of paper. Between 2,000 and 7,000 visitors frequent Marilyn’s popular website each day, 
Patty Young grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica, in an environment where she was encouraged to express her creativity freely. Both of her parents dabbled in the arts so it was only natural that she would inherit their creative genes. They moved to the United States in 1987 and Patty attended The University of Central Florida from 1989 to 1993 where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography. Currently, Patty is the co-owner and designer of MODKID, LLC, which specializes in boutique sewing patterns for children’s and women’s clothing as well as purses and home accessories. Also, Patty is a licensed textiles designer for New York-based, Michael Miller Fabrics and is currently designing her seventh fabric collection for them. Patty’s first book, Sewing MODKID Style, for Wiley Publishing, will be available for pre-order this Fall and in newsstands Spring of 2012.
Becky has a passion for living well and documenting life. Since 1997 she has been authoring books, creating artwork, writing articles, teaching classes, and designing products—all in the name of scrapbooking. In her personal evolution she came to find herself relating to everyone who has said, “Scrapbooking is too time-consuming, too complicated, too expensive, too much.” In 2009, 
In December 2008, Kim decided to leave her career in real estate to stay home with her young kids, Tommy and Kate. Always crafty and creative, she started a blog to share her craft projects, decorating, and party ideas. She had recently decided to convert a room in her home to a craft studio and came up with the blog name “TomKat Studio” from the combination of her kids’ names. Kim’s blog quickly gained a loyal following and readers asked if they could buy things that she was making, including hand-decorated frames and invitations. On a whim, she decided to open an Etsy shop. Within weeks she was overwhelmed with orders. After her daughter Kate’s lollipop birthday party was featured on a popular party blog—Hostess with the Mostess—in April 2009, demand for her creations soared. Not being able to keep up with the demand, Kim closed up shop that summer and took a short break. She came back and reopened as a printable party shop. 
Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude®, was taught to crochet at age five by his mother while snowbound in Lake Tahoe. After studying fine art in college and living as a “starving artist” 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 Drew became known as The Crochet Dude, which then led to the launch of his wildly popular blog in 2005, 
Stacy Julian is a recognized leader in the scrapbooking industry and the visionary founder of Big Picture Classes (BPC). Launched in November 2005, BPC is the first online community offering creative e-learning with members around the world. Stacy is a passionate sought-after speaker and the author of four books including her most recent, Photo Freedom. Her television appearances include the Discovery Channel’s Home Matters and the PBS series Scrapbook Memories. Simple Scrapbooks Magazine (2002-2008), where Julian was the founding editor, has been mentioned in The Chicago Tribune and Woman’s Day as a leading consumer publication for the scrapbooking industry. Stacy has been a certified professional teacher with the Craft and Hobby Association since 1997 and lives with her husband Geoff, five energetic children, and a tank of somewhat neglected goldfish in Washington state.
As a creative pioneer in the scrapbooking industry, Wendy Smedley is a well-known expert of new scrapbooking products, industry developments, and creative innovations. She was creative editor with Simple Scrapbooks magazine for over six years, managing the product-focused section of the magazine and representing Simple on the popular Scrapbook Memories television program, seen on local PBS stations. She has authored three books on scrapbooking, including her latest geared toward beginners, Start Scrapbooking, released in September of 2010. Currently she works with 
Brenda Schweder has good-naturedly embraced many labels in her lifetime, from A Little Bit Steampunk to a Little Bit Tree Hugger to The Little Red-Haired Girl (back when “A Charlie Brown Christmas” still captured the attention of all good little boys and girls). Her latest monikers are Bend-it Like Brenda and Iron woMan (thanks to her friends Jill and Jill, for helping her realize her left arm is now growing larger than her right), due to her most unfeminine passion for creating jewelry with steel wire (grrrrr!). In addition to Steel Wire Jewelry (Lark Books), Schweder is the author of Junk to Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Found Objects in Jewelry You Can Actually Wear and Vintage Redux: Remake Classic and Collectible Jewelry (Kalmbach Publishing Company). Schweder’s designs and fashion jewelry forecasts have been published over 100 times in books and magazines, including: 30 Minute Earrings, 30 Minute Necklaces, 30 Minute Rings, Art Jewelry magazine, Bead Style magazine, Bead&Button magazine, BUST magazine, Vintage Style Jewelry magazine, Make it Mine magazine, Wirework 2010 magazine, Wirework, Step by Step Wire, Steampunk Style Jewelry, Crystal Chic, and many other compilations, pamphlets, and books. 
Susan Branch is the self-taught artist and author of fourteen Heart of the Home books. From her Martha’s Vineyard studio, she writes about the “home arts” of family, cooking, gardening, sewing, and the little things that make life sweet. Susan illustrates her books in watercolors and hand writes every word in pen and ink. You’ll see some of her work in the new Celebrations cookbook debuting at THE CREATIVE CONNECTION event in September. Susan has a monthly newsletter, famous in certain circles, named “Willard,” after her grandfather. Susan’s artwork has graced many products over the years, from pajamas and teapots, to hooked rugs, calendars, and scrapbooks. She also designs quilting fabrics for Cranston’s “Quilting Treasures.” Please visit her “ancient, but still beautiful” 14-year-old website, 