Panelist – Self Publishing
Amy Powers decided to create her very own online magazine, Inspired Ideas, on a bit of a whim. She always adored magazines and when she didn’t find anything on the newsstands that particularly inspired her, she decided to publish her own virtual one. With a background in magazine design (she was once art director for a very boring engineering magazine), she dusted off her ancient computer programs and got to work. She called upon her crafty friends for project ideas and published her first issue in Autumn of last year. It was met with a small happy reception. Her goal is for readers to feel inspired to create at least one project from each issue. “I’d love for the magazine to be page after page of inspiration. I always feel a magazine is worth the price if I’m inspired to create something after I read it.” Amy lives with her charming husband, Rich, and their adorable son Alfredo in their home in the DC Suburbs. She writes of her sweet life on her blog, Inspire Co.
Beth Lorentz, Midwest-CBK Vice President Product Development: Inspiring traditions defines Beth Lorentz’s passion for the gift industry. Currently, Beth is the Vice President of Product Development for Midwest-CBK, a leading wholesale company specializing in designing and manufacturing holiday, giftware and home décor. Midwest-CBK’s unique, well-priced decorations and gifts delight the heart, refresh the home, and inspire new traditions. Beth leads the efforts of a fabulous in-house design and product development team, as well as talented independent licensed artists. Visit: 
Christen Olivarez is Director of Publishing for Stampington & Company and Editor-in-Chief of Somerset Studio, Somerset Life, and Belle Armoire Jewelry. She leads a talented team of editors, designers and photographers and oversees the production of Stamping & Company’s 30+ magazine titles. She’s an avid reader, knitter, and art journaler and a supporter of the Slow Food movement. In her free time, you can find her curled up on the couch with yarn in hand, or out searching for the latest and greatest restaurants.
Cindy Cloward and her husband, Bret are the owners of Riley Blake Designs. Cindy works closely with their artists and their design team to bring colorful, fun and sophisticated designs to fabric. Having a mother that always loved to paint and create inspired Cindy to start sewing at a early age. After high school Cindy pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and worked as a RN in Labor and Delivery for ten years at the University of Utah. Two of those years were spent working with high risk OB patients as a Flight Nurse. Cindy married into the textile business; her in-laws owned retail fabric stores along the Wasatch front. Taking an early retirement from Nursing after the birth of her third child, Cindy embraced the life of a stay-at-home mom while her children were small. Even with small children she found time to sew, garden, scrapbook, and decorate with color. After living around the country in places like Texas, Washington State, Nevada, and New York, she and her family came back home to Utah to run their textile wholesale business. Bret and Cindy have owned their wholesale business for the past 12 years, and started producing fabric 5 years ago. Two years ago they launched Riley Blake Designs. Their bright and colorful fabrics are created in hopes that they will inspire the professional, avid, recreational, and future sewers alike. Life is a balancing act, but there is always time to sew!
Jina learned to sew at an early age while growing up in Australia. As a young girl, she loved to make doll clothes, she learned to knit and create many other craft projects, and was always keeping her hands busy. Over the years, Jina has absorbed every genre of crafting from tole painting and scrapbooking to doll making and jewelry making. While a teenager, Jina adopted a love for sewing as her father provided all the patterns and fabric she required for sewing her own clothes. As she began raising her own children she became known as a trendsetter with the unique fashions and accessories she would sew and create for her little girls. Jina was introduced to quilting in 1989 and was quickly addicted. She is a founding member of a 23-year-old quilt group. Her quilting is known as bright, unique, edgy, and precise. Her quilting designs have been featured in many magazines and she has taught and created addictions among many women who have learned the art of quilting. Jina proudly claims a Bachelor of Science degree from BYU. Previous to coming to Riley Blake Designs, Jina worked for a nationally known jewelry company where she fulfilled the roles of both National Sales Manager & Production Manager. Who would have guessed that her love of quilting would become the skill set needed to be hired as the Design Director for Riley Blake Designs? The creation process is where Jina loves to be as she works closely with the artists to create fabrics that make you happy and design quilts that inspire others to buy more fabric. Jina continues to sew, cook, garden, and explore the art of continuing to create.
Claudine Hellmuth is a nationally recognized collage artist, author and illustrator. She combines photos, paint, paper and pen into quirky, whimsical-retro collages. Her artworks have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, in Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion magazine, The New York Times, on HGTV’s “I Want That!” and on the DIY Network’s program, “Craft Lab.” In addition to creating her artwork full-time, Claudine has developed a craft product line with Ranger Inc. under the brand name of “Claudine Hellmuth Studio”, she licenses her illustrations to the gift and craft markets. Claudine also teaches collage workshops in the US & Canada, and she has written 3 books and 3 DVDs about her techniques. Originally from Orlando FL, Claudine now lives in Washington DC with her husband Paul and their very spoiled pets: Mabel and Brian cats and their dog Maggie. Visit her at 
Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Tiger’s Curse is her first book, which has already received literary praise and digital success. Her self-published eBook claimed the #1 spot on Kindle’s children’s bestseller list for seven weeks. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a white stuffed tiger.
The mother-daughter design team of Debbie Murray and Shea Fragoso has been collaborating in creative ways for as long as both can remember. When Shea was growing up, Debbie taught stained glass classes in the community college system and owned a custom design business and fine art painting studio. When Shea finished school, they owned gift shops together in Southern California. Shea became a highly sought-after jewelry designer; her creations appeared in dozens of fashion magazines and graced the red carpet several times. Both women designed products for the gift industry and sold pieces to collectors around the world. In 2009, Debbie and Shea completed a major remodeling of a gothic church in Dallas, Texas. Here, they indulged in their love of crowns and European design and were constantly inspired by the architecture and the light
Storey Publishing has a mission to publish “practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.” From our offices in the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, we produce high-quality books focused in the areas of gardening, crafts, farming and animal-raising, cooking, building, and traditional skills. Recent titles include: One-Yard Wonders, The Handmade Marketplace, The Backyard Homestead, Put ‘Em Up, and Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders.
DeDe Barnum is an experienced, award-winning television producer who has been creating, developing and managing shows and talent for more than 20 years. Her shows and talent have appeared on HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network, DIY Network and KSTP-TV (ABC, Minneapolis). DeDe’s most recent project was producing a new series for the Travel Channel, “International Open House.” Before that, she worked on Food Networks’ “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri. She launched her national cable career by creating, developing and producing several “lifestyle” series for HGTV, including “Decorating Cents,” “FreeStyle” and “Room for Change.”