President – LeAnn Bjelle

It is an honor to be chosen as president of SCTAG. I will do my best to meet your expectations. I appreciate the offers of support from many of you.

Like many of you my interest in fiber arts was cultivated by my Mother, a sewer and quilter. I learned to weave at a junior college course for adults in my early 20’s on a 2-harness loom I built myself. The heddle was of popsicle sticks. When I was in my early 30’s my husband insisted I get a better loom. A used Macomber “add a harness” built in 1952 entered my life. I am still using that same loom 40 years later. When I lived in Florida I had a good friend who helped me get started in basketry. It has been fun to restart that part of my life. If I had more hours in the day I would love to be attending and learning from all our interest groups.

Another main interest in my life has been biology. I love bird watching, plant identification and as a Minnesota girl, I have a definite awe of the ocean (even Lake Superior doesn’t match).

I spent most of my working career in a genetics lab. Lots of changes in that field over the years! However, one thing that didn’t change was to measure things carefully and not to mix certain ingredients together! I am happy to live here by the sea and in Santa Cruz. I am very grateful to have become a part of SCTAG starting in the fall of 2018. I didn’t want to volunteer, but I did. I became program chair, and it changed so much for me. The people I was afraid to speak to because they were so beyond me in their artistry are now my friends. What gratitude I fe(photo and bio coming)

Vice President – Patrice Keet

(photo and bio coming)

Secretary – Alexandra Emrick

(photo and bio coming)

I am a relative newbie: new to textile arts, new to the Guild, new to Santa Cruz, and even new to California. My first contact with the Guild was through our outgoing Treasurer, Rachelle Weiss, who had a booth at our local Bonny Doon Art Tour.  Soon after the art tour, I joined the Guild and have been enjoying my introductions to many wonderful textile artists and their amazing avenues of textile art.  

I suppose I should mention that I happen to be an old-hand at both Treasurer and Membership duties, through many years of service in these areas during my days in Texas. Even though I am enjoying learning all about the textile arts, I also have a knack for organization, accuracy, and meeting deadlines.  So, when Rachelle wanted to relinquish her Treasurer duties, they just seemed to naturally fall into my lap. Please know that I take this position seriously and will do my best to properly represent the Guild.

My current textile interests are many and they include: knitting, crochet, tatting, weaving, tapestry, spinning, dyeing, and basketry. Now, all I need to do to succeed is to get these old fingers away from a calculator and into my stash of yarn!