Textiles Faculty

HEATHER WINSLOW

Heather is a fiber artist specializing in nature-inspired, classical hand-woven clothing. She also enjoys knitting, hand dyeing, and spinning and teaches locally, nationally and internationally. Heather is the author of MORE ON MOORMAN: Theo Moorman Inlay Adapted to Clothing, and many articles in fibre magazines.

 

CONNIE BLIESZNER

Connie has worked with fibers most of her life, concentrating on expanding her technical knitting skills. She has taught college-level textile courses and been a guest lecturer for guilds. After a career as a chemical engineer in the energy industry, Connie joined The Fine Line following studies in fashion design. Her one-of-a-kind wearable artwork is inspired by the countries on the Silk Road, incorporating their garment shapes and textile designs. She has degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota.

 

LYNN CALDWELL

A Northern Illinois native, Lynn earned a degree in Textiles and Clothing with a minor in Art (weaving). She began her own business a few years out of school creating her own line of handwoven apparel and accessories. Her work has been shown in art shows and galleries nationally. She began teaching at The Fine Line in 2003 specializing in kumihimo (Japanese braiding).

 

DAGMAR KLOS

Dagmar is a dye master, fiber artist, and teacher. Since 1995, she has served as copublisher and coeditor of the Turkey Red Journal, a newsletter dedicated to natural dyes; in 2002, she received the Handweavers Guild of America's Certificate of Excellence in Dyeing. Dagmar's colorful woven scarves appear in Handwoven Scarves (Interweave Press, 1999), and regularly grace the pages of Handwoven magazine. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

 

LAURA KOCHEVAR

Laura is fascinated by the properties of wool fiber and the felting process.  Felt is oldest known man-made textile and she loves to experiment with the medium for contemporary applications. She uses ordinary materials and traditional techniques to create innovative designs. She also loves to work with non-traditional materials, such as knitting and crocheting with sterling silver wire.

Laura’s work, under the name Felt Inspired, has been featured on HGTV and in several national magazines.

CINDY MALOVANY

I’ve been a fiber enthusiast most of my life, but my interest in antique textiles led me to weaving nearly 20 years ago, and since then it has been my focus. I’ve presented seminars, classes, lectures and workshops at area guilds and regional conferences, and I am currently the HGA representative for IL as well as a member of many study groups in Complex Weavers. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from The Ohio State University, and continue my fiber education each year at conferences, and other fiber related events. Most recently I’ve won awards for my hand spun yarn. So, whether I am trying something new, or putting a new twist on something old, if it is fiber related I’m interested.

 

ADAM ROBERSMITH

Adam Robersmith is a writer, musician, storyteller, and fiber artist from Geneva, IL. Originally from St. Charles, he has lived in New York, California, Arizona, and Ireland on his way back to the Fox Valley. After being hooked by carding wool for his mother's spinning at a very young age, he now spins, knits, crochets, and weaves.

"Whether it's harp strings, warp threads, or spinning yarns (literally and figuratively), I enjoy working with the patterns and complexities that fibers and threads can create. As a left-hander, I've had to learn to knit as both right- and left-handers do; being able to use that practice to teach knitting and fiber arts allows me to teach a wide range of people. In my own work, I am exploring handspun yarns for knitting garments and lace as well as handweaving." For more information about Adam, please visit www.oakandthorn.com.

 

ROBIN SCHOENBURG

Fiber artist, Robin Schoenburg is a resident of Sycamore, IL.  She settled in the area after receiving her BFA degree from Northern Illinois University. Robin worked as a creative sewing instructor for fourteen years before taking up weaving as her favorite medium.  Her wearable art incorporates many fiber techniques.  Teaching weaving and a variety of fiber arts at The Fine Line Creative Arts Center keeps her creative spirit flowing. 

 

 

SUSAN INFANTE

Susan Infante, Fiber artist and surface designer enjoys working with natural textiles and recycling vintage kimono silks. She received a BA in French Education with a minor in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois. She gains inspiration for her work from frequent travel to France and Asia. Her one of a kind artwear has won awards and been published in Threads Magazine and Simplicity Pattern Company. She is a member of American Sewing Guild and Haute Couture Chicago.

 

 

 

MICHELE O'REILLY

Michele enjoys dyeing threads to weave or braid. She designs Art-to-Wear clothing from her handwoven cloth. Her creations have been selected in multiple Uncommon Thread and HGA fashion shows. Michele is fascinated by the many braiding techniques from around the world and uses her hand dyed threads for a wide variety of projects. She really enjoys working with Ply-Split braiding and has developed workshops for making jewelry with her hand dyed cords.

 

 

MARY ADRIAN

Mary has always been interested in a variety of arts.  Weaving was added to painting, drawing and crochet after a weaving class in college sparked her fiber arts passion.  She began experimenting with jewelry a little over 10 years ago and is now addicted to wire and bead work as well.  She loves to take simple techniques and expand and manipulate them to be all her own. 

 

 

 

LELA LUETGER

Lela  has been working with fiber all her life. She learned to knit and crochet as a child. While attending California College of Art and Craft she learned to weave and began designing knotted fiber sculptures and jewelry. A few years ago she learned felting, combined it with painting techniques,  and began creating dimensional landscapes that use both wet felting and needle felting. After many years of exhibiting in art shows and galleries, teaching has now become a favorite creative outlet.