2009 Quilt Judge
Elizabeth Spannring
Quiltmaker - NQA Certified Judge 
www.elizabethspannring.com 

In 1990, Elizabeth began quilting after years of knitting, crocheting, gardening, and clothing construction. A sewing friend presented her with a rotary cutter, a bag of calico scraps and yet another enthusiastic quilter was born! Her passion is machine quilting, silk dupioni wholecloth quilts and machine appliqué. Entering her first national show in 2000 her quilts have won awards at AQS Quilt Expo-Nashville, International Quilt Festival, Machine Quilter’s Exposition, Pacific Northwest Quiltfest, Quilter’s Heritage Celebration, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, National Quilting Association Show, Pacific International and Road to California.
Having attended the Northern California Quilt Council Judges Training in 2002, she pursued her involvement in judging and in 2006 completed the program requirements to be designated a National Quilting Association Certified Quilt Judge. In the past seven years she has judged over thirty quilt and wearable art competitions throughout the US and Canada. Traveling throughout the US has given her the opportunity to see what exciting new methods and materials contemporary quilt artists are utilizing in their work. While evaluating quilts her objective is to encourage quilters to improve and expand their artistry, creativity and expertise in their preferred medium.

While not busy working on “the next quilt” she shares her love of quilting through teaching and judging. A small community in SW Washington is the place she calls home, where her husband and four cats carefully maneuver their way through fabric, books and pins!

2009 Doll Judge
Leslie Molen
-Cloth Doll Artist-
www.rootie.com

As a very young child I remember being so entranced with fabric-the touch, the flow, the weave. I remember two of my little dresses my Mother had made for me. One from a crisp gold cotton with little diamond shapes woven through and matching mother-of-pearl buttons. The other was a light blue cotton fabric more loosely woven and little tufts of navy and red. I asked my Mother about these dresses and she said I was about 1 ½ years old at that time. My next ‘fabric’ memory was when I was four and so wanted a mannequin for Christmas- just to make clothing for her.

This explains the whole thing; it all makes wonderful sense now! I was placed on this earth to be a doll artist! I am so fortunate to be able to share and explore my creativity with all of you.

Leslie has been creating dolls for over 15 years. She has been inspired by the Asian cultures and translates this interest into her work.  Leslie has been fortunate to travel world-wide to teach. She believes teaching is her gift and loves to share it with her students.

Her work has appeared in many national and international magazines and books. Her doll art pieces are held in collections around the world including Russia, Holland, Spain, Japan, Australia, and in the United States. She is an artist member of the prestigious National Institute of American Doll Artists- NIADA

She holds classes in her studio, ROotie StudiO, in Denver and is available for private lessons. She also does travel to teach. Leslie is kept busy with her designing of new class projects along with her own doll making for private commissions.

Leslie lives in Denver with her ever-supportive husband, Mark, and her kitty, Isabella Sunshine.

2009 Clothing and Accessory Judge
Elda Kohls
Fort Collins, CO
elda@verinet.com

Elda Kohls has spent her life investigating and exploring the sources of color and design.  After having taught more than thirty years in the public schools and traveled in Africa, Europe, India, and Israel, she still finds teaching and sharing her knowledge most rewarding.  Her expertise in silk painting, surface design techniques, and ikat weaving is shared locally as well as at conferences on fiber arts.  Her creative surface design techniques and unique garments of both fabric and leather have been shown widely in galleries and competitions, receiving many awards.  Personally designed and produced silk stencils and Mylar stencils are a feature of her work. 

Elda has been published in fiber magazines, the most recent being "The Wheel" published by the Ashford Loom Company in New Zealand.  She has completed a DVD in which the traditional ikat technique is shown along with comprehensive instructions and demonstrations of the ikat technique she has developed with the products and supplies that are available at present.