Many years ago, I used to work as the Weaving and Spinning Guide at Miningco.com. When a large number of Guides were let go from About.com, I moved my content onto my own server at AllFiberarts.com

My love for all textiles and handcrafts came from my mother. She was originally from Finland, where she had her own loom and used to work as a seamstress, sewing clothing for the community around her. She taught me to knit and crochet at an early age. My love for looms also came from her. Some of my early memories include me sitting under her loom, gazing up at the wonderful coloured warp threads above my head and I remember thinking that someday I would also own a loom like this and make rugs for my floors.

My grandmother was a Sámi from northern Norway and she earned her living by knitting – nalbinding, weaving and other textile crafts. She was the first person in her village to own an oil lamp. The light from her flickering oil lamp could be seen in the dark winter nights as she worked on her weaving projects, which she would sell in the summer months to the Norwegian Sámi. I have a special interest in learning more about the textiles of Finland and Sámi peoples.

By profession, I became a management accountant and raised our family in Vancouver, BC. About 30 years ago we left the urban sprawl of the big city and moved to the small town of Nelson, BC in the Kootenays of British Columbia. There I had the good fortune to meet Judith MacKenzie, who became my mentor and good friend. I took classes from her through the Kootenay School of the Arts, and learned the art of weaving, handspinning and dyeing beautiful yarns.

In 2003, we had the opportunity to move to London, England. I was very fortunate to secure a job at one of the London universities, where I was employed in Research Administration for several years.

Due to work related stress, I suffered a heart attack and took early retirement. I relocated to Chichester UK, located on the south coast of England. And again have a lovely studio room for my loom. I like to weave Finnish style rya tapestries and Sámi style bands and explore almost forgotten heritage textile crafts.