I'm a textile artist with a small boutique (65 square feet!) in downtown Whitehorse - the capital of the Yukon. I have lived here for 11 years. I have two sons ( 14 and 20 as of 2018) and the eldest is a self-taught bladesmith. I am currently working on achieving my BA in textiles through the Open College for the Arts in the UK via distance education. I love to see the world from the perspective of the folks who live in the places I visit. I don't like to be a "tourist" and rather consider myself more of a "traveller". I want to visit the secret pizza joints, the hard-to-find beaches, hike the trails that tourists shy away from and meet the people who call each place home. I have spent time in Iceland - almost moved there. I have also visited Germany, France, England, Scotland, Tanzania, Mexico, and Costa Rica. I especially love finding local artists and learning as much as I can about the local textiles - almost every culture has something. These learnings inform my work and shape the direction of my textile practice.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I would WAY rather spend my time and money on experiences rather than on things. Couch Surfing embodies this principle. I've always travelled frugally and created situations that have me fully immersed in the local culture. Our most recent travels had us living in a camperized van in Costa Rica, staying on beaches with the locals. It was exceptional. Unforgettable. I am optimistic that this kind of travelling experience will afford us the chance to get to see the very best parts of each place we visit and to make friendships that enrich our lives forever.

Interests

• arts
• wine
• art
• food
• typography
• illustration
• spinning
• textiles
• embroidery
• weaving
• jewelry making
• fabric
• arts and crafts
• accessories
• hand lettering
• wool
• fiber arts
• jewelry design
• yarn

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a folk music nerd to the core. If there's a mandolin involved, I have no choice but to listen. I certainly make the most out of my Spotify subscription and the available storage on my devices. I don't watch a lot of movies but I will confess that I recently binged hard on Outlander on Netflix.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I've done was create a viral GoFundMe for a friend who needed a laugh and a few bucks. Read about it here : https://ca.gofundme.com/burberry-scarf-replacement

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach various textile arts in my local community to both adult learners and to children within the school system. Because of the unique geography of our area, when I do work with children, I'm able to travel all over our amazing territory. I would love to bring some of the work I do to my hosts and teach them some of the skills I use in my everyday art practice. My favourite, most portable textile skill that is fun to teach is hand spinning yarn using dyed wool and a drop spindle. It's super tricky but once you get the hang of it, it's crazy fun.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Aside from sharing my textile skills, I also am a beast in the kitchen and can make some really delicious food. I also love giving gifts (usually of the handmade variety) so there's that to look forward to. I also love really intelligent, passionate conversation. The tougher the topics, the better.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, England, France, Iceland, Mexico, Scotland, Tanzania

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Iceland