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INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

MAUREEN CARLSON has been working with polymer clay since 1979, when fellow artist Anne Fisher from the Minnesota Renaissance Festival suggested that she use it for creating her Wee Folk. Since then she has written numerous how-to magazine articles, 5 polymer clay books for Hot Off The Press, including the popular FIMO FOLK. In 2004 she wrote Art Faces in Clay, her first book for Design Originals. Her fifth book for North Light Books is Fairies, Gnomes and Trolls, released in November 2006. She was a frequent guest on the Carol Duvall show on HGTV. She and her husband, Dan, have produced 7 teaching videos, with their first video, MUG DWELLERS AND WEE FOLK, being the initial product for their mail order business, Wee Folk Creations. Dan and Maureen opened the Wee Folk Creations Creative Center in 1999, changing its name in 2002 to Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts.

	JANA ROBERTS BENZON in November Jana Roberts Benzon draws on her diverse artistic background in creating new and innovative works in the wondrous medium of polymer clay. Having come to polymer late in her creative life, she's reveling in the never ending possibilities of this medium! Jana teaches her techniques internationally in Master Workshops, and has been published in many books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Magazine, Belle Armoire Magazine, and the Lark Book publication, "Masters: Polymer Clay". She has also published three instructional DVD's, and is presently recording her fourth. Jana lives in Salt Lake City, and spends any free time she might have hiking the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, reading, and enjoying her family. Contact Jana, and see more of her work, at  JanaRobertsBenzon.com
	CHRISTI FRIESEN - in August Christi Friesen is an award-winning artist, specializing in polymer and mixed media.  Her work has been showcased in Ornament, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Stringing and Polymer Cafe magazines, has graced the cover of Fire Mountain Gems catalog, and has been featured in numerous books, magazine articles, shows, exhibits and galleries. Her work has been honored with awards in the Wearable Expression International juried show, Bead Dream contest, Bead Arts contest, Best Of America: Jewelry Artists, American Women Artists Annual Juried Competition, and more. Christi is the author of nine how-to books, and her how-to articles have appeared in Bead and Button, Art Jewelry, Bead Unique (now Bead Design Studio), Metal Clay Artist, Polymer Cafe, Creative Beading, Beadwork and Step By Step magazines and more. She teaches throughout the world, using humor and positive energy to encourage her students to stretch their creativity, technical skills and artistic confidence.  For more, visit: www.ChristiFriesen.com.
	DIANE KEELER - in June Diane has been sculpting dolls since the mid 80's. Her almost-real-enough-to-breathe ART DOLLS are in collections world-wide. Her dolls have been featured in Contemporary Doll Collector magazine, Dolls the Collector and Doll Reader as well as in numerous other publications. Diane is a member of NIADA and ODACA and travels nationally and internationally to teach. Diane lives and creates in Luck, Wisconsin. Check out her dolls at http://www.dianekeeler.com and at http://www.niada.org/DianeKeeler

	BARBARA KOBE in January and February Barbara, from Crystal, Minnesota, has been making art dolls, therapeutic dolls and puppets for over twenty years. She has a BA in psychology, is a student of art therapy and has over twenty years experience as a graphic artist. She is a creativity and expressive arts coach. She is an expert at using a variety of materials to create shape, color, textures and moods for her dolls, which evoke feelings of mystery and awe. People say her dolls are very expressive and full of emotion. She says that is her intention as well as the creation of an image that has the potential to nurture personal growth and healing. She recently began exploring Mixed Media Art and Visual Journaling and loves the way she can create a healing image in even more deep and playful ways. Access her web sites at: www.barbkobe.com www.healingandtransformativedolls.com www.artofthedollmn.com http://healingdoll.blogspot.com/
	Rick Petersen in April 2013 Rick Petersen, a graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, is a gardener, graphic artist and dollmaker.  He is currently the Creative Director of Advertising for Bachmans. He says that dollmaking satisfies, comforts and helps him work out life's ups and downs.  Most of all it makes him smile! His imagination, creativity and love for nature is evident in his designs for both gardening and doll making, which he is able to combine in this Fairy Garden Workshop.   He coauthored the book, The Complete Photo Guide to Dollmaking, published in 2010. He is a popular creative teacher in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, teaching at local quilt shops and quilting events.  He loves the challenge of using found objects and repurposing them to make small landscapes and homes for his garden friends. His doll, Ascending to Myself, was in the premier issue of Art Doll Quarterly.