Roundtable Artist-Pitch to become a guest on a TV show
Mary Hettmansperger is a fiber and jewelry artist who teaches in the U.S. and internationally—Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore. She has taught for Arrowmont, Penland, Bead and Button, Convergence, national and regional fiber conferences, at art and craft schools, and for private guilds. Mary has authored and illustrated three books: Fabulous Woven Jewelry, Mixed Metal Jewelry Workshop, and Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet, all published by Lark/Sterling. Currently, Mary is working on two more books, including a new jewelry book due to be released in Spring of 2012, and an art quilt book that will be released in Fall of 2012—titles coming soon! Her work has been featured in many other books: Jewelry Design Challenge, 500 Baskets, Fiber Arts Design Book 7, the Gourd Book, Creative Scarecrows, Pushing the Envelope, Fabulous Found Object Jewelry, Teapots – Makers and Collectors, Beading with Crystals, and Creative Beading Volume 2. Mary’s creative designs have also been mentioned in magazines, including Quilting Arts, Art Jewelry, Bead and Button, Beadwork, Shuttle Spindle & Dye Pot, and Crafts Report. Mary has exhibited her work at SOFA, through the Katie Gingrass Gallery, and she is a frequent contributor to the PBS shows Beads Baubles & Jewels, and Quilting Art.
MaryJane Butters was instrumental in creating the present-day organic movement in America. She was chair of one of the first state-sanctioned organic advisory boards and is proud to say her first organic inspection certificate listed her as “grower #8.” Born to a large, self-sufficient family in Utah, she was raised on homegrown food and knew from the tender age of five that she would grow up to be an organic farmer. But her real passion is that of teacher. Featured in The New Yorker in 2004, a lengthy article stated, “MaryJane Butters, a natural teacher, has a gift for simplification, and makes it seem that everything she does is easy and attainable.” Those who’ve attended her non-profit Pay Dirt Farm School, now in its 14th year, all agree.
Melody is a fourth-generation Idaho girl and has been an artist from the time she could hold a crayon in her hand, knowing from the age of five that she wanted to grow up and combine beautiful colorful images with her love of words. At the age of 18, Melody began to sell painted works, and in 1997 at the age of 25, she started a worldwide product design and publishing business called Chatterbox. Through Chatterbox, she authored and published 15 books, manufactured and sold thousands of products that have become collectors items, and won countless awards for product innovation. Melody’s art, products, and books have been featured on television programs and in countless magazines. In 2009, Melody stepped away from Chatterbox to start Brave Girls Club, a worldwide organization that combines art with life skills to help women create the lives they want to live. Melody now licenses several product lines in arts and crafts, books, and home decor–including an extensive gift line with Demdaco and a new fabric line with Blend.
Michele Muska is a Marketing Communications Manager for Simplicity Creative Group and their family of brands which include Simplicity Patterns, Wrights, Boye, EZ Quilting, Conso and British Trimmings. During the last seven years Michele has helped in the development and design of new product, implemented educational opportunities and worked with their customers to provide a clear vision of how Simplicity Creative Group can foster and inspire creativity in the individual. She had a long career as a Recreation Therapist in the Art field and spent many years in her community performing service work which came in the form of advocating for Learning Disabled individuals. Michele graduated from UMASS Boston with a degree in Art which focused on painting and photography. She began sewing and knitting at age four and never stopped. Michele has appeared on Quilting Arts TV and Creative Memories. Her work can also be seen in many national quilting and craft publications including Belle Amoire, Haute Handbag and Altered Couture.
Nicole McConville manages the Craft Your Life publishing strategy for Lark Crafts. Her team of editorial and art professionals acquire, develop, and produce a multifaceted program of print books, digital initiatives, and new products on a range of topics to serve the evolving craft community. Lark’s titles range from beginner project books to advanced technique books to best-selling gallery books on topics such as sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, jewelry, ceramics, general crafts, and emerging DIY areas. Recent standouts and upcoming releases include Craft Hope, Big Little Felt Universe, Signature Styles, the Homemade Living series, the Stash Happy series, and Where Women Cook: Celebrate!. Visit Lark Crafts online at 
“Eleven years old and willing to help” is how Olivia Bouler described herself to the Audubon Society when she contacted them about tragedy in the Gulf. Aspiring ornithologist, artist, and saxophone player, Olivia wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, a place where she spent many vacations with her cousins and grandparents who live in Louisiana and Alabama. Knowing birds were going to suffer, she had to take action. Inspired by her hero James Audubon, Olivia wrote to the Audubon Society about a fundraising idea, using her talent as an artist to give bird drawings to those who donated to wildlife recovery efforts. Olivia drew and donated 500 original drawings and thousands of limited edition prints throughout the summer of 2010. 
Patty Young grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica, in an environment where she was encouraged to express her creativity freely. Both of her parents dabbled in the arts so it was only natural that she would inherit their creative genes. They moved to the United States in 1987 and Patty attended The University of Central Florida from 1989 to 1993 where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography. Currently, Patty is the co-owner and designer of MODKID, LLC, which specializes in boutique sewing patterns for children’s and women’s clothing as well as purses and home accessories. Also, Patty is a licensed textiles designer for New York-based, Michael Miller Fabrics and is currently designing her seventh fabric collection for them. Patty’s first book, Sewing MODKID Style, for Wiley Publishing, will be available for pre-order this Fall and in newsstands Spring of 2012.
You might be surprised to know that Paula Prass, successful interior designer, artist, textile designer, home and gift décor designer and soon to be author was told as a child that she would never amount to anything. Once she stopped believing that lie there has been no holding back. Paula became known for her multi-award winning and nationally recognized interior designs in the 90’s. In 2003 she began manufacturing her own signature line of children’s and home décor. Her fresh, crisp approach to design became an instant hit and quickly sold in stores nationally and internationally. Paula’s creations and products have been featured in numerous magazines and publications such as Architectural Digest, several Better Homes & Garden’s magazines and books including the cover of Window and Walls, Coastal Living, Bride’s and Domino, to name a few. Now Paula licenses her designs with companies such as Michael Miller Fabrics, Oopsy daisy Art and Demdaco. She is also writing a book filled to the brim with creative ideas for the home that will be released next summer 2012. Paula and her husband have just moved to San Diego from the Midwest. For entertainment Paula likes to amuse people with tales of what it’s like to live as Paula Prass on her blog Show & Tell.
Rebekah Teal has been an attorney for over 20 years. She has worked primarily in business, juvenile, and criminal law. In criminal court, Rebekah was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting felonies. Later she served as a Juvenile Court Judge, deciding abuse, neglect, and criminal cases. Today, in addition to general practice matters, she serves as Special Counsel to an Atlanta-based asset management firm focused on making investments in clean technology, energy, and natural resources. In 1993 Rebekah became a pioneer in the private probation industry when she co-founded and grew one of the first private probation companies in the U.S. Although she enjoyed being an entrepreneur, Rebekah ultimately sold her interest in the company, which continues to operate as one of the most successful companies of its kind in the state. Rebekah enjoys the non-profit world and has served on numerous non-profit boards, most dealing with child advocacy issues. She was honored to head the state-mandated Domestic Violence Task Force. She also served as chairperson of the Child Fatality Review Board. In addition to her law degree, Rebekah holds a Master’s of Theological Studies. Ten years ago, Rebekah became a mom. Much to her surprise and delight, motherhood has been her most fulfilling role. She is proud to say that she spoils her ten-year-old daughter rotten. In her free time, Rebekah enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, running, and visiting her mountain farm. One day she hopes to have a big green tractor.
Stephanie Halleen has been producing television shows for over 20 years. Most recently she produced the hit show for Food Network, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri. She’s worked with talk shows like Jenny Jones, Queen Latifah and The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as travel and food shows for Discovery Channel and design shows for HGTV. She has cast and trained new talent for HGTV’s “Decorating Cents” Redesign segments –where designers auditioned for the chance to be on the show. She has also been involved in development and production of start-up series for Food Network, Discovery Channel and TLC.