Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude®, was taught to crochet at age five by his mother while snowbound in Lake Tahoe. After studying fine art in college and living as a “starving artist” for years, he found solace in crocheting for charity while grieving the passing of his mom. It was during this time with the charity group that Drew became known as The Crochet Dude, which then led to the launch of his wildly popular blog in 2005, The Crochet Dude. Since then, Drew has had published numerous patterns in magazines and compilations books, his own full-length books, has appeared as a guest on various TV programs, and is currently the crochet expert on the hit PBS show Knit and Crochet Now. And watch out, crochet has a new Boye®toy, as Drew has teamed up with Boye® brand hooks to launch his own line of kits, hooks, tools, and accessories, available now nationwide. Drew lives in Houston, TX with his cats Chandler and Cleocatra.
Contact:
Web: www.thecrochetdude.com
Email: thecrochetdude@gmail.com
Twitter: @crochetdude
Gale Zucker is the co-author/photographer of the book Shear Spirit: Ten Farms, Twenty Projects and Miles of Yarn (PotterCraft, 2008) and the photographer for Mason Dixon: Knitting Outside the Lines (October, 2008). She recently completed photography for a new title, Craft Activism: People, Projects & Ideas from the New Community of Handmade, to be published by PotterCraft in September, 2011. Gale is an award-winning editorial and commercial photographer who’s worked on assignment for Smithsonian, Yankee, Wine Spectator, TV Guide, CraftStylish, USA Weekend, Woman’s Day, and for The New York Times, as well as for non-profit foundations and businesses. Gale has been teaching Photography for Knitters workshops since 2009, leading classes in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, California, Minnesota, and Washington state. A lifelong knitter and crafter, Gale lives in shoreline Connecticut with her family and blogs at 
eier is the author of Reversible Knits (Lark, 2009), Lacy Little Knits (Lark, 2007), Modular Knits (Lark, 2005) and co-author of Exquisite Little Knits (Lark, 2004). Her original innovative techniques are being used in knitting workshops around the world, and her patterns have been translated into multiple languages. She has appeared on various TV shows has written articles and published patterns for leading knitting magazines. She founded Art Yarns to produce yarns and color combinations for her designs that were just not available elsewhere. The company’s world-renowned line of yarns now encompasses unusual and intriguing combinations of fibers, even some with embellishments, and all hand-painted in luscious ways to work optimally with her patterns. To view more of Iris’s designs and yarns, and to watch videos of her techniques, please visit 
Jennifer Tuma-Young – Chief Creative Officer (aka ”The Inspirista”)-Jennifer is a dreamer, planner, believer. She fell in love with Terry and her mission the moment they met, and has completely thrown herself into it ever since. She is responsible for helping women with personal development, change management, and inside-out transformation.
Terry Grahl – Chief Executive Officer (aka ”The Visionary”)-Terry founded Enchanted Makeovers (EM) in 2007, and has been on an extraordinary journey ever since. She creates the vision for the organization, and pours her heart and soul into every last detail, from makeovers to programs to events to strategic planning.
Terry is an award-winning decorator who’s creativity, child-like innocence, and whimsy is reflected throughout the mission.
Terry was named People Magazine and MLB’s “All-Star Among Us” in 2010 out of 7,500 nominations nationwide. Within a week she was standing on the Los Angeles Angels Baseball field watching as celebrity Sheryl Crow presented a video on her non-profit at the MLB All-Star game in California.
The artists behind 
Kaari Meng has been designing vintage glass jewelry for more than 20 years. After moving to New York City in 1988, Kaari began exhibiting at trade shows and designing for specialty shops, including Anthropologie. Armed with experience in all facets of jewelry manufacturing, she began teaching jewelry making out of her shop, French General. In 2003, French General moved to Los Angeles, where it continues to offer workshops and creative kits to people who enjoy working with vintage materials.
Wendy Addison was born in Missouri and raised by artist parents. She studied fine art at an early age. In 1993, she opened her studio in an old garage and began creating what she called “objects for an imaginary life.” Made from old sheet music, tarnished tinsel, vintage crepe paper, Victorian scrap, and other flea market treasures, Addison’s work evoked some lost sense of magic from times past. Her signature look quickly evolved and found its way to fine stores across the country, such as Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany. In 1997, Wendy moved to a tiny town north of San Francisco. Her shop “Theatre of Dreams” is open by chance or appointment, and she continues to create new and innovative paper objects. Her designs are licensed to Tinsel Trading Company in NYC and Midwest of Cannon Falls, and are sold in gift stores everywhere.
Kathy Cano-Murillo is a writer and artist. Since 1990, she has sold her handmade “Chicano Pop Art” crafts to hundreds of retailers including Bloomingdales, Target, and Hallmark. From 2000-2008, she wrote a weekly syndicated Arizona Republic newspaper column, and has authored seven books including Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul and Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing. In 2001, Kathy launched 
Laurie Meseroll has lived as an artist her entire life. One of her first paintings, of an angel, was shown publicly in 1963 at the Columbus Museum of Art. She went on to train as a sculptor and an architect but realized that, above all else, she is painter and must follow her bliss. Laurie lived in the “amazingly intense” New York art scene of the 1980s, concentrated on architectural commissions in the 1990s, and entered the folk art world in 2000, finding inspiration in magical and romantic experiences. Laurie chooses the slow road to capture the scenery and enormous depth of feeling she sees in everyday activity. Her folk-outsider-art-ish paintings and portraits flow from the realm of characters and stories into unexplored areas of stillness and reflection.
Leslie Shewring is a Canadian from Vancouver Island currently living in Los Angeles, California. She relocated to the U.S. to earn a degree in Architecture and Interior Design. Immediately after finishing school, Leslie had the opportunity to team up with a manufacturing and distributing company. Collaborating together, Leslie developed, designed, and handled packaging direction for many products sold in major retailers throughout North America. Although she loved her job, the deadlines, cross-country travel, and long trips to Asia did not fit with her ideal of family life. When Leslie had her first child four years ago, she stepped away. She still consults from time to time, but most of her days are spent with her two little kids, or in her home studio where she paints, collages, styles, and photographs. Leslie shares her creative projects on her blog A Creative Mint and she also authors a popular monthly column on the blog Decor8 called “Color Me Pretty.” Recently, Leslie has teamed up with Holly Becker to teach “Blogging Your Way,” a popular e-course that has been running twice a year. You may also find Leslie’s colorful work in Stampington’s Somerset Life, where she is a columnist.
Lisa Leonard started her hand-crafted jewelry business when her boys were very little so she could have the flexibility to work and spend lots of time with them. Eight years later, she continues to create unique, custom keepsakes that have been featured in several national magazines and are worn by celebrities. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and meant to be treasured.