by Noella Noelophile®
“Grab a hook and a ball of yarn,” directed yes4arts volunteer Susana Ethial.
It was Sunday morning, at yes4arts’ first Winter Holiday Fair.
The workshop area at Torrance Cultural Arts Center awaited students in knitting, sewing and crochet. Numerous fiber artists were on hand to share their expertise. And lessons were free.
(That’s in keeping with the mission of yes4arts, a nonprofit organization which designer Paula Bennett started in 2015. They say it best on their website: they’re “dedicated to inspiring and empowering people through free fiber art classes”.)
Susana, who is the proprietor of Ethial’s Crochet, says on her Facebook page that she can teach anyone the art of crochet. She proved that statement in about twenty minutes.
Now, understand–this reporter grew up with needle arts. But my mom was left-handed. So although she could teach right-handed knitting, crochet remained a backwards mystery.
Thanks to Susana and yes4arts, that statement is no longer true.
Meanwhile, over in the sewing area, Debra Knox and Elaine Geanakopoulos were teaching quilting skills.
“I used to hate sewing,” Debra commented. During her school years, she said, shop classes were more of interest to her–but they were only for boys. Girls had to learn home economics. (Ugh, those weren’t the “good old days”! In my hometown in the 1960s, girls had to sew kerchiefs and aprons. Boys got to make cool things like door knockers and key holders. No wonder she was bored!)
Quilting, though, would change her mind–and engage her creativity.
Debra said she began quilting about five years ago. Today, she’s program chair of the African American Quilters of Los Angeles.
Here’s the pattern on which she’s currently working. Debra says this one was inspired by an African painting. (Would you like to see the completed quilt? You may just get that opportunity! Debra was giving out “Save the Date” flyers for the African American Quilters of Los Angeles’ 2017 show, which happens November 4, 2017!)
“Come and enjoy,” invited Elaine, as she displayed this kimono she had created. (It’s an award-winner in the 2015 Hoffman Challenge Trunk Show! Debra emailed that this win means the kimono traveled for a full year as part of the Hoffman Challenge’s exhibit of winners.)
Elaine’s invitation referred to her free community quilt workshop, which she teaches every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, in Inglewood. And beginners are both welcome and encouraged.
“Students make a quilt to start with,” she explained. “I like to work with good quality fabrics: cotton, for the beginners. Cotton is very forgiving.”
Quality, she explained, had been a cornerstone of her training as an art major in college, where her areas of expertise included ceramics, textiles and metalworking. “My professor said the quality of your piece is determined by the quality of your supplies.”
Elaine said she started her workshop about five years ago, and she teaches a small group. Between one and nine students come in weekly. (Her workshop happens from noon to 3 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3320 West Manchester, in Inglewood.)
Like yes4arts, Elaine asks nothing in return for her time and expertise. However, donations of materials and equipment are welcome. “I love sewing machines (and) fabrics (if people want to donate),” she said.
At another table in the class area, artist Jamie Armenta was teaching kids to make dolls. These dolls, she explained, are the same type as those made in the Renaissance!
Nearby, designers Roberta Barry (l) and Polly Martens (r) were ready to teach sewing classes. Polly is the proprietor of Radishlady Designs, through which she sells fun fashion accessories (her Pokemon bags are adorable!). Roberta crafts striking quilted lap rugs, coasters, zipper bags and more through her small business R Sew Cute.
And both Roberta and Polly have booths located at CRAFTED, in San Pedro. Normally, you can find Roberta at CRAFTED’s Booth 143 and Poly at Booth 148, Fridays through Sundays in this year-round handmade marketplace..
While yes4arts taught fiber arts classes as a feature of their fundraiser Winter Holiday Fair, they also had music, food and a number of vendors, showcasing their creations.
One of the first exhibits we saw was Mystery Mace. Company CEO Tracy de los Santos, COO Yiting Lin and Sales Manager Kevin Leach explained that they were selling this product through a ten-week entrepreneurship program at their school. (They all attend the University of La Verne, and Tracy emailed, after the event, that they have four weeks left in the program.
Mystery Mace is pepper spray, disguised in glittery silver, gold or pink tubes that look like lipsticks. Their marketing line is, “Your safety, beautified.”
Tracy, Yiting and Kevin said all proceeds from Mystery Mace get donated to Laura’s House, an Orange County women’s emergency shelter. But the program ends after ten weeks and Mystery Mace’s Facebook page says their website went up on November 4th. So if you’d like to know more or support them, you may want to check it out fairly soon.
An especially fun vendor at yes4arts’ first Winter Fair was Kellie Schmidt, who has a brand-new small business! Talented Kellie handcrafts lotions, body scrubs and hair serum through her skincare company, With Love, Kellie. Rumor has it that she may also be offering a line of handcrafted soaps in the near future.
Look at the colors and creativity! Deborah Shaphran and Vicky Tonoblo have been ceramic artists since the 1980s. If you think their work here is aptly named (their business is called Truely Terrific), wait till you see their tiles and fused-glass vases! And, in fact, you’ll get a chance to do that this weekend.
Deborah and Vicki will be hosting their annual Holiday Boutique this weekend, Friday, November 18th through Sunday, November 20th, at 4283 Grand View Boulevard in Los Angeles. Their boutique hours are 9 am – 6 pm Friday, 9 am – 4 pm Saturday, and 10 am – 3 pm Sunday. Admission’s free; expect to see all kinds of cool creations, including quilts, raku pottery, chimes and pet stuff. 
So far, all the artists we’ve covered were exhibiting outside on Sunday. That’s because, inside, all the displays were the result of one person’s creativity…
...Paula Crochet Fashion designer Paula Bennett, founder of yes4arts, designed and made EVERYTHING in the room: jewelry, dolls, clothing, and more.
Now, although yes4arts’ first “Winter Holiday Fair” was a welcoming gathering of creative artists, you’ll notice one thing from the pictures. Sadly, attendance was much lower than expected. The unseasonable 80-degree temperatures may have chased people away from Christmasy outdoor events. So might some of the upheaval from last week’s unexpected turn of events, on Election Day.
But Paula says she will definitely be continuing yes4arts, and her mission of empowering the next generation of fiber artists by sharing her expertise. (And she’s doing that by putting a new and slinky twist on crochet! She designs halter tops, wedding dresses, evening gowns and much more, and sells her patterns.)
Would you like to support Paula as she preserves the needle arts and inspires others through free fiber-arts classes? Check out yes4arts’ link. She never charges for classes, but volunteers are welcome.
Better yet, consider coming by to say “hi” and see what she’s created, as she displays her work at the upcoming 34th Annual Wilson Park Christmas Boutique, Sunday, December 11th, 9 am to 4 pm in Torrance.