Teachers
Robin Wilburn, tote bags
Robin loves to figure things out! Whether it's algebra problems for her DC-area students or a sewing pattern for the FLAIRinas, she's on the case. When not teaching, or driving her three teenagers to theaters or golf courses, Robin likes to swim across Cayuga lake!
Sonja Gomes, alcohol ink jewelry
Sonja has always enjoyed creating, and being creative has kept her centered throughout her life. During college her sideline was making, selling and teaching ceramics. She met her husband Mario at the Cornell Pottery Shop where she taught, and her eldest son's name is Clayton. When her boys were babies she knit their diaper covers, and has always enjoyed creating functional decorative items such as improv cushion covers for her dinning room chairs. She has taught Zentangles, Rock Painting, and Upcycled Card Making workshops, and dabbles in making jewelry. Recently she is fascinated with alcohol inks, their vibrancy, unpredictability, and unique patterns bring flow, joy and fun to life.
Denise Milito, Mosaic
Denise Milito owns and operates Studio Manifest, a mosaic studio open during the summer months. She has been doing mosaic since 2001 when she ripped out her bathroom floor and built a custom mosaic floor. Since then she has designed and fabricated several floors, walls, and public mosaic installations including; Dryden High School, Trumansburg Schools, American Red Cross public fundraiser, Mackinac Arts Council, and private home installations. Denise enjoys inspiring her students in the creation of custom pieces.
Carlee Norberg, Dried Flower Wreaths
Carlee lives and work on Plenty of Posies cut flower farm in Newfield, NY. She love laughing together with her fairy coworkers while picking flowers, arranging bouquets, and making dried flower wreaths on the farm, and she can't wait to share her skills with you!
Jenny Pope, Ceramics
Jenny Pope runs Jpopstudios, and is a beloved ceramicist and block printer! Her whimsical nature-inspired creations are sold all around the world. She also has two poodles and a kickass garden that she shares with her family. https://www.jpopstudios.com/
Brenna O'Toole, Calligraphy & Drawing
Brenna is a pastel painter, calligrapher, and musician in Ithaca, NY. Occasionally she makes forays into the world of water media, but she keeps coming back to soft pastels. There is an immediacy to the medium that can't be found anywhere else -- and as a bonus, there's no need to sit around waiting for paint to dry! Brenna stumbled upon calligraphy quite by accident in 2014, and her interest quickly grew into an obsession. She draws inspiration from historical letterforms, and she seeks to elevate and interpret words from our shared literary heritage. She teaches calligraphy classes in the Ithaca area. https://www.brennaotoole.com/
Christina Alario, Natural Buttons
Christina is a beloved carpentry and woodworker teacher at Hammerstone Carpentry School for Women. She loves empowering people by building their skills and confidence in all things "maker," and encourages exploration & experimentation. Now, anyone care to make an avocado pit button??
Emily Hirshorn, Basketry
Emily comes to us from Philadelphia, where she can be found scrounging vacant lots for paper mulberry. She also works at the Penn Museum running school programs! A dedicated dog mama, you may find Emily and her furbaby Rodney kickin' it together around Philly dog parks. Fun fact--FLAIR is not Emily's first foray into the Finger Lakes. Back in the day, she went to Colgate!
Stephanie Allen, Tapestry Weaving
Stephanie is an experienced garment sewist and teacher. She believes in making clothing fit the person, not the other way around. Stephanie teaches kids and adults at Quilters Corner in Ithaca, NY, and also loves flower gardening. Ask her about her dahlia collection!
Laura Bill, Batik
Laura loves artistic exploration and the outdoors. A trained art teacher, she encourages her three daughters and flock of chickens to live creatively and joyfully.
Graham Ottoson, gourds
Graham is our gourdy guru, and the genius behind Gourdlandia! https://www.gourdlandia.com/
Graham loves all kinds of art forms, and in a previous life was a midwife who caught over one thousand babies!
Heather Scott, General Shenanigans
Heather cooked up the idea for FLAIR because she loves nothing more than goofing off with kindred spirits by the lake. She loves improv quilting because she does not pay close attention and drives her vintage sewing machines into the ground. When not scheming up nonsense for FLAIR, she is either jumping into Cayuga lake with her two kids, corralling Food Science grad students, or trying to talk someone into drinking cocktails in the backyard.
Robin loves to figure things out! Whether it's algebra problems for her DC-area students or a sewing pattern for the FLAIRinas, she's on the case. When not teaching, or driving her three teenagers to theaters or golf courses, Robin likes to swim across Cayuga lake!
Sonja Gomes, alcohol ink jewelry
Sonja has always enjoyed creating, and being creative has kept her centered throughout her life. During college her sideline was making, selling and teaching ceramics. She met her husband Mario at the Cornell Pottery Shop where she taught, and her eldest son's name is Clayton. When her boys were babies she knit their diaper covers, and has always enjoyed creating functional decorative items such as improv cushion covers for her dinning room chairs. She has taught Zentangles, Rock Painting, and Upcycled Card Making workshops, and dabbles in making jewelry. Recently she is fascinated with alcohol inks, their vibrancy, unpredictability, and unique patterns bring flow, joy and fun to life.
Denise Milito, Mosaic
Denise Milito owns and operates Studio Manifest, a mosaic studio open during the summer months. She has been doing mosaic since 2001 when she ripped out her bathroom floor and built a custom mosaic floor. Since then she has designed and fabricated several floors, walls, and public mosaic installations including; Dryden High School, Trumansburg Schools, American Red Cross public fundraiser, Mackinac Arts Council, and private home installations. Denise enjoys inspiring her students in the creation of custom pieces.
Carlee Norberg, Dried Flower Wreaths
Carlee lives and work on Plenty of Posies cut flower farm in Newfield, NY. She love laughing together with her fairy coworkers while picking flowers, arranging bouquets, and making dried flower wreaths on the farm, and she can't wait to share her skills with you!
Jenny Pope, Ceramics
Jenny Pope runs Jpopstudios, and is a beloved ceramicist and block printer! Her whimsical nature-inspired creations are sold all around the world. She also has two poodles and a kickass garden that she shares with her family. https://www.jpopstudios.com/
Brenna O'Toole, Calligraphy & Drawing
Brenna is a pastel painter, calligrapher, and musician in Ithaca, NY. Occasionally she makes forays into the world of water media, but she keeps coming back to soft pastels. There is an immediacy to the medium that can't be found anywhere else -- and as a bonus, there's no need to sit around waiting for paint to dry! Brenna stumbled upon calligraphy quite by accident in 2014, and her interest quickly grew into an obsession. She draws inspiration from historical letterforms, and she seeks to elevate and interpret words from our shared literary heritage. She teaches calligraphy classes in the Ithaca area. https://www.brennaotoole.com/
Christina Alario, Natural Buttons
Christina is a beloved carpentry and woodworker teacher at Hammerstone Carpentry School for Women. She loves empowering people by building their skills and confidence in all things "maker," and encourages exploration & experimentation. Now, anyone care to make an avocado pit button??
Emily Hirshorn, Basketry
Emily comes to us from Philadelphia, where she can be found scrounging vacant lots for paper mulberry. She also works at the Penn Museum running school programs! A dedicated dog mama, you may find Emily and her furbaby Rodney kickin' it together around Philly dog parks. Fun fact--FLAIR is not Emily's first foray into the Finger Lakes. Back in the day, she went to Colgate!
Stephanie Allen, Tapestry Weaving
Stephanie is an experienced garment sewist and teacher. She believes in making clothing fit the person, not the other way around. Stephanie teaches kids and adults at Quilters Corner in Ithaca, NY, and also loves flower gardening. Ask her about her dahlia collection!
Laura Bill, Batik
Laura loves artistic exploration and the outdoors. A trained art teacher, she encourages her three daughters and flock of chickens to live creatively and joyfully.
Graham Ottoson, gourds
Graham is our gourdy guru, and the genius behind Gourdlandia! https://www.gourdlandia.com/
Graham loves all kinds of art forms, and in a previous life was a midwife who caught over one thousand babies!
Heather Scott, General Shenanigans
Heather cooked up the idea for FLAIR because she loves nothing more than goofing off with kindred spirits by the lake. She loves improv quilting because she does not pay close attention and drives her vintage sewing machines into the ground. When not scheming up nonsense for FLAIR, she is either jumping into Cayuga lake with her two kids, corralling Food Science grad students, or trying to talk someone into drinking cocktails in the backyard.