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Board of Directors
 Dianne D’Lea Denholm
Founder, Executive Director TACtile Textile Arts Center
President, Owner D’Leas Fabric & Button Studio
Dianne, a Colorado native, is best known for 20 years of colorful collections and inspiring displays of creative clothing, fabrics and buttons at her store on 3rd Avenue in Cherry Creek North.
She is much loved for her fine tastes as a buyer of quality couture fabrics and buttons, and for inspiring people to sew. She has literally touched and marketed 1000’s of the most beautiful fabrics in the world! Dianne founded and remains active as co-director of FFMA, the international Fashion Fabric Merchandising Association which supports and advertises 30 of the top eading private fabric stores in North America. Since closing the “brick” store in the fall of 2005, Dianne continues business online and publishes an e-zine with 300 subscribers. Since designing her first dress at age 11, she has been following a career path with a passionate love for fabric and fashion design. High school design classes lead to a Textile & Clothing degree at Colorado State University with honors, and her firstjob at Macy’s assisting the Scarves Buyer. Little did she know the 18” squares of cloth would lead to decades of dedication and inspiring the public about beautiful textiles. Her wardrobes to this day consist of almost totally hand sewn and personally created clothes that work and express her unique creativity. Knitting has also become a favorite hobby for those nights on he couch that need more productivity!
Growing up in a family of health care professionals and a sister in contemporary art, proves a genetic inclination and a lifetime of preparation for this new career path, as director and founder of TACtile.
Dianne’s entrepreneurism is spawned by a deep passion for nurturing women to benefit from and enjoy
increased creativity via the textile needle arts. Her leadership is based on a heart felt philosophy that sewing and creating with beautiful fabrics is an art and a healthy celebration of women’s cultural heritage and creativity.
Carolyn Fineran
Owner, Gypsies Collection
Purveyor of vintage silver jewelry and textiles
Life Coach, consultant
Writer
Owner and founder: Tapestry
Cherry Creek North 1974-2000
Owner: Scandia Down Shops
Cherry Creek
Tamarac Square
Aspen
1980’s
Expert buyer for art to wear and textiles, jewelry,retail experience for a lifetime, tewelry design,textile design…
Textile Arts Discipline(s)
Worked closely designing jackets and other art to wear or a successful boutique. We loved making women feel beautiful and confident with “Goddess Dressing.” I began my business finding Colorado Weavers and Jewelers….often at craft shows…I eventually developed excellent contacts in New Mexico, California and throughout the world. My love of international textiles grew as my business grew, allowing me to visit many places…my favorites are Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Bali….of course Ireland and the British Isles.
International consulting with textile craftspeople
Peace Corps Volunteer
Advisory Board: CSU Design and Merchandising department
Founding Board of TACtile
Fashion Group International
International Women’s Forum
National Association of Women Business Owners
Why do you care to devote so much of your time and skills to the benefit of TACtile?
I have loved textiles since I helped my mother make Mardi Gras and dance costumes in my hometown of Mandeville, La. I made dresses for my dolls, the more embellished, the better and carried that love to finding the most beautiful art to wear for “Tapestry.”
It was one of the first fine craft galleries in America and I have had the privilege of working with some of the finest jewelry and textile designers.My belief is that textiles speak to our soul and there is something spiritual about hand created items.I have traveled the world working with the artists and spend time promoting TACTILE crafts.
Dianne Denholm and I went to the Minneapolis Textile Center and realized that we wanted a similar place in Denver. We see it as a center to attract and nourish the creative spirit…and as one of the founders of the Mlps. Textile Center said: “we want a place for ALL people who love to create can come together find a sense of community…and I want a place where I can “grow old” knowing that we can transcend age, and other fragilities while we enjoy making things with our hands and hearts.
Diane Matt
Executive Director, Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Inc
WEPAN is the nation’s leading organization and catalyst for transforming culture in engineering education to promote the success of all women.
Business Experience in years and what skill base.
Not-for-profit executive with 20+ years of leadership experience.
Creative Experience
I have a long family tradition in fashion sewing. My grandmother sewed beautiful clothes for herself, for my mother, and for my sisters and I when we were young. It was natural for me to sew, and after my 7th grade sewing class, my mother “turned me lose”, as she was still sewing for my two sisters and herself. I have made many clothes for myself, and as a mother, some really terrific costumes. Recently my sewing has been party and prom dresses for my daughter and several of her close friends. During their high school years, I enjoyed making unique, elegant special occasion dresses in which they would feel beautiful. My other creative endeavors include cooking, organizational development, and home remodeling, as well as an abiding love of clay.
Textile Arts Discipline(s)
Fashion sewing.
Why do you care to devote so much of your time and skills to the benefit of TACtile?
Personally, I am happiest when I have a creative project underway. My most satisfying textile arts creative
experiences have come through exchanging ideas with other fashion sewers. My dream is for TACtile to inspire our creative energy and to be a source support so that the textile arts are even more vibrant and flourishing in our region. I am pleased to contribute my knowledge of leading not-for-profits, my time, and financia
l resources so that TACtile can realize this dream.
What else would you like the members or the grant community to know about this project?
TACtile is an exciting, young, start up organization. A large group of dedicated volunteers have made our first year an incredible experience. With your energy, support, and participation, TACtile has a wonderful future!
 Molly Gunning
President, CIO JumpStart, Inc
CIO JumpStart is a consulting firm specializing in IT strategy and management.
Business Experience in years and what skill base.
Many years in technology, both in corporate environments and as a consultant.
Creative Experience
I grew up sewing, for myself as well as for my mother and sisters. I always loved it, but while my children were young there just wasn’t time to do much more than Halloween costumes and the occasional gift. I picked it back up once the children were teenagers, and was thrilled with how the medium had changed. Fabulous fabric, patterns, techniques and machines made it a whole new experience. I remain primarily a garment sewer, but love to dabble in art pieces, as well as knit the occasional scarf. Writing is also an important creative outlet for me.
Textile Arts Discipline(s)
Garment sewing, fabric art, knitting, crochet
Why do you care to devote so much of your time and skills to the benefit of TACtile?
I believe that nurturing the artist that we all have within our souls is key to living a life with rich balance between the creative s
elf and the business self. Each side complements and enriches the other. TACtile takes that to the next level, and promotes fabulou
s synergy within the fiber arts community. This allows us to truly reach out and share this wonderful experience and growth with the wider community. The arts are both healing and enriching, and everyone should have a forum in which to participate and share.
Misi Ballard
After working for 8 years as a paralegal in Environmental Law,
I chose to be a full-time mom involved in school, church & community projects, I have spent the past 12
years working with a small group of women weavers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala developing a fair trade, self-sufficiency program based upon
their traditional art of weaving.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
My work experience includes many years in the resort industry, environmental law &
raising my family. I have worked most recently with Mayan women weavers to develop a self-sufficiency program based upon their tradition art of weaving. The Maya Weavers was very successful in developing products attractive to the North American market using indigenous weaving styles in contemporary table linens, totes,
purses and other various items.
CREATIVE EXPERIENCE
Some of my earliest memories include learning the different needlework skills which have been my main creative outlet in life, providing a source of relaxation, expression & connection to others with similar interests. From designing my own needlepoint canvases, to making quilts of all sizes & styles, embroidery, crewel & sewing for my home, I have always had at least a few projects in the works & am constantly dreaming up
new ones. In my work with The Maya Weavers, I loved creating new applications for the women’s bea
utiful weaving styles & helping them to appreciate their skill & its importance in our world
.
OTHER INTERESTS
My life passions include birding, hiking, camping, needlework, reading & friends!
WHY TACtile?
From many opportunities in my own life & in my work with the Guatemalan weavers,I have experienced the tremendous energy generated when people gather together to work & express themselves creatively. With the establishment of TACtile, we now have a community center where such gatherings can take place, & that supports Denver’s varied fiber art guilds & the important work they do to further fiber art education & development. I believe that we need to nurture creative arts of all types in our young people &
choose to be involved in the fiber arts in particular because of my personal interests in textiles. I hope to find ways to support & work with fiber artists from around the world now living in our area to continue their cultural art forms, and to find ways to bring their work & their skills to a larger audience, offering opportunities for exhibits & demonstrations.
Paulette Bell
Paulette Bell currently is a freelance educator for Brother International, Home
Appliance Division, specializing in commercial mbroidery and training of dealers.
I have been involved in the commercial embroidery industry for 25years as an instructor forcommercial embroidery equipment and embroidery software, trade
show director, shop owner and most recently editor of Stitches Magazine.
Embroidery is my art/creative outlet and I also pursue it as a side business. I also
create craft projects along side the commercial saleable products.
I have been a weaver, and currently I enjoy beading, embroidery and sewing.
Why do you care to devote so much of you time and skills to the benefit of TACtile?
I share the desire to create, teach and preserve the fiber arts. The fiber arts/crafts
don’t need to be a dying art
with the abundance of creative talent available today. Fiber art is the common link amongst many and should be represented in a manner to be enjoyed by all. I truly hope that we can provide the avenue to preserve, teach and
enlighten the public with our gallery.
What else would you like the members or grant community to know about this project?
I would like them to know the passion we all share regarding this project and how
very much it means not just to us but to our society in general.
We can bring people together to share life experiences through the art presented in the gallery and to offer a refuge from the stresses of life. I have always felt the art of fiber is seductively woven through our lives.
Eloise K. Wagers
V.P. National Account Sales
JHB International
Business Experience in years and what skill base.
25 years in sales managing reps and key retail and wholesale accounts in the home sewing industry.
Creative Experience
Vocational sewing instructor
Textile Arts Discipline(s)
Love to sew fashion items, knit and crochet…foreign travels.
Why do you care to devote so much of your time and skills to the benefit of TACtile?
Enjoy helping to create a place for all textile enthusiasts to have a location to meet and share.
What else would you like the members or the grant community to know about this project?
To know they can attend programs and classes to “feed” their creative mind. Also, they can learn ways to help support this great endeavor in Denver.
Dorothy Raymond
Dorothy Raymond began sewing in grade school. Making her own clothes soon became a way of life, through college, law school and life as a corporate attorney.
Dorothy has been practicing corporate law for thirty years. Dorothy now practices law part-time, seeking clients in the corporate, antitrust, and intellectual property areas,
when not spending her time creating pieces of fiber art.
“Created by Dorothy Gill Raymond” includes Dorothy’s line of clothes for
the woman who wants to wear something unique, gorgeous and comfortable. Her clothes, definitely not like “off the rack,” feature top quality natural fabrics
interpreted in new ways with traditional techniques …or the latest in high-tech performance fabrics interpreted with a high-fashion twist.
Dorothy also creates using textile appliqué, using free motion embroidery techniques. Her pieces range from abstract studies of color and texture to three-dimensional landscapes. Some of her pieces end up as tissue holders or cell phone cases, others have been incorporated into garments and some are for display as wall hangings.
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