About

I came to the Columbia Fibres Guild myself after 20+ of watching my mother, also a member, weave, spin, knit, and dye and benefitting from her skill.  I admired her work, but I was, very firmly, a quilter.  After I retired from 40 years of federal service, my husband and I settled in the Upper Hood River Valley, and I was persuaded to bring my limited knitting skills to the now Tuesday Fibres Friends and to the Guild meetings on Zoom.  I watched others spin, first on a spindle, then on wheels, and I jumped right in.  I now have four spinning wheels and a growing collection of fleece from as many different breeds of sheep as I can find.  Serving as the President and the newsletter editor satisfies my lingering need for computer editing work and herding proverbial cats. 

Bekah began embroidery and garment sewing almost forty years ago and, after designing and creating couture wedding and formalwear for a living, has since expanded her interests to garment and accessory knitting, spinning, upholstery, and, most recently, weaving. She also has an apparently unrelenting appetite for DIY historic home restoration and is currently working on two multi-year Victorian renovation/restoration projects in The Dalles, Oregon, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

Rachel picked up knitting at the age of ten and never put down the needles. More than 20 years later, she’s still an avid knitter, now adding knitwear design, sewing, spinning, and recently, weaving and machine knitting to her repertoire. She joined the guild in 2023 and is an active member of several committees. By day, she’s a full-time veterinarian, but on weekends, you might spot her at Renaissance Faires dressed in one of her handmade outfits—often featuring her signature knitted scale mail.

Mary Davis has been involved with fiber most of her life.  Her mom taught her to sew when she was 8.  Her husband taught her to knit while they were dating.  She knows a little bit about many fiber arts but is focused on spinning, weaving, pine needle basketry, and knitting at this time.  She is a certified fiber arts judge through NWSFA. 

A retired CPA turned alpaca farmer, she somehow ended up keeping the guild’s books—collecting dues, paying bills, and making sure everything adds up. With a keen eye for detail (some might say a bit obsessive), she ensures the guild’s finances stay in order. When not weaving or working on a guild project, she can be found solving puzzles, zipping around on her Piaggio, or spending time with her husband.