Barbara Frasier and Gayle Jacobson have been textile and fiber art enthusiasts all their lives; learning, then teaching others. They have given their time and efforts generously to the community of fiber art and artists.
Gayle started at age three, learning the “running stich” from her grandmother. By age eight, she was begging to use the sewing machine…she has not stopped since. Majoring in Clothing and Textiles at OSU, catapulted her into the world of quilting, fabric embellishment with threads, paint sticks and crayons, beading silk ribbon embroidery, and many other techniques. She helped launch, and has been instrumental in the growth of the Columbia River Gorge Quilter’s Guild. An avid teacher and publisher of patterns, she is also a member of the Machine Embroiderers of Oregon.
Barb graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Home Economics, then taught in the public schools of Corvalis and Salem, while helping develop curriculum there. She developed the first quilting courses that led to the extensive curriculum now taught at Greenbaum’s Quilted Forest in Salem, Oregon, a nationally recognized quilt shop. Barb teaches and has published quilt patterns, is a member of the Machine Embroiderers of Oregon and Washington, and served her community for 10 years as chair of the Hood River County Fait Textile/Clothing Department, and has worked with the youth as 4H Clothing Leader.
Traveling and learning from others (especially the Maya culture) has been an amazing experience that they have wanted to share with others. As a team, they are now taking groups of women who are interested in textiles, fiber art, weaving, embroidery, and hand dye methodology, to learn and experience “hands on”, the traditions of these women of the Maya, and to witness the convergence of their ancient beliefs and customs with these traditional skills.