Paula Ashworth

It seems as though I have been involved in fibers all my life. Both of my grandmothers and mother were “fiber people” and artists and shared with me their connection to the fiber arts. From them I learned as a child clothing construction, embroidery, knitting and needlepoint. After their deaths, I added chair caneing (1974), quilting(1974), dyeing(     ) and rughooking (2002) which they practiced. I have added weaving (    ), spinning (    ), and shepherding (2005) to the skills they taught me. I feel that I have come full circle in my acquaintance with “all things fiber”, from the sheep's back to mine.  I am currently learning bobbin lace and machine knitting. Of them all, fiber preparation and spinning are my passions.

I hold a BS in Elementary Education from Lamar University in Texas.I have taught both casual and formal classes, workshops and demonstrations since the mid-1980's.  

I have been a paid “farm life” demonstrator at the Biltmore Estate since Labor Day 2004. In May of 2009 I was accepted to the exclusive juried group of Appalachian artizans allowed to sell goods on the Estate thru the "Crafters Corner".

I enjoy entering items in competitions from the State Fairs to “real” fiber competitions such as SAFF and Quilt Shows.

 The best description of me is “a practictioner of archaic skills”.