About Betty M. Caskey
Introduction
Betty Caskey lives to create. Fiber, ribbon, buttons and fabric all present inspirational
challenges to Betty. The satisfaction she gains from manipulating these mediums is rivaled
only by the joy she feels when she shares this passion with others. Students in her classes
leave exhilarated after receiving Betty's personal approach to hands-on instruction.
Background
- 1979 to 1989: Division Leader for TriChem.
- Taught and continues to teach for various further education societies in Western Canada.
- 1987: graduated from the Olds College Fashion Merchandising Program with Honors.
- Worked with Elna Canada as a Western Canada Educator; conducted staff training of
Elna products. She also appeared at major trade shows in Western Canada.
- 1988 to 1989: Olds College Continuing Education Department, organizing Fibre Week and
other sewing courses.
- Brought the Palmer/Pletch three-day Serger Workshop to Alberta.
- January 1989: Opened Elf Design Studio, a full-line fabric store in Olds, Alberta, Canada.
Elf Design featured a large selection of quilting cottons (over 1,000 bolts!), notions, books,
and bridal fabric and appliques.
- Elf Design relocated to a larger store in 1992, and housed a large classroom that hosted many
workshops throughout the year. Her classes ranged from doll making to
quilting, serger workshops to silk ribbon embroidery.
- 1993: Expanded the business into the mail order marketplace. Elf Design Studio's mail order
division, Victorian Pleasures, focuses on the revived needle arts of silk ribbon embroidery
and crazy quilting.
- Victorian Pleasures continues to develop a line of kits for silk ribbon and crazy quilting enthusiasts.
- Elf Design Studio closed its doors in July of 1997, after 8 1/2 years of business, so that
Betty could more actively pursue the mail order division of her business.
- It is under the Victorian Pleasures banner that Betty now makes here appearances at
sewing and needlecraft shows throughout North America. She also teaches
hands-on classes and lectures so that she may continue to share her love of luxurious
fabric art.
Projects
- In September 1994, Betty Caskey released the first in a series of videos,
Introduction to Silk Ribbon Embroidery. In this hour-long production,
Betty takes the beginner through a silk ribbon project from preparation to finishing.
Close-up views throughout give the viewer an excellent vantage point to stitch along with Betty.
Quilter's Resource claims that Betty's are "still the best tapes on the market for learning".
- The video series saw the next two editions go into production in January 1995.
Into the Garden explores exciting ways to create beautiful spring
flowers by combining even the most basic stitches.
- Heart of My Heart is an introduction to crazy quilting.
Betty spends time reviewing the gorgeous materials you can scout for at craft and antique shops,
then proceeds to complete a crazy quilted heart pillow.
- Betty has had an article on one of her kits, a silk ribbon embellished
teddy bear, published in a Christmas edition of 'Sew Much More' magazine in 1994.
Conclusion
What's on the horizon for Betty?
Betty continues to see a great deal of North America as she is booked in many sewing shows for the
remainder of 2001. As for her spare time...
More videos, more kits, a book and the best on-line catalog for silk ribbon and crazy quilting
you'll find anywhere!