Providing an event for gathering the fiber community, educating about the fiber arts, and a marketplace for all things fiber related. The Fiber Arts Festival is a relaxed, informal day that everyone in the family can enjoy.
August 1st & 2nd, 2026
Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 10 to 3
FREE admission, FREE parking
at the FARGODOME
1800 N. University, Fargo, ND
Meet our Board of Directors
Cari Jehlik, Co-President
Carihas had yarn in her hands since she was ten, when her grandmother first taught her to crochet. Over the years, that early spark has grown into a deep and wide-ranging fiber practice that includes knitting, Tunisian crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, spinning, fleece processing, dyeing, weaving, and design.
Today, she runs her own pattern design business, Cari Jehlik, Artist, and has published nearly 50 patterns since 2022, both independently and in collaboration with indie yarn dyers. Her work reflects a love of texture, technique, and the creative possibilities of fiber in all its forms. She has also published several short stories in anthologies and her first independent children’s picture book was published in early 2025.
When she’s not working, Cari is usually in motion—reading, writing, or running distances most people would consider questionable. At home, life is full and busy with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. You’ll often find her heading to (or coming from) a sports event, or staying up far too late to carve out a few quiet moments at the end of the day.
Bizzy Burslie, Co-President
Bizzy’s first stitches were made at her mother’s sewing machine, where a lifelong love of creating by hand began. Since then, she has explored a wide range of creative outlets, including cross stitch, scrapbooking, music, theater, and painting in acrylic and watercolor.
Knitting became part of her practice in 2009, and she has had a project on her needles ever since. Over time, she has also taught herself garment sewing, crochet, Tunisian crochet, and small-batch dyeing, and has returned to cross stitch with a focus on self-drafted patterns. Her work reflects curiosity and a willingness to keep learning across different fiber techniques.
Professionally, Bizzy is a graphic designer who began her career in print design and has built on that foundation through her creative work. She is the owner of Lilibet Crafty Co. and creates notions and craft kits for fiber artists and teaches classes in knitting and crochet. She currently works for a local school district as a substitute teacher and health technician. She also served on the board of directors for Babywearing Fargo-Moorhead, reflecting a strong commitment to community and collaboration.
At home, she is a wife and mother of four, along with a goldendoodle who keeps life lively. She continues to balance family life with her creative practice while living and working in the region.
Corinna Honer, Treasurer
Corinna holds degrees in Accounting and Information Technology and has built a career in both the financial and technology sectors. Alongside her professional work, she has maintained a lifelong passion for creativity, which began in childhood by hand-sewing clothes for her Barbie dolls.
Corinna enjoys exploring a wide range of artistic disciplines and is always eager to learn new techniques. Her creative interests include quilting, crocheting, beading, embroidery, drawing, bookmaking and basketry, among others. She also serves as Treasurer of the Fiber Arts Festival, where she contributes her financial expertise in support of the arts community.
Cindy McGuire Thiel, Secretary
Cindy serves as the current secretary for the Fiber Arts Festival. She has been sewing and exploring a wide range of fiber arts since the age of three, building a lifelong connection to making by hand.
By profession, she is a family and consumer sciences teacher, sharing her knowledge and skills with the next generation. Outside the classroom, she creates custom sewing commissions from her home studio, CMT Sews, blending technical expertise with creative expression.
Cindy is an active member of several local arts communities, including the FM Modern Sewing Guild, FM Visual Artists, and FM Quilters. Through these groups, she continues to connect with other makers, expand her practice, and contribute to a vibrant and supportive creative community.
Gretchen Anderson, Registered Agent
Gretchen is a lifelong maker who learned to knit from her Norwegian grandmother. She is especially drawn to colorwork sweaters and values the tradition, patience, and creativity that fiber arts carry across generations.
While she has always sewn—with varying levels of success—knitting has become her true passion. These days, she enjoys fitting creative projects into everyday life, whether at home in North Fargo or while spending time at the lake.
Professionally, Gretchen has worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years and will retire in June 2026. She brings a steady, practical perspective to her work and believes strongly in the importance of having a creative outlet.
Through her involvement with the Fiber Arts Festival, Gretchen is excited to support and encourage others in exploring their own creativity and connection to the fiber arts community.
Aura Lee Mohror, Organizing Committee
Aura Lee has enjoyed working with fiber arts since her childhood 4-H days, when she first discovered a love of creating by hand. That early interest has grown into a lifelong passion, supported along the way by her very supportive husband and two adult daughters who share her appreciation for making.
By day, she is a full-time middle and high school English teacher, combining her love of learning with a career that also helps sustain her creative pursuits. Among her many fiber interests, she is especially drawn to crazy quilting, appreciating the way it blends traditional quilting with embroidery and embellishment.
Aura Lee has been a dedicated volunteer with the Fiber Arts Festival for more than ten years. In her current role, she coordinates the Explore and Experience areas, helping create hands-on opportunities for attendees to engage with fiber arts in meaningful and memorable ways.
Karen Olson, Organizing Committee
Karen is a researcher with the Center for Social Research at NDSU, where she focuses on community demographics and expanding access to data that helps people make informed decisions. Her work supports the design and implementation of programs and investments that strengthen communities across North Dakota, with a focus on topics such as aging populations, poverty reduction, affordable housing, and the health and well-being of children and families.
In 2025, Karen joined the Fiber Arts Festival planning committee, helping carry forward a longstanding community celebration. The festival brings together fiber enthusiasts from across the region to connect, learn, share ideas, and have fun—while preserving tradition, celebrating culture, and inspiring creativity.
Karen’s own fiber journey began in her grandmother’s lap and found new life in adulthood through a chance meeting and invitation. Today, she focuses primarily on weaving, exploring the intricate possibilities of pattern on a rigid heddle loom. As a member of the Northern Prairie Fiber Artists Guild, she continues to grow her practice through collaboration, learning, and community engagement, while also exhibiting her work and supporting the broader fiber arts community.
Thanks for attending! the Festival couldn’t happen without you.
WeavingSee a sheep shearing
Fiber Arts Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
About
Providing an event for gathering the fiber community, educating about the fiber arts, and a marketplace for all things fiber related. The Fiber Arts Festival is a relaxed, informal day that everyone in the family can enjoy.
August 1st & 2nd, 2026
Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 10 to 3
FREE admission, FREE parking
at the FARGODOME
1800 N. University, Fargo, ND
Meet our Board of Directors
Cari Jehlik, Co-President
Cari has had yarn in her hands since she was ten, when her grandmother first taught her to crochet. Over the years, that early spark has grown into a deep and wide-ranging fiber practice that includes knitting, Tunisian crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, spinning, fleece processing, dyeing, weaving, and design.
Today, she runs her own pattern design business, Cari Jehlik, Artist, and has published nearly 50 patterns since 2022, both independently and in collaboration with indie yarn dyers. Her work reflects a love of texture, technique, and the creative possibilities of fiber in all its forms. She has also published several short stories in anthologies and her first independent children’s picture book was published in early 2025.
When she’s not working, Cari is usually in motion—reading, writing, or running distances most people would consider questionable. At home, life is full and busy with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. You’ll often find her heading to (or coming from) a sports event, or staying up far too late to carve out a few quiet moments at the end of the day.
Bizzy Burslie, Co-President
Bizzy’s first stitches were made at her mother’s sewing machine, where a lifelong love of creating by hand began. Since then, she has explored a wide range of creative outlets, including cross stitch, scrapbooking, music, theater, and painting in acrylic and watercolor.
Knitting became part of her practice in 2009, and she has had a project on her needles ever since. Over time, she has also taught herself garment sewing, crochet, Tunisian crochet, and small-batch dyeing, and has returned to cross stitch with a focus on self-drafted patterns. Her work reflects curiosity and a willingness to keep learning across different fiber techniques.
Professionally, Bizzy is a graphic designer who began her career in print design and has built on that foundation through her creative work. She is the owner of Lilibet Crafty Co. and creates notions and craft kits for fiber artists and teaches classes in knitting and crochet. She currently works for a local school district as a substitute teacher and health technician. She also served on the board of directors for Babywearing Fargo-Moorhead, reflecting a strong commitment to community and collaboration.
At home, she is a wife and mother of four, along with a goldendoodle who keeps life lively. She continues to balance family life with her creative practice while living and working in the region.
Corinna Honer, Treasurer
Corinna holds degrees in Accounting and Information Technology and has built a career in both the financial and technology sectors. Alongside her professional work, she has maintained a lifelong passion for creativity, which began in childhood by hand-sewing clothes for her Barbie dolls.
Corinna enjoys exploring a wide range of artistic disciplines and is always eager to learn new techniques. Her creative interests include quilting, crocheting, beading, embroidery, drawing, bookmaking and basketry, among others. She also serves as Treasurer of the Fiber Arts Festival, where she contributes her financial expertise in support of the arts community.
Cindy McGuire Thiel, Secretary
Cindy serves as the current secretary for the Fiber Arts Festival. She has been sewing and exploring a wide range of fiber arts since the age of three, building a lifelong connection to making by hand.
By profession, she is a family and consumer sciences teacher, sharing her knowledge and skills with the next generation. Outside the classroom, she creates custom sewing commissions from her home studio, CMT Sews, blending technical expertise with creative expression.
Cindy is an active member of several local arts communities, including the FM Modern Sewing Guild, FM Visual Artists, and FM Quilters. Through these groups, she continues to connect with other makers, expand her practice, and contribute to a vibrant and supportive creative community.
Gretchen Anderson, Registered Agent
Gretchen is a lifelong maker who learned to knit from her Norwegian grandmother. She is especially drawn to colorwork sweaters and values the tradition, patience, and creativity that fiber arts carry across generations.
While she has always sewn—with varying levels of success—knitting has become her true passion. These days, she enjoys fitting creative projects into everyday life, whether at home in North Fargo or while spending time at the lake.
Professionally, Gretchen has worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years and will retire in June 2026. She brings a steady, practical perspective to her work and believes strongly in the importance of having a creative outlet.
Through her involvement with the Fiber Arts Festival, Gretchen is excited to support and encourage others in exploring their own creativity and connection to the fiber arts community.
Aura Lee Mohror, Organizing Committee
Aura Lee has enjoyed working with fiber arts since her childhood 4-H days, when she first discovered a love of creating by hand. That early interest has grown into a lifelong passion, supported along the way by her very supportive husband and two adult daughters who share her appreciation for making.
By day, she is a full-time middle and high school English teacher, combining her love of learning with a career that also helps sustain her creative pursuits. Among her many fiber interests, she is especially drawn to crazy quilting, appreciating the way it blends traditional quilting with embroidery and embellishment.
Aura Lee has been a dedicated volunteer with the Fiber Arts Festival for more than ten years. In her current role, she coordinates the Explore and Experience areas, helping create hands-on opportunities for attendees to engage with fiber arts in meaningful and memorable ways.
Karen Olson, Organizing Committee
Karen is a researcher with the Center for Social Research at NDSU, where she focuses on community demographics and expanding access to data that helps people make informed decisions. Her work supports the design and implementation of programs and investments that strengthen communities across North Dakota, with a focus on topics such as aging populations, poverty reduction, affordable housing, and the health and well-being of children and families.
In 2025, Karen joined the Fiber Arts Festival planning committee, helping carry forward a longstanding community celebration. The festival brings together fiber enthusiasts from across the region to connect, learn, share ideas, and have fun—while preserving tradition, celebrating culture, and inspiring creativity.
Karen’s own fiber journey began in her grandmother’s lap and found new life in adulthood through a chance meeting and invitation. Today, she focuses primarily on weaving, exploring the intricate possibilities of pattern on a rigid heddle loom. As a member of the Northern Prairie Fiber Artists Guild, she continues to grow her practice through collaboration, learning, and community engagement, while also exhibiting her work and supporting the broader fiber arts community.
Thanks for attending! the Festival couldn’t happen without you.
Fiber Arts Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation