Haliburton School of The Arts

Evelyn Bouma was born and educated in Holland. She studied fashion, dressmaking and tailoring in France, England, and North America. Evelyn got her furniture refinishing and upholstery degree at the Rotterdam University in Holland. As an with the Toronto Board of Education for over 4 decades, she taught upholstery techniques and sewing at all levels, from beginning to couturier and also developed classes in Victorian Lampshade Making. After retiring Evelyn opened her own school in Etobicoke, Creativity Classes, specializing in upholstery, creative sewing and lampshade making. She has brought renewed interest to the art of Victorian Lampshade making and is constantly researching the latest products, trends and techniques. Her latest passion is cork; and especially cork fabric. Evelyn is a regular exhibitor and instructor at the bi-annual CreativFestival, held in Toronto. You can also listen to her discussing the latest trends in interior design on CFRB 1010 - as a guest of Christina Cherneskey. www.evelynbouma.com

Krystyna Czerkska was born in Poland and earned her engineering degree at the Warsaw Technical University in 1977. In 1998 she moved to Canada and found herself with more time to engage in hobbies. While demonstrating weaving techniques at a Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival in 2003 she met Evelyn Bouma who was exhibiting Victorian Lampshades and promoting Creativity Classes. Krystyna had recently found a beautiful old lampshade frame at a garage sale and was looking for help to create a unique shade to give a special accent to her decor. She became a student and now assists in classes and festivals. She is now scheduled to teach Lampshade Classes with the Toronto District School Board. Krystyna is founder and owner of Nostalgia, a company that specialized in custom made Victorian style lampshades. www.nostalgiashades.com