Meet Our Dedicated and Talented Staff
Craft Council of Newfoundland & Labrador
Liz Combdon, N.D., has a deep passion for living close to the earth, walking the paths of her ancestors and those left unmarked and wild. With soulfully connection to the trees and earth around her, Liz's respect for the lands she came from has fostered an environment of growth through creative expansion and bridging tradition with new pathways. As the Founder and Creator behind Sea Salt & Twig, the call of our wild island and the depth of the ancient wisdom this lands holds, became irresistible. Using her educational background in Naturopathic healing and Business Administration, Liz holds a deep desire to highlight the incredibly unique aspects that our province offers. Each piece of nature has a memory and a story. Through gentle respect, she forages and extracts our nature and infuses it into every item that leaves her Studio. Liz has served on the Craft Council of NL Executive Board for the last two terms.
Melissa is dedicated to advancing the province’s craft sector and supporting its vibrant community of craftspeople. With over 20 years of experience in arts, culture, and community engagement, she brings both strategic insight and creative passion to her role. A textile artist herself, Melissa has built a career that bridges artistic practice with arts leadership. She has extensive expertise in business development, strategic planning, partnership building, and program design. Committed to celebrating and strengthening the rich history of craft in Newfoundland and Labrador, Melissa also champions innovation and growth for the future. Her leadership is guided by the belief that craft strengthens communities, is integral to cultural identity, and is a vital economic driver in rural parts of the province.
Shannon Reid has worked in the retail industry for over 35 years, with the majority of that time spent within the craft and gift sector. Originally from Nova Scotia, Shannon joined the staff of the Craft Council in 2006 as Shop Manager, and has successfully directed this key membership benefit for the past 17 years, identifying and delivering premier services for members leading to artistic and business success. Shannon draws from her education in Fashion Merchandising to provide merchandising assistance to craft shops throughout the province, both through on-site visits and in group seminar sessions. She provides guidance with retail pricing, packaging, promotion and career planning, supporting members as they develop their confidence and find their voice as professional craftspeople. Shannon coaches students in College of the North Atlantic's Textile and Apparel Design Program, meets regularly with emerging makers at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios / Craft Business Incubator and offers advice to makers at all stages of their careers. In 2022, her role temporarily expanded to Retail & Special Events Manager, which included the direction of special events and programming around Come Home Year 2023 and the Craft Council of NL 50th Anniversary. Currently holding the position of Director of Sales, Shannon focuses on our Retail Shop Management, Retail Events & Opportunities, and the Craft Council of NL Standards of Quality
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Beth Howley is a textile artisan from Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. Her business Angora Borealis is a visionary brand dedicated to the art of crafting luxury apparel, accessories, and wall art using rare natural fibers . Beth operates her business out of the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios where she can be found creating beautiful one of kind pieces while surrounded by a wall of colourful fibres.
Deborah Newhook has a long history of working with not-for-profit community-based organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, she is Chair of the Anna Templeton Centre and the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios, as well as the Treasurer of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kaitlyn holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University. She has been working in non-profit and arts administration since 2017 and has had the privilege of collaborating with many local organizations, including the Mummers Festival and Lawnya Vawnya Arts Festival. In 2024, Kaitlyn joined the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the events team, contributing to the successful hosting of the 2024 Sustainable Fibre Arts Conference and the 50th Annual CCNL Christmas Craft Fair. In her current role as Program Administrator, she supports ongoing CCNL programming, primarily in the gallery. She is excited about supporting the arts community and contributing to the growth of craft and culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. Outside of work, Kaitlyn can be found dabbling in a myriad of crafts and home renovations, climbing, hiking, or playing volleyball.
Erica is a life-long craft enthusiast and arts administrator based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has been involved with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador intermittently since 2019 and is now back in the role of Program Administrator of Communications and Member and Community Engagement. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, while surrounded by hand made items, the value of craft and locality feels like second nature to her. When she is not working, Erica can often be found exploring Newfoundland and Labrador through hiking, camping, and "twacking". In her current role, Erica is looking forward to contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the Craft Council, keeping the community informed, building and maintaining relationships with members, and fostering a strong sense of community within the organization. She is excited to support communications both internally and externally, while helping to strengthen the connection between the community, members, and organization as a whole.
Marty Byrne is a multifaceted artist whose work in ceramic art and poetry intertwines to create a unique and profound artistic expression. Self taught as a ceramic artist each piece is a process of trial and error that pushes the boundaries of his skill and traditional pottery. Being a proud Labrador West artist the work he creates is a testament to his deep connection with the earth and its natural elements, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
Katie Parnham has been a long time member of the Craft Council, and has been on the Craft Council board and committees helping the association to grow the industry. She has a keen interest in developing emerging craft makers to become viable businesses and is part of the management committee for the Quidi Vidi Plantation, an incubator for emerging craft makers.
Joan Kane lives in Trinity where she operates her home-based knitting business Ewe Design. Has served on the Craft Council Board in various positions for a number of years as well as other local and provincial organizations. Joan is a proud Lion and when not volunteering can be found doing what she is most passionate about - knitting!
Christine LeGrow has been an active marketing member of the CCNL since the 1980's. During a few years of the past twenty, Christine has served on a number of committees and filled the role of treasurer and past treasurer on the executive of the board. In addition, she spent several years on the Board of the Anna Templeton Centre including serving as Chair during the planning and the expansion renovation of that historic building.
Ann Breen has been a member of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2000. She has attending many Christmas craft fairs with her work and was a valued employee of the Craft Council Shop for 10 years. She views the Craft Council as playing a vital role in the development and promotion of craft persons in our province. She feels it is a privilege to serve the craft industry as a member of the CCNL Board of Directors.
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Elizabeth Burry is a graduate of the Salvation Army Grace General Hospital School of Nursing, earning her Registered Nurse designation in 1982. After a successful career in critical care and emergency nursing, she transitioned in 1997 to the pharmaceutical industry, joining BYK Canada as a professional representative. In 2005, Elizabeth followed her passion for the arts by opening her own art and gift gallery. She relocated her studio and shop to Trinity in 2011, where she has spent the past 15 years designing and creating jewelry for over 80 retail stores across Canada and the United States. Her work features a diverse range of stones and fine metals, and she is also an accomplished visual artist working in acrylic painting. Elizabeth has received numerous industry awards, including Best Product and Best Booth at provincial craft trade shows. She is a juried member of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Atlantic Craft Alliance. She is also a recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE). Outside of her studio, Elizabeth values time with family and friends and is actively involved in supporting her community through various initiatives.
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Born and raised in Cartwright NL, crafting has always been in my blood. I was introduced to making a variety of traditional crafts at a very young age by many of my relatives including my Granny Toomashie, my two brothers, and several aunties and uncles. I started out with knitting and needle point in my earlier years. In 1985 I moved to Goose Bay, NL to further my education, pursue career opportunities and raise my children. I started working at the Libra House as a Transition House Crisis Counsellor in 1995. The Libra House provides safe shelter to marginalized women and children all over Labrador. It was through the Libra House that I met and befriended several residents with various crafting abilities. Many were keen to share their knowledge and craft skills with me and I would share with them the skills passed down to me from my family. This traditional knowledge sharing is how I was introduced to beadwork and the basics of slipper-making. develop my sewing abilities. In 2005 I spent a year learning slipper-making from late Labrador Elder and exceptional slipper-maker, Mrs. Mary Voisey. Her son Mike later taught me how to make traditional mitts out of fur and skins. I also learned how to make a Labrador Dickie from my cousin in Postville. I enjoyed coatmaking so much that I enrolled in a couple courses to further. Some of my skills are self-taught, such as my embroidery on duffel. Through the years, I have learned how to create my own patterns and alter old patterns. I firmly believe in passing on these skills and I share them with anyone who wants to learn, as others have done for me in the past. We can keep our traditional crafts alive this way.
Earl has an extensive background in finance coming from a career with the Provincial Government and their finance department. Earl provides stable and sound financial management with the help of the executive director and accounts payable / receivable support staff.
Renee Holloway is an artist from the Burin Peninsula, now based in St. John’s. She has been working at the Craft Council since 2018, starting as the gallery assistant and moving to the shop the next year. Trained in visual, theatre and textile arts; she enjoys working with natural, discarded and sustainable elements to create artworks in varying colors, materials and textures.
Brad is a wealth of knowledge and is our studio technician with a responsibility for firing and maintaining our kilns, inventory of clay, studio layout, upkeep, cleanliness and safety, coordinating volunteer studio hosts, and keeping all studio users up to date on new additions to the studio. Brad also conducts the one-on-one coaching sessions, whether it be wheel throwing or hand-building. Brad is also a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.
Christina is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor, a birthday party host, and a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.
Joanne is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Anita is an instructor, community events volunteer, and a regular member of the clay studio.
Jane is a community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the clay studio.
Roxanne is a Clay Studio volunteer host, community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Evelyn an instructor and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Vicky is an instructor with the Clay Studio and is our resident expert on anything involving glaze and creating glazes from raw materials.
