Our Instructors

Baltimore County-based fiber artist inspired by nature. Degree in Studio Art, Fiber Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Self-taught in needle felting. Sources wool locally when possible. Prides self in making sustainable fiber art pieces.

Amy Hopkins runs the monthly Old Time Jam at Manor Mill and operates a stringed instrument repair shop in the area. She brings together old-time music enthusiasts for an evening of traditional tunes and community.

Multimedia paper cut artist based in Baltimore, Maryland specializing in intricate papercuts for illustration, surface design, and three-dimensional work. Has created work for Anthropologie, T. Rowe Price, Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, and University of Maryland Medical Center. Over 12 years of workshop teaching experience with diverse audiences.

Lifelong art enthusiast with wool interest beginning when sister purchased Border Leister sheep flock. Hooked on all wool-related activities (knitting, traditional rug hooking, rug punching). Avid gardener with graphic design background on Northern Baltimore County farm. Custom draws rug designs, dyes own wool. Certified Oxford Punch Needle Rug Hooking Instructor since 2019.

Common Tone music enrichment programming promotes authentic music exploration. Founded in 2024 by Beth Pacione and Mike Feathers, the organization encourages students of all levels to develop a love for music and a shared desire to explore its boundless possibilities through thoughtful curricula, original music, and interactive learning experiences.

I think this is the hardest part...telling why I do this. After hours and hours, spent writing it down, I read it and re-read it and it always falls short: too far to the left or right ... too self-conscious, over-thought, over-explained, under-explained ... and, in the end, it always just boils down to the simple fact that I do it because I can't help it. It keeps me happy, relatively sane and out of the funny farm ... or jail.

Working artist for 25 years showing paintings and ceramics nationally. M.F.A. from Pratt Institute. Founding member and President of Northern Baltimore County Art Foundation. Taught art for 20 years, currently art teacher for lower school at St. James Academy.

Owner of Claire Jones Landscapes, LLC with garden designs featured in Chesapeake Home, Garden Design, Wall Street Journal. Plant geek leading garden-centric tours worldwide. Garden writer with award-winning blog "The Garden Diaries" and published book "The Beekeeper's Field Guide." Maintains apiary in meadow at Maryland home. Frequent presenter on garden topics nationally.

Over decade in agriculture/horticulture career spanning foothills of Appalachia to Alaska peony fields. Returned to Baltimore 2017, founded Spore and Seed farm in 2018. Committed to providing local community high-quality fresh cut flowers, dried flower products, mushrooms grown honoring nature.

Graphic artist and musician Dave Dilworth was never one to pick one kind of music and stick with it. When young, he listened with a single earplug hooked to a transistor radio late at night from faraway cities when he was supposed to be sleeping. He began filing away tunes for reference. Later, while attending the University of Maryland in College Park, Dave discovered WHFS radio in Bethesda, which played literally all types of music. That spoiled him forever and he soaked it up like a sponge. Dave delights in letting other people hear music that excites him—especially if it's music they might not have heard before.

Researched own family history 25+ years. Immediate past president of Baltimore County Genealogical Society, currently treasurer. Member of Maryland Genealogical Society Board of Directors. Teaches genealogy courses at Community College of Baltimore County, local senior centers, libraries, genealogy societies. Given numerous talks on genealogy, DNA, foreign research throughout Maryland.

<p>Bey-Her Baskets grew from Louise and June being co-workers, friends, and taking basketry classes together. They were intrigued about how you could make something so strong, long-lasting and useful with just your hands and minimal tools. That began their love of basketry and their love of sharing basketry through classes they teach, interacting with the public at craft shows and other venues, and becoming active members of a basketry guild. Their passion grew to designing original baskets and experiencing different material. Over the past twenty-five years, they have grown their skills and basketry knowledge to include many different basket styles, taking classes from basketry teachers from all over the country. . The reward of hearing praise about their craftsmanship, the delight of a beginner weaver taking one of their classes and interacting with the “basketry community” has led to hours of pleasure for them as they continue to pursue the art of basketry.</p><p>Facebook: Bey Her Baskets</p>

Watercolor Artist Kas Rohm enjoys creative realism in her watercolors, often with the use of waterproof ink to bring out the details. Living most of her life not far from the Manor Mill Gallery, Kas finds inspiration from the local community and environment, often infusing a splash of whimsy into her paintings and illustrations.

Pyrographer and mixed media artist, Maryland native, behind K. L. Kriss Studio. Work inspired by nature and storytelling magic. Grew up in northern Harford County. Degrees from Washington College and JHU, multiple MDDC Press Association awards. Discovered pyrography in 2016, opened Etsy shop during pandemic. Explores various canvases including wood, fabric, cork.

Discovered everything potential craft material while 'knitting' with grass at age four in creative family. Art class studies at Lidová Škola Umění in Czechoslovakia deepened love for artsy-craftsy pursuits. Especially happy working with yarn, fabric, fun socks. Made first sock monkey 2009, hooked ever since. Incorporates crafts into child psychologist work at St. James Academy in Monkton, MD.

Marcie is a yoga teacher, early childhood educator, and mother of two. She holds a BS in Sociology and an MS in Special/Elementary Education, along with a 200-hour YTT plus certifications in Children's Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Mindfulness. Her classes focus on reconnecting our bodies, healing our hearts, and awakening our souls.

<p>My wife, Amanda, and I live in Boring, MD on a 30-acre farm with our three dogs Wesley, Arlo, and Tela. We both grew up in Baltimore and Carroll County and love the area. I have my master's in teaching, went to culinary school, had my real estate license and was a land surveyor before settling into my tie dye business. When I am not tie dyeing, you can find me listening to records, seeing live music (jam bands and blue grass), playing lacrosse, snowboarding, or hiking.</p>

Maxi Cif Designs one-woman company striving to create simple, ethical sterling jewelry inspired by earth and moon. Formally trained in metalworking and digital object design. BFA in Interdisciplinary Object Design from Towson University concentrating in CAD and metalworking. All wire forms and components designed and fabricated by maker, lovingly handmade in Baltimore, MD.

Mel Edden is a British poet who is passionate about sharing poetry with the world. Her own poems appear in Gargoyle, The Loch Raven Review, Meat For Tea, WWPH Writes, Welter and in various anthologies. She is a 2025 Best of the Net Nominee and one of Grace Cavalieri's featured poets on FotoSpecchio.com. Mel also edits our poetry anthology Poets of Manor Mill which is available for purchase in our gift shop, online and in local bookstores. A Romance languages graduate (Swansea University) and a postgraduate in art education (University of South Wales), Mel has a particular interest in translation, ekphrastic and immigration poetry. She lives in Monkton with her husband and two delightfully rambunctious little Americans. She enjoys swimming, reading and photography and will jump at any opportunity to go to the beach.

I draw inspiration from nature and the surrounding landscape. What interests me as an artist is not only the formal qualities of solving the puzzle, but how creativity and the arts lead to the unknown and connect the dots in unexpected ways. Michael lives in Monkton with his wife Joanne. He is a MICA graduate and has been a lifelong artist/educator.

Early interest in mechanical things from childhood. Trained in engineering with teaching career exceeding a decade, becoming nationally recognized STEM educator at NASA. Taught hundreds of students welding in classroom engineering curricula. Currently balances education nonprofit work, small metal-art business, and local organic poultry/hog farm.

Only eight years ago, Nancy considered what activities she might choose to fill her hours once she retired from a 40-year career in real estate. She is a long-time resident of Northern Baltimore County, Maryland. She has taken numerous classes and workshops. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Notre Dame College.

Cheesemaker and Charlottetown Farm owner raised on Monkton MD farm. Learned agriculture and local eating importance. Made cheese from goats for family and friends for eight years before turning into business. Charlottetown Farm serves many restaurants, farmers markets, community festivals, going strong 10+ years.

Young experimental photographer blurring genres including international travel photography and photojournalism. Previously taught nature photography at Irvine Nature Center. Documented stories from migratory bird population deaths to renewable energy battles. Maryland-based nature photography published by NeighborSpace and Precision Camera. Combines photography with creative writing.

<p>Rita is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist from the Hereford. A lifelong musician she started teaching Voice, Piano, Guitar, and later Ukulele, Music Theory and Boomwhackers about a decade ago. She teaches privately in the Northern Baltimore County Area and is the former Director of Music at EMC Performing Arts Studio in New Freedom, PA. Rita is a long time Music Minister at Our Lady of Grace where she sings and plays Bass and D’jembe for the Contemporary Music Band.</p>

Art teacher for 26+ years teaching wide variety of mediums from drawing and painting to fiber and clay arts. Philosophy that everyone possesses creative spark needing only open mind to artistic expression possibilities. Lives on small alpaca farm near Bel Air, Maryland. BFA from Philadelphia College of Art. Middle school art teacher at St. James Academy.

Stained glass artist based outside Baltimore. Found deeply satisfying, therapeutic nature in all stained glass process steps, especially beautiful glass colors and textures. Specializes in modern stained glass design. Pieces traveled into homes worldwide, especially Baltimore with locally themed pieces like popular lemon stick. Started as hobby, became full-time career and passion.

Sarah Karp is a certified Qigong instructor, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) practitioner, and Wellness Coach. She holds a BS in Biology and has trained extensively in Qigong, Wellness Coaching, and Rapid Transformational Therapy. Sarah facilitates physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing through qigong, emphasizing the connection between nature, community, and mindful movement.

Stephanie is a 500-hour registered yoga instructor trained in Anusara, Ashaya, and Hatha methods. She specializes in mindfulness, pranayama (breathing), and meditation, integrating tantrika yoga teachings with sound healing and alignment-based instruction.

Susan Keatley is a writer living in Phoenix, Maryland. While getting her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she would look longingly at copies of Science magazine and wish not to be published in the research section, but in the section upfront where someone wrote about what the research meant. Susan has written about science and other topics for the New York Times, the Simons Foundation, and the Princeton Alumni Weekly, and has been a moderator at the Newburyport Literary Festival in her hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is the creator and host of the Science Fare podcast, which connects what scientists do to what high school science students are learning. Her first novel is on submission and she is working on a second. She loves meeting and talking to writers and is thrilled to host the Manor Mill Writers Guild Prose night.

Former owner of Breathe Books who authored three Ayurveda books and contributed to magazines and online forums. Certified Ayurvedic practitioner and Certified teacher of the Gateless Method of Writing.

Abstract artist born 1983 in Baltimore. Started mixing own acrylic paints and experimenting with resin in 2018. Studio based in Timonium, MD. Recent exhibitor at American Craft Made Baltimore convention. Work displayed and available at Femme Fatale DC store in Washington DC. Offers in-person acrylic paint pouring classes.

Followed creative process fluidly and intuitively since childhood. Each wallhanging made with intention, patience, love. Uses only natural materials reflecting earth's organic process. Chooses ethically-sourced, non-mulesed merino wool ensuring peace of mind. Although many share similarities, no two pieces exactly same.

Artist and educator, proprietor of Bowerbox Press specializing in woodcut and letterpress prints, bookbinding, custom design and printing. Teaches Letterpress and Bookbinding at Towson University, offers related workshops. Maryland Institute College of Art graduate living in Monkton, MD.

Vanessa Eskridge founded Manor Mill Playhouse with the mission of creating a vibrant space where local actors, designers, and theater enthusiasts can produce and enjoy high-quality theater. Her performance career has taken her from New York City to London to Baltimore, and her extensive experience directing and producing for theater, radio, and television has deepened her belief that nothing compares to the magic of live performance.