Sylvia DeMar completed a BA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Art History and Education from the University of Maryland. She has been spinning for over 25 years and began teaching folks how to spin in 1998. Sylvia’s areas of knowledge include: spinning a wide range of fibers on a variety of spindles and wheels; maintenance and repair of a wide range of spinning wheels; textile production in historic context for a wide range of eras; natural dye use on wool and plant fibers; and fiber preparation and characteristics of textile fibers including wool, llama, alpaca, silk, flax, and synthetic fibers. She also develops and leads hands-on textile presentations and workshops throughout the Mid-Atlantic region at public and private schools, scout groups, museums, and festivals.