Jess Kaufman first learned to teach batik, tie-dye, and shibori while working at Gwynn Valley Camp in the early 2000s. She returned year after year to continue her studies in the camp’s crafts programs, eventually being hired to lead the entire crafts program. Her passion for hands-on learning and traditional techniques led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Crafts Education at Prescott College in Arizona, which she completed in 2008. Through her studies, Jess deepened her understanding of how we learn as makers, the cognitive and emotional benefits of crafting, and the rich history of the handmade movement in Southern Appalachia.

Jess is the founder and owner of WAXON Studio in Asheville, NC. Learn more at waxonstudio.com.