Meet Our Instructors

Gary Clarke

Master Upholsterer

Gary completed his apprenticeship in upholstery at Dove & Distaff in Rhode Island and has been honing his craft for over40 years! He served as the Assistant Vocational Manager at Pioneer Upholstery (teaching upholstery to mentally challenged adults), which was a program of Center for Human Development (CHD) for close to 30 years. This program specialized in building institutional furniture for colleges and businesses. Gary is proficient in custom upholstery, window treatments, drapes and specialty sewing and teaches these skills as well. Gary has been with HCAC for 21 years. Pictured with Gary is, Stanley, the unofficial mascot of HCAC.

Jim Barrett

Woodcarving Instructor

Jim Barrett spent most of his teaching career as a woodcarving teacher eventually becoming an industrial arts teacher. He has done woodcarving for fun and for profit for over 30 years. He's experienced in relief carving, lettering (sign carving), caricatures and carving in the round. Jim graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in History and he spent his beginning career teaching that subject. Now retired, Jim is able to continue with his love of the art full time.

Janet Lyon

Sewing Basics, Soft Furnishings for the Home, Upholstery Basics Instructor

Janet is a gifted Interior Designer with a degree from Bay Path University. She owned her own interior design business in East Longmeadow for over 30 years, specializing in upholstery and draperies.

Maria Daigle

Professional Knitter and Instructor

Maria has been knitting for a little over 20 years. One summer afternoon when I was 14, my mother decided to teach my sister and I how to knit for just something to do to pass the day. It was in that moment that I fell in love with the craft and have been knitting ever since. For the past decade, I have immersed myself into learning all I could about knitting. In that time, I have mastered colorwork, knitted cables, various stitch patterns, and so much more. I finally decided to try knitwear design and I have a few patterns in the marketplace for sale. Sharing my passion for knitting is my greatest joy and teaching at HCAC has allowed me to share that joy with others.

Follow Maria and Mia Knit This on social.

Bob Whitney, AIFD

Floral Arranging Instructor

Bob has worked in the floral industry for 45 years, in retail, education and wholesale. He has been a member of the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) since 1987. In the past he had conducted classes at Essex Agriculture school, Holyoke Community College, the East Longmeadow Home Information Center and the Creative Arts Center in Holyoke. He has presented many design programs for local garden clubs and served as a judge at the floral competition at the Connecticut Floral Association’s annual convention. He has participated at the annual Festival of Flowers at the Springfield Museum for over ten years.

Annamarie Golden

Upholstery Basics Instructor

Annamarie discovered her love for upholstery during the pandemic. Annamarie is a wife and mother with a full-time corporate job. Doing upholstery for family, friends, and referred clients met her need for a hands-on creative outlet. Being invited to teach HCAC students upholstery basics has become Annamarie's passion project. She truly enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with others who are eager to learn. Her classes are designed to be a fun, inclusive, and engaging way to learn a new skill that can be both practical and rewarding. Annamarie believes that everyone has the potential to be a great upholstery artist, and she is honored to be able to guide her students along that path.

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