1.          Tell us about yourself.   My name is India Hayford.  My husband and I live in central Wyoming with more cats, dogs, and horses than any two people really need.  Our son is married with two children and multiple animals of his own.  Our daughter currently attends both college and her last year of high school; her goal is veterinary medicine, which will be an asset to the entire family.

.  Recently I went to work as a writer and actor for Painted Past Productions, a company that specializes in historical presentations and reenactments. One of my favorite portrayals is Mariska Karasz, an embroiderer and fashion designer who worked during the first half of the twentieth century.

After almost twelve years of life as a legal assistant, I decided life is too short for endless litigation and retired from the profession.  In my new life, I teach belly dance at the local recreation center and write features for the Casper Journal newspaper

In 2008, I completed the EGA exams and became a certified teacher of contemporary embroidery. With help and encouragement from the late Ann Harris, I developed an individual correspondence class for EGA called Design for Needlework.  Some of EGA's finest members are my students and I can only hope they are learning as much from me as I learn from them each time I critique a lesson or speak with one of them on the phone.

2.          How did you become involved in needlework?  I come from a long line of embroiderers, quilters, seamstresses, crocheters, and basket makers.  My grandmother handed me a threaded needle when I was four and showed me how to do a running stitch; I still have that first piece of needlework, with her perfect stitches delineating one side of an apple and my first stitches straggling along the other half.   I never quit embroidering though I didn't design my first completely original piece until I was thirty-two.

3.          When did you join EGA and what positions have you held with EGA? I joined the Casper Needle Guild Chapter of EGA in October of 1987, a pivotal moment in both my personal and professional life.  I've held every local position at least once except treasurer (no one in their right mind would ask me to balance a checkbook) and regional rep.  Our chapter is small and comprised of some of the best friends I've ever had.  Through regional and national seminars and meetings, I've met stitchers from all over the world, some of whom have been instrumental in encouraging me to reach further than I thought I was capable of grasping.  Ann Harris, Shirley Kaye Wolfersperger, Phil Lack, Judy Jeroy, Kay Stanis, Kim Sanders, and Carole Lake all at some time stood behind me and pushed when I thought I could go no further.  I am more grateful than I can say.

4.          Where does inspiration come from?  Doodles, photographs, nature, and random mental excursions.  Sometimes I design a piece around a single skein of thread or a scrap of hand-dyed silk that I cannot bear to throw away.  I'm always looking for ways to incorporate a snake or two into my work, and if I catch sight of a particularly interesting face or head of hair, I ask the owner's permission to take a photograph that will eventually be the basis of an embroidery. 

5.          What kind of needlework do you like to do?   I prefer freehand surface embroidery, fabric collage, and non-counted varieties of ethnic embroidery.

6.          How would you classify your style?  The words "contemporary" and "eclectic" come to mind.

7.          What are you currently working on and what plans do you have for the future?  Currently I am interested in clothing embellishment using both contemporary and traditional ethnic embroidery.  Portrait embroidery is another passion. Creating facial expression and mood with needle and thread is a fascinating process.  I am working on a book about Yemenite embroidery and have great hopes that I can revive interest in this almost lost style.  I have proposed classes in the technique multiple times, but so far, no one is biting.

8.          With what other interests are you involved?   In terms of fiber arts, I enjoy weaving and costume construction.  Otherwise, I am a horsewoman, hiker, biker, dancer, writer, and reader.