Guests & Presenters
Artist Guest of Honor: Vandy Hall
Vandy H. Hall is a Pacific Northwest multi-media artist. She is known for blending diverse media ranging from blown glass to felting, intricate details and layers, her use of rich color and texture, her sense of whimsy, a creepy-cute aesthetic, the juxtaposition of natural, man-made, and fantastical elements, and her geek culture references.
One of Vandy’s earliest memories is of being chased around a houseboat by a robot, so it’s unsurprising that she grew up to be a science fiction and fantasy artist and maker. She grew up on a small farm near Portland, OR, in a hundred-year-old house, surrounded by over 10,000 books. Vandy’s parents have been a strong influence throughout her life, raising her with a combination of art, technology and pragmatism. They told her that art is problem solving, which she still believes today.
Now Vandy lives next door to her childhood home in a house she built with her own hands. She is a cat lady, animal lover, and nature lover.
Between now and then, Vandy helped wear out the local library’s copy of The Princess Bride, joined a medieval reenactment organization, learned to juggle and fence, obtained a degree in art history and sculpture, did an internship at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, was an artist in residence and taught classes at Chehalem Parks and Recreation, and has traveled the US and Europe blowing glass and attending medieval and Viking festivals.
Vandy regularly attends and exhibits her art and is on panels at conventions and was honored to win Best in Show at Worldcon in SanJose in 2018 for her felted “Octohat.” She also won grand champion for her felted artwork at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in 2016.
Drawing inspiration from her Covid-incubated isolationist hobbies–caving, canyoning, and foraging– Vandy’s recent work incorporates found objects, upcycling, and the beauty that can be found in the interplay between man and nature. She tries to make her art available on both large and smaller scales. She is working on creating functional art, workshops, and kits, and is focusing on re-use techniques such as artful mending, alterations, and embellishment.
Maker Guest of Honor: Dragon Dronet
Cosplay Guest of Honor: Momma Sammu
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Momma Sammu was raised attending, staffing, and dressing up at Fantasy and SciFi cons, but didn’t start cosplaying until their first Anime convention in 2006. They very quickly learned that the costumes they wanted to wear just weren’t available so, started making their own. Now, 16 years and 100+ costumes later, they’ve earned over a dozen Master level awards at conventions across the country and abroad for Costuming and Performance. Sammu’s specialties include corsetry, ballgowns, bodypaint, and making things as extra as humanly possible, which has recently included their original TTRPG character designs.
When not at conventions, they love to share their knowledge through live streams, encouraging other creatives to try that new skill, or finally tackle that dream costume. They have done their best to create not only a place to share new skills, but a safe space for anyone who needs it, spreading the mindset that ANYONE can Cosplay.
Presenters
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Jane Campbell is a lifelong maker, both professionally and personally. After retiring from her career in chemical engineering and closing her costuming business, she can now dedicate her time to creating. Jane’s favorites are in fiber arts but she is never afraid to branch out and learn more. Her main fear is running out of room to store supplies.
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Theresa Halbert is passionate and inspired by working with textiles, whether it’s in a costume or in the textile arts. She has been playing with fabrics and beads ever since she can remember and has worked professionally in costuming and apparel for over 30 years in costuming. She infuses her love of fabric, beads and thread (and whatever else works.) with her love of science fiction and fantasy to create original artwork and costumes. Theresa believes that Art and Costume is not just something to look at …but something to experience.
Website: www.dragonragz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DragonRagz
A long time fan, gamer, costumer, and convention volunteer, Andy Hansen is more recently known for his amazing miniature paintings. Andy will be sharing his painting styles and techniques during SageFenCon’s mini-painting workshops.
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Warren Hughs’ personal zen is the act of creation and exploration. Taking found and inspiring materials and processes and following the path they take him down. It may stem from his childhood pursuits of understanding machines and experimenting with them. Taking apart old electronics, motors and the like. These interests have evolved into a love and dedication to learning how things work and pushing that knowledge to new places. He has built a career in the trades over the past decade and have developed a diverse skill set… welding, wood work, metal work, lapidary, machine work engine repair, and whatever else suits my passions. Warren is inspired by how things around him are created and what makes things work.
From Warren, “I think that is enough to keep me busy for a life time. Thank you for sharing this journey with me, wherever it takes us.”
Visit Warren Hughs’ shop and learn more about his work at Hughs LLC.
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Esther Jones (Reed) is a child of Renton, Washington, and grew up among the evergreens west of the Cascades. A student of both English and Anthropology at EWU, Esther currently works as a Legal Assistant for the State of Washington. In the evening, Esther can usually be found watching one of her favorite animes or K-dramas, or gaming alongside her husband.
Esther and Frog will be team teaching SageFenCon’s writing workshop.
Find out more about Esther’s work at Jones Tales.
Frog Jones was born and raised in a small town in Whitman County. A child of the Palouse, the first thirty years of his life was lived within a one-mile radius of at least one grain bin. He studied Literary Studies, History, and Philosophy at EWU, and received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho. He currently practices as the Chief Public Defender of Mason County, Washington and is one of the training leads for the Washington Defender’s Association. But those are the day jobs. In the evening, Frog is an avid WoW RPer – he can be found skulking about as Cuhlan on the Wyrmrest Accord server. He loves board games and tabletop games as well as writing alongside his wife.
Frog and Esther will be team teaching SageFenCon’s writing workshop.
Find out more about Frog’s writing and podcasts at Jones Tales.
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MC and all around beloved nuisance.
Agathon McGeachy, holds a BSME and worked for 20 years as a machine designer, the last 14 years in the medical research field. He has skills as a fabricator, foundryman and machinist. As Manfred Kriegstreiber he participated in SCA tournaments and left having achieved that group’s highest honors. He is an accomplished ceramic sculptor. His gargoyle sculpture, “Just Keeping an Eye on Things” was Best 3d Art in Show (non-jewelry) at Worldcon in Spokane 2015. In 2020 he sold his first short story “Call Me Max” to the 2020 NIWA Anthology “Escape”. His story, “Shiplah’s Eyes” appears in the 2021 NIWA. Anthology “Forbidden”
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Mike McWatters has been a collector and researcher of antique arms and armor since 1989, and has been published many times related to those things. But he is also a historical reenactor and a costume maker. He is a blacksmith, a leather worker, and does hard-science for 40 hours per week.
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Isabella has been teaching sewing and other fiber arts for over 30 years and she loves teaching. She wrote a quilting instruction book in 1986 and has been trained in needle felting by Aylia Talapa, one of the premier needle felting artists on the west coast. SageFenCon welcomes Isabella as one of our amazing fiber arts instructors; teaching crocheting, knitting, needle felting, and sewing.
Megan Simpson is a Fashion designer and Sewing + Textiles teacher local to Richland. Known for vintage style custom made garments from her shop Enola Mae Atelier, Megan is also passionate about teaching sewing + textiles classes to future generations in order to keep the art of sewing alive and well.
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Jeff Sturgeon is a Pacific Northwest artist well known for his award winning science-fiction art and unique painting style. Jeff’s unique style involves laying paint upon metal, creating an illusion that can appear 3 dimensional. While digital imaging doesn’t quite do his work justice, you can find a gallery of some of his pieces on Instagram and Facebook, or visit his website: The Art of Jeff Sturgeon.
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SageFen Maker Fest welcomes all people, regardless of sex, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race/ethnicity, age, religion, class, body type, or size. SageFen Maker Fest is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, positive, and harassment-free convention experience for all participants. SageFen Maker Fest does not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form towards any SageFen Maker Fest participants.
The following Code of Conduct has been established to ensure a safe, inclusive, positive, and enjoyable experience for everyone at the convention.
These policies apply to EVERYONE who attends the convention regardless of role or responsibility; whether as a Guest, member, dealer, presenter, professional/author/artist, press, Watch, volunteer, demonstrator, or ConCom member/convention staff. These policies also apply to SageFen Maker Fest participants’ interactions with hotel staff and guests of the hotel.
The following policies are in effect at all pre-convention, at-convention, and post-convention activities. This means at our events, at our planning meetings, any SageFen Maker Fest sponsored meetups or fundraisers, anyone representing SageFen Maker Fest at other events, and in our online communities. Rules should be adhered to at all times during the convention and on the convention premises.
Your attendance at SageFen Maker Fest and any related events implies that you have read and agreed to the Code of Conduct and convention policies.
We expect all members to treat all people at the event with respect.
Please be aware of your tone of voice, body language, and behavior. In short, use good manners and be polite and courteous.
Be respectful of others. If someone asks you to leave them alone, do so. Seriously.
Keep your hands to yourself.
If you would like to take a picture with or of another SageFen Maker Fest fan, always ask first and respect that person’s right to say no.
People commonly wear costumes at conventions. Please be respectful by not touching them or their costume without a clear invitation. Silence does not equal consent.
Please keep public displays of affection rated PG-13. Hugs, hand-holding, and a small kiss are fine. Deep/passionate kissing, groping, and overtly sexual energy should be saved for your hotel room, not a public convention space.
- Loitering in a manner that blocks pathways and entrances.
- Engaging in disruptive and unsafe behavior that disturbs the public or staff (including real or play fighting).
- Physical or verbal harassment of the public or staff.
- Any act which could result in substantial risk or harm to people or property
- Sexual misconduct, such as lewd conduct, indecent exposure, offensive touching, or sexual harassment.
- Engaging in any activity prohibited by law.
- Possession of any item defined as a weapon, illegal or not. (see Weapons Policy)
- Consumption of alcohol, drugs, smoking, e-cigarettes, or intoxication that is not in compliance with local laws. If you are visibly impaired or acting inappropriately, we will ask you to remove yourself from public view.
- Selling or soliciting items or services (outside of dealer space/without a permit).
- Distribution of flyers or literature without prior authorization from SageFenCon.
- Brandishing, waving around, or pointing props or prop weapons outside of the approved photography/videography zone(s).
Participants asked to stop any offensive behavior are expected to comply immediately.
We will not tolerate dangerous, illegal, or destructive behavior at the convention. Please report any incidents to Convention Operations immediately. Any members found to have participated in potentially dangerous, illegal, or destructive activity anywhere in or around the convention space will be asked to cease immediately and may be subject to consequences as defined in the Failure to Comply document.
Any SageFenCon Member caught in the act of shoplifting, stealing, pickpocketing etc will be handed over to local law enforcement, have their membership revoked, and refused entry into all future SageFenCon events. No exceptions.
The convention is a safe space for everyone on site, including but not limited to convention members, volunteers, hotel staff, and members of the public passing through. Safe space means that our members are free to express themselves and their interests without fear of being targeted for their love or passion for the subject material. It is an inclusive space for all people. Safe space means that harassment will not be tolerated.
We believe in creating a space that is pro-consent. This means a space where people feel comfortable asking about others boundaries, and being able to express their own. Consent is not only about potential sexual situations, but also includes minor things, like “Can I sit with you?”, “Would you like to chat?” or “Do you mind if I take your photo?”