Nicole has been Irish dancing for 6 years, and took mainstream dance classes (ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical) for 18 years prior to that. She took up Irish dancing after developing severe tendinitis in her wrist. She wanted to stay active, and Irish dancing was the perfect solution, combining her love of dance with lack of arm movement! Although she doesn't like to admit it, she thought of taking Irish dancing after seeing Riverdance...

Like Ally, Nicole is currently a proud student of Michael and Patricia Farrell at Greenfire Academy in Toronto. She has been competing in Prizewinner 16 & Over competitions, and really really really wants to get into Prelims some time soon. Nicole is just getting back into the swing of competition after having her beautiful baby girl Kaylee!

In the craft department, Nicole is responsible for knitting. Having just gotten a knitting machine, she is very excited about making all sorts of new creations! Her favourite types of yarn include anything glittery or fuzzy.

Ally has been Highland dancing for 6 years (minus one year out to have a wee Peanut named Wendy) and Irish dancing for 2 years. She took up Highland after spending a year watching dancers compete at assorted Ontario Highland Games while tagging along with (then-boyfriend, now-husband) Phil, who was piping for the competitions. Nobody told her that Ontario dancers just make it LOOK easy, so she decided to take it up. Turns out it's about the freakin' hardest thing ever, but also fun as all heck so she's still around, doing a little competing and training for her teacher's exams with Nancy Richardson of the Richardson School of Highland Dance.

Having had the bug for Irish dancing since LONG before Riverdance, Ally is very happy to be a student with Michael and Patricia Farrell at Greenfire Academy in Toronto, Ontario -- not in the least because this is where she and Nicole met! Actively competing in the Novice "& Overs" she is looking forward this year to dancing her new steps and new traditional set (Job of Journeywork) in her NEW SOLO! Yeah!

Craftwise Ally is responsible for the "sewing" side of the business -- from her first tries at quilting to the current addiction to shiny applique she loves to put things together people can hopefully love and use for a long time to come.