Artist Q&A: Jaspreet Gill

Do you know local artist Jaspreet Gill?

Gill is a parent, teacher, and just one of the exhibitors to be featured at Sunday's holiday craft fair and bake sale at . Proceeds from the sale, sponsored by the high school's HSO, will benefit both the HSO and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Learn more about the sale .

Or learn more about Gill by reading Patch's short Q&A below!

Question: Do you have a formal business name?

Answer: I did not register a business name but I am working on a website, www.gillzcreations.com. It will be up and running soon--right now it is in testing phase and has few glitches.

Q: When did you start crafting?

A: I have been working on both cards and bags along with other artwork for almost 20 years, first as hobby and then via teaching artwork to kids. But I started selling the artwork about five years back at fairs or for fundraisers.

Q: What materials do you prefer to use?

A: For cards I use card stock with water, acrylic and oil paints and ribbons, buttons, printed designer paper, stickers, etc., to decorate the cards and hand bags.

For handbags I buy plain-colored paper bags and then decorate them according to the occasion, and make a matching greeting card. To this I add two matching tissue papers and a matching gift tag. On the handle of the bag I tie up a matching color 2 satin or any other material ribbons.

Q: Have you dabbled in any other craft mediums?

A: Other would be scrap booking, pottery/pot painting, embroidery, etc.

Q: Do you hold any other jobs, belong to any community groups or have any interesting hobbies?

A: I have been a Montessori teacher for past seven years. Besides the regular day at school I also teach art to some interested children. During the weekends I teach art at my home. In my spare time I like to cook. I may also be starting cooking classes sometime next year. I am also working on a book and a children’s short film script.

Q: Does anyone else in your family craft, or did you inherit the interest from someone else?

A: My mom used to run a boutique and my grand- and great grandmothers were more into embroidery, knitting and sewing, etc.  My son is an artist. His paintings were exhibited in Chicago Children’s museum Navy Pier, Gateway Theater and at his school few times.

Is there a Lisle resident you'd like to see featured on Patch? Send your suggestions to editor Karlie Baker at karlie@patch.com.