- CHESSSPY (as in, Chess + Spy) is Alan's
chess set restoration work.
- BOBBIN BOY is a fiberarts equipment repair & restoration service run
by both Alan & Milissa
- MOUNTAIN MAMA WEAVERS is Milissa's weaving and teaching
business.
About Alan
& Milissa.
Alan Dewey and Milissa
Ellison Dewey
are recognized worldwide for their work.
Originally from Hull, England, United Kingdom, Alan is the world's première
antiques chess set restorer, and as such works with an internationale clientele
of chess collecting and chess competition enthusiasts. Having studied art
as a young man, Alan also has been a turner since that time, and has specialized
in antiques restoration of various kinds for the last thirty years. He has
extensive experience with European antiques of all sorts and now American
antiques. His current focus in this arena is on the repair & restoration
of fiberarts equipment, such as spinning wheels and looms.
Article, "Bobbin
Boy to the Rescue!" (Elizabeth Prose, Spin
Off Winter 2018)
Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, Milissa is PhD-educated in Early
Modern European History as well as various subfield specializations: early
modern philosophy, American colonial history, and history of science. She
holds honors undergraduate degrees in economics and nursing; is an Honors
Scholar at Large in the University of North Carolina system; is a classical
flautist; and moreover is a journeyman woodturner, having complete a formal
seven years' apprenticeship. Aside from teaching and writing, Milissa has
worked in the fiberarts since 1994, and in woodturning since 2009. She is
internationally recognized for her specialty work in handtools for fiberartists,
particularly her signature tapestry bobbins. She also is recognized for
her accomplishments as a competitive spinner: in 2017, Milissa placed second
overall among independent ("rogue") spinners and fifth overall
in all categories in the international spinning competition, Spinzilla.
She was one of only two spinners to ever place in the overall category,
and the only competitive spinner to ever place using only antique equipment.
Making their home in bohemian
West Asheville, Alan & Milissa have a turning workshop which houses
their primary business, Bobbin Boy, the focus of which is fiberarts equipment
research & restoration. Alan also continues to work with chess set collectors,
whilst Milissa also operates Mountain Mama Weavers, a production weaving
and teaching facility sited at the Western
North Carolina Farmers' Market. They also actively conduct and publish
research about the turning trade, chess sets, and fiberarts information
both historical and current.
