From the age of 6, Ghislaine Cleiren learned crochet, knitting, embroidery and sewing through weekly classes in school. She loved working with fibre and made clothes, table accessories etc. from an early age. In 1978, just weeks before her emigration to Canada and encouraged by her sister-in-law, Julienne Sniekers, Ghislaine took a workshop in Bobbin lacemaking in Hasselt, Belgium. After emigrating she taught herself different techniques of bobbin lace. In the 90's she was able to participate in workshops throughout North America and in Bruges. There she learned the techniques of Duchesse Lace, Metal wire lace and Milanese lace. She studied Design for lacemaking with Martine Bruggeman at the Kantcentrum. Since 1988 she designs and teaches bobbin lacemaking. To enhance her designing skills she is currently enrolled in different art workshops throughout Calgary and online with City and Guilds, Design Matters, CVP and NHA she has completed courses in Art History, Art Style and Design. She has studied painting (oil, acrylic, watercolour), Silk Painting, Silk Screening, Mixed Media Collage and other art forms at Alberta College of Arts and with different artists throughout Calgary.
Ghislaine Cleiren graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Leuven. and studied Marketing at the University of Calgary. She worked for two years in numerous Pharmacies in Belgium. She has worked in direct sales and in retail. She imported Leonidas Chocolates weekly from Belgium, and distributed chocolates through stores throughout Alberta.