Introducing Fiber Expo's

Fiber Artists, Instructors & Lecturers

Tina Etter          

I have been teaching at the Michigan Fiber Festival, Fiber Expo, Thumb fiber and Folk, OPC, The Basket Sampler, Wisconsin Sheep and Wool, for the last few years and this year for the first time at Northern Michigan Sheep and Wool. I am available to teach small classes in Highland Michigan.Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved all things art .  Then she grew up and did grown up stuff.  She found herself on a small farm surrounded by llamas and sheep.  Oh my she said now I can try all things wool.   So she did and found felting was fun and NEEDLE FELTING was the VERY BEST.  The end.

Anette Karlsson

I am a professional Scandinavian Skinnfell maker and fiber artist, working with sheepskins and mixed media.  I have been teaching classes in hand sewing since 2015 from east to west in USA.  Among the events I have attended to teach are: The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, Black Sheep Gathering, Estes Park Wool Market and the Michigan Fiber Festival. Anette is a Swedish Fiber Artist, veterinarian, and Gotland Sheep breeder.  Her award winning Scandinavian Skinnfells (sheepskin coverlets) have been exhibited in several judged art and craft shows and she teaches traditional sewing techniques.

Nancy Macali

Nancy has been teaching for 44 years and taught high school for 35 years.  Throughout my retirement I have contiued to give workshops and guest lectures.  My love of fibers started in my youth living next - door to my grandmother.   She taught me to knit, sew, and garden.  I continued my pursuit of fiber knowledge throught college to present day.

As an artist and creator, I am skilled in weaving, knitting, felting, dyeing, spinning, sewing, and other various techniques.   I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with others and encourage the exchange of creative discourse. 

Kathy McMinn

Kathy Moskal

Kathy learned to knit in childhood, and took it up again after moving to a farm in Chelsea, Michigan in 1998.  She volunteers at WaterlooHistoricalMuseum demonstrating spinning on a wheel and drop spindle, felting and weaving.   She raises fiber animals: alpacas, llamas, angora goats and angora rabbits on her small farm.  Kathy is a member of Spinners Flock in Chelsea, MI.  She is also co-owner of Criations by Leslie, Custom Embroidery and their web-site is   http://www.criations.com  

Sue Schalk 

Sue learned to crochet from her aunt when she was a young girl. From there her interest in fiber and textiles has grown over the years and you can often find her doing demonstrations or at the local farmer’s market in Saline.  Sue works with natural fibers from beginning to end, hand processing, spinning, dying, knitting or crocheting items, as well as weaving.  She has won several awards for her weaving, hand spinning, and crocheted items from the Saline and Michigan State Fairs.  Sue and her husband own Two Branch Ranch in Saline, MI and raise alpacas; she often holds classes at the farm on a variety of fiber related topics.  Sue is also a member of the Spinner’s Flock hand-spinning guild in Chelsea, MI.  Contact Sue at sueschalk@gmail.com 

David Shepherd                                                 

David has been a lifelong woodworker starting as a child building things from the wood out of his father's scrap box, later studying industrial arts and the after graduation joining his father at a local cabinetry shop.  Years later when the shop closed he dicided to open his own.   As he started to build fiber tools, and create them he knew he needed to also know how to use them.  Mostly self taught with guidance from other crafters and You Tube.  The Dealgan Spindle called to him, and it soon became his favorite spindle.  After making a few small changes to the traditional design he has found the most user friendly version of the Dealgan Spindle possible and is looking forward to teaching it to you in his class.  

Katja Szarafinski

Born in 1959 Katja came to the USA in 1980 to work in the spa industry.  She home birthed and home educated five awesome people who all learned at least knitting and spinning if not becoming fiber artist outright.  She owns and operates Allen Day Spa with her daughter, Liese, and they fill many spare winter hours with mostly local wool and friends of wool. In 2000 she learned to spin on an antique wheel she inherited from her native central Germany.  She has taught informal spinning ever since, mostly in the beginners circle at Spinners Flock in Chelsea, Michigan and at East of Edon LLC Fiber Arts Days. She taught spinning formally at Homberg Community College in Germany in 2015.  katja@allendayspa.com

Liese Szarafinski

Liese has been a fiber artist for over 20 years with an emphases on wet felting.  During winters since 2008 she has taught felting and other fiber techniques at East of Edon LLc Fiber Arts Days in Allen, Michigan, and at Gallery 49 in Jonesville Michigan in 2017.  For more than ten summers now she can be found in the East of Edon LLC booth at the Hillsdale County Farmers Market where she sells her fiber art and her farms's produce and spins with the children of shoppers.liesemz@gmail.com

Julie Verhelst

Julie Verhelst owns Sunny Meade Alpacas,Ltd. with her husband Bill.  Their farm, home to 29 Alpacas is located outside of Toledo, Ohio in Swanton.  Julie has been breeding and showing huacaya alpacas for almost 21 years.  As a professional graphic designer, it was natural for her to expand the farm focus to include fiber arts.  She has a fiber arts studio in the barn where she creates one of a kind alpaca products like scarfs, purses, pillows, rugs and frameable art.  She teaches needle felting classes where individuals can come make their own unique creations.  Her fiber arts studio has been utilized by area artisans and alpaca breeders as a place to come and make items for their shops and farm stores.     https://www.sunnymeadealpacas.com 

Elizabeth Whitton

If you are interested in teaching a class or workshop, please use the link below to sign up Today!!

Class/Workshop Proposal CLICK HERE