Spin In 2008 Instructors

Cher Alexander is a longtime, self taught fiber artist always open to learning new techniques while at the same time keeping the old traditions alive. She wants to be able to pass on the knowledge of these techniques and encourage you to add your personal touch to create your own family heirlooms.

Luci Claussen is a well known spinner, weaver and fiber artist, originally from Minnesota. She has owned and operated fiber art retail stores throughout the southeastern part of WI for the past 15 years and has been spinning for 20+ years. Her love of fibers was born after her experience as a costume guide at Old World Wisconsin. There she taught herself to spin and continued educating herself on her farm in Richfield with her many Merino/Corriedale sheep. She has taught many workshops at the WI Spin-In, at many guilds throughout the state, and at her own retail stores/school in Germantown and Cedarburg. She now owns a fiber art school, Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts in West Bend, WI. History and traditional textiles are of great interest to her and this all comes out in her classes. Students are guaranteed to love their experience in her class.

Elaine Hendrickson acquired Genesee Woolen Mill. She now operates Elaine’s Custom Carding Coed Mawr Woolen Mill outside of Cambria, WI where she has been raising llamas since 1984. She has recently developed a line of pillows and mattress covers. Fiber is her passion. She loves to teach and share what she knows with like-minded people.

Pat Hilts is a long-time spinner and weaver who has published and taught extensively in both the spinning and weaving disciplines. She has also been involved with the Spin-In board for many years.

Stefania Isaacson has been a life-long knitter and started spinning and dying to supply herself with “the best yarns in the world!” She got her Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning from the Handweaver’s Guild of America in 1997. Since then she has opened her own business and taught numerous workshops on natural dyes, spinning and basket making. She has appeared on HGTV as a guest on the Carol Duvall Show. Her experience as a high school English teacher has made the transition to teaching the fiber arts to enthusiasts of every level a breeze. 

Vannessa Kessler has been involved in the fiber world since the purchase of her fist llamas in 1993. She owns and operates Shady Haven’s Fiber Designs near Sheboygan. Her specialty is luxury fibers and designing and creating unique one-of-a-kind pieces through her custom fiber service studio. She is a member of the Shuttlecraft Guild/Sheboygan, WI Handweavers Association, Midwest Weavers Association and Lakeside Area Fiber fanatics.

Markena Lanska has taught at “The Heart of Cross Stitch”, “I Love Needlework” and demonstrated at CATS consumer trade shows. She has also taught for JoAnn Fabrics, St. Seb’s University, Minitiques EGA, Wool Stock, Royce Fabrics and others. She has been published in Crafts, Crafts-N-Things, Bead & Button, and Better Homes, as well as in the books Ribbon Arts and Coats & Clark.

Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser founder of Carol Leigh’s Specialties and Hillcreek Fiber Studio in 1982, teaches many types of weaving, spinning and natural dyeing at both her home studio in Columbia, MO and around the country. Her major focus for her Master’s Degree research was in the historic use of natural dyes. She has produced a 90 minute video on the Continuous Strand Weaving Method on the triangle frame loom, and continues to explore that method on the triangle, square and now rectangle shapes, designing clothing and home apparel. She is currently working on a comprehensive book exploring this technique. Carol is fascinated by weaving and dyeing techniques of other cultures and has studied Navajo weaving and dying on the reservation, and kilim and pile carpet weaving, as well as traditional dye techniques, in Turkey.

Tracey Schuh an Abrams, WI artist, has been dyeing yarns and fibers for knitting, spinning and weaving for years. Her love of color and fiber arts was ingrained into her as a small child who always wanted craft kits and had to be making something. Now she takes you on a journey of turning your fiber and yarns vibrant with fabulous color.

Sara Von Tresckow, production weaver and owner of The Woolgatherers weaving studio and fiber shop in Fond du Lac, WI has over 30 years of experience in the fiber arts. She learned spinning and weaving in Germany during a long residence there through various study disciplines. Her current focus is linen fabrics and the draw loom. She owns a library of over 500 textile books and is well read and interested in historical aspects of hand weaving. She has contributed several articles to textile magazines including Spin-Off and CW Journal.

Carol Wagner has a real passion for fibers. She’s been spinning for 18 years and believes the quality of the finished product depends on the preparation of the fibers used. Carol is an avid spinner, carder, knitter and sometimes weaver. Carol has taught carding techniques at a variety of fiber events across the state and beyond. She and her husband Paul raise Coopworth sheep and also own and operate Hidden Valley Woolen Mill near Valders. Carol is the Superintendent for the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival’s Wonders of Wool fiber arts classes.



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