Instructor Biographies - Wisconsin Spin In

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.

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 dyeing on the reservation, and kilim and pile carpet weaving, as well as traditional dye techniques, in Turkey.

Hazel Carter says, "I was born in Cambridge, England, in 1928; my mother taught me knitting before I started school at age five, then crochet when I was seven or eight. Tatting I taught myself from a book while an undergraduate, then bobbin lace - likewise from a book, actually German - while living in Africa, in what is now Zambia. Retired in 1995 as a professor of African languages (London and Wisconsin universities), I have since developed my craft interests as a kind of "second career" (I do jewelry-making, too.)"

Connie Freeman is a master basketweaver and accomplished seamstress. Connie has been a part of the "arts" since an early age of 8 years old. With a family of professional weavers, spinners, carvers, quilters and furniture makers, Connie comes by it honestly. Her mother gave her a basket class for her birthday early in the 80's and she has woven/designed ever since. Sewing love started when she was 8 years old in 4-H. Grandma's Closet was born of a love of family and its heritage. It enhances Connie's style of creating and love of baskets, sewing and knitting. You may find anything in a "Grandma's Closet".

Jo Ann Habeck: As a watercolor artist for many years at the Gallery of Fine Arts in Door County and a member of the Door County Art League, Jo Ann has expanded her interests and talents to natural fibers. She took spinning and weaving classes at Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts and has blossumed into a real "fiber artist." As the yarns began to fill her home, weaving brought about new ways to utilize them (fibers, materials and even plants). "I can dance through my loom and create pieces for my children and grandchildren. I love sharing what I have learned with others, and learning what others have to share".

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.

Naomi Holthaus became interested in bobbin lace when the international convention was held in Racine in 1987. She started teaching when the Kenosha Historical Museum held an event "If I Can Do It - So Can You". Bobbin lace is a form of weaving threads that dates back to the 16th century.

Stefania Isaacson has been a life-long knitter and started spinning and dyeing 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.

Vanessa 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.

Janet King tells us "My mother taught me to crochet when I was nine. She only did thread crochet so I started off doing lace crochet, like the edges of pillowcases. I hate to admit it, but that was over 50 years ago. I did not learn to knit until I was middle-aged, and I taught myself to use a triangular loom by using a book for instruction. I started to spin in 1994 and have been going strong ever since."

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.

Karen Pauli states "Girls weren't encouraged to take machine shop in the 50's and 60's, otherwise I might have been a tool and die maker like my father and great-grandfather. But I did inheret the family's mechanical ability. My dad had no sons to share his basement workshop with, so I picked up a fair amount of woodworking know-how. I also have a mother who sewed, so I picked up that craft as well, starting with doll clothes as soon as I was old enough to know which end of a sewing needle to use and continuing through a degree in theatre costume construction. I also explored other fiber crafts, including spinning. Once I understood how spinning wheels worked, it was only a short step in repairing and restoring wheels. When my guild needed a last-minute workshop for the 1976 Midwest Weavers conference, they called and asked if I could do a program on the care and feeding of spinning wheels. As I gave this workshop at the conference and over the next several years, the questions I got showed me that there was more of a need for information than I realized. Thus I decided to put my lecture into book form. That was in 1980, and 'The Care And Feeding of Spinning Wheels' (Interweave Press) is still in print."

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.

Luci Smith- 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, Cedarburg, Hartford and West Bend. She owns the fiber art school, Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts. She is "on the farm" in Lowell, WI now, raising Icelandic Sheep, having classes and enjoying life. 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. She will be teaching a workshop at the show on how to work with Icelandic wool.

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.

Originally from Australia, Sally Thomsen had little doubt about the breed of sheep that she wanted to get involved with some twenty years ago. Her starter flock of five merino ewes and a ram has somehow grown to over 100 animals, raised totally for their wool in Manitowoc County. A mostly self-taught spinner, she learned to spin using merino and often finds herself trying to change a perception that it is a difficult fibre to deal with... different, yes, but, to Sally, not difficult. She and her daughters have shown their sheep and fleeces at national shows in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as at the Wisconsin State Fair; but she finds it impossible to fit the time and travel in anymore with her full-time teaching position. Sally still processes some of her wool herself, but sends most of it out to be washed and eventually made into combed top or spun into yarn. The she gets it back to start playing with dye!

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.

Kathi Wiedenhoeft has been a fiber artist for 40 years and a felter for 18 of those years. She has taught felting to all levels and ages of students in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington State and Alaska. She lives in Beaver Dam, WI with her family.