Meet our Teachers

Ann started spinning over 20 years ago, after her oldest daughter started spinning. Her husband bought her a spinning wheel for their anniversary, and she has not stopped spinning since. The next logical step was to share her passion for spinning with others. Along the way she moved to Alabama to be closer to grandchildren. She and her husband now raise goats, chickens and turkeys while enjoying every chance to share her love for the fiber arts.

LaVonne lives in the Gallatin Valley and has raised sheep for over 30 years. She owns and operates a Farmstay with 2 antique sheepherder's wagons and a sheepherder's cabin. Her other business is The Wool Mill, processing her wool for Montana Point Blankets as well as for customers from all over the U.S. In her spare time, she likes to get away in her van to areas with no cell service as often as possible when the weather allows.

As an educator of 30 years, my best memories are watching students' reactions when they acquire a new skill. Weaving is among my favorite subjects to teach. From the beginning steps of warping a loom and basic weave, to trouble-shooting how to repair a broken warp, and threading the heddle for complicated patterns, I enjoy each aspect. I've taught at many fiber fairs throughout Iowa, Central & Northern Illinois and Colorado. I love receiving project photos and feedback from students. *When I’m not teaching, my husband, fondly referred to as The Shepherd, and I are raising a variety of multipurpose sheep breeds and our youngest (of 5) son. Our Merinos, Natural Coloreds, Rambouillets, Columbias Targhees, and Polypay sheep produce nearly 1,000 lbs of wool annually. Hand spinners and all fiber artists enjoy our homegrown combed top, roving, batts, and yarn for their textile projects. I frequently vend our homegrown products during WAFA weekend fiber festivals. *I spin our wool and spend my free time creating one of-a-kind woven items (blankets, ponchos, wraps, scarves, placemats) on my rigid heddle loom. I've even had a couple patterns published by Schacht Spindle Co thru their educational offerings. *I adore our sheep and their fiber, but the scarves, ponchos, wraps, blankets, table runners, placemats, and even the rugs we produce from skirtings are fine examples of what we can create with the resources, tools and knowledge AND a lovely example of how we can honor and show gratitude toward our sheep. The satisfaction you gain from creating on a rigid heddle loom will last a lifetime. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

Fiber artist and Montana Circle of American Masters (MCAM) inductee Randy Glick enjoys spinning, weaving, dyeing and knitting surrounded by the mountains, plains and rivers of north central Montana. Although he spent all of his adult life exploring the world in the Air Force, for 25 year he called Montana home. Having recently moved from Montana to southern Alabama, Randy is taking a sabbatical from active promotion of his art.

Julie has been raising fiber animals since middle school. Her college studies focused on Secondary Education and costume design. Raising fiber naturally led to spinning and weaving and then into teaching. Julie’s ranch, Tangled Yarn Farms, nestled in the Sky Islands of southern Arizona, specializes in Navajo heritage Angora goats, Angora rabbits and heirloom cottons. Her teaching style reflects her love of natural luxury fibers and joy in learning.

Tammy is a fourth-generation fiber artist who enjoys sharing her passion with everyone she meets. Her love of sheep, wool, writing, and inspiring others to learn led her on the path of running her own business, Goldieknots Montana, which specializes in Montana grown wool, locally processed yarn and spinning fiber, and Made in Montana handmade gift items, as well as educational programming in fiber arts, ranging from fiber preparation to completed projects which she lovingly refers to as “Fleece to Fashion.” She has written for Ashford’s The Wheel magazine, participated in the Montana Art’s Council MAP program in 2016 and has taught at festivals throughout the US.

She is a current board member and newsletter editor of the Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners (MAWS), current member and past Secretary and Co-Chair of the Prairie Handspinners Guild in Billings, MT, a member and Secretary of the Lincoln Council for the Arts, and founder of the Lincoln Fiber Circle in her home town of Lincoln, MT.

Her teaching style is fun, creative, and interactive, and when she’s not in her studio creating or on the road teaching, you can find her writing articles for her local newspaper and spending time with her dogs, sheep, horse, and other barnyard critters.

Maria raised sheep for over 20 years, selling handspinning fleeces all over the United States.  Her Coopworth were sold to tapestry artists, who over dyed the range of colors. She bred her sheep to produce certain colored fleeces. She also raised shetland sheep, angora goats for mohair and angora rabbits for a time.  This led to spinning, blending fibers and dyeing. There is never an end to the combinations of both animal and plant fibers to experiment with.  She has been wet felting for years but in the last 5 years she had a renewed interest in learning much more. There are many wonderful teachers in the world, and she takes classes from them to hone her technique. Working with fiber and her hands is wonderful therapy. Even though many projects don't come out the way her mind imagines nothing is ever a loss. Working with wool and a variety of fibers in wet felting is endless and very gratifying. Maria tends to love doing sculptural work more than wearable functional pieces.

Una is a Fiber Artist from La Grande, Oregon whose fashion and artwork has been exhibited nationally to rave reviews. As a sought after fiber arts teacher, her classes range from beginning to advanced techniques in a variety of mediums. Una grew up in her parents’ craft supply store where she gained experience in a wide range of crafts as both an artist and teacher. An example being her appearance on HGTV’s ‘That’s Clever’ in 2009, making a pair of shoes! She got started punching over a decade ago at a craft show “make and take” where she first worked with the Oxford Punch Needle. Combining unique materials is Una’s most inspiring challenge in her work; she loves “figuring it all out”. From raw wool, to sewing the finishing stitch, she is always looking ahead to new and creative approaches. Una’s latest fiber experiments include explorations in dyeing and seeing how the color and texture bring life to her designs. Una’s work has been exhibited at craft shows across the country where she also sells under her business name of Wooly Walkers. Una has completed her Advanced Oxford Punch Needle training and has been teaching punch needle for the past 15 years. She has taught at Estes Park Wool Market, Toas Wool Festival, Oregon Flock and Fiber, Black Sheep gathering, Fiber in the Forest, Stitches West and SoCal. She teaches with both patience and an attention to detail, that combined with her easy-going sense of humor results in a fun and rewarding experience for all. Una thrives on problem solving and she loves working with beginners. She can be reached through her website, www.woolywalkers