Texas's Premier Yarn, Fiber, Fabric and Farm Festival
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Meet the instructors for 2026
Ellen Baize
Ellen Baize took up sewing, knitting and crochet as a teen but never dreamed of spinning and weaving wool from a sheep until her parents brought the first known flock of Shetlands to Texas in 1991. She took spinning, weaving and dyeing lessons from a master fiber artist, Anna Scott, and developed a passion for the world of fiber arts. Now as a shepherdess of Shetlands she loves breeding for lambs to sell, shearing her sheep and skirting fleeces to send to mills or to scour and spin. She keeps her hands busy with fiber arts projects using yarns hand dyed with natural dyes or yarns of many beautiful natural colors from her sheep. Knitting is a favorite pastime and Navajo style tapestry weaving an art form she is enthusiastic about sharing. Ellen loves to teach all ages the skills she has learned hoping that these wonderful arts will be preserved for future generations.
https://baizeshetlands.weebly.com/
Sherry Bartkowicz
Sherry has been a fiber artist since childhood, embroidering by her grandmother's side at age 7 and playing with cross-stitching . At age 10 she began sewing, sewing a dress each year to model and compete in 4-H Short course (State Competition). Eventually she became self-taught in knitting and crochet, much thanks to the advent of the internet when scheduling or even finding classes near her were difficult. She had always wanted to do more with fiber, having watched a Shear to Shawl educational video one summer at age 6, and the idea of spinning fiber stuck. However, the opportunity to learn didn't present itself until adulthood. Once she was shown the basics in her home by a local spinner, it spun into a multi-layered hobby and she hasn't turned back. From growing heritage cotton with a Texas Noncommercial Cotton Permit, to restoring antique wheels while learning wood turning and deep diving into Cajun Textile traditions of her heritage as much as she can, the fun doesn't end. She loves the fact there is always more to learn and has combined her background and experience in education and corporate training to ensure the tradition and love of spinning lives on.
https://wheelhousetradition.etsy.com
Linda Bryant
My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was eight. I helped(?) her make a tablecloth for my mother as my first very much dependent project. At thirteen a friend's mother taught me to knit. My first project was a sweater! About the same time I learned to tat, followed by bobbin lace lessons /making in my early twenties. Never did I pick beginner level projects for my early learning experiences but I learned to love all things fiber.
Abigail Carter
Abigail Carter learned how to knit & sew from her mother and spent class days annoying teachers by knowing the answer even when she was “goofing off” knitting with two pencils. She later taught herself to crochet, and enjoyed making amigurumi critters. For the last several years, she’s been honing her spinning skills, taught by a lovely friend, and is so chuffed with the hobby that she can’t wait to share her knowledge! When she’s not at the wheel or spindle, you might find her hoarding a growing stash of fibers in need of processing, weaving on vintage looms, fiddling about with woodworking, or teasing her gremlin cat, Roxie.
Lyn Christoph
Shortly after acquiring their land in 2007, Lyn and her husband, Mark began raising alpacas. They added Gulf Coast Sheep in 2011. Over the years Lyn learned to process the fiber from both the alpaca and sheep, and uses it in products she sells from her farm store. She offers lessons in knit, crochet, wet and needle felting, spinning and weaving, with a focus on classes for children. While she still processes small batches of fiber herself, she also offers mill processed roving and yarn. When not working with her animals, or practicing her crafts, she runs the farm's 3 Airbnb cabins and oversees the family insurance agency in Corpus Christi, TX.
https://gulfbreezealpacas.com/
Karen Davis
Karen Davis has been a fiber enthusiast since 2000 and fiber artist since 2004. She specializes in spinning, weaving, wet-felting and needle-felting with fiber from her own animals including alpacas, angora rabbits and llamas. In addition, in homage to her Danish heritage, she creates one-of-a-kind Viking weave necklaces and bracelets with wire-wrapped semi-precious stones. Her love of animals and nature led her to a career teaching high school biology, specifically AP Biology. She is happy to discuss animals and/or biology with you!!
https://www.entwinedfiberandwire.com/
Leigh Dunbar
Leigh Dunbar has been spinning fiber for over 15 years and Opened a fiber arts studio in Austin a year ago. She has a passion for dyeing fiber, sourcing sustainable fibers as well as sharing information in person with other fiber artists. Leigh is also President of the Weavers and Spinners Association of Austin. For more information go to www.spinsterstudios.shop
Joyce Hazlerig
Joyce started Needle Felting in 2008, in 2010 she won Living Felt’s Alice in Wonderland contest with her psychedelic Cheshire cat, who glows under black light! She teaches needle felting and fiber art workshops across the country.
She is a Sarafina Certified Instructor and her original winged dragon tutorial, “Here There Be Dragons” is featured on feltingtutorials.com a platform sponsored by Living Felt. Known for her fantasy woodland style, her creations come alive with their own whimsical magic.
Joyce has demonstrated at various Renaissance Festivals and shows her creations at indie crafts throughout Texas. She is an instructor at DFW Fiber Festival and Texas Fleece and Fiber Festival.
She creates her art near Bastrop/Smithville Texas and lives in the piney woods with her husband and a bunch of talented musicians, mini goats and a variety of animals.
Paula Hoover
Paula comes to us as a retired teacher, staff counselor, Lifetime Teaching Certification for grades 1-8 and Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology. She has a special affinity for fiber arts. Her Aamilet Family Farm was established in 2018 where she was gifted two ewe lambs. Using her prior experience in AKC breeding she delved into breeding sheep and manages a flock that ranges from 25-35 sheep.
Sandy Lyda
Sandy learned to spin while her husband was stationed in North Carolina in the early 90’s. A new acquaintance gave her two sacks of wool and loaned her an Ashford Traditional spinning wheel stating, “Anything you spin in 6 weeks you can keep.” It was a steep learning curve, but suffice it to say, hand preparation of fleeces was FUN!! Now she and her husband have a flock of Shetland Sheep and lots of wool to work with. She is excited to pass on the old fashioned way to prepare fleeces for spinning.
Julie Plummer
Julie and her husband, Joel own and operate Hummers Homestead Alpacas, a medium sized alpaca farm located in northern Bastrop County just east of Austin, TX. They have been raising alpacas since late 2002 The Plummers participate in showing alpacas at alpaca shows, breeding and selling alpaca and also in processing and preparing the alpaca fiber for use. They have been selling alpaca related products for many years and just recently opened an alpaca store on their property.
https://www.hummershomesteadalpacas.com/
Andrea Rummel
Greetings! My name is Andrea Rummel, an educator with 30 years of experience. I've been an art teacher for the last 17 years. I'm proud to say I've been an award winning felting artist for the last 3 years. Throughout my career, I've imparted artistic knowledge to children and adults across various mediums. Operating from my studio in Fredericksburg, I dedicate days to exploring fresh techniques for my artwork. In my classes, I aim to foster enjoyment, ignite imagination, and encourage experimentation within a comfortable setting. My ultimate aspiration is for you to feel fulfilled and accomplished in your artistic endeavors.
Maranda Weathermon
Maranda Weathermon is the heart behind Angry Sheepdog Studio, where her passion for rescuing overlooked wool and sharing the art of fiber work comes together.
Through Angry Sheepdog Studio, Maranda gives wool a second chance, transforming what might otherwise be discarded into beautiful, useful, and creative works of art. She believes every fleece has potential and loves helping others discover just how versatile and rewarding working with wool can be.
A passionate fiber artist and teacher, Maranda enjoys sharing traditional and modern fiber arts, including spinning, felting, weaving, and other wool-based crafts. Her classes are designed to be approachable, hands-on, and fun, encouraging students to explore their creativity while learning practical skills they can continue using at home.
At the heart of Maranda’s work is a simple mission: rescue the wool, preserve the craft, and teach others to love fiber as much as she does.