Instructor Biographies
Sarah Buchanan
Sarah has always been interested in creating things and was introduced to knitting and cross stitch at a young age, thanks to her Grandma. After graduating with a degree in Wildlife Ecology, Sarah found fiber arts as an excellent way to combine her passion for conservation and creativity. She has made Buchanan Fiber Co. her primary focus and passion, with the hopes of providing beautifully colored products using sustainable sourced fibers to spinners everywhere!
Kim Buchheit
Kim is a fiber artist with over 25 years experience in the design field. Her design business, Buchheit Creative Services, focuses on developing creative solutions for her clients including exhibit and surface design. As a former fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts and juror for regional and local arts organizations, she has a longstanding commitment to the arts in Arizona. As a working fiber artist, Kim teaches workshops annually for the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute. She is also a certified instructor in graphic design and has taught courses at the college level. As a working fiber artist, Kim teaches workshops annually for the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute and is represented by West of the Moon gallery in Flagstaff, AZ.
Maria Conti
Mary's tapestry experience goes back to her 20's. She was self taught at that time with the use of some library books. In 2010 she moved to Scottsdale, AZ and joined the AZ Weavers and Spinners Guild. There, we had a program on tapestry weaving and a presentation about the American Tapestry Alliance by Diane Wolf. Mary joined up with the wonderful Diane Wolf who taught her so very much and encouraged her to joint he American Tapestry Alliance. After joining this great international organization, Mary was mentored by Terri Stewart via computer and snail mail. Terri was a great teacher and mentor and got Mary to experiment and weave things she had not previously experienced. Mary has been chairing the Tapestry Small Group in our AWSG for the past three years or so.
Velvet Dishon
Velvet has been a designer for over 10 years. She has taught all levels of knitting at Jo-Ann Fabrics for 6 years and at the Yarn Outlet Store for 4 years. Velvet's patterns are currently available on Revelry, Craftsy, YarnZone and Whimsical Yarn.
Julia Garina
Julia is a textile artist, felt maker and art teacher in Charter school. She enjoys assisting others discover and develop their own unique creative voice while continuing to express her own. Julia works in contemporary and unexpected ways to express her energy into the world by practicing many different felting techniques i.e. needle, wet, nuno, and using organic materials. By using these methods of fiber craft that historically were considered women's work in new and non-traditional ways, she makes then artworks. She works to inspire her students to express their artistic creativity and loves to share her skills with her students. Julia was born in Central Asia and has lived in Arizona for 4 years. She is a member of the Arizona Felters Guild. Julia has offered workshops for the guild and this summer presented a demo of wearable felt art and two gave workshops at Flagstaff Fiber and Wool Festival.
Todd Grossman
Once upon a time, Todd decided it would be interesting to knit a scarf. One scarf. After all, he was juggling two full-time jobs as a gymnastics program director and a piano teacher. Still, there were plenty of late night hours, so despite sleep deprivation, Todd perfected his craft over the next twenty years. Just to be clear, he has knit much more than one scarf. In fact, he has worked in the field of knitting in both retail and as a professional finisher, and was selected as one of Interweave’s KnitLab Scholars in 2013. He is also an avid crocheter and has recently explored the worlds of jewelry design, sewing, and cross stitch. Something is definitely wrong with him. His fiber art pieces have been in several shows and private collections.
Louise Hall
I have been interested in textiles since I was a child. I learned to knit in school in Scotland when I was 5 years old. I studied Fine Art in England prior to coming to the US, and made my living drawing, painting and printmaking in Tubac, AZ until the mid 1990's. After a move to Northern AZ, I revived my love for knitting and in 2010 was introduced to felt making whilst visiting my Mom in Northern England. I became totally infatuated with what can be done with wool fiber, soap and water! I have been teaching felt making and Fair Isle knitting in Northern AZ for the past few years and just love to help people push themselves creatively.
Tasha Miller Griffith
Tasha's mom gave her needles and threads at a young age, and Tasha has been creating her own patterns and designs for textiles for as long as she can remember. She started teaching sewing and knitting in 2008, and has continued to explore new techniques and share as much of her fiber knowledge as she can ever since. Tasha has taught at the John C Campbell Folk School, as well as a fiber festivals and independent shops. She wants her students to leave class not just with a project, but also with enough understanding to venture further on their own.
Amanda Neal
I have been weaving for 7 years now and love all types of weaving but my passion is floor loom weaving! I have been teaching and managing at Tempe Yarn and Fiber for about 8 years. So I get to be around yarn everyday and get paid for it! Lucky me! You can do so much with weaving and what fun it is to create colorful useful handmade fabrics! I love teaching weaving classes and getting the students to experience the joy of weaving. It’s a great feeling to help weavers learn to love the process of weaving and helping them in creating their own personal fabrics that are as unique as they are!
Elizabeth Odiorne
Elizabeth received both her BFA and MFA degrees from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University in Fibers, with a focus on Printed Textiles. Currently residing in Arizona, she was recently invited to display her work in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the exhibition Drawn to Pattern. Elizabeth has been featured in various art publications, including Surface Design Journal "Designing Minds" issue and Expose Art Magazine "Next Generation of Artists" issue. The artwork that Elizabeth creates consists of large screen printed textiles, flooded with pattern and a variety of color, creating repeated pattern from natural forms and abstracting them with hand drawn quality. Elizabeth focuses on balance and demonstrates a combination of structure with organic shapes to create an overall vibrant visual experience.
Mary Papaj
Mary has been felting for approximately 4 years and is the co-founder of the Arizona Felters Guild.
Deb Salazar
Debra is the needle felting instructor for Studio Three Yarn and Fiber Shop at 1440 W Gurley St., Prescott, AZ. Her art background includes painting, original art dolls, clay and wood sculpture.
Kim Steffgen
Kim is a fiber artist, writer, amateur herbalist and felt maker. She teaches wool tapestry, 3D felting and wool jewelry to teens and adults at various public libraries and community agencies in Arizona. Her special interest is in wet-felted flowers, wool vessels and surface designs that tell a story. Kim is known to knit in public wherever she goes. She is especially interested in felt making's therapeutic benefits for people experiencing trauma-related stress and for overall mind-body integrative wellness. In 2014, Kim founded Winter Moon Woolens Felt Making and Textile Studio and Wool Gatherings Experiential Playshops that combine expressive writing, body movement and felting.
Nancy Wilson
Nancy began spinning shortly after she and her husband Chris acquired their first llamas in 1988, followed by an alpaca in 1993. In 1988 she had an 'aha' moment: "These llamas have fiber not hem, I need to learn to spin it." With an educational background in textiles and clothing, Nancy's llamas and alpacas have been a way for her to use that knowledge as well as being a method to pursue her knitting hobby. Nancy's Third Rule of Life is "Never get caught without a knitting project." She is currently pursuing her Master Spinner certification through Olds College and has completed Level 5. Nancy is working on her in-depth study at this time.
Sarah has always been interested in creating things and was introduced to knitting and cross stitch at a young age, thanks to her Grandma. After graduating with a degree in Wildlife Ecology, Sarah found fiber arts as an excellent way to combine her passion for conservation and creativity. She has made Buchanan Fiber Co. her primary focus and passion, with the hopes of providing beautifully colored products using sustainable sourced fibers to spinners everywhere!
Kim Buchheit
Kim is a fiber artist with over 25 years experience in the design field. Her design business, Buchheit Creative Services, focuses on developing creative solutions for her clients including exhibit and surface design. As a former fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts and juror for regional and local arts organizations, she has a longstanding commitment to the arts in Arizona. As a working fiber artist, Kim teaches workshops annually for the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute. She is also a certified instructor in graphic design and has taught courses at the college level. As a working fiber artist, Kim teaches workshops annually for the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute and is represented by West of the Moon gallery in Flagstaff, AZ.
Maria Conti
Mary's tapestry experience goes back to her 20's. She was self taught at that time with the use of some library books. In 2010 she moved to Scottsdale, AZ and joined the AZ Weavers and Spinners Guild. There, we had a program on tapestry weaving and a presentation about the American Tapestry Alliance by Diane Wolf. Mary joined up with the wonderful Diane Wolf who taught her so very much and encouraged her to joint he American Tapestry Alliance. After joining this great international organization, Mary was mentored by Terri Stewart via computer and snail mail. Terri was a great teacher and mentor and got Mary to experiment and weave things she had not previously experienced. Mary has been chairing the Tapestry Small Group in our AWSG for the past three years or so.
Velvet Dishon
Velvet has been a designer for over 10 years. She has taught all levels of knitting at Jo-Ann Fabrics for 6 years and at the Yarn Outlet Store for 4 years. Velvet's patterns are currently available on Revelry, Craftsy, YarnZone and Whimsical Yarn.
Julia Garina
Julia is a textile artist, felt maker and art teacher in Charter school. She enjoys assisting others discover and develop their own unique creative voice while continuing to express her own. Julia works in contemporary and unexpected ways to express her energy into the world by practicing many different felting techniques i.e. needle, wet, nuno, and using organic materials. By using these methods of fiber craft that historically were considered women's work in new and non-traditional ways, she makes then artworks. She works to inspire her students to express their artistic creativity and loves to share her skills with her students. Julia was born in Central Asia and has lived in Arizona for 4 years. She is a member of the Arizona Felters Guild. Julia has offered workshops for the guild and this summer presented a demo of wearable felt art and two gave workshops at Flagstaff Fiber and Wool Festival.
Todd Grossman
Once upon a time, Todd decided it would be interesting to knit a scarf. One scarf. After all, he was juggling two full-time jobs as a gymnastics program director and a piano teacher. Still, there were plenty of late night hours, so despite sleep deprivation, Todd perfected his craft over the next twenty years. Just to be clear, he has knit much more than one scarf. In fact, he has worked in the field of knitting in both retail and as a professional finisher, and was selected as one of Interweave’s KnitLab Scholars in 2013. He is also an avid crocheter and has recently explored the worlds of jewelry design, sewing, and cross stitch. Something is definitely wrong with him. His fiber art pieces have been in several shows and private collections.
Louise Hall
I have been interested in textiles since I was a child. I learned to knit in school in Scotland when I was 5 years old. I studied Fine Art in England prior to coming to the US, and made my living drawing, painting and printmaking in Tubac, AZ until the mid 1990's. After a move to Northern AZ, I revived my love for knitting and in 2010 was introduced to felt making whilst visiting my Mom in Northern England. I became totally infatuated with what can be done with wool fiber, soap and water! I have been teaching felt making and Fair Isle knitting in Northern AZ for the past few years and just love to help people push themselves creatively.
Tasha Miller Griffith
Tasha's mom gave her needles and threads at a young age, and Tasha has been creating her own patterns and designs for textiles for as long as she can remember. She started teaching sewing and knitting in 2008, and has continued to explore new techniques and share as much of her fiber knowledge as she can ever since. Tasha has taught at the John C Campbell Folk School, as well as a fiber festivals and independent shops. She wants her students to leave class not just with a project, but also with enough understanding to venture further on their own.
Amanda Neal
I have been weaving for 7 years now and love all types of weaving but my passion is floor loom weaving! I have been teaching and managing at Tempe Yarn and Fiber for about 8 years. So I get to be around yarn everyday and get paid for it! Lucky me! You can do so much with weaving and what fun it is to create colorful useful handmade fabrics! I love teaching weaving classes and getting the students to experience the joy of weaving. It’s a great feeling to help weavers learn to love the process of weaving and helping them in creating their own personal fabrics that are as unique as they are!
Elizabeth Odiorne
Elizabeth received both her BFA and MFA degrees from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University in Fibers, with a focus on Printed Textiles. Currently residing in Arizona, she was recently invited to display her work in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the exhibition Drawn to Pattern. Elizabeth has been featured in various art publications, including Surface Design Journal "Designing Minds" issue and Expose Art Magazine "Next Generation of Artists" issue. The artwork that Elizabeth creates consists of large screen printed textiles, flooded with pattern and a variety of color, creating repeated pattern from natural forms and abstracting them with hand drawn quality. Elizabeth focuses on balance and demonstrates a combination of structure with organic shapes to create an overall vibrant visual experience.
Mary Papaj
Mary has been felting for approximately 4 years and is the co-founder of the Arizona Felters Guild.
Deb Salazar
Debra is the needle felting instructor for Studio Three Yarn and Fiber Shop at 1440 W Gurley St., Prescott, AZ. Her art background includes painting, original art dolls, clay and wood sculpture.
Kim Steffgen
Kim is a fiber artist, writer, amateur herbalist and felt maker. She teaches wool tapestry, 3D felting and wool jewelry to teens and adults at various public libraries and community agencies in Arizona. Her special interest is in wet-felted flowers, wool vessels and surface designs that tell a story. Kim is known to knit in public wherever she goes. She is especially interested in felt making's therapeutic benefits for people experiencing trauma-related stress and for overall mind-body integrative wellness. In 2014, Kim founded Winter Moon Woolens Felt Making and Textile Studio and Wool Gatherings Experiential Playshops that combine expressive writing, body movement and felting.
Nancy Wilson
Nancy began spinning shortly after she and her husband Chris acquired their first llamas in 1988, followed by an alpaca in 1993. In 1988 she had an 'aha' moment: "These llamas have fiber not hem, I need to learn to spin it." With an educational background in textiles and clothing, Nancy's llamas and alpacas have been a way for her to use that knowledge as well as being a method to pursue her knitting hobby. Nancy's Third Rule of Life is "Never get caught without a knitting project." She is currently pursuing her Master Spinner certification through Olds College and has completed Level 5. Nancy is working on her in-depth study at this time.
