Iowa Fiber & Arts Founders and Teachers ...and animals
	Diane Fleshin has been involved in the fiber arts & crafts since her early farm days in Iowa. Some of her earliest memories are of the area rug she wove for her mother from recycled materials. During her college days in Iowa and California, she dabbled with beading, quilting & needlework. Serving in the Army Nurse Corps for 20 years, Diane was active in guilds across the country and was enriched by the diverse artisans she met. Even with the excitement of living in San Francisco, Washington D.C., San Antonio and many small towns in between she always kept her dream alive of having a farm and knitting sweaters with the wool from her own sheep! Now, with her husband and son, she is back on the farm in the beautiful Cedar Valley area of Iowa. Her sheep, angora goats & llama along with the mules and donkeys provide endless adventures. Visit during the summer and you may be treated with berries and produce from the 3 acre organic garden or invited to help weed! Diane's days are filled with fiber dyeing, felting, spinning, weaving & teaching along with endless hours of fun and frolic (and weeding) on the farm. Diane founded Iowa Fiber & Arts Alliance in 2005 with Sue Kann as a means to pass along her interest in fiber arts to the next generation.
	Sue Kann became intrigued by the fiber arts the first time she combed wool at the 4H Club in 5th grade. Coming from a sewing, quilting and needlework heritage, her interest in creating fabric via knitting had to wait until a friend taught her to knit while traveling on a train in Wales. The mission of that trip quickly turned from sight seeing to fiber acquisition and Sue's fascination with all things fiber was reborn. Being involved in a Waldolf style school with her children required much fiber art work for Sue. She was very happy to fulfill her school volunteer hours knitting farm animals, dyeing yarn, felt and silks and other indulgences, er, I mean, work. Sue has taught knitting at schools and summer camps for many years. She takes great delight in seeing kids, both girls and boys, become interested in and skilled at this age old craft. Sue, her husband and three daughters, along with a mountain of yarn live in Iowa City, Iowa. She founded Iowa Fiber & Arts Alliance in 2005 with Diane Fleshin to continue her interest in fiber arts and kids.
	Aletha Hay lives in West Burlington, Iowa, where she taught first grade for decades. During her teaching days, Mrs. Hay would allow students who deserved a treat, the opportunity to weave on a tabletop loom in the back of the classroom. She tells stories of stretching a warp down the school hallway and around chairs. Weaving involves math and concentration so it makes a perfect teaching opportunity! Aletha has been a weaver her whole life. She has been active in numerous guilds and taught classes at countless conferences and festivals around the Midwest. Aletha has been a teacher at Iowa Fiber & Arts summer camps for 4 years. She contributes many clever weaving projects and continues to warp every loom used by our campers (a huge task!) We consider ourselves very lucky that Aletha has dedicated herself to passing on the joy of weaving to the next generation at our camps!
	Sandy Mente is our immensely creative and talented ukulele playing fiber artist! With a background in early childhood development and fiber art talent, Sandy is a fabulous teacher for kids and adults. Sandy has won many ribbons at the County Fair and even the Iowa State Fair in a variety of categories from quilting to egg decorating! All things created by Sandy are beautiful works of art! Recently Sandy has added weaving to her bag of tricks through the beginning weaving class at the Iowa City Craft Guild. Sandy has the immensely useful characteristics of organization and patience. Her teaching style is fun and relaxed which means you will have a great time working on projects with her!

And now the animals....
		Two huge mules, 2 talkative donkeys, 4 grazing sheep, 4 frisky goats, a watchful llama, a friendly barn cat and a great dog - it's quite a menagerie! A visit to the barn and Diane's hilarious animal stories are highlights of the day at camp.