Our instructors are drawn from a wealth of talented teachers, including nationally known artists from across the country and across the street. They are innovative craftsmen and artists who enjoy trying new techniques and love sharing what they do with their students.
If you are an experienced art, craft, writing, or performing arts instructor and are interested in teaching at Shake Rag Alley, click here for more information.
Retired Youth Program director for Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, Elizabeth did not have art classes at school when she was young. Enthralled by watching Jon Gnagy on television, she enjoyed getting one of his “Learn to Draw” kits from her mom. “Since then I have explored many art materials, but the current material I work with is handmade paper. I got into making paper first as a sculptural medium because the clay pieces I was making became too big to fit into a large kiln. After making large paper structures, I then discovered how much I enjoy making imagery with colored paper pulp.”
Workshops
Handmade Paper – Woodlanders Gathering
Clara is a resident of Mineral Point who moved in from Indiana and an avid fan of all things fibers arts.
Workshops
Dasha Kelly is a writer, performance artist and creative change agent. She has authored award-winning poetry, essays and fiction. She is a mainstage storyteller and host with The Moth, an alum of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Poet Laureate Emerita for both the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin and a National Laureate Fellow with the American Academy of Poets. In 2024, Dasha was named a Living Legacy Honoree by the licensing agency for the legendary poet Gwendolyn Brooks.
A skilled engagement practitioner and instructor, Dasha has facilitated initiatives in Botswana, Mauritius and Beirut as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy. Her nationally-touring stage show, Makin’ Cake, serves audiences a unique conversation on race, class and equity. Her nonprofit literary arts organization, Still Waters Collective, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Dasha’s recent releases are a poetry anthology, A Line Meant (Jaded Ibis Press), a 10th anniversary reprint of Almost Crimson (Traitmarker Books), and a new novel, Baker’s Dozen (Jaded Ibis).
Workshops
Mining Your Stories Writing Retreat
Jim Kern is a talented and enthusiastic creator with a passion for rustic crafts that celebrate natural materials and traditional techniques. With a love for all things handmade, Jim specializes in crafting unique home décor, leathercraft, and accessories using reclaimed wood, natural fibers, leather, and other raw materials. From handcrafted bags and accessories to rustic wall art and furniture, each piece reflects a deep appreciation for the simplicity and beauty of nature.
Workshops
Introduction to Leathercraft – Woodlanders Gathering
Handsewn Leather “Boho” Bag – Woodlanders Gathering
Leather Dual (Wine) Bottle Holder – Woodlanders Gathering
Todd started his journey as a full time twig builder in 1995. He built massive amounts of twig furniture for many years. However, at this point in his life, his focus is on twig sculpture. He’s been teaching at Shake Rag Alley’s Woodlanders Gathering since the early 2000’s.
Workshops
Rustic Coat Tree – Woodlanders Gathering
Garden Chair – Woodlanders Gathering
Cathy Kitto is a retired educator with 40 years of experience in six states and England as a teacher and school principal. Since retiring she has been able to pursue her interest and develop her skills in fabric art, specifically painting on silk and nature printing on shirts and other fabrics. When not enjoying her new-found hobby, you can find her in her garden playing with her flowers.
Workshops
A freelance photographer for many years, Andy was visual materials curator at the Wisconsin Historical Society for 30 years. Since retirement in 2018, he has continued to pursue alternative photographic processes including cyanotype and gum bichromate. Instagram @andykraushaar
Workshops
Christina Kubasta is a poet and fiction writer who also explores collaboration and connection with the visual arts. Her new poetry book Under the Tented Skin is just out from Unsolicted Press (May 2025). Find her at ckubasta.com and on Instagram @CKubastathePoet.
Workshops
Darn Socks! – Woodlanders Gathering
Knitting 101: Basketweave Scarf
Megan Kulick’s artistic credentials revolve around years spent on staff at Shake Rag Alley. She is a stay-at-home mom who loves coming back to teach soaps and scrubs as well as other fun and fanciful Shake Rag Youth Program classes!
Workshops
Laura Lein-Svencner grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois, close to her grandfather’s farm, which was the last operating farm there, and now resides in Darien, Illinois. She’s married with four grown children and a home full of loving creatures. Although she has studied drawing, printmaking, sculpture, book arts, and the art of hand paper-making, it is the love of paper and design that call her attention. She comes from many generations of “creative makers” working with their hands.
She is a signature member of the National Collage Society and co-founder of the Midwest Collage Society, which exhibits throughout the Chicagoland area. She has won many awards for her work, which are represented at Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor, WI. Her works have been published in Incite 1, 2, 3 and 4 of North Light Publishing, Somerset Studio, Cloth Paper Scissors, the Professional Artist magazine, Artists Magazine, and Watercolor Artist magazine through the years. Laura has self-published a collage sketchbook-instructional design book, and she has continued her second love of teaching the fine art of collage in classroom settings, workshops, and online for the past 26 years. Her work has found its way into many homes through the United States and internationally.
From 2015 to present, Laura’s work was selected to be printed on material by clothing design company Dolcezza-Simply Art from Canada (dolcezza.ca).
Workshops
I am a passionate art instructor, thingmaker, bookmaker, figurative assemblage artist and recovering perfectionist! My background is in fine arts and photography and I’ve been teaching art workshops for the past 20 years at art retreats in the U.S. I develop my classes by playing, making a mess, making “mistakes,” and I can’t think of any better way to live and make a living. I love to create, to hunt for things to create with, and to share my creativity with others. It’s what I live for, it’s my oxygen.
I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and I have spent most of the past 20 years in New Mexico. I am so lucky to live in Taos, the mountains of northern New Mexico, with my best friends Thomas, Peetie, Lily, and Hairy B.
Workshops
As one of the founding members of the Mississippi River Sampler Guild and later a member of the Textile Artists of Greater Yellowstone, Zann Liljegren has been creating and teaching hand embroidery of all kinds for 30 years. Working with antique samplers also allowed her to learn textile preservation. She has previously taught Sashiko for Shake Rag as well as how to use the simple running stitch to create small, beautiful works of art. She is a retired psychotherapist and adds those skills to helping students move through their creative blocks. This year she is branching out into traditional rug hooking.
Workshops
Carolyn has spent the last 20 years experimenting with handicrafts while living in remote Alaskan camps, onboard ships in the middle of the ocean, and at Antarctic research stations. Creative use of fabric scraps is necessary when you are in the middle of nowhere, but is also a fun and sustainable practice here at home in Wisconsin. She has two decades of experience teaching knitting, sewing, mending, and science.
Workshops
A veterinarian by training, I’ve been blacksmithing using a gas forge for around 5 years making decorative art and small functional items (flowers, brackets, garden posts, dinner triangles, herb choppers, etc). I like to teach classes to pass along my interest in, and joy for, working with fire and hammers to new budding blacksmiths.
Workshops
Glass art has unlocked a door for Artwork in any medium is born from a spark of intention like a dance fully emerging from thought, passing through hands, and eyes. Torch fired glass has been with me for over 24 years. It has taught me focus, given me happiness and failures, challenges and successes. Meticulously constructed, I use the torch to melt the glass layer upon layer, reading the heat and applying ancient techniques and skills. I strive to capture beauty within my glass art. Glass art has unlocked a door for me. In 2014, Beadazzled By Julz, LLC was born out of the desire to teach the ancient art of glass bead making skills and art jewelry. I’ve since expanded to include glass blowing and enameling.
What sets me apart as a creator and teacher is my 29 years of experience working in public education. I am grateful for the opportunities to foster creativity, make friends, and share my skills. My charitable donations include “Beads Of Courage”.
Workshops
Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 1
Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 2
Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 3
Create Sparkling Dichroic Glass Beads in the Flame
Intermediate Glass Bead Making
18 Shake Rag St.
Mineral Point, WI 53565
(608) 987-3292
