RMFS Instructors

Patty Alandar
Pottery Instructor

Patty took her first pottery class in 1986 and her hands have been in clay ever since. Texture intrigues; she can’t resist carving into clay.

She currently works with porcelain, contrasting the translucent white with colored clays. Layering and revealing color has carried through to her printmaking.

Patty taught at Fraser Valley Rec for over 20 years and is now happy to be teaching in her hometown of Grand Lake at the Rocky Mountain Folk School

Tyson Arnold
Flint Knapping Instructor

Tyson has been volunteering at various archaeological sites for the past 13 years.

From conducting surface surveys, auger and shovel testing, fine-tuned excavations, as well as hundreds of hours spent illustrating artifacts, he has amassed over 800 hours of volunteer archaeology work throughout Wyoming and Northern Colorado.

Through learning about the North American Paleolithic record, he has become a proficient flint knapper, as well as natural cordage twisting and atl making. These primitive skills are crucial to understanding stone tools and the peoples that left them behind.

Robin Barrett
Wet & Needle Felt instructor

Robin recently retired to Winter Park after living in Houston, TX.

She has been honing her felting skills for many years, creating a variety of projects using techniques like wet felting and needle felting.

Robin sources her materials from “Living Felt” in Austin, TX, where she discovered her passion for this versatile craft.

Isaac Baugher
Leather Instructor

Isaac is a skilled leatherworker with over a decade of hands-on experience in the craft.

As the owner of BarsCreations, his custom leather shop specializes in everything from handcrafted saddles to custom Harley seats, blending traditional techniques with functional design.

Isaac’s passion for leatherwork is matched only by his appreciation for the vibrant community it connects him to—where craftsmanship, storytelling, and heritage come together.

Mike Bickelhaupt
Ice Sculpting Instructor

Mike is the creative force behind Colorado Ice Works, the region’s largest specialty ice company, producing over 1.2 million pounds of clear ice in 2024.

Since purchasing the company in 2013, Mike has transformed it from a one-man side business into a thriving operation known for its artistic ice sculptures and innovative craft ice techniques. While he once handled everything from deliveries to carving, Mike now leads the company’s creative direction—overseeing sculptural design, refining production methods, and developing new offerings that set Colorado Ice Works apart.

His passion for sculpting with ice reflects a rare blend of precision, vision, and entrepreneurship, bringing temporary works of art to life in a truly unforgettable medium.

Jim Brainard
Leatherworking Instructor

Jim began his leatherworking career in 1970, hand tooling belts and wallets before expanding into chaps and rodeo gear, and in 1974 was hired at Hutch’s Boot Shop, where he apprenticed for five years under a third-generation boot maker with family ties to the Great West Saddlery of Alberta, Canada.

In 1979, Jim purchased the shop, operating first as Cobbler’s Hut and later as Tanner’s Leather Repair, and over the next two decades in Parker, Colorado built a successful six-person shop offering leather repair, custom leather goods, and upholstery services.

After selling the business in 2000, he opened a custom shop and repair facility from his home, and in 2009 returned to his mentor Hutch to study traditional boot making. Hutch later joined Jim’s shop in 2013 until his passing in 2018.

Today, Jim focuses primarily on crafting custom western and English riding boots, while continuing to serve a dedicated equestrian clientele with saddle and tack repair and producing a limited selection of custom leather goods with the support of a trained repair technician.

TJ Daring
Oil Pastel, Watercolor, & Stained Glass Instructor

TJ Daring, Sunday instructor, brings her diverse artistic skills to the Grand Lake Creative District.

With expertise in Watercolor, Oil Pastel, Crocheting/Knitting, and Stained Glass, she offers a wide range of creative classes for all levels.

Inspired by the stunning landscapes of Winter Park, Colorado, TJ’s artwork is rich with color and texture, blending acrylics and oil pastels to create captivating and magical scenes.

Liz Deane
Metalsmithing Instructor

I am a 2017 graduate of B Golden Jewelry School’s Business Accelerator Program, which is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to attend numerous classes and workshops taught by some of the most talented jewelers across the United States.

My experience in the jewelry industry includes working as a jewelry production assistant at a variety of jewelry stores, as well as serving as an instructor at B Golden Jewelry School in both Salt Lake City, UT, and Austin, TX. Most recently, I had the opportunity to contribute to education as an adjunct professor at Salt Lake Community College, where I taught their Jewelry Arts Class.

I find immense joy in teaching metalsmithing and the broader field of jewelry arts as well as creating unique, one of a kind jewelry pieces for clients. Currently, I reside in the breathtaking Colorado Rockies with my husband and cat.

Linda Dewey
Glass Fusion Instructor

Linda has followed a rich and varied art career. She first owned and operated the largest fiber mill in Colorado, producing alpaca yarn for nine states, including hand-painted yarn.

After spending a decade working with pottery, she became fascinated with the challenge of making the rigid medium of glass appear fluid. Linda loves teaching fused glass, finding joy in watching her students create unique pieces.

The Rocky Mountain Folk School provides her the perfect opportunity to share her skills and passion for this art form.

Dennis Fanning
Wood Turning Instructor

Dennis brings over 30 years of experience in woodworking and woodturning.

As a proud member of both the Front Range Woodturners Club and the American Association of Woodturners (AAW), Dennis is passionate about teaching and mentoring others in the craft, sharing his expertise and love for woodturning with students of all skill levels.

Tom Farber
Native American Style Flute Instructor

Tom began his musical journey at age four on an old player piano, eventually moving to ukulele, tenor guitar, and trombone, performing in school bands, orchestras, and jazz ensembles, and even studying at the University of Miami School of Music.

After a long hiatus from music, his passion was reignited in 2014 during a trip to Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, where he was captivated by the sound of a Native American flute and began learning to play shortly thereafter. Since then, Tom has become deeply involved in the flute community, joining local flute circles, attending workshops, composing for the Native American style flute, and teaching others.

Today, he hosts the Mile High Flute Circle, provides private lessons for beginner and intermediate players, and teaches classes at a local adult education facility.

Keith Kemmer
Primitive Rug Hooking Instructor

Keith has been rug hooking for over 30 years and designing patterns for nearly as long, with a particular passion for primitive rugs. Drawn to their folky designs and timeworn charm, Keith has developed a distinctive primitive hooking style through years of practice and study with renowned instructors in the field.

Teaching rug hooking is his full-time work, and he regularly leads classes at major rug camps and ATHA Biennials, in addition to directing the Shaker Village Rug Retreat at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in Kentucky.

His rug patterns—drawn from his own designs, antique adaptations, folk art, and 19th-century woven coverlets—are available through Woolley Fox (woolleyfox.com), alongside those of notable designers like Barbara Carroll and Edyth O’Neill.

Through his teaching and designs, Keith continues to inspire a deep appreciation for the art of primitive rug hooking.

Stanley Loftness
Native American Style Flute Making Instructor

Stanley discovered his passion for Native American–style flute making after hearing the haunting sound of a flute echo through Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, an experience that inspired him to begin crafting his own instruments using his woodworking skills. He later played these flutes in the canyons and ancient kivas of the Grand Gulch Primitive Area, deepening his connection to the history and spirit of the landscape.

As a doctor of medicine, Stanley has long been devoted to healing and has come to focus on the often-overlooked spiritual dimension of wellness, incorporating music as a powerful tool in the healing process.

Through his one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted flutes, he shares his belief in the Native American flute’s ability to foster peace, balance, and healing of both body and mind.

Amanda Magdalena
Wood Burning Instructor

With a PhD in History from SUNY Buffalo and a background in teaching, this instructor brings a thoughtful and approachable style to every workshop she leads.

A lifelong crafter, she has explored a wide range of creative pursuits—from crocheting and glass cutting to furniture restoration and upcycling. In recent years, she has developed a deep appreciation for working with wood, especially through wood burning, where she combines craftsmanship with creativity to produce unique and beautiful pieces.

Her workshops emphasize technique, experimentation, and the joy of making, creating a welcoming space for learners of all skill levels.

Sheila McKay
Sunsilk Suncatchers, Batik on Suede Instructor

Sheila brings decades of professional and creative experience to her work as an instructor, having spent 32 years with Hewlett-Packard and more than 20 years as a Girl Scout leader, where she led a wide variety of craft and entrepreneurial projects, including creating and selling handmade items at craft fairs.

She is the co-owner of McKay Manor Musers, a design company she runs with her two daughters, focused on creating sewing patterns and designing fabric, and she teaches sewing and painting classes at Pinners Conferences throughout the United States.

Based in Woodland Park, Colorado, Sheila enjoys collaborating on creative projects with her husband, who works in woodworking and dreamcatchers, and shares a strong interest in building connections within the Grand Lake creative community.

Matt Paisley
Cobbler (Leatherworker) & Woodwork Instructor

Matt teaches woodworking, construction, cobbling, and leathercraft at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he is known for his hands-on, project-based approach that builds practical skills, confidence, and a strong work ethic in an inclusive classroom environment.

A fourth-generation woodworker from rural Kendall County, Illinois, Matt comes from a family of English craftsmen who helped rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871, passing down a deep tradition of skilled trades and perseverance. Growing up caring for horses, saddles, tack, and farm animals shaped his appreciation for durability, function, and traditional craftsmanship.

In addition to teaching, Matt operates a small sandal-making business out of his Castle Rock shop, a practice he has maintained for 15 years, with designs tested on the trails of Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park. During school breaks, he plans to offer sandal-making and leather bag classes at the Rocky Mountain Folk School, sharing his passion for traditional craft with the Grand Lake community while continuing to enjoy trail running, cobbling, non-fiction reading, and traveling with his family.

Karen Smith & Linda Troute
Gourd Instructors and Patch members

Karen has been gourding for 7 years. She enjoys bringing out the beauty of the natural gourd in unusual and whimsical ways.

She introduced Linda to gourding over a year ago.

Linda, a quick study, creates delightful pieces in a traditional style.

Emily Weils
Watercolor & Mixed Media Instructor

Emily holds a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts and recently relocated from California to Grand Lake, Colorado.

While mostly retired, she continues to take on occasional freelance graphic design work and brings extensive teaching experience from leading workshops at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda, California, as well as at Feather River Art Camp, held annually each June.

Emily has also offered private art lessons and is happy to provide references upon request.

FORMER INSTRUCTOR – Allison O’Neall
Shibori & Botanical Dyeing

Allison is a native of Colorado who resides in Boulder, Colorado and Grand Lake, Colorado. With over 20 years of experience in textile arts and design, Allison finds great joy making art in the natural world.

Her experience with textile art making includes working with natural dyes including indigo and integrating Shibori techniques into this process, using nature’s offerings for botanical printing on fabrics, garment making using wool and silk felting techniques, and sewing for interior design and garment making.

Allison believes that making art with natural elements, like indigo dye, renews the spirit and manifests joy and wonderment in the creative process.