Meet Our Instructors
Yvonne Ellsworth
Yvonne is a multifaceted fiber artist who weaves together a diverse range of skills, including knitting, spinning, weaving, and dyeing. She is dedicated to crafting one of a kind, hand-made treasures. As a bespoke artist, she welcomes custom commissions, working closely with clients to bring their visions to life.
Tami Petrie
Tami brings warmth and expertise to the world of knitting, having taught in the Valley for many years. With a passion for fostering creativity and community, she finds joy in helping others bring projects to life. Through shared experiences and collective wisdom, Tami believes that learning and growth thrive in a supportive environment. Her goal is to empower new knitters and ensure success with every garment, while having fun along the way-- playing with sticks and string!
Jennifer Piper
Jennifer is an artist and maker creating from her home in Woodinville, specializing in unique 3D art felted from wool. She especially enjoys making objects that are not traditionally made of wool, such as lamps, bowls, sculptures, jewelry, and mobiles. She loves teaching both wet felting and needle felting, sharing some of the many ways wool can be used as a wonderful art medium!
Skye LaChute
I am a fiber enthusiast with a deep love of weaving on everything from professional floor looms to toy looms and everyday objects, often incorporating wool and irregular materials such as plant materials. My creative interest spans knitting, crochet, spinning, felting, and dyeing, and I’m endlessly experimenting with color, texture, and form to create pieces that brighten adding whimsy and interest to a space or garden or wardrobe. After retiring from a career in medicine and technology, I've devoted myself fully to fiber arts—continually learning new techniques, sharing what I discover, and connecting with others who find joy in making by hand.
Marilyn Romatka
Marilyn Romatka’s focus is living folk art crafts. She teaches a wide variety, from painting techniques to weaving, the common thread being that the techniques are all deep-rooted in a culture from around the world. You might say the techniques she teaches have all survived the ‘test of time’. They are all real.
Although Marilyn started out as a scientist, Life intervened and she became a teacher of ethnic folk art nationwide. She is now thoroughly enjoying her next metamorphosis into budding filmmaker. She likes to say she has the best job in the world; she travels to various countries gathering folk art techniques, then returns to the US to teach enthusiastic students!
Kip Wyatt
I am a child of Appalachia. My ancestors were hard-working resourceful people who lived in very rugged and isolated country. They were expert at using and reusing local resources to make or mend the things they needed. It is not surprising to me that I have been a woodworker all my life. I have a degree in Heritage Arts from Salem College that prepared me to demonstrate 18th century trades in outdoor museums; it was at Salem I learned to make baskets. When not making things or playing guitar, I am off having adventures with my wife and our dogs.
Atenas Morales
I'm Atenas Morales, a textile artist who loves working with ecoprinting and natural dyes. My journey started in the performing arts and cultural management, and I've always been on the lookout for ways to blend creativity with the beauty of nature. That's how Scarabajo Studio came to life—a place where I can share my passion and teach techniques that turn leaves, flowers, and fibers into unique pieces of wearable art. Every workshop is a wonderful opportunity to explore, experiment, and find inspiration in the wonders of nature.
Today, I'm excited to take these workshops to different places, spreading the joy of ecoprinting and natural dyes to more people. My aim is to inspire everyone with this amazing art, helping each person connect with nature, unleash their creativity, and create unique pieces full of life and color to take home.