Meet our Teachers
If you’re interested in hosting a class at The Crafter’s Library, please scroll down and fill out the teaching inquiry form!
Andy Lehmann,
LEHMANN DESIGN HAUS
Andrew "Andy" Lehmann was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to a Swiss-German and Polish family. Growing up, he was always artistic and creative, and it was an integral part of his life as a kid and young adult. Whether he was creating cleaning products from plants, building theatrical sets, or on a stage performing, he was always creating and doing. He went on to attend university for architecture, but signed a modeling contract before finishing so he packed my bags and moved to California, where I've lived since 2010.
During his time modeling, new friends introduced him to the world of luxury candles and fragrances. He was fascinated by the way these candles could transform a space and was inspired by the feelings and memories they evoked. The thought of making candles came up, but it was only a random idea at this point in his story. A creative venture he needed to be more mature to conquer.
His creative outlet turned creative project, LEHMANN DESIGN HAUS is built on a foundation of profound craftsmanship and quality to create olfactive ambiances.
Classes:
Specialty Candle Workshop
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://www.lehmanndesignhaus.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemanndh
Miss Angel,
Educator
Miss Angel is a Latinx, LGBTQ multihyphenate from Santa Barbara. With a BA from California State University Channel Islands and a Master’s in Education from Antioch University Santa Barbara, she recently developed a weeklong curriculum for the Chicago Public School System based on the children’s books “The Skin You Live In” and “Mirror Face.” Miss Angel is an award-winning K-1 educator in Ventura and pursuing her first children’s book publication.
When not in the classroom, Miss Angel has successfully cultivated and uses a performance drag persona, Angel D’Mon, to interact with children, their parents, caregivers, and teachers via the book-reading platforms Drag Queen Story Hour and Story Time with Miss Angel. Both platforms encourage children to look beyond gender stereotypes and embrace the unfettered exploration of self. Story Time with Miss Angel takes place once a month at The Crafter’s Library. Angel promotes self-love through children’s literature in hopes they will grow up being their true authentic selves.
Classes:
Story Time with Miss Angel
The Art of Drag Makeup
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://angeldmon.com
Benjamen Toth,
Benjamen Toth Art
Benjamen Toth grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern California's El Dorado County, where the rolling foothills and lush landscapes served as the backdrop to his early years. It was here, in the quietude of the countryside, that Benjamen first discovered his passion for art. From a young age, he was captivated by the world of drawing and painting, a love deeply nurtured by his grandmother, a master painter whose talent and creativity left an indelible mark on him. Under her guidance, Benjamen learned the nuances of color, form, and technique, spending countless hours honing his skills and expressing his burgeoning artistic vision.
Beyond his professional life, Benjamen is a man of many talents and passions. Having followed his heart to Santa Barbara to be with the one he loves, Ben has immersed himself in the community. He is an active member of the Santa Barbara Gay Men's Chorus, where he channels his love for music and community, adding his voice to a group that celebrates diversity and unity through song. In his free time, he enjoys the simple pleasures of life, such as playing with his beloved cat, Monkey. Whether through his art, his work, or his hobbies, Benjamen Toth lives a life filled with creativity, passion, and a deep connection to the things that inspire him most.
Classes:
Acrylic Paint Along
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://www.BenajamenTothArt.com
Instagram: https://www/instagram.com/benjamentoth
Emily Adams,
Entangled Thread Co.
A California native and life-long maker, Emily Adams learned to sew on her great-grandmother’s foot-powered Singer as a child and began building her own wardrobe in 2007. At the time, she was a freelance writer and quickly discovered the meditative and calming influence of a regular sewing practice. It is this, plus the beauty of natural fibers, that she seeks to share with her students. Sewing your own clothes is an act of self-love and when we use natural fibers, we love the planet, too.
Find me and follow me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threadedworkshops/
Website: https://www.threadedworkshops.com
Hope Christofferson
Hope Christofferson spent her childhood homeschooling in the magical Black Hills of South Dakota, surrounded by nature which served to spark a love for fairy-tales. Having an interest in traditional mediums, her works primarily consists of watercolor and oil. She is now traveling the world in search of mythological creatures for a modern bestiary where the parallel functions of myth and technology are explored.
Over the course of the past few years Hope has explored her interests in nature and fantasy through artist residencies in secluded cabins and medieval cities. Through her travels she meets many wonderful people with whom she tells stories, illustrates, sings, and builds new worlds that synthesize the varied perspectives of creative minds. When not painting, Hope can be found swimming with mermaids or dragon-hunting on her unicorn.
Classes:
Magical Watercoloring
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://www.hopechristoffersonart.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopechristofferson/
Kathy Prekoski,
Knot for Now
Kathy Prekoski grew up in Ojai and returned to the area for its peaceful and artistic inspiration. She has spent countless hours tying knots into plant hangers, wall hangings, coasters, and more! Her latest projects are indoor and outdoor lampshades that you can view on her instagram account, @knotfornow. As our culture continues to be shaped by machine made objects and artificial intelligence, Kathy strongly encourages people to hand make objects and see their imperfections as features and not flaws. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her dog, being in nature, and learning new crafts.
Classes:
Macrame Keychains and Bag Charms
Macrame Luminary
Macrame Plant Hanger
Macrame Wall Hanging Jar Holder
Find me and follow me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/knotfornow
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
As one of the most popular talk show hosts in radio history, Dr. Laura Schlessinger offers no-nonsense advice infused with a strong sense of ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility; she's been doing it successfully for 50 years, reaching millions of listeners weekly. The Dr. Laura Program can be exclusively heard on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111. Her top-rated Call of the Day and Deep Dive podcasts can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular platforms.
She's a best-selling author of thirteen New York best-sellers and four children's books, which range from the provocative The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands to the poignant children's book titled Why Do You Love Me?
Her support of children and family values is legendary, as she famously states "I am my kid's mom." She writes a monthly column for NewsMax, has a YouTube Channel, and she's on Facebook, and Instagram, where she interacts daily with listeners. She has raised millions of dollars for veterans and their families with the proceeds from sales in her online boutique, Dr. Laura Designs, and is currently working with the charitable Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
Classes:
Circular Machine Knitting
Acrylic Loom Weaving
Intro to UV Resin Jewelry Making
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://www.drlaura.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauraprogram
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaura
Monica Gagne,
Monica Gagne Art
Monica is a Santa Barbara, CA, based artist selling Original Paintings, Prints and Commissions. She teach Art Workshops and Courses live in Santa Barbara as well as Online. She specializes in Ocean Resin and Abstract Alcohol Ink Art. Her main passion and love is creating one-of-a-kind pieces that evoke feelings of peace and joy, and inspire empowerment and healing in the collective.
As a self taught Artist, Monica specializes in 18k Gold Leaf Luxury Abstract Fine Art and Ocean Resin Art. "I have always been 'The Creative One' and my art has always been a method of self expression and therapy. My art is deeply inspired by my personal life and healing journey."
Classes:
Ocean Resin Charcuterie Boards
Alcohol Ink Workshops
Create Your Own Herbal Tea
Find me and follow me:
Website: https://www.MonicaGagne.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MonicaGagneArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MonicaGagneLuxeArt
Interested in Teaching?
We love having community members teach in our space. We are happy to work with each teacher individually to set up a class in their specialty. If you’re interested in teaching, please fill out the form to the right and let us know what you’d like to teach!
For all classes, we ask that teachers provide written instruction for students to take home with them. All materials are included in the class. If The Crafter’s Library provides the materials, the teacher will receive 30% of each ticket sold. If the teacher provides the materials, then the instructor receives 40% of each ticket sold.
To have your class approved, all teachers do need to do a demo class for The Crafter’s Library staff. That way we can make sure that all teachers are prepared and ready to lead an incredible workshop!
