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One of our favorite things about the Benzie community is working one and one with makers who share our passion for creating! After an incredible response, we've selected eight of these amazing individuals to join this year's Benzie Design Maker Team. Over the next year, we will be working together with each of these creatives to bring you exciting new tutorials, blog posts, videos, and social media content. Keep reading to meet our talented 2026 Maker Team!
Ashley
Instagram: @ashleylewiscreates
"Hi, I'm Ashley Lewis! I am so excited to be part of the 2026 Benzie Maker team. I am a former elementary art teacher and now mom of 3 young kids. It's so fun for me to combine my passions to make crafts that can add to my children's play and learning. I enjoy painting, drawing, embroidery, needle felting, and pottery. I can't wait to be a part of the Maker Team and contribute to the fabulous Benzie community!"
Becka of Becka Rahn
Instagram: @beckarahn
"In my art practice, I work in mixed media (fabric and paper) incorporating hand embroidery and building each piece stitch by stitch and layer by layer. I love looking at things in unexpected ways: using quirky color pairings, unconventional tools, and adding the kind of whimsy that gives everyday whatnots a personality. My favorite kind of magic is taking something that feels complicated or intimidating and breaking it down into small, approachable steps that suddenly make it all feel possible. I especially love teaching and designing for those “ah-ha” moments, when something clicks and a beginner realizes they can absolutely do this."
Colleen of The Joyful Felter
Instagram: @thejoyfulfelter
"Hello felt friends! In the next year, I'll be sharing patterns I've designed for detailed flowers and plants. Felt is my favorite crafting medium; I love the permanent yet whimsical representations of nature that can be created with Benzie Design's colorful, high-quality felt. Thank you Benzie Design for giving me opportunities to share the JOY of felting with you! And I can't wait to see what you make!"
Erika of Sunkissed Crafts
Instagram: @sunkissed_crafts
"Hi! My name is Erika, and I’m so excited to be a part of the Benzie Maker Team this year! I’m a 2nd grade teacher and a big dog lover. I’ve always been crafty and first learned how to sew from my 3rd grade teacher, making quilts, pillows, and stuffed animals. After graduating college in 2018, I discovered my love for working with felt and began creating different felt ornaments. Since then, my work has grown to include a large variety of felt ornaments, garlands, and magnets for every season. I also love incorporating my love for dogs into my designs. I find so much joy working with felt and creating new ideas. I can’t wait to take you along on this creative journey!"
Kaitlin of Bear's Corner
Instagram: @itsbearscorner
"Hello! I'm Kaitlin, currently a stay at home mom and hobby collector located in Alaska! My little corner of crafting started out as making stuff for sensory bins and play food for my son, and grew to making for others. Though I've always been creative, felt is probably my favorite medium and one I've stuck to the longest. I stumbled upon Benzie and quickly realized there wasn't a better option for supplies! I'm ecstatic to be a part of the 2026 Benzie Maker Team and be creative with you all!"
Kelli of Kelli's Felt Kitchen
Instagram: @kellisfeltkitchen
"Hi! I create felt play food and food-inspired toys and accessories. I started making felt toys for my daughter when she was little, including a set of smiling “cute fruits” and sprinkled donuts. She cherished them for years, and seeing the joy these toys brought her showed me just how special felt creations can be. My work is inspired by my love of food and cooking, as well as the joy and imagination of children. I love using Benzie’s felt for crafting because of its beautiful, vibrant colors, and it is soft, durable, and long-lasting. I’m so excited to be a Benzie Maker this year!"
Kristie
Instagram: @felt_like_being_crafty
"Hello crafty friends, I’m Kristie, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. By day I’m a school bus driver, navigating busy roads, noisy rides, and joyful chaos getting my Littles safely where they need to go. I’m also blessed to be my granddaughter‘s first bus driver. By night, I trade the rumble and noise of the Bus for the calm and serenity of my craft studio where creativity takes over. Crafting is more than a hobby for me. It’s my quiet place, my reset. It’s where I find joy creating with my own two hands. I’m so excited to be a part of the Benzie maker team and look forward to sharing my felt journey with you all!"
Maria of Surprisingly Upbeat
Instagram: @surprisinglyupbeat
"I am honored to be part of the Benzie Maker Team and look forward to contributing creatively to the community. I have been a hand embroidery artist for over 30 years, with a passion for needle art that began at age five when my mother first taught me to sew. By age ten, I was introduced to cross stitch by a family friend, and I continued developing my skills, drawing inspiration from my grandmother’s hand embroidery. In addition to my creative work, I am a preschool teacher and a proud mother of two wonderful children. I also run my small business, Surprisingly Upbeat, where I create and share handmade pieces rooted in my love of embroidery. I am excited to share inspiring, thoughtful, and creative projects through my work with the Benzie Maker Team."
