The Au Gres Sheep Factory - Proudly Made from 100% Wool in the "Ewe".S.A.

The Au Gres Sheep Factory

The Au Gres Sheep Factory is a business born out of passion for natural fiber and a gift of a spinning wheel more than 20 years ago. Jean left a teaching career to raise a family and Rich left a tool and die design profession to take over the family farm. Jean, already an avid knitter, taught herself to spin, felt, and dye, and Rich began making spinning wheels. We did our first art fair in April of 1984, paid $125.00 for booth rent, made $32.00 total, nearly ran out of gas on the way home, and Rich quit. Jean was not discouraged and continued to pick away, learning as she went, until at our peak in the mid to late 90's, we had 30 employees and were selling our designs worldwide. Our designs have been on QVC, in the MTV Building's window in New York City's Times Square, our nativity set was in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in 2002 and 2006, and various designs have been in New York's Museum of Folk Art. We have been featured in Country Woman magazine, Country Business magazine, on the cover of the Journal of the American Professional Craters Guild, and featured in many newspapers throughout our state. We have sold to Bergdorf Goodman, Marshall Fields, Bath and Body Works, Swiss Colony, Coldwater Creek, Land's End, Pet Co., and over 6,000 smaller companies. We have received first place and/or best of show awards at Amish Acres (Indiana), Penn's Colony (Pennsylvania), and War Eagle (Arkansas), and Krist Kind'l Markt (Canton, Ohio Art Museum). The kids are now grown and gone, Rich sold the potato operation in 1999, and we are almost back where we started. We do a number of art fairs and events in the late summer and fall of the year, and have turned the business back into a small joy rather than a large roller coaster ride. I have a great girl managing the store, and I am back doing what I like best: spinning my heart out, combing fields for natural dye material and designing new items to add to our list of woolly creatures and "woolly fun stuff" just for ewe!

**Jean Nixon**

**Rich Nixon**

Bonnie Huber

Bonnie Huber, a friend and neighbor, began here in 2001. She is responsible for items in the Wool Gallery and is also a talented artisan who can pitch in and help with ornaments when the heat is on. She also pitches in in the office when we get bogged down. She is not only good at what she does, but a joy to be around.

Lisa began here as a "school-to-work" when she was fifteen. She now has a degree in retail management. It is because of her highly capable management of the business that my husband and I are able to leave in the fall and do as many shows as we are able to do. Lisa worked her way up from washing wool to running the business. She is a jack-of-all-trades and Master-of-all around here! Nine times out of ten it will be her voice on the phone when you call.

**Lisa Huber**

Tracy Kendall

Tracy hired in as temporary Christmas help in 1996. Many years later, her station is one of the busiest in the shop. She had never done craft work prior to coming to us, and is now probably the most versatile and talented craftsperson among us. She can look at anything we give her and reproduce it quickly and beautifully. Tracy makes most of the items you will see in the Christmas and Seasonal Gallery, as well as many items in the Ornament Gallery.

Ivy, our newest addition, has been with us since 2001. She was hired in to work with our son Tom in the woodshop and has turned into one of those rare people who is willing and able to do many things. She has designed quite a few of our newer items, is a capable and creative craftsperson, does our packing and shipping, knows where everything is, and always keeps us smiling!

**Ivy Kurowski**

Shirley Meikle

Shirley was my very first employee when I moved the business out of my house and into our first shop. Shirley and Jennifer Wanner make all of the items you will find in our Animal Gallery. Shirley is a human machine and also helps to produce the 100,000+ mice (see out Pet Products Galley) we make each year. She's a marvel!

Tom is our youngest son, and though no longer officially with us (he is now working locally as a production engineer), he kept us in wood parts for animal bodies and ornament parts, working summers during the years he spent at Michigan State. He also keeps our computers running and since he is still in the area, we are grateful for his getting us out of an occasional jam. His rates are also very reasonable; he will work for food!

Tom Nixon

Jennifer Wanner

Jennifer keeps us in jokes and animals. She has been a part of our staff since 1991. Her work is exquisite and the two days a week she is with us are the best two days of the week!





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