Gayle Mathues has been needle felting animals and figures since 2016. She officially began her business, Animal Faire, in 2017 and has had shows at Mistletoe Mart in Westminster, Frederick Fiber Fest in Frederick and other venues. 2024 will find her at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Show.

She teaches frequently at Carroll Community College, Carrol Center for the Arts and at the Natural History Society of Maryland in Baltimore. Her work is always available at Off Track Art Gallery in Westminster, and she also participates in Carroll County Artists’ Studio Tour. She is a Sarafina Certified Instructor for needle felting.

Her business name Animal Faire is taken from the humorous folk song she learned as a child: “I went to the animal faire, the birds and the beasts were there… the big baboon by the light of the moon, was coming his auburn hair….” Gayle attempts to make her animals realistic with a touch of whimsy. From elephants to hedgehogs to songbirds, to fish and frogs, any animal is fair game when it comes to her needle-felting.