Our Team

Designer and Photographer Suzanna Bierwirth founded lifestyle store Goods & Heroes in 2016 featuring and celebrating modern makers. Mother Nature, Creativity and Community are the cornerstones of her life. Born and raised a crafter in a small town in Germany-her passion and understanding of fiber, texture, color, and design run deep. Her support of slow fashion, sustainable production and the core belief that humans are born to create; led to the conception of Yarn Haus; to become the "playground" of Goods & Heroes.

We quickly learned that Liz can fix just about any knitting mistakes and ailments; come up with a treatment plan or or hold our hands while we frog our projects. Because Liz is an expert knitter and crocheter. ( Ask to see her sweater collection.) As a teacher she likes to instill a strong, technical understanding. Her take on patterns: keep it precise, short and please-include a good schematic and a size chart. Liz developed the "Sunday School" Curriculum-11 sessions of knitting fundamentals, happening every Sunday between 10am-NOON this Spring. Think "Mini-TED Talks, but hands-on...Check it out.

Born in Denmark with knittling needles in hand-Rosemarie is seldomly seen not knitting. Her approach is simple: understand the construction and you don't need a pattern. Yarn Haus features a collection of her signature knit-designs, mostly crafted from soft kid mohair with Danish yarns. Her attitude to life in general is best summed up in the one single statement we hear her say often: "Really, how hard can it be?" Rosemarie is the mother of three boys under 12, whom she home-schools. Expect to see Rose lead us through projects every Friday afternoon-check out her classes.

Elisabeth lives in Southwest Michigan with her husband, two children, and her chickens. While she holds a degree in Environmental Biology, she is quick to throw herself into whatever project would be improved with her help. (That happens to be most of them.) Elisabeth’s rare combination of meticulousness and flexibility makes her perfect for the inherent chaos of a yarn store. Her unique ability to find the hidden beauty in all things—places and people alike—means those who interact with her often walk away feeling a little better about themselves and their day. Come to our Knit Togethers on Wednesdays-Elisabeth will have eggs to share...

Vera is a South Michigan Food & Fiber farmer focusing on Eastern European heritage crops and textiles. She raises sheep on her Family Farm and the wool produced by her small flock is the basis for her textile practice. She hand spins this wool and creates hand-constructed garments. Vera has taught textiles at the Hyde Park Art Center and is currently teaching Spinning at the Krasl Art Center. At Yarn Haus you will see her line of gorgeous hand-spun yarns or her collection of original hand-knitted or crocheted pieces. Her" Chicago Bus Shelter Butt Warmer" is iconic and a Winter Must-Have Piece.

Kiki is a multifaceted creative, an architect by training with a passion for all things fiber. Having studied fashion and being an avid crocheter, you'll find her exercising her creative skills in the playground of Goods and Heroes. She is the big sister to our shop dog "Heston" and Miss Bun Bun's designated caretaker. Being a curly girl always in motion, she creates an endless array of scrunchies for the whole team to protect and elevate their hair. Let her show you how to make them. Her pom-pom making skills are matched only by Suzanna's and together they intend to take over the Village with Yarn Bombing activities this Fall. Please join!

Miss Bun Bun is the life blood that fuels the ever beating heart of Yarn Haus. It is only through her encouragement, discipline, and shrewd management skills that we are able to pull ourselves into a cohesive and effective team. While we each have our own skillsets and areas of expertise, without her steadfast leadership our ship would be rudderless, destined to make circles in the open sea. No, seriously, Miss Bun Bun is a Giant American Angora and we are working hard on developing the fluffiest yet sturdiest most beautiful hand-spun yarn yarn ever out of her beautiful locks. Until we get to that, we dote on her on hand and feet because she is our Queen. Viva la Bun!

Zoe (pronouced Zo-Wheeee) is our resident puppy treat plug, operating "Good Catch Pet Boutique" out of the cutest storefront on the Elm Street side of our rather large building. A lifelong crafter and yarn enthusiast, Waldorf School Alumni, with a checkered past that includes a long stint working at a yarn store in Chicago, she fills her knitting classes with passion, puns and knowledge. Quirky and quick to crack a joke and even quicker to laugh out loud, her energy is unmatched - we love sharing our Haus with Zoe! Her Beginners 101 Classes got many hooked on the needle. Sign up!

At a young age, Chris fell in love with all things arts and crafts: sewing embroidery, beading, painting, and anything else she could get the supplies for. When she married in 1997, she decided to try to bond with her mother-in-law by teaching herself to crochet. The bonding didn't happen (it's a funny story that you are welcome to ask her about) but she did take the moment as a challenge and decided to get good at it! Crocheting led to weaving, spinning, needle and wet felting, and knitting. Four kids and seven major moves later, she is still always surrounded by her works in progress and she loves helping people fall in love with fiber.