MAFA is grateful to the following sponsors who have made the 2021 Virtual Conference possible!
Gold Conference Sponsor – TATTER
The mission of TATTER is to promote the consciousness of cloth by considering, and celebrating cloth’s intrinsic and essential relationship in human life – through portals that include but are not limited to: art, shelter, comfort, science, commerce, and culture.
Silver Conference Sponsor – Lunatic Fringe Yarns
Unique yarns for unique people! Lunatic Fringe Yarns is your source for the brilliant Tubular Spectrum Mercerized cottons, in 4 sizes and 45 fabulous colors, the incredible line of sustainable American Maid Yarns, our exciting new Gevolve line of fancy yarns plus hemp, wool, looms and equipment.
Silver Conference Sponsor – Schiffer Publishing
With the fiber craft experience in mind, Schiffer Publishing works with passionate artists and makers to help energize and enlarge the craft world. (We’re pleased to welcome Thrums Books to our family!) Visit us online to learn about exciting new releases and spark your next inspiration.
Tuition Door Prize – Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally recognized center for contemporary arts and crafts education, supporting learning opportunities for individuals of all skill levels and ages in an immersive, supportive environment. Offering weekend, one-week and two-week workshops. Artists-in-Residence, studio assistantships, work study and scholarship opportunities are available.
Keynote – Sponsored by Heddlecraft
Heddlecraft is a digital magazine for handweavers who love to weave and want to know more. There are six issues a year. Each issue of Heddlecraft is dedicated to an in-depth look at a specific weaving topic or weave structure. Subscribers and single-issue purchasers receive a PDF and the wif files for the samples included in the issue.
Fashion Show and Exhibit – Sponsored by Harmony Weavers Guild
Weavers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
We are a group of creative textile and fiber enthusiasts who get together monthly for inspiration, education and fun.
“Escape” Fiber Art Exhibit – Sponsored by Triangle Weavers Guild
The Triangle Weavers Guild provides community and shared learning for weavers, spinners, dyers, and other fiber artists. The guild includes over 240 members at every level of experience. Guild activities include workshops, classes, study groups and monthly programs featuring noted textile artists. The Guild is centered in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC but has members throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Towel Exchange – Sponsored by Beth Palmer on behalf of MAFA Associates Everywhere
MAFA Associates are members from all over the country and Canada.
Lectures – Sponsored by HGA – Handweavers Guild of America
HGA’s mission is to educate, support and inspire the fiber art community. We provide inspiration, instruction, and networking opportunities for fiber artists of all skill levels through a quarterly magazine; Convergence® a biennial international fiber arts conference; Small Expressions, an annual juried exhibition of small fiber artworks; and many more opportunities for artists including grants, scholarships, and a certification program in handweaving, handspinning, dyeing, and basket making.
Lecture – Sponsored by Long Thread Media
Long Thread Media was founded by Linda Ligon, Anne Merrow, and John Bolton to publish Handwoven, PieceWork, and Spin Off, as well as offer information, education, and community to crafters in those fields.
Lecture – Sponsored by Westfield Weavers
We are a small guild founded in 1947 to discuss weaving and other fiber related arts and encourage each other in our weaving endeavors. We usually hold an annual show and sale with demonstrations of spinning, weaving and other fiber arts. We were one of the founding guilds helping to set up MAFA in 1980.
Lecture – Sponsored by Margaret and Peter Briggs, Shareholder Strategies, Inc.
Margaret Briggs is proud to be the MAFA 2021 Conference Chair. Shareholder Strategies is a business valuation firm that specializes in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).
Spinning 208-210 Series of Classes taught by NYGH member Gigi Matthews – Sponsored by The New York Guild of Handweavers
The New York Guild of Handweavers (NYGH) provides inspiration, information and mutual support to anyone interested in weaving, tapestry, spinning, or fiber arts.
Weaving 101 Series of Classes taught by CVFG member Laurie Duxbury – Sponsored by Central Virginia Fiberarts Guild
Central Virginia Fiberarts Guild (CVFG) CVFG was formed in early 2018 by members of Albemarle Handweavers Guild, Charlottesville Fiber Arts Guild, and Whirling Whorls Fiber Arts to provide a single guild serving all of Central Virginia with a focus on all fiber arts disciplines and artists/crafters, at whatever skill level – from beginners to professionals.
Weaving 142 – Explore Drafting with Software Using PCW Fiberworks – Sponsored by Fiberworks PCW
Fiberworks PCW weaving design software makes it easy for you to do your best designing, weaving, loom control, and publishing. With three proficiency levels – Bronze, Silver, or Silver Plus – get the level that suits your needs.
Weaving 120 taught by JHW member Daryl Lancaster and Weaving 139 taught by JHW member Angela Tong – Sponsored by Jockey Hollow Weavers
Founded in fall of 1981, Jockey Hollow Weavers is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary this year. Our founders were so inspired by the first MAFA conference that they decided to form a new weaving guild in Morris County, New Jersey. Our guild now includes members from further afield, including Maine!
Other 506 & 507 taught by LSW member Tara Kiley-Rothwell – Sponsored by Lancaster Spinners and Weavers
Lancaster Spinners and Weavers Guild, Lancaster County, PA, is a welcoming group of fiber enthusiasts who meet several times a month (currently on ZOOM) to exchange ideas, provide programs and instruction for members, and to encourage interest in and appreciation of the fiber arts in its community.
Saturday Morning Coffee – Sponsored by The Fuzzy EAR
We are a fairly small Rabbitry in Gloucester, Virginia, working to grow in the face of the COVID pandemic. We have a variety of rabbits that we use for therapy, however we primarily breed English Angora for their fiber. We LOVE to share our rabbits with the public as well as teaching about the breeds, rabbit care and the fiber arts skill.
Conference Angels:
L. Jean West – Peacock Expressions – Jewelry & Wearable Fiber Art: Jean says “I am one of the original North Jersey Weavers/Westfield Weavers Guild members who met in 1980 with members of 7 other guilds to create the Mid Atlantic Fiber Association and organize the first MAFA Conference in 1981 at Rider College, Lawrenceville Township, NJ.
Elisa and Martin Eiger: MAFA Past President Elisa says ” Congratulations to the Conference Committee, whose remarkable foresight and determination made this virtual conference possible”.