A place to post information about the upcoming conference.

July 16-19, 2015

Millersville University

Millersville, Pennsylvania

(near Lancaster, PA) 

 

Comments

sally orgren

Instead of a reps meeting, there was a "face-to-face" in the Dining Hall at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival between 12-1 on Saturday, May 3rd. The goal was to meet fellow members and share information and ideas regarding the workshop weekend next summer.

The organizers are requesting your help. They passed out a list of workshop instructors who have submitted proposals for the next conference and they would like member guilds to informally poll members who are likely to attend on their top picks, so MAFA can winnow the list down. 

This helps tremendously with conference planning — both for those who attend and the instructors. Conference attendees won't be disappointed to find out at the last minute a favorite workshop didn't have enough participants to run, and if the instructors know in advance their workshop might not have enough participants in our Mid-Atlantic region, this frees them up in time to teach at some of the other regional conferences.

Please contact Lori Wall [email protected] to obtain the flyer distributed at this gathering. If your guild is not currently a member of MAFA, the flyer also contains information on the reverse side about joining. Your guild doesn't have to be a member of MAFA for you to attend the workshop weekend, but the affiliation will reduce your tuition. 

sally orgren

will be May 13th, 7 p.m., by conference call. If you are a rep and haven't received your call in information, please contact Lori.

sally orgren

If you have a favorite vendor you'd like to see at the conference next summer, plant a bug in the vendor coordinator's (Donna's) ear...

[email protected]

Sweetbayfiber

Thank you Sally for posting about vendors you would like to see. Send the info to me at [email protected]. I'll be happy to contact a vendor you would like to see at the workshop. I'll be posting the vendors on this website a year before the workshop weekend so you can start your shopping fund!

Sweetbayfiber

Check out the vendor page on the MAFA website. As vendors sign up for the conference they are put on the website with links to their email and websites. So far we have Bauer Family Farm Linda Bauer 1309 Red Hill Road Dauphin, PA 17018 Email: [email protected] Website: http://bauerfamilyfarm.webs.com Cedarland Farm Amanda Grace 168 Slab Road Delta, PA 17314 Phone: 717-862-3244 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cedarlandfarm.com Potluck Yarn Cheryl Potter 100 Cherry Tree Hill Lane Barton, VT 05825 Phone: 802-525-3311 Email: [email protected] Website: www.potluckyarn.com Serendipity Farm and Studio Mary and Gary Scott 980 Cypress Chapel Road Suffolk, VA 23434 Phone: 757-986-2010 Mobile: 757-651-2632 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fibertoolsonline.com Unique Designs by Kathy Kathy Withers 6401 Woodbine Road Woodbine, MD 21797 Phone: 520-401-6117 Email: [email protected] Website: www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com

sally orgren

I suspect MAFA would still be taking recommendations if you don't see your favorite vendor listed yet.

For me, I'd love to see Purrington come and demo his folding workshop loom like he did at MS&W. (But I know folks who are waiting for their custom looms will give me a hard time for disrupting production!)

Sweetbayfiber

If you have someone you would like to see in the vendor hall, I'm more than happy to ask them.

Sweetbayfiber

Yeah!!! The Instructor/Class list is posted on the MAFA website! Here's the web address http://mafa-conference-2015.org/instructors.php. And now we need to pick ONE! I can't even narrow it down to TEN! Great classes and Fabulous instructors! And two more vendors have contracted as well! Flying Fibers Jeri Robinson-Laurence 329c Main Street Landisville, PA 17538 Phone: 717-898-8020 Email: [email protected] Website: flyingfibers.com Aboundingful Farm Ellen Anderson 7081 Colebrook Road Palmyra, PA 17078 Phone: 717-964-3168 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aboundingfulfarm.webs.com Millersville is definitely my place to be in July of 2015!

Sweetbayfiber

Yeah!!! The Instructor/Class list is posted on the MAFA website! Here's the web address http://mafa-conference-2015.org/instructors.php. And now we need to pick ONE! I can't even narrow it down to TEN! Great classes and Fabulous instructors! And two more vendors have contracted as well! Flying Fibers Jeri Robinson-Laurence 329c Main Street Landisville, PA 17538 Phone: 717-898-8020 Email: [email protected] Website: flyingfibers.com Aboundingful Farm Ellen Anderson 7081 Colebrook Road Palmyra, PA 17078 Phone: 717-964-3168 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aboundingfulfarm.webs.com Millersville is definitely my place to be in July of 2015!

sally orgren

WOW.

I have three that are at the top of my list already, and maybe 5 more that are starred for consideration. That is quite a challenge to provide enticing programs, considering I have been weaving for nearly 20 years and have attended Convergence since 98!

For a beginner or intermediate weaver, these selections are going to be awesome. 

Sally

P.S. Tablet weavers be forewarned, both Inga D AND John M are on the agenda!

Sweetbayfiber

Sooooo many choices! It's a good thing there are a few months to decide before registration! Where do I begin? Do I take Daryl Lancaster's class so I finally have the courage to cut into fabric I wove and actually make something, or do I try a new weaving technique, or a new fiber, or do I go outside my comfort zone and try a whole new skill set? I hear that Millersville is putting up a whole new dormitory complex to be finished before the Conference and we will be the first to be housed there! Another reason to make MAFA a 2015 destination!

Sweetbayfiber

Just received two more vendors! Just Our Yarn Cathie Chung and Diane Smith 6801 Montour Drive Falls Church, VA 22043 Phone: 571-201-7992 Email: [email protected] Website: www.justouryarn.com A Touch of Twist Steve Ableman and Susan Cooper 1286 Weast Road Pattersonville, NY 12137-2908 Phone: 518-864-5885 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atouchoftwist

sally orgren

You can't order their unique yarns from a website. You can only buy their handpainted yarns at shows and conferences.

Ellenweaves

Just received my new Handwoven magazine with the 2015 Workshop Weekend ad on page 69. Kudos to Lori and Dave for creating such a nice, readable, informative ad. I encourage any and all fiber people to consider this event. You have a year to plan and save up. With the team that is in place and the instructor list this conference is going to be Fantastic!

sally orgren

the mention of MAFA came up more than once during Convergence last week. (It makes it far easier to say goodbye at the conclusion of a fun weaving conference when you can start talking about the next one!) 

Sweetbayfiber

So happy to hear that MAFA was mentioned at Convergence.  It really is something to look forward to.  I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the brochure in December.  I hope the expanded descriptions help in my decision of which class to take, because every time I look at the list I come up with a new favorite! 

sally orgren

If anyone wants to take a peek at the instructor list, it is posted at the website. 

http://mafa-conference-2015.org/instructors.php

If (like me) you can't wait until December, you can always reference the indexes for the weaving publications to look up articles by these instructors, or go directly to their websites to review their areas of expertise.

When you register, you'll want to have at least three choices, because sometimes certain classes fill fast. Based in the list, that is going to be no problem for me. (I think I have 5-7 top choices this time around!)

sally orgren

... that Schiffer Publishing will be one of the vendors at MAFA next summer. Schiffer produced the Bertha Gray Hayes book (Norma Smayda + others), the Crackle book (Susan Wilson), and most recently the Brown Draft book and the Hex Weave book. They have a long history of publishing craft books on other topics, including an extensive collection on woodworking (if you happen to have a significant other that likes that sort of thing ;-)

If you want to see the full list of vendors signed up so far, visit

http://mafa-conference-2015.org/vendors.php

sally orgren

I happened to look at the MAFA website today and see they are reintroducing the "guild exhibit" for next year's workshop weekend, and there are at least 5 guilds already signed up!

Our guild participated in this activity years ago, I think when MAFA was in Baltimore. We submitted the samples we wove during a self-study from Sharon Alderman's book, Mastering Weave Structures. I remember coming down for the day and really enjoying seeing what everyone had submitted.

Hopefully, one (or both) of my guilds will be brainstorming ideas for the display next year. Any suggestions?!

sally orgren

Hey, for those who sent in your registration Jan. 2 or Feb. 1, you should know your class selection by now. (If you don't, it's time to send an email or call, and check on your paperwork.)

In addition to your class, there's even more to anticipate during the workshop weekend!

Thu. 7 p.m., Keynote by Jennifer Moore; 
Fri. 7 p.m., Informal Fashion Show (don't forget to bring something!);
Sat. 7 p.m., Open Studio Tour.

And of course, the vendor hall and guild exhibit will be available throughout the conference.

Although the workshop weekend experience is designed primarily for folks taking the full, three-day coursework, folks who are unable to take that much time off from work are invited to come as a day visitor. (I don’t think there will be a charge for a day visit, but check the MAFA website for sure, or perhaps someone can chime in on this who knows more.)

In the past, I have taken advantage of this offer to check out the vendor hall, guild exhibits, and the open studio tour to collect information for my guilds on instructors and workshops that may be of future interest.

(And for those of you who really, really want to come, but cannot, there are a few of us who plan to post live from the conference.) I am thinking we'll post to this thread, so bookmark it, or don't forget to check back from time to time.

sally orgren

If you are planning to attend the MAFA Workshop Weekend this summer, here is a sample of what you might find in your goodie bag. Frances Irwin Handweavers take pride in trying to come up with "cool swag", so we hope we met expectations again this year.

Is anyone else working on goodie bag contributions?

(Since my guild is the guild that made these fabric covered bobbie pins, if I get one in my goodie bag, I might be willing to swap for something else if you didn't get one – just come find me!)

sally orgren

This just in from the Corresponding Secretary to all the reps:

If you are still pondering the class list and wondering what to take, consider one these great classes, which still have plenty of room for new students:
 
102  - Natural Dyes on Cotton – Eileen Hallman
105  - The How-To’s of Successful Fabric Marbling – Regina St. John
107  - Paint 2 Beam 1 – Denise Kovnat
404  - RR – Introduction to Weaving with Variegated Yarns – Cathie Chung
407  - Turned Twills, Their Many Possible Faces – Barbara Diefenderfer
409  - Modified RR – Tabby is a BASIC, but NOT a PLAIN Weave – Barbara Herbster
418  - RR – Shadows and Echoes – Mimi Smith
420  - RR – 18th and 19th Century Handwoven Fashions for the Home and Body – Marjie Thompson
501  - Jump Start Vest – Daryl Lancaster

theresasc

we will recieve information on our classes?  My check finally cleared mid-March and I am now waiting to see if I have my first choice.

sally orgren

Theresac,

Gee, I never thought to see if my check cleared!

This is the mention they made of registration in the notice sent to guild reps:

"We are making great strides toward meeting our goal of 300 students.  At this time we have over 230 registered students, with most classes still having room for additional students. Final class assignments will be made upon the close of the regular registration period and notifications will follow. Late registration begins on 15 May 2015 and runs through 9 June 2015. In order to ensure that the class you wish to take is still available, please register as soon as possible."

You can always pop over to the MAFA website and ask about your registration. When I registered, my email was recorded incorrectly, and I didn't realize that until everyone else was getting information about the conference and I wasn't. (It was easily corrected).

I'd also suggest having pity on the poor volunteer who is tasked with doing registration at MAFA (or any other conference). I think it must be a thankless job!

theresasc

for the info.  I am guessing that comfirmations should be coming out soon.  I am really looking forward to getting back to MAFA, I have not been back since the 2 times it was at Gettysburg.

sally orgren

How did I miss you? What did you take when it was at Gettysburg?

Before Gettysburg, I drove down to visit the Baltimore location (exhibits and vendor hall) for the day. And when it moved to Marywood University, a group of us went over for the day to check it out...I remember visiting the vendor hall, attending the fashion show, eating dinner, and visiting the studio classrooms after dinner with some of the students, which was the best part! I was still doing programming for one of my guilds, so this was an excellent opportunity to collect ideas to bring back to the guild.

Those two "tastes" led me to register the following year. Well, those visits and some great posts by Elisa Eiger (with photos) that showed what was happening in the workshops - the critical part we missed by just being day visitors!

theresasc

was my first MAFA.  That was the first "weekend" conference that I went to and fell in love with that type of structure.  Midwest Weaver's still does the pre-conference workshops during the week, and then a bunch of lectures on the weekend so I have not gone back since discovering MAFA.  We drive out from Wisconsin, so a lot of times Midwest could be closer distance-wise, but MAFA's set-up is better.

The first time at Gettysburg, 2009,  I took a fabulous workshop by Susan Wilson on Crackle and in 2011 was Huck Lace with Tom Knisley which I came out of that workshop with a great sampler.

MAFA 2011

sally orgren

That is a great sampler and his videos are excellent. One of my guildmates is taking him this summer. Having just done the Crackle workshop with Susan Wilson, I'd say you picked two winners!

Elisa

Change of address for MAFA Registrations

(effective April 14, 2015)

Going forward, please send conference registrations directly to the registrar, Pat Capogrossi, rather than to the PO Box which is no longer active.  Any mail already sent will be forwarded.

If you have sent in a registration and have *not* received a confirmation email, contact Pat at [email protected].

*Send registrations to:*

Pat Capogrossi, Registrar

7 Tanglewood Road
Catonsville, MD 21228

-----------

Because our conference is structured differently from that of other regions (all 2.5-day workshops, no lectures), we've been getting registrations from all over North America. Over 250 registrations have been received and are fine. But as you can infer from this post (which is cross-posted all over the Web), we know of several registrations that have gotten lost. We're really hoping to avoid more of that, and to quickly identify and fix any issues that we don't know about yet.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

--Elisa Eiger

(VP, MAFA)

Elisa

(effective April 14, 2015)

Going forward, please send conference registrations directly to the registrar, Pat Capogrossi, rather than to the PO Box which is no longer active.  Any mail already sent will be forwarded.

If you have sent in a registration and have *not* received a confirmation email, contact Pat at [email protected].

Send registrations to:

Pat Capogrossi, Registrar

7 Tanglewood Road

Catonsville, MD 21228

-----------

Because our conference is structured differently from that of other regions (all 2.5-day workshops, no lectures), we've been getting registrations from all over North America.

Over 250 registrations have been received and are fine. But as you can infer from this post (which is cross-posted all over the Web), we know of several registrations that have gotten lost. We're really hoping to avoid more of that, and to quickly identify and fix any issues that we don't know about yet.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

--Elisa Eiger

(VP, MAFA)

 

Elisa

(effective April 14, 2015)

Going forward, please send conference registrations directly to the registrar, Pat Capogrossi, rather than to the PO Box which is no longer active.  Any mail already sent will be forwarded.

If you have sent in a registration and have *not* received a confirmation email, contact Pat at [email protected].

Send registrations to:

Pat Capogrossi, Registrar

 7 Tanglewood Road

Catonsville, MD 21228

-----------

Because our conference is structured differently from that of other regions (all 2.5-day workshops, no lectures), we've been getting registrations from all over North America.

Over 250 registrations have been received and are fine. But as you can infer from this post (which is cross-posted all over the Web), we know of several registrations that have gotten lost. We're really hoping to avoid more of that, and to quickly identify and fix any issues that we don't know about yet.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

--Elisa Eiger

(VP, MAFA)

 

sally orgren

For the Workshop Weekend, I think we could adopt the Millersville University mascot and become the "MAFA Mauraders" for just a few days - what do you think?

 

 

sally orgren

  • Posting on behalf of MidAtlantic Fiber Association, a 501(c)(3) organization based on the east coast of the United States. Conference is July 16-19, 2015 in Millersville, PA. See http://mafa-conference-2015.org/index.php for more information.

  • ----------------

  • Have you been drooling over the workshop offerings and the prospect of shopping in the Vendor Hall for MAFA Conference 2015?
  • Have you not been able to make up your mind on your workshop? 
  • Do you not want to attend by yourself?
  • Have you and your friends talked about taking a class together or have a getaway weekend, but have not had time to plan?
  • It’s time to stop drooling! Early registration for the 2015 MAFA Conference ends May 15. 
  • There is still room in many of the fabulous workshops. Some classes are reaching capacity, several have space for you!
  • Call your friends and have a getaway weekend at MAFA. The itinerary is already in place. Just select a class and roommates, start saving up for the Vendor Hall and have a wonderful time together.
  • Make sure your registration is postmarked by May 15 as this is when determinations will be made as to which classes move forward.
  • There is still time to register before the late registration begins after May 15 with a late fee of $35.00.
  • Don’t miss out – register today!
  • Please make sure you have the updated registration form – www.mafafiber.org - with the new registrar’s mailing address – Pat Capogrossi.
  • You can’t come and play if you don’t register today.
  • I look forward to meeting you all at Millersville!
  • Beth
  • MAFA Conference 2015 Education Chair

sally orgren

MAFA has posted helpful campus maps that show where registration is located, the residence halls, classroom buildings, and loading and handicapped parking nearest each location.

http://mafa-conference-2015.org/location.php

Everyone should report to the registration area in the South Villages first.

 

sally orgren

South Villages, Buildings A & B is where most of us will be residing. Just walk straight through the central doors and proceed into the common area for registration.

For the mobility-challenged, there are 8 handicapped spaces to the left of this series of 4 buildings, and the entry way into the building will be on the back (north) side, through a glass atrium patio. (Which is where registration is located.)

For those of you who are visual, here is a view of the back side. (You will not see this view from your car.)

Safe travels - see everyone there!

Lori Wall (not verified)

We are still packing all the things that we will need for our class and for the Workshop Weekend in general.

We are planning for this to be the best MAFA yet!

Look forward to seeing everyone there this weekend.

We could not have pulled off this event without the support of a LOT of volunteers.  So, please think about how you can help in the future.

Thanks!

Lori Wall

Corresponding Secretary, MAFA

sally orgren

I am packing a pair of shorts for "move in" day tomorrow.

Also, feel free to use this forum to help other attendees when you arrive and get oriented. The board and volunteers will be plenty busy with their assigned tasks, and may not be aware of last minute campus issues they have no control over - like a road being blocked off, or an elevator that is out of order. If you encounter something and have a work-around to make it easier for everyone to get settled in, please share here.

Here's a snapshot of the weather for the rest of the week:

sally orgren

Quick post, I gotta go to bed!

I really enjoyed the guild echibits on the south side of the Student Center, set up next to the vendor hall. This was a table setting display by Jockey Hollow Weavers (Mendham, NJ) representing an overshot placemat exchange. Extra instructions to complete the exchange are included in the notebook on the table, if another guild would like to try something similar.

The vendor hall was hopping! It is open to the public 12-5:30 & 8-10 p.m. Friday, 12-6 on Saturday. (Friday eve is the fashion show, and Saturday eve is the studio tour, so both are fun events for everyone!) There is no fee to come visit the vendor hall, guild exhibits, and/or attend one of the evening events.

sally orgren

A long day. About 60 items in the fashion show. My workshop is interesting, I am fascinated by the simple elegance of these Scandinavian designs, and can't help but play with color in the treadling.

Plan to walk at 6:30, and will leave from building A-B door toward dining hall. (Unless it's raining.) I know. Crazy!

sally orgren

Some of my favorite things - getting to chat over looms with fellow attendees!

The juxtaposition of weaving historic coverlets and laptops in Gay McGeary's class.

Open studio night, visiting Robyn Spady's classroom, and discovering my guildmate's loom in the foreground. (That's msthimble's loom!)

This is Joan, one of my guildmates, in Bobbie Irwin's iridescence class. (Loved the warps in this classroom!)