TAFA, the Textile and Fiber Art List, has just turned five years old! I’m proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful group and one of its early members.
The group is the brainchild of Rachel Biel, an artist from Paducah, KY who envisioned TAFA as a global resource for textile art and artisans. “From the beginning, one of my goals was to narrow the divide between contemporary and traditional textiles, to see a weaver from Guatemala on the same platform as one from New York, to celebrate diversity and originality,” Rachel explained in a recent post about TAFA’s first five years. Due largely to Rachel’s tireless efforts, the group has grown from humble beginnings to currently over 500 members representing 44 countries!
Visit the TAFA website with your morning coffee and spend a few minutes immersed in creativity, from the beautiful handwoven scarves by Loom on the Lake to exquisite knitted shawls and accessories by Elena Rosenberg .
Elena Rosenberg Knit Creations
Handwoven Scarf by Loom on the Lake
Coasters by Fuzzy Logic Felt
Creations by Ariane Mariane
Diane Nunez Fiber Sculpture
Get inspired by the quirky creations of Ariane Mariane and the warmth of Fuzzy Logic Felt .
And of course there are plenty of amazing quilt artists in the group–from the more traditional work of Goose Track Quilts to art quilters like Diane Nunez. I feel fortunate to own a small example of Diane’s amazing three dimensional, definitely non-traditional quilts.
Pillows by Nestle and Soar
And Nestle and Soar does amazing things with wool and embroidery!
You can browse the list of artists, or search for a specific type of art, from home decor to wearable art to yarn or fabric supplies.
Before you know it, it might be lunchtime!
These are just a few of the talented textile artists on this incredible site. It’s definitely worth allotting some time to go over to TAFA and find your favorites!
If you’re a fiber artist and interested in joining the group, membership information is here–it’s a one-time $125 fee to join.
Many TAFA members have online shops to sell their work, and a sister site called ArtizanMade was created last year to allow visitors to find members who specifically sell their work.
Follow TAFA on Facebook for the latest news and inspirations.
Happy Birthday, TAFA! I’ve been inspired and enriched as an artist by my association with this virtual community.
What a lovely tribute to a fantastic group and its superwoman founder, aka Rachel Biel!
Thanks so much for including me in this roundup, Cindy, I appreciate it.