About Us
Welcome to NwSFA! The Northwest Spinners and Fiber Arts Association is a 501(c3) non-profit organization providing a network of western states that:
- Promotes a community for the art and craft of handspinning and associated fiber arts.
- Provides a communication network of fiber-related groups, guilds, and businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
- Provides opportunities to share, learn, educate, and work together on a local and regional basis.
- Provides public outreach dedicated to continued development of handspinning and fiber arts.
- Trains judges to evaluate handspun yarns, weaving and knitting at fiber contests and fairs.
- Awards grants and Scholarships to handspinners and fiber crafters to further their skills and knowledge in the fiber arts.
- Sponsors educational opportunities throughout the year either on-line or in-person, such as talks, workshops, and retreats.
We are here to help each other build our spinning techniques, materials processing, dyeing and other skills in the fiber arts. Although focused on the Northwest, we welcome all who would like to join.
Let’s share, learn, and keep fiber crafts alive with NwSFA.
Member Benefits
NwSFA's annual membership provides several benefits and most importantly a sense
of community with others who have similar interests in “all things fiber”.
Membership provides the following benefits:
- Loose Threads E-Newsletter subscription (10 issues annually)
- Member access to our website including access to:
- Our Fiber-Related Business Directory (and participation for those who own a fiber-related business)
- A list of known Fiber Mills in the Pacific Northwest with member-feedback
- Area Forums and Webpage for sharing within one's local Area
- Interest Forums including one to sell, give-away, and buy fiber tools and supplies
- Members-Only Events access
- Local Area Group Insurance Coverage available
We have two types of memberships. Benefits vary slightly depending on
the type of membership you decide on.
Individual - $25 annually
This is the most common membership type and allows a single vote for elections.
Family Memberships - $30 annually
Do you have more than one member of your household interested in fiber? The Family membership applies to
related individuals residing at the same address (no limit). The primary member has the option to provide an
email address or not for their family members. A family membership allows a single vote per family member with an individual email
address.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR Guild and Businesses: directory access cannot be used to solicit members or
send information that has not been requested by a member. If violations occur, your membership will be
revoked with no reimbursement.
Advertise
If you would like to advertise services, products, or events in our Loose
Threads newsletter, use the "contact us"
and select "advertising" to send an email request. Your ad copy must be submitted by the 20th of the month to
ensure
it is included in the following month's edition.
- Display ads must be submitted camera ready in either JPG, PNG or
PDF format as attachments to email.
- Discounts to Members: 7.5% if ad runs 5 times per year or 10% if
ad runs 10 times per year.
- Discounts to Non-Members: 5% if ad runs 5 times per year or 7.5%
if ad runs 10 times per year.
- Advertising rates are:
- Classified Ads - $.25 per word with $5.00 minimum
- Display Ads:
- Business Cards — $10.00
- Others — $40 per page or proportionally for partial page ($20/half, $10/quarter, etc.)
Donate
We are a 501(c3) non-profit organization which means any donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in making a donation to our association, please use the
“contact us” feature and select “donation”. We greatly appreciate your consideration.
Newsletter Submissions
If you would like to contribute to LOOSE THREADS, please submit articles, events
or advertising by the 20th for publication in the following month. Article and event contributions can be sent
to the editor by using the “contact us” feature and selecting “Loose Threads Submission”.
Sample Newsletter
Our Loose Threads newsletters, published ten times a year, are jam packed with
interesting articles, events and activities occurring in the Northwest. See a sample newsletter Here.