Textiles on Film by Becky Peterson Take a moment to look at the cover of Becky Peterson’s book, Textiles on Film. One man watches as another crochets an object that has been tinted pink, the only spot of color in the sepia-toned image. Would it surprise you to learn that this is an image of …

Surface Design Association is excited to announce Friends with Fiber, our Spring 2025 edition of Surface Design Journal. This issue of Surface Design Journal highlights the material and cultural qualities of wool and the practice of felting across the world…It would seem that no matter where you are located in the world, wool and the …

Nature’s Colorways: Conjuring the Chemistry and Culture of Natural Dyes edited by Linda Ligon and Anne Merrow Nature’s Colorways appears to be a spin-off (no pun intended) of The Long Thread Podcast, hosted by editors Linda Ligon and Anne Merrow. It offers brief, succinct and inviting views into the dye research and practices of many …

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross As I type the word “neuroarts” into my computer, auto-correct underlines the word, suggesting that I’ve made an error. I haven’t. My computer has. Neuroarts is a relatively recently coined term and a broad label describing the burgeoning scientific field …

The Valkyries’ Loom: The Archaeology of Cloth Production and Female Power in the North Atlantic by Michele Hayeur Smith This work, based on research funded by the National Science Foundation’s 9 NSF Arctic Social Sciences Program might, at first perusal, seem to have predominantly a niche appeal, but as an interdisciplinary study, it is much …

SDA is committed to supporting the efforts of community members to realize their creative goals and positively impact the world of textile and fiber art. SDA’s Grants & Awards program provides an array of opportunities to support members as they demonstrate excellence in the studio and in exhibitions, engage in professional development, organize events, and …

Fashion & Motherhood: Image, Material, Identity edited by Laura Snelgrove In 1976, Adrienne Rich published Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, ushering in motherhood studies as a field of academic inquiry. At the time, it was provocative to consider something perceived as “natural” as worthy of critical analysis, but the past decades have …

The Mushroom Color Atlas: A Guide to Dyes and Pigments Made from Fungi by Julie Beeler As someone who is well versed in natural dyeing, mushroom dyes and pigments are still such a wonder and mystery to me. Every time I’ve talked with author Julie Beeler about mushroom dyeing, it opens up a whole new …

Surface Design Association is excited to announce Friends with Fiber, our Winter 2024 edition of Surface Design Journal. “Artists are natural explorers⎯drawn to experimentation in concept, material and technique. Friends with Fiber celebrates those individuals who push the boundaries by combining disparate materials and techniques in exciting new ways. For example, clay and fiber appear …

Thank you to everyone who made this year at SDA possible! We are fortunate to have such passionate staff, board, volunteers, committees, and members who continually help us grow, learn, and expand. Here’s a look back at some highlights from SDA for 2024, and we can’t wait to see what comes next in 2025!  Parallel …