What is LAFTA?
Founded in 1995, Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists (LAFTA) is an organization of visual artists whose work encompasses a variety of surface design and construction techniques, focusing on fibers, textiles and beads.
Our mission is to provide support to our members and to increase community awareness of fiber and textile art. Click HERE to see how our mission unfolded over this past year.
May 2026
Weds, May 6, 1-3 pm. Outsider Art Museum and Gallery special viewing of the Unconventional Kentucky Stitchwork Quilt show for LAFTA members. 2510 Portland Ave.
Sun, May 17, 12:30 - 4:30 pm. LAFTA Workshop: Upcycled Expression: Garment as Canvas. Mojo Quilts and More, 510 Bells Mill Rd., Shepherdsville KY 40165.
Sun, May 17, 1 pm, Daily Art Special Interest Group meeting at MaybeItsFate, the new makerspace at 1425 Story Avenue.
Thurs, May 21, LAFTA monthly meeting. LAFTA member Jessica Beels will talk about her experience participating in KMAC Couture. St Marks Church, doors open 6pm, meeting starts 6:30. Guests are welcome.
June 2026
Sat, June 6, 10am - 3pm, Found and Fabulous, day camp for LAFTA members with 4 mini workshops. St. Marks Church. (Pre-registration required)
Thur, June 18 - St Marks Church, LAFTA monthly meeting. Focus on group projects: two new opportunities for LAFTA members to create. Doors open 6 pm, meeting starts 6:30 pm.
Sun, June 28, 3pm - Hand Stitching group, St. Marks Church, Contact Barbara Hedspeth for info.
Upcoming Member Workshops!
Upcycled Expression: Garment as Canvas. Sunday, May 17, from 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM.
Award-winning Angelique Shah will host up to ten LAFTA members at her studio/shop - Mojo Quilts and More, 510 Bells Mill Rd., Shepherdsville KY 40165.
Reimagine clothing as a creative canvas in this 4-hour, artist-focused workshop. Designed for experienced fiber artists, this class explores intuitive approaches to garment deconstruction, reconstruction and surface design. Participants will work with a single garment, learning how to take it apart with intention, reconfigure shape and proportion, and incorporate artistic elements such as patchwork, applique, and layered textiles. Emphasis will be on composition, texture, and developing a personal visual language through cloth.
This is not a pattern-based class, but a guided exploration of transforming existing garments into expressive, one-of-a-kind pieces. There is a $15 materials fee per student, that includes access to a curated selection of fabrics, trims, and specialty threads to support your design process. Supply list for participants will be provided at registration - it includes 1-2 garments (think: button-down shirts, denim, dresses, jackets - items with structure work best); basic sewing kit (fabric scissors, seam ripper, pins or clips, neutral and decorative threads). Optional: a sewing machine in good working order with power cord and foot pedal.
Maximum 10 participants - sign up now by email to Debbie Hoblitzell at d.c.hoblitzell@gmail.com . We'll look into carpooling, if there is interest.
Found and Fabulous Workshops Saturday, June 6 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
It's a day camp for grown-ups: 4 mini-workshops, 2 from 10:00 AM to noon; 2 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Sign up for one morning and one afternoon session, or just one, by emailing Debbie Hoblitzell at d.c.hoblitzell@gmail.com – maximum of 10 per session - or just bring your own project and hang out with LAFTA friends, with a bring-your-own brown bag lunch from 12:00 to 1:00.
All sessions are free to LAFTA members; some may charge a small materials fee ($5 or less, to be paid at the workshop). Supply lists provided below or at registration.
Morning workshops (10:00 AM to noon):
Debbie Shannon: No Scrap Too Small - make miniature books with "used, found and leftover" paper items - including Debbie Shannon's marbled paper scraps. Bring scissors and a pencil; Exacto knife and cutting board if you have them.
Janet Raderer: Fabric to Art Cards - learn a number of techniques to make note or greeting cards incorporating fabrics. Everyone will go home with one completed note card and lots of ideas for more.
Afternoon workshops (1:00 PM to 3:00 PM):
Antje Bishop: Adding Found Objects to Your Fiber Art - use sheesha embroidery, bead-surrounds and more, to embellish your fiber art.
Kathy Loomis: Basics of Collage Composition -use newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail and more to explore different approaches to collage and basics of composition. Support papers, glue sticks and some magazines and brochures will be provided; $3 supply fee to be paid at the workshop. Participants bring paper scissors and tweezers, also magazines, interesting brochures and flyers, any text-weight paper you have lying around that calls out to you for color or pattern.
