2026 Rust Belt Fibershed Symposium Learning Stations & Vendors
January 24 at 78th Street Studios
1:00-2:00 pm: morning symposium ticket holders only
2:00-4:00 pm: Free and open to general public (there will be a place to drop donations!)
Address: W 78th Street Studios, 1300 W 78th St. Cleveland, OH 44102
Ever wondered what alpaca fleece feels like? How to crochet, sew, or felt? What botanical dyes are? How to create beautiful things out of native grasses? How to soften buckskin leather? How linen is made? Want to buy local, beautiful fiber for knitting and other projects directly from farmers? Support slow fashion makers in our region?
Check out our Hands-On Learning Demos and Vendor Listings Below!
For full weekend agenda and details, please see the main symposium page.
LEARNING TABLE/DEMO HOSTS:
WET FELTING DEMO Station— Hosted by Steve Lucius
“How to wet felt flat pieces as well as 3-d pieces with a resist. Once you have a few tips and tricks, wet felting can be a quick way to make something from fiber!”
Email: shlucius@hotmail.com
Steve is from Cleveland, Ohio.
NATURAL DYES— Hosted by: Maggie Latham / Maggie Latham Studio
“I'll be demonstrating how to turn plants into dyes! I'll also be displaying components of the lake-pigment process which takes the experience even further, and shows how dyes become paints. I love sharing these processes because they bring centuries-old traditions of working with natural color to life. They show beautiful and eco-friendly ways to make a difference through art materials and textiles. ”
Instagram: @maggie.latham
Website: www.maggielatham.studio
Maggie is from Cleveland, Ohio.
INTERACTIVE MENDING Station— Hosted by: Sage Dye / Coatrack Vintage & Repair
Sage will run an interactive mending table with various examples of mended clothing, and materials for doing small repairs on clothes. She’ll demo with some stained/torn vintage clothing in case folks want to test out repairs on garments that are not theirs, as well as patches, buttons, thread, and needles for repairs, and more!
Coatrack Vintage & Repair, founded by Sage Dye and assisted by Danielle Bemus, is a secondhand clothing and repair business aiming to preserve and further the lifecycle of existing clothing in the Midwest. Sage utilizes her background as a textile sourcer and apparel producer to select high quality clothing, and all garments are repaired and cleaned beforehand. Alongside their wares, Sage offers her garment knowledge for commission garment repair and leather cleaning to the public.
Email: coatrackvintage@gmail.com
Instagram: @coatrackvintage
Website: sagedye.com
Sage is from Cleveland, Ohio.
CROCHET Station—
Hosted by:
Emily Kichler / Lēlē Stern
“Ever wanted to make your own hat, sweater, blanket, etc? Ever desired a masochistic meditation literally at your fingertips? Me too.
Hi, I'm Emily! And I can teach you how to crochet from the big and chunky to the teeny tiny and lacey, from beginner to intermediate and advanced. Stop by and say hello!”
Instagram: @lele_stern
Email: emily@lelestern.com
Emily is from Cleveland, Ohio.
CORDAGE WITH PLANT FIBERS Station— Hosted by: Kati Jackson / Flyway Farm
“We will be demonstrating how to make cordage using locally foraged, native Dogbane and other plant fibers. NE Ohio has some amazing plant fiber resources, and I'm excited to share the knowledge with others!”
Instagram: @flywayfarmohio
Email: KATI_JACKS@HOTMAIL.COM
Katie is from Northeast Ohio.
CHOOSING WOOL FOR YOUR PROJECT Station—Hosted by Denise Williams / Something Beautiful Handcrafts
“There are approximately 1000 distinct breeds of sheep on the planet, and every one was bred for a particular purpose. The breed you choose can add or detract from your fiber project. Let's talk a bit about the various breeds, and how using breed specific fiber can enhance the production and longevity of your item. There will be samples of raw wool, spun yarn and textiles, all breed specific, with explanations of the reed characteristics that bring out the best qualities of the garment. ”
Instagram: @denise.williams2012
Youtube: Something Beautiful Handcrafts
Email: denwil2007@yahoo.com
Denise is from Cleveland, Ohio.
ANGORA FIBER Station— Hosted By: Sara Guren/One Bunny's Wool
“I’m excited to be demonstrating the slow, nourishing cycle of harvesting fiber and caring for my English Angora rabbit, Patches. I look forward to sharing the brushing, carding, and spinning of her fiber, as well as the joy and peace that naturally arise from being in relationship with a small fiber animal.”
Instagram: @onebunnyswool
Website: http://www.saraguren.com
Sarah is from Northeast Ohio.
SURI ALPACA FLEECE Station—
Hosted by:
The Suri Network and Alpaca Owners Association / Laurel R Shouvlin
”Come see wonderful examples of Suri alpaca yarn and products showing off the special characteristics of this unique fiber and its attributes, and see how to spin Suri alpaca fiber.”
Website: www.surinetwork.org
Email: laurelshouvlin@gmail.com
RECYCLING PLASTIC FOR BUTTONS Station— Hosted by Ryan Carpenter / Tansy Recycling
“We will be demonstrating our process of making recycled plastic buttons and beads with a mini injection machine. We will also be showcasing other methods of DIY recycling. It is very exciting to show the process of turning an old plastic bottle caps into beautiful buttons!”
Instagram: @tansyrecycling
MICRO MILL EQUIPMENT DEMO—
Hosted by: Jordon Masters / WVU Farm to Fashion
“WVU Farm to Fashion will present their research on open-source micro mill equipment. In collaboration with organizations around the world, this equipment has the potential to revolutionize regional textile development. Come by and check out working demonstrations of the equipment and learn more about the project and future plans.”
Instagram: @wvufarmtofashion
Email: jomasters@mail.edu.
WEAVING DEMO Station— Hosted by: Praxis Fiber Workshop
“Join us for weaving demos! Praxis Fiber Workshop loves to teach anything related to fiberart but specializes in weaving at our studio in Cleveland where we have 27 floor looms and a variety of classes year round. Contribute to our many yards of community weavings at this event.”
Instagram: @praxisfiberworkshop
Website: praxisfiberworkshop.org
FLAX-TO-LINEN Station—
Hosted by: Lisa Pettry / Artist-Educator
Swing by this learning station to see how locally-grown flax is processed into linen, and take a turn at the various parts of creating linen fiber.
Instagram: @pleaseselect
Email: lisapettry@gmail.com
HANDSPINNING via DROP SPINDLE Station— Hosted by Brittany Dobish
“Drop spindling is the oldest method of making yarn. For generations, women have used this simple technique to create their own yarn. It's a meditative and restorative practice that anyone can do. Let's connect with each other and our lineage to craft.” Come by the station to try your hand at an easy entry-point for spinning your own fiber!
Instagram: @dobishfiberarts
Email: dobishbrittany@gmail.com
COMPOSTING Station—Hosted by: Rust Belt Riders, Cleveland, OH
In addition to collecting all of our foodscraps and compostable plates & cups for the event, Rust Belt Riders will host a learning station on composting because great soil is the basis of our soil-to-soil model, and: who doesn’t have questions about composting! RBR will demo composting and be offering some educational handouts. Instagram: @rustbeltriders, Website: rustbeltriders.com
FARM POLICY INFO STATION—Hosted by OEFFA Policy Team
“The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's (OEFFA) policy program advocates for state and federal policies that help farmers thrive in fair markets and access the land and resources they need to protect the health of people, soil, animals, and the environment.
We're excited to be at Rust Belt Fibershed's 2024 Symposium, where we'll answer questions about Ohio's hemp law and shed light on broader farm policy issues. Most importantly, we'll provide opportunities to get involved in critical advocacy efforts!”
Email: policy@oeffa.org
Instagram: @oeffapolicy
Website: https://grow.oeffa.org/
SEED SWAP Station—Hosted by: Isaac Coblentz / Cannabis Museum Fiber Educator
“Growing dye plants has been a wonderful way to engage the web of life, Blooms are gathered and dried every few days to keep the blooms in production. much joy can be cultivated by growing and gathering flowers for the dye pot. The seed swap table will have dye plant seeds to trade and share. I will share my experience growing Sulfur Cosmos and Calendula in my garden this past season.”
Instagram: @copperweaver
FELT LOOM STATION— Hosted by the Fabric Lab at 4800 Broadway
‘The scrap monster aka felt loom is back for another year at the Symposium! We look forward to playing around with some natural fibers, and sharing creations from our past year in practice.”
Instagram: @4800broadway
Website: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/940151bc-ad2f-4b2b-9306-c443680a5a11
SHEEP SNUGGLING —Hosted by: Melinda Wamsley / Boss Mare Shearing
“Ever wonder how that wonderful fluffy fiber gets from the sheep to your wardrobe? Come watch Melinda Wamsley of Boss Mare Shearing demonstrate sheep shearing, fleece skirting and there will be a general discussion of sheep, wool, and sheep handling. Please drop by to enjoy our show and ask questions.”
There will be two shearing demonstrations. One at 2:00 and one at 3:00.
Website: https://linktr.ee/bossmareshearing
SEWING STATION—Hosted by: Esperanza Threads
Esperanza Threads offers collaborations with textile professionals, artists, and educators in the local Cleveland and greater Rust Belt Fibershed communities who offer a range of educational opportunities around skill-sharing, community service, and cultural capital development.
Swing by the table to sew a cotton canvas Rust Belt Fibershed patch (made last year by Cleveland Sews!) onto something you bring, like a canvas tote bag, backpack, pair of jeans, jacket, etc, or just play around with the machines.
Website: Esperanzathreads.org
Instagram: @esperanzathreads
SCREEN PRINTING STATION— Hosted by Taryn McMahon, Aoife Mooney, and others.
Bring your own thrifted t-shirt, tote bag, bandana, or other fabric for a hands-on live demonstration of sustainable screenprinting!
We will have artworks burned on screens ready to screenprint onto t-shits, bandanas, tote bags, or other fabric that attendees bring with them. The artworks are inspired by the sustainable materials used in the Rust Beld Fibershed, including alpaca, indigo, and flax.
Taryn McMahon
Taryn McMahon is an artist exploring the entanglements between the human and nonhuman through the waterways of Northeast Ohio. McMahon has received numerous awards for her work, including an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Arts Challenge, a Puffin Foundation grant, and Denbo Fellowship. Her work has been shown at The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA, the International Print Center, New York, NY, Ortega y Gasset Projects, Brooklyn, NY, and the McDonough Museum, Youngstown, OH, among many other venues. She has been awarded residencies at Arrowmont School of Art and Craft (2025), Center for Contemporary Printmaking (2024), Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (2018), Vermont Studio Center (2017), Anderson Ranch Arts Center (2012), Anchor Graphics (2011), Women’s Studio Workshop (2008), and the Lawrence Arts Center (2006-2007). She is a Professor of Studio Art at Kent State University, Kent, OH, where she oversees the Print Media & Photography concentration area and specializes in teaching printmaking courses. She currently also serves as the Studio Art Division Coordinator in the School of Art.
Website: http://www.tarynmcmahon.com/
Aoife Mooney
I am passionate about the role of materiality in communication, and as a parallel, how different forms of visual communication bind social groups together. Our table will showcase the process of screenprinting a collaboratively designed artwork which pulls together the sensibilities of print-making, design and textile arts, and demonstrates the capacity of fibers to tell stories and make connections.
Instagram: @patterns_and_puzzles
Website: http://www.aoifemooney.org
For full weekend agenda and details, please see the main symposium page.
INFO TABLES
redhouse studio
redhouse studio is an architecture and research practice working at the intersection of design, material innovation, and environmental justice, with a focus on living material systems that remediate waste, store carbon, and tell place-based stories. Our work explores how discarded materials—textiles, demolition debris, agricultural byproducts—can be biologically transformed into new building materials and public works that support healthier ecosystems and communities. We are at the Rust Belt Fibershed Symposium to share how regenerative, fiber-based material systems can connect soil, water, buildings, and culture into a more circular regional economy.
LinkedIn | Website | Email | Instagram
Found Surface
At Found Surface, we work at the intersection of research, design, and material stewardship, helping purpose-driven organizations turn complex ideas into thoughtful, manufacturable products. Our material programs and circularity efforts reflect our belief that long-term partnerships—not transactions—shape the future of domestic production. We’re here to connect with those who value process, innovation, and meaningful collaboration.
LinkedIn | Website | Email
Great Lake Erie Southern Shore (GLESS) Bioregion
Come learn more about the goal of GLESS is to cultivate connection, communication, cooperation and collaboration among the human – and more-than-human – members of the Great Lake Erie Southern Shore Bioregion.
Website
One Year, One Outfit (A Rust Belt Fibershed Project)
Swing by and learn more about the current One Year, One Outfit Project from the Rust Belt Fibershed. See participants making their outfits in-action, ask questions about their materials, and learn about ways to celebrate our regional fiber and slow fashion
Website
Rust Belt Linen Project (formerly the Cleveland Flax Project)
The Rust Belt Linen Project is a community-powered grow project that aims to connect participants in our community with where our clothing comes from, as well as to revitalize the conversation around locally-grown linen. Come by the table and see what we’ve been up to!
Website
VENDORS
Current Official List
Fiber Farms
yarn, fleece, raw wool, hides
The Buzzard Farm
The Buzzard Farm is a small fiber farm in Western Pennsylvania which focuses on the sustainability of alpaca fiber. The farm offers custom orders of hand spun, dye free, yarn and custom, dye free, hand spun hats all made from alpaca grown on their farm.
Instagram | Website
Powers Acres / Oxbow Orchard
Oxbow Orchard and Powers Acres raise Icelandic sheep on regenerative farms in Northeast Ohio. We transform the wool we produce into beautiful yarn and felt products that we sell at our farm store and at local farmer's markets. Our farming efforts go beyond mere production, we are cultivating a deeper connection between our community and the land.
Powers Acres: Instagram | Website
Oxbow Orchard: Instagram | Website
Fabric, Fiber & Notions
Blue Thistle Fibers
Blue Thistle Fibers is a small-batch, naturally dyed fiber company based in the mountains of West Virginia. We offer sustainable, ethically sourced raw wool, yarns, wool roving, knit, and woven fabrics. All are dyed by hand with natural dyes and crafted using traditions passed down from our grandmothers.
Instagram | Website
Tansy Recycling
At Tansy Recycling our mission is to tackle the plastic waste challenge in Summit County by recycling plastics that are otherwise not handled locally. We believe that our work making sewing notions out of local plastic waste along with growing and using natural dye plants aligns closely with the mission statement of the Rustbelt Fibershed.
Instagram | Website
Finished Goods
Upcycle/Scrap Reuse
Flux Bene
FLUX BENE is a line of zero-waste garments & accessories thoughtfully created in Pittsburgh, PA. All Flux Benes are one of a kind, gender neutral and made from upcycled materials. Care is taken to ensure that each piece is constructed to last and that an inclusive of sizing options are available. Pockets!
Instagram | Website
Local Cut & Sew
Faan Slow Goods
Faan is a slow fashion brand creating workwear-inspired unisex pieces from organic and salvaged fabrics since 2015. Each piece is cut and sewn by a small team in Cleveland, and every production scrap is reused or composted. Faan’s domestic supply chain, organic sourcing and natural dye program underpin our mission to help establish a circular model for apparel production within the Rustbelt Fibershed.
Instagram | Website
Worth Dry Goods
Worth Dry Goods is a small fiber business based out of Buffalo, NY. We are passionate about building a local, sustainable, and planet-friendly textile economy! Focusing on high-quality, environmentally-conscious materials and merchandise for makers, we offer locally-produced goods and hand-dyed local fiber.
Instagram | Website
Vintage
Sun in Leo
Sun in Leo is a circular marketplace with up-cycled and responsibly sourced apparel and accessories. We take accountability for where our products come from as well as provide services like alterations to ensure longevity on all kinds of products.
Instagram | Email
Natural Dyes
Praxis Fiber Workshop
Praxis Fiber Workshop builds the international network of fiber artists and makers through classes, workshops, residencies, and collaborative projects that teach the art form and demonstrate how fiber art can be used to build healthy, resilient, and inclusive communities. Since 2018 Praxis has grown and processed Japanese indigo on vacant lots in our residential neighborhood. We now have extracted pigment indigo dye kits available for sale along with hand-dyed and printed Praxis Fiber Workshop T Shirts.
Instagram | Website
Ethical Sourcing
Harkin
Custom designed leather goods slowly made in Cleveland, crafted in traceable vegetable tanned leather. The story of the animal to the material to the end product only travels through a few hands across a few states while maintaining low waste and a high end product.
Instagram | Website