Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery is a co-operative association of seventy fiber artists. It was established in September of 1974 as an original occupant of the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and was the first fiber art gallery in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. There are eleven themed juried shows every year with wide variety of fiber art. www.potomaccraftsmengallery.com

Potomac Craftsmen Guild is the parent organization of the Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery. The Guild has monthly meetings and educational programs. Classes and workshops, some taught by nationally known artists, are held during the year focusing on fiber techniques such as weaving, spinning, knitting, felting, quilting, etc. The Guild has an extensive lending library that includes rare and out-of-print fiber related books. Certification programs in weaving and knitting are offered. www.potomaccraftsmenguild.org

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located on the waterfront of the Potomac River in the Old Town section of Alexandria Virginia. The facility showcases a wide range of media in eighty-three studios. The studios are open for the public to view artists working on their craft. There are also exhibiting galleries which display one-of-a-kind art. www.torpedofactory.org

Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation.  Founded in 1989 by an initial group of 50 artists, SAQA now boasts over 1,300 members: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors. www.saqa.com

The Quilt/Surface Design Symposium (QSDS) has sponsored two weeks of workshops in Columbus, Ohio each June since 1990. Teachers and students come from many countries to learn and share. QSDS has had a key role in the growth of nontraditional quilting. It is an exciting place to be each June. www.qsds.com

The Surface Design Association is a non-profit membership organization comprising a broad range of textile practitioners, including studio artists and educators, interested in a wide range of fiber techniques. SDA publishes both the Surface Design Journal and the Surface Design Newsletter four times a year and holds a conference in alternate years. www.surfacedesign.org