Fresno FiberArts Guild is also known as FFG
Members and non-members must preregister for the workshops. Sign-up forms are below:
*Workshop Sign-Up Form: Click here: class_sign_up.pdf
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May 16, 2026 Fiber Arts Festival and Sign Up Event
From 9 am to 2 pm
View the new workshops and projects from last year's workshops; Make it Take it/Give tables, a Bake Sale, a Craft's Table, STASH and a Dandy Drawing.
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
This is a quick summary of the lectures and workshops for 2024-2025:
Fresno FiberArts Guild, Inc.
2025-2026 Membership and Workshop Sign-up Event
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center, 5340 N Fresno St., Fresno, 93710
Saturday, May 17, 2025, 9:00 am until 12:00pm
September 20, 2025 Janelle Ozeran https://www.fresnoideaworks.org
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Sartorial Clues for Dating Old Photographs
September 20-21 2025 Lora Wheeler
Workshop: Painting Faces for Those without Confidence; Tote Bag or Wall hanging
$40 + $20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
October 18, 2025 Cindy Thompson https://www.instagram.com/cindyscatcreations
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Painting on Fabric. Who Knew?
October 18-19 2025 Pam Chavez
Workshop: Constructing a Paper Folio and a Writing Journal
$40 + $20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
November 15-16, 2025 Marcia De Coster https://maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Playing with Possibilities
Workshop: Beaders Coat of Arms $75 + $65 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
January 17-18, 2026 Sonya Phillip https://www.100actsofsewing.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Creative Permission
Workshop: Simple Scrappy Shirt $95, includes a pattern
February 21-22, 2026 Toni Best https://tonibest.online
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Pine Needle Coiling – Listening to the Music
Workshop: Pine Needle Weaving on a Gourd $65 + $45 kit fee* to be paid to the instructor
(*all supplies are included in the kit)
March 21-22, 2026 Debbie Gira
Location: Memorial United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Ave in Clovis for Saturday, Sunday Workshop back art DHHSC
Lecture: An Exploration Hand Stitching Traditions in a Variety of Cultures
Workshop Creating a Scarf in the Japanese Boro Look $40 + 20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
April 18-19, 2026 Kate Richbourg https://www.beadshop.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Bag Making for the Home Sewist
Workshop: Kate’s Crossbody Bag $50 + 20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
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May 16, 2026 Fiber Arts Festival and Sign Up Event
From 9 am to 2 pm
View the new workshops and projects from last year's workshops; Make it Take it/Give tables, a Bake Sale, a Craft's Table, STASH and a Dandy Drawing.
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
This is a quick summary of the lectures and workshops for 2024-2025:
Fresno FiberArts Guild, Inc.
2025-2026 Membership and Workshop Sign-up Event
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center, 5340 N Fresno St., Fresno, 93710
Saturday, May 17, 2025, 9:00 am until 12:00pm
September 20, 2025 Janelle Ozeran https://www.fresnoideaworks.org
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Sartorial Clues for Dating Old Photographs
September 20-21 2025 Lora Wheeler
Workshop: Painting Faces for Those without Confidence; Tote Bag or Wall hanging
$40 + $20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
October 18, 2025 Cindy Thompson https://www.instagram.com/cindyscatcreations
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Painting on Fabric. Who Knew?
October 18-19 2025 Pam Chavez
Workshop: Constructing a Paper Folio and a Writing Journal
$40 + $20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
November 15-16, 2025 Marcia De Coster https://maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Playing with Possibilities
Workshop: Beaders Coat of Arms $75 + $65 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
January 17-18, 2026 Sonya Phillip https://www.100actsofsewing.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Creative Permission
Workshop: Simple Scrappy Shirt $95, includes a pattern
February 21-22, 2026 Toni Best https://tonibest.online
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Pine Needle Coiling – Listening to the Music
Workshop: Pine Needle Weaving on a Gourd $65 + $45 kit fee* to be paid to the instructor
(*all supplies are included in the kit)
March 21-22, 2026 Debbie Gira
Location: Memorial United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Ave in Clovis for Saturday, Sunday Workshop back art DHHSC
Lecture: An Exploration Hand Stitching Traditions in a Variety of Cultures
Workshop Creating a Scarf in the Japanese Boro Look $40 + 20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
April 18-19, 2026 Kate Richbourg https://www.beadshop.com
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Lecture: Bag Making for the Home Sewist
Workshop: Kate’s Crossbody Bag $50 + 20 kit fee to be paid to the instructor
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Lectures and Workshops for 2025-2026:
April 18-19, 2026
Kate Richbourg
Lecture and Workshop April 18-19, 2026
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Kate Richbourg has been creating jewelry for as long as she can remember. As a child, she spent hours threading beads, never imagining it would shape her future. After college, while considering a corporate career, she answered a bead store’s want ad - an impulsive decision that set her on a lifelong creative path. While teaching and writing about jewelry-making, Kate discovered metalsmithing in a community college class. The moment she saw metal transform under heat and hammer, she knew she had found her medium. She has since dedicated her career to sharing the magic of metalwork, inspiring makers to explore the artistry of soldering, shaping, and forging their own designs. Kate has appeared on DIY, HGTV, and PBS shows like DIY Jewelry, Craft Lab, and Beads, Baubles & Jewels. She is the author of two bestselling books, Simple Soldering: A Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing Made Easy, both essential guides for aspiring metalsmiths. Today, she teaches live jewelry-making tutorials every Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 am PT on youtube.com/@beadshopdotcom and occasionally on youtube.com/@KateRichbourg. As co-owner of beadshop.com and the creative force behind katerichbourgjewelry.com, she continues to craft, teach, and inspire—proving that creativity, like metal, is shaped by passion and fire.
https://www.beadshop.com
Bagmaking for the Home Sewist
Lecture April 18, 2026 at 10:30 - 11:30
Join Kate for an inspiring and informative talk designed to elevate your bag-making skills! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewist, you'll learn valuable tips, tricks, and tools to enhance your journey in crafting beautiful and functional bags.
Drawing from over 25 years of experience creating bags and accessories, Kate will guide you through key aspects of bag making, including:
Kate Richbourg
[email protected]
Kate’s Crossbody Bag: A Bag-Making Basics Class
Workshop April 18, 2026 - 12:30 - 3:30
April 19, 2026 - 9:00 - 3:30
Class fee $50 + $20 kit fee to be paid directly to the instructor
Join Kate for a fun and approachable sewing session as she walks you through how to make her favorite go-to accessory: a stylish and practical crossbody bag. This project is designed with confident beginners in mind, but seasoned sewists will find plenty of joy in the process too. It’s a great way to dip your toes into bag making—or to refresh the fundamentals if you’ve been away from your machine.
In this class, you’ll learn essential bag-making techniques that can be applied to a wide range of projects. Kate will guide you step-by-step through adhering interfacing securely (and wrinkle-free!) using a steam press, how to confidently attach straps with hardware or rivets, and how to work with different materials like cotton, canvas, denim, vinyl or a combo!
Bring your favorite fabrics and your curiosity—this is a class full of practical tips, creative choices, and the satisfaction of finishing a handmade bag you’ll actually use.
Supplies for students to bring:
Students will provide their own fabric.
½ yard quilting fabric or exterior fabric
½ yard contrasting exterior fabric, woven, vinyl or cork
¾ yard lining fabric like quilting cotton or light canvas
2 yds 1” webbing
Your interfacing, bag hardware and pattern are all covered in the mandatory $20 Kit fee
Fee payable to instructor in class
For most domestic sewing machines, my suggestion for the best fabric combination is a light upholstery weight or canvas for the outer main and gusset and quilt cotton for lining.
Remaining supplies to bring:
Sewing machine in good working order that you are familiar with using and sews over mid-weight fabrics in several layers. Please note that this class is not a sewing machine trouble-shooting session. This will disrupt the timing and flow of class. Get your machine out and make sure it sews well over several layers of material. Don’t forget bobbins!
If your sewing machine has a walking foot this is extremely helpful when sewing bags. Walking feet can be found on Amazon that will fit most machines. Please make sure you match a high or low shank foot to the needs of your machine. You will need a small screwdriver to change from a regular foot to walking foot.
Lecture and Workshop April 18-19, 2026
Location: DHHSC, 5340 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Kate Richbourg has been creating jewelry for as long as she can remember. As a child, she spent hours threading beads, never imagining it would shape her future. After college, while considering a corporate career, she answered a bead store’s want ad - an impulsive decision that set her on a lifelong creative path. While teaching and writing about jewelry-making, Kate discovered metalsmithing in a community college class. The moment she saw metal transform under heat and hammer, she knew she had found her medium. She has since dedicated her career to sharing the magic of metalwork, inspiring makers to explore the artistry of soldering, shaping, and forging their own designs. Kate has appeared on DIY, HGTV, and PBS shows like DIY Jewelry, Craft Lab, and Beads, Baubles & Jewels. She is the author of two bestselling books, Simple Soldering: A Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing Made Easy, both essential guides for aspiring metalsmiths. Today, she teaches live jewelry-making tutorials every Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 am PT on youtube.com/@beadshopdotcom and occasionally on youtube.com/@KateRichbourg. As co-owner of beadshop.com and the creative force behind katerichbourgjewelry.com, she continues to craft, teach, and inspire—proving that creativity, like metal, is shaped by passion and fire.
https://www.beadshop.com
Bagmaking for the Home Sewist
Lecture April 18, 2026 at 10:30 - 11:30
Join Kate for an inspiring and informative talk designed to elevate your bag-making skills! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewist, you'll learn valuable tips, tricks, and tools to enhance your journey in crafting beautiful and functional bags.
Drawing from over 25 years of experience creating bags and accessories, Kate will guide you through key aspects of bag making, including:
- Choosing the right stabilizers to add structure and durability.
- Maximizing the potential of your domestic sewing machine for bag projects.
- Practical techniques to make your bag-making process more efficient and enjoyable.
Kate Richbourg
[email protected]
Kate’s Crossbody Bag: A Bag-Making Basics Class
Workshop April 18, 2026 - 12:30 - 3:30
April 19, 2026 - 9:00 - 3:30
Class fee $50 + $20 kit fee to be paid directly to the instructor
Join Kate for a fun and approachable sewing session as she walks you through how to make her favorite go-to accessory: a stylish and practical crossbody bag. This project is designed with confident beginners in mind, but seasoned sewists will find plenty of joy in the process too. It’s a great way to dip your toes into bag making—or to refresh the fundamentals if you’ve been away from your machine.
In this class, you’ll learn essential bag-making techniques that can be applied to a wide range of projects. Kate will guide you step-by-step through adhering interfacing securely (and wrinkle-free!) using a steam press, how to confidently attach straps with hardware or rivets, and how to work with different materials like cotton, canvas, denim, vinyl or a combo!
Bring your favorite fabrics and your curiosity—this is a class full of practical tips, creative choices, and the satisfaction of finishing a handmade bag you’ll actually use.
Supplies for students to bring:
Students will provide their own fabric.
½ yard quilting fabric or exterior fabric
½ yard contrasting exterior fabric, woven, vinyl or cork
¾ yard lining fabric like quilting cotton or light canvas
2 yds 1” webbing
Your interfacing, bag hardware and pattern are all covered in the mandatory $20 Kit fee
Fee payable to instructor in class
For most domestic sewing machines, my suggestion for the best fabric combination is a light upholstery weight or canvas for the outer main and gusset and quilt cotton for lining.
Remaining supplies to bring:
- Thread (regular high quality sewing thread. Heavy duty thread is not needed)
- Clover clips. Lots of clips!!! At least 40-50 clips please.
- Fabric shears
- Cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter if preferred (optional) Instructor will have one set up to share in class.
- Pattern weights or something similar to hold down fabric while cutting out the pattern. Pinning is not always optimal when cutting heavier fabric, but you may use pins if preferred. I use 8-Pack Premium Glass Fermentation Weights for Large Wide Mouth Mason Jars 2 3/4 Inch from Amazon and they work great.
- Tape measure
- Thread snips
- Sewing needles
- Thimble if you use one
Sewing machine in good working order that you are familiar with using and sews over mid-weight fabrics in several layers. Please note that this class is not a sewing machine trouble-shooting session. This will disrupt the timing and flow of class. Get your machine out and make sure it sews well over several layers of material. Don’t forget bobbins!
If your sewing machine has a walking foot this is extremely helpful when sewing bags. Walking feet can be found on Amazon that will fit most machines. Please make sure you match a high or low shank foot to the needs of your machine. You will need a small screwdriver to change from a regular foot to walking foot.
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