2025-2027 Officers

President: Gigi Matthews
Vice-President: Patty Chrisman
Treasurer: Joanna Brandt
Secretary: Valerie Clark Bolton

Gigi Matthews, President

Gigi Matthews’ keen interest in fibers and materials is a result of decades of world travel to over 30 countries. From the souks of Aleppo and Damascus to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, markets in the south of France to the sheep pastures of New Zealand and Australia, she has gained a deep respect for textile traditions and creativity.

Gigi learned to spin while living in London, where she was spoiled by access to U.K. rare breeds and Scandinavian fleeces. As an herbalist she has a soft spot for plant fibers and natural dyeing. Her recent work focuses on reclaimed and recycled materials. Gigi was awarded two ribbons for spinning at MAFA 2109, taught virtually at MAFA 2021 and in-person at MAFA 2023, and has published articles in Ply and Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot.

Gigi currently serves on the MAFA board as a member-at-large, and on the conference committee as organizer of the new Makers Meetup. Gigi is also a board member for the Handweavers Guild of America.

Patty Chrisman, Vice President

It all began with the discovery of a little spinning wheel in her grandmother’s attic when she was a young girl, and a brief episode at a loom during Camp Fire Girl Camp in the 1970s. The spinning wheel is now in her possession. The location of the bookmark, woven in a small overshot pattern, is a mystery—it was pink and purple.

Although she learned to spin in her 20s, Patty really began her focus on spinning and the fiber world when her kids were in grade school. Following her recent retirement she was able to fulfill a long time goal of learning to weave. Patty maintains an active interest in all things historic—from buildings to textiles, and is involved with her local historic house museum, where she has been known to demonstrate spinning on her Great Wheel.

Patty believes in the benefits of belonging to a guild (or several) and she is a member of Frances Irwin Handweavers, North Country Spinners, Essex County Hand Spinners, and the New York Guild of Handweavers. She attended her first MAFA Conference in 2017 as a Rep for North Country Spinners, and was so impressed with the organization and the many ways it supports its members, through grants and scholarships, and its efforts in connecting guilds within the larger region.

Patty has served as MAFA Secretary since 2018, and most recently served as Events Coordinator for MAFA 2023.

Joanna Brandt, Treasurer

Joanna has been intrigued by fiber for years and has dabbled in crochet, needlework and sewing. She never considered creating cloth herself until 2016 when she took a beginning weaving course through the Weaver’s Guild of Greater Baltimore. Since then, she has been fascinated by the infinite possibilities in color and structure that weaving offers. She has attended the last three in-person MAFA Conferences and found the workshops and comradery to be wonderful.

Joanna is semi-retired from a career in medicine as a general and forensic psychiatrist. She remains an active member of several boards and committees related to psychiatry. In addition to weaving, Joanna enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, traveling and gardening.

Joanna served as Treasurer for the Weaver’s Guild of Greater Baltimore for four years from 2019 to 2023. She looks forward to becoming more involved with MAFA.

Valerie Clark Bolton, Secretary

While primarily a sewist, Valerie loves almost anything related to the craft of fiber and textiles and is always exploring new fiber crafts. 

She is quasi-retired from a 25 year career in the legal industry which has given her a love and appreciation for rules, structure and documentation. 

She is a member of the Philadelphia Guild of Hand Weavers and recently served for two years as their vice-president.