Fiber Arts on 4th is “The Hub” for fiber artists in New Mexico — workshops, gatherings, shopping, inspiration, and everything fiber arts!
Our origin story
Fiber Arts on 4th was founded by Cael Chappell in 2024 as a hub for fiber artists in New Mexico and beyond.
Previously, Cael worked for 34 years helping basket weavers in villages across Africa to preserve their cultural heritage while they supported themselves and their families. Cael eventually became the largest buyer and seller of African baskets in the world for many years. He is now an award winning basket weaver himself who teaches workshops around the country and has written a book on his unique type of weaving.
As a basket weaver, Cael wanted to learn how to weave on a loom and that led him down a path to learning on many different types of looms. He found it challenging to find local support to learn skills in workshops or to purchase supplies and equipment. Ordering online was a frustrating experience of receiving the wrong colors, sizes, and wrong equipment, and lots of wasted money.
He realized that we needed a center of support for learners and experienced fiber artists alike. A place for fiber artists to gather and help each other. A place to get assistance making the correct purchases and where what you see is what you get when it comes to yarns and supplies. Where you can see and feel your supplies and equipment before spending your money. A place for all things fiber arts.
Cael knew he couldn’t do this alone, so he partnered with Ruth Baldwin of The Natural Twist to bring her 35+ years experience running her travelling fiber arts store and her lifetime of experience including owning and running the local fiber mill where she processes fleece, dyes, and blends to make beautiful wool fiber ready to spin into yarn, or use for felting.
Fiber Arts on 4th opened August 8, 2024 and quickly became an invaluable resource to local fiber artists. It has been working to support local fiber arts guilds and promoting other fiber arts and textile projects throughout the state of New Mexico.
We have lots of amazing plans ahead … be sure to join our email list to keep up to date on everything happening here!
Mission & vision
Fiber Arts on 4th is dedicated to supporting, inspiring, teaching, supplying, and connecting fiber artists in a community. Fiber Arts on 4th serves as a hub to connect artists and makers to each other, with instruction and materials, and to other fiber arts projects throughout New Mexico.
In New Mexico, fiber arts runs deep within in all cultures and a goal of Fiber Arts on 4th is assist with preservation of heritage and culture while educating the public about the history and importance of fiber arts to the world as we know it today.
Fiber Arts on 4th is both a place for existing makers and artists to come and thrive, and also a place for new members of this vibrant community to learn, create, and be inspired to explore this amazing world of all things fiber arts.
Facilities
- Located in Albuquerque’s beautiful North Valley Village of Los Ranchos
- 7,000 square feet of buildings on 1.5 acres
- Parking for up to 40 cars on site
- Featuring a shop that includes The Natural Twist and Baskets of Africa
- Dedicated classroom/workshop space in our main building for up to 12 students
- ‘Back Building’ space for messier workshops for up to 12 students
- Meeting space for around 15 people
- Gathering space for around 25 people
- Exhibition space for smaller wall mounted exhibits
- Space for Pop-up sales and events
- Looms to rent during workshops
- Tools available to use during workshops and Fiber Fun Fridays
- 15 passenger Excursion Van for fun trips to other fiber arts happenings in New Mexico