Conceptual Materials Social Practice Artist
Discover the magic of materiality in my Textile Alchemy workshop! Learn to transform found and upcycled materials into stunning textile creations.
Embrace zero-waste creativity and innovation while seeing material in a new way. Finally use the art material you have been holding on to—sign up now and craft something extraordinary!
Dates: Wednesday, June 18 – Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Group Size: Limited to 20 Participants
Book Now: Space is Limited!
Join us for an unforgettable week exploring the vibrant art, fascinating history, and breathtaking beauty of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This exclusive tour is packed with enriching activities and indulgent experiences, including:
Your stay includes accommodations at the beautiful Caravelle Hotel, offering a perfect blend of comfort and Caribbean charm.
As part of this immersive experience, you’ll also get to:
This unique opportunity is limited to just 20 participants, so don’t wait! Contact Norma Krieger at normakrieger@aol.com to reserve your spot today.
Come immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and creativity of St. Croix. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Textile Alchemy with Theda Sandiford
Saturday, March 8 + Saturday, March 15 with a midweek meetup
Take a virtual workshop with me. Learn new skills and techniques, get inspired, and find ways to apply what you learn to your current studio practice.
Receive 10% off when you register by December 15, 2024 with promo code EARLYBIRD
Interested in taking more than one workshop? Use code WORKSHOPS15 for 15% your total when you register for more than one workshop.
“Textile Alchemy” is an engaging and innovative workshop that combines the exploration of different environments—beaches, urban areas, and even our own closets—to source unique materials for textile art. Participants will learn how to source and creatively utilize found and upcycled materials from diverse environments to craft meaningful and sustainable textile pieces. The workshop emphasizes sustainability, resourcefulness, and innovation, encouraging participants to find artistic potential in the most unexpected places. By embracing a zero-waste philosophy, this workshop invites participants to turn what might be considered “waste” into “wonder.”
I’ve always been fascinated by the paranormal, ever since I was a kid. Ghost stories, strange encounters, and unexplained events have a way of capturing my imagination, and soon, I’ll be diving into that world again during the Ghost Tour of Old Town Albuquerque. As part of the American Folklore Society gathering, this tour feels like the perfect mix of history and the supernatural.
The tour will take place in Albuquerque’s Old Town, a place steeped in history. This area, with its adobe buildings and centuries-old streets, seems like the ideal setting for ghost stories. The fact that the city dates back to 1706 makes it feel even more like the kind of place where the past and present overlap, where you might just sense something from another time.
What excites me most is the opportunity to explore this part of the city through its haunted history. I’m eager to hear about the legendary La Llorona, and to learn about the spirits said to linger in the old buildings. There’s something captivating about the idea of walking through spaces that have witnessed so much life—and maybe even death. It feels like a way of connecting to the city on a deeper level, where history isn’t just something you read about, but something you might feel in the air.
I’m also really looking forward to experiencing Gabino Noriega’s storytelling. I’m sure his knowledge of local folklore will bring these tales to life in a way that lets us glimpse into Albuquerque’s ghostly past. It’s a chance to not just hear stories but to feel them, surrounded by the very streets and buildings where these legends were born.
For me, this isn’t just about ghost stories, though. It’s about how folklore gives us a way to engage with history, to connect with the past in a way that’s personal, even emotional. I can’t wait to see what Old Town has in store.
Free Your Mind is a public textile art endeavor with the objective of gathering, showcasing, embedding, and liberating personal narratives surrounding microaggressions through a multi-sensory installation.
Join me on Zoom or in-person for a powerful and engaging artist talk about this project. This event is a unique opportunity to hear about the Free Your Mind art installation project at Touchstone. I will share the creative journey and insights related to the project.
Please Register in Advance for tonight’s 6:00pm ET Zoom Talk:
Please call Touchstone’s office at 724-329-1370 if you would like to attend the Artist Talk in person.
The crafts of spinning, weaving, dyeing, and basket weaving are as ancient as our history; they are the threads that bind us to our ancestors and to each other. Our crafts know no national boundary. They are a part of the heritage of the world. The Spinning and Weaving Week celebration reflects the truly international membership of the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., and the international traditions of our crafts. Fiber artists from around the world are invited to join together in celebration of our common heritage.
Spinning and Weaving Week is celebrated every October during the first full week of the month (Monday-Sunday)
An Invitation to Reflect and Engage
Touchstone Center for Crafts invites you to the Free Your Mind Artist Talk with me, Theda Sandiford. Join us on d Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m. for an enlightening experience, available both in-person and on Zoom.
Free Your Mind project is a public textile art installation that collects, showcases, and liberates personal narratives about microaggressions. This project not only highlights these experiences but also provides a platform for healing and awareness through art.
Join us for this meaningful event that blends art with powerful storytelling. Register for the Zoom talk on September 24 and prepare to be inspired.
I am thrilled to share that I will be presenting Free Your Mind at two upcoming prestigious events this November!
Dates: November 6-9
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Attendees of the American Folklore Society Annual Conference will have an opportunity to participate in Free Your Mind interactive exhibition and explore their own implicit biases and release any microaggressions. I am looking forward to opportunity to connect with folklorists to share insights and expanding my understanding diverse American folklore.
Dates: November 12-17
Location: Zoom
The second presentation will be at the 2024 Textile Society of America Symposium, titled “Shifts and Strands: Rethinking the Possibilities and Potentials of Textiles.” During this virtual event, I’ll be discussing how Free Your Mind uses textiles and memory to convey emotions, and create healing, thereby pushing the boundaries of traditional textile art.
I look forward to engaging with participants and sharing the journey of Free Your Mind with a broader audience.
Stay tuned for more updates as I prepare for these exciting events!
I’m excited to share that I will be in NY/NJ/PA from August 24 through September 29. My journey begins in New York and New Jersey, where I’ll be spending time looking after my parents, catching up with friends, and soaking up inspiration at The Armory Show.
After that, I’m heading back to Pennsylvania for a second two-week residency at the Touchstone Center for Crafts in the beautiful Allegany Mountains. During this time, my cell and Wi-Fi service will be limited, offering a blissful retreat from the digital world.
If you’d like to connect while I’m stateside, please send me a direct message. I’d love to schedule some time to catch up!
Looking forward to this inspiring and invigorating journey.
I am excited to co-host the Free Your Mind Artist Talk fat Touchstone Center for Crafts. Set aside Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m. for an enriching session, available both in-person and on Zoom.
Free Your Mind, is a compelling textile art project that aims to gather and liberate personal stories of microaggressions. Through this multi-sensory installation, I am transforming these narratives into a powerful public art piece that invites introspection and dialogue.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with art that speaks volumes. Register for the Zoom talk on September 24 and join us in celebrating the power of artistic expression.