FABRIGASM · Instead, cut the black fabric AND a piece of fusible craft batting the same size as the African Mosaic block (Fig. 1). Fuse batting to back of the block. Sew black fabric

FABRIGASM® by Cultured Expressions - Winter 2015

KUBA The Fabric The Culture The Exhibit!!

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A Cultured Expressions Publication "Feel the FABRIC. . . Embrace the CULTURE"

for Lovers of African Textiles

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FABRIGASM

KentKentee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Royal Cloth Royal Cloth of the of the AshantiAshanti

Happens Your Creative Space:Your Creative Space: Where the Where the MMAGICAGIC

TRAVELOGUETRAVELOGUE 88 Ways to Use Ways to Use Fat QuartersFat Quarters

BeforeBefore You Make the Quilt You Make the Quilt Take the CE Take the CE

"Cut It Up""Cut It Up" Quilt ChallengeQuilt Challenge

SEW SimpleSEW Simple Tips, Tricks, Hacks Tips, Tricks, Hacks

& Hints& Hints


Issue #4 WINTER 2015

Lisa Shepard Stewart

fa-bri-gaz-uh m Noun

1. the physical and emotional sensation one experiences at the mere sight of an extraordinary textile, heightened by the touch or handling of the piece, and usually accompanied by a rush of creative energy

2. intense or unrestrained pleasure caused by the thought of using a fabulous textile in a particular project

Welcome to

FABRIGASM

Cultured Expressions' creative living publication! It's part magazine, part catalog, part project guide, and all centered around our collective passion for African Textiles. We've got A LOT planned for 2015, including two Fall SewJourns (a new Gullah experience and a return to Santa Fe), a summer "retreat repeat", and more… see the 2015 Events Calendar on page 27, and mark the dates now! In this issue, we take a closer look at Kente, the royal cloth of the Ashanti, uncover some Fabrigasmic road trip ideas, share some sewing studio inspiration and more. Enjoy this issue, and let us know what you think!!!

®

FABRIGASM is a registered trademark of Cultured Expressions. ©2014 All Rights Reserved. This publication (inclusive of all text and images) may not be reproduced in part or whole in any form or by any means without

the prior written permission of the Publisher. Contact [email protected].

2

lisa


ABOVE:

Kente weaving in progress — A view from the warp (lengthwise)

yarn, with the loom behind it in the distance. A happy

coincidence, the yarn represents PANTONE's Color of the Year

for 2015—and my Color for Life—, Marsala

ON THE COVER: One of the many gorgeous kente garments our group encountered

during our 2013 SewJourn to Ghana (Tunic by Dento Mills)

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IN THIS ISSUE

4 - 5 2014: The CE Year in Review

6 - 7 Travelogue

8 In Memoriam: Lois Neumann

9 Free Project / African Mosaic Ideas

10 The Goat Gallery

11 Sew Simple / Tips, Tricks, Hacks & Hints

12- 13 The CE "CUT IT UP" Quilt Challenge

14 -15 Kente: Royal Cloth of the Ashanti

16- 19 Your Creative Space

20 Handbag Happenings

21 Save These Dates!

22 The Function of COLOR

23 8 Ways to Use Fat Quarters

24 Free Project / Bogolan Pouch Necklace

25 - 26 Stuff We Like

27 2015 Calendar


2014: The Year

SewJourn to Santa Fe

Natural Hair Expos

Indigo dyeing, pottery, shopping, special events, and those Aspen trees! Our SewJourn to Santa Fe was so much fun, we're doing it again - watch for our Fall 2015 dates!.

Next to sewing & quilt-ing, headwraps are one of our favorite

uses for juicy jacquard batiks. And at the

natural hair shows, we get a captive audience

of craft-converts!

Franklin Lakes Public Library Exhibit & Workshop

Thank You for making 2014 our best year ever! We appreciate your support of CE's exciting new events, new products and new workshops (these are just a few), and we look forward to more in 2015.

"Feel the Fabric…

Embrace the Culture"

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In Review

Yara African Fabrics Customer Appreciation Day

Bisa Butler Workshop

CE Summer Stitch-In Retreat

New Products!

Join us again at Yara African Fabrics on SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015

Vintage Coin Purse Kit

"Natural Since" Pins

Handbag Handles

Open Studio

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T R A V E L O G U E Places and Events

Katrina Wreckage and Tears . . . And Still We Rise (2012) Viola Burley Leak

QUILT EXHIBIT (Various Cities) "And Still We Rise" narrates 400 years of history through 85 story quilts and was curated by Carolyn Mazloomi, Ph.D., director of the Women of Color Quilter’s Network (WCQN). The exhibit was organized by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Cincinnati Museum Center. (www.cincymuseum.org) Check for exhibition travel schedule.

ACCRA, GHANA

While CE isn't hosting a SewJourn to Ghana for 2015, we wanted to share an update about our Ghana export manager, Daniel Addo. His business, Akonnoba Collections, has grown to include a physical shop located in Accra (New Achimota) He employs two tailors to create custom shoes & bag designs, both wholesale and retail. When visiting Accra, or for international ordering info, contact Daniel via email: [email protected]

GAINESVILLE, FL

"Kabas and Couture: Contemporary Ghanaian Fashion" This exhibition at the Harn Museum of Art (Univ of Florida) high-lights the intersections between designer fashions and traditional forms of dress in Ghana-ian culture, with runway garments displayed alongside historical textiles such as a batakari smock and kente cloth. See the work of internationally noted Ghanaian designers and their respective brands. February 24 - August 23, 2015 (www.harn.ufl.edu) Check for future travel dates.

Cocktail dress, Ajepomaa Mensah

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DENVER, CO

If you find yourself in Denver, be sure to check out Akente Express, a fun African shop located at 919 Park Ave West. It's like a mini-mall for all things African. Naturally I headed for the fabric prints, batiks, novelties and this mountain of Kuba cloth ► where I happily lost my mind for a while! After you're all Fabrigasm'ed out, browse the herbs & oils and other natural healing products, jewelry, artifacts and more. And when you get there, tell Ron, the owner, that "Lisa & Glen, "Moctar Yara's friends" sent you... (www.akenteexpress.com)

DALLAS, TX

"Add To, Take Away: Artistry and Innovation in African Textiles" Is on view at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas. "Add to" techniques include embroidery and appliqué. "Take away" refers to the removal of threads from cloth to create intri-cate patterns. This installation of cloths, drawn pri-marily from the DMA’s collection, explores these techniques as they have been - and still are - practiced in Mali, Republic of Be-

SAN DIEGO, CA

The Mingei International Museum 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA presents the "Black Dolls" exhibit, including over 100 unique handmade African-American dolls made between 1860 and 1930. Created with materials at hand, including old clothing and fabric remnants, buttons and beads, they depict human depth and emotion and were crafted by makers evidently bent on creating faithful images. February 7 thru July 5, 2015 Roadtrip, anyone? (www.mingei.org)

of Fabrigasmic Interest

Yes, I succumbed to the kuba pile and the batiks at Akente Express These came home with me This black kuba was screaming , "Take Me" ; the smal kuba & batik were purchased to keep him company.

T R A V E L O G U E

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In Memoriam:

Lois Neumann This issue of Fabrigasm remembers a friend and quilting comrade, Lois Neumann. As the Fashion Sewing instructor at Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Lois first contacted me in 2009 to arrange an African Accents program for her students. We planned a day that combined hands-on work-shops using African fabrics and a "career-day" type discussion — it became an annual event. I was always impressed by Lois' classroom, a big, bright studio/classroom with 18 Janome machines (canustandit??) and endless supplies, and by her interaction with her students. Her ability to teach was apparent in how well they handled the machines, something I quietly noticed as they worked. Each year I made it a point to remind them how fortunate they were to have her as a teacher, and to have access to sewing instruction in school. That led me to an idea for a Fabrigasm article about sewing education in schools, and how Lois was able to keep it alive and thriving at Bloomfield High. We were in the midst of emailing Q&A's for the article when I received the sad news of her passing in June. I had to laugh during my 2013 visit, when I noticed a student's comment on the bulletin board, which pretty much sums it up:

"Neumy is cool "

... She will be missed —- lisa

Lois Neumann

These are CE products inspired by our Bloomfield High School sessions:

African Mosaic Pillow Kit Bogolan Drawstring Duffel Bag Kit

Color Block Batik Bag Pattern

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African Mosaic Quilting Two New Ways to Use Our PILLOW KIT!

Friends of CE are probably familiar with our African Mosaic Quilt Kit, our first kit and still one of our most popular workshops. From that came the African Mosaic Pillow Kit, a smaller version, and a perfect way to "test" the technique. The Pillow Kit includes a 50-pack of 2" African print and batik fabri c squares, a 14" square of fusible layout grid, and black fabric for the pillow borders and backing. With a bit of imagination, you can redesign the Pillow Kit into create other projects, too. Here are some functional, fashionable ideas for your consideration:

Use all of the Pillow Kit components to create the African Mosaic front with black borders, using the remainder of the black fabric for the back of the bag. Add fusible craft backing or fusible batting to the wrong side of both front and back, then sew front to back at the bottom seam with right sides together. Add a pair of CE Leather Handbag Handles , available online (For more detailed bag-making instructions, including linings, inside pockets, zipper closures and more, refer to On The GO!)

African Mosaic Tote Or try this small Zippered Anything Pouch, a little somethin' to carry cosmetics, or electronics & chargers, or a camera, or cell phone, or travel toiletries or anything else you need to carry around in style. You can use all of the squares in the Pillow Kit for a multi-color version, or pick and choose your 2" squares, adding some of your own fabrics for a single color pouch like the blue shown in the how-to steps below. You can also vary the number of squares to customize the finished size. Make the African Mosaic block. Do NOT cut the black fabric into strips. Instead, cut the black fabric AND a piece of fusible craft batting the same size as the African Mosaic block (Fig. 1). Fuse batting to back of the block. Sew black fabric to the block, right sides together (RST) (Fig. 2) leaving an opening. Turn right side out ; press.

Center the purse block on a zipper that is at least 4-5 inches longer than the pouch (Fig. 3). Stitch one side of pouch to zipper

as shown (Fig. 4) Open zipper and pin opposite side of pouch to other side of zipper. Pin second side, aligning sides evenly. Open zipper; stitch as shown (Fig. 5) Pull zipper tab to the middle of the zipper. Fold pouch in half RSTand sew the two side seams, carefully sewing thru the zipper at each end (Fig. 6) Trim zipper tapes to the length of the pouch. Turn right side out and press. Add beads, brass adinkra symbol or other embellishment to the zipper pull.

Zippered Anything Pouch

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Goat Gallery 2015

Tips Tricks Hacks Hints

Sew Simple

"FAUX BINDING" FINISH: For a quick binding on wall hangings & smaller quilts, I like to layer backing, batting and quilt top (the backing is cut 1” larger than the top & batting all around), then turn over the backing ½” and ½” again* over the raw edges of batting & quilt top to form an easy binding I then just zig-zag the pressed edge to the quilt top all around. Be sure the "zig" stitches fall onto the binding and the "zag" stitches land on the quilt top. It’s neat and easy to do. (*Adjust the amount you turn under for a wider or more narrow faux binding.)

For EXTRA CREDIT: Try a decorative stitch and contrast thread instead of matching the thread to make the bound edge stand out.

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EASIER NEEDLE THREADING: If you have trouble threading your sewing machine needle, part of the problem might be that the needle blends in with the metal machine parts behind it, making it hard to see the hole in the needle. Try this… Place a piece of white paper (index card) directly behind the needle when threading it. The needle hold stands out clearly, making it sew simple to thread.

Attach the card to the side of your machine with double-stick tape for easy access.

DOUBLE SPOOL PIN: When running two upper threads at once (for accent stitching or when using a double needle. place a drinking straw on the spool pin to easily accommo-date both spools at once. Also try this tip on the spool pins of your thread storage rack to double the capacity. Just trim straws to the desired length.

PET BEDDING: Love animals? When your collection of tiny scraps gets to be a bit too much, but you still can't bear to throw them out, fill an old pillowcase 3/4 full with the fabric (and batting!) scraps and sew the pillowcase closed. Then bring it to your local pet shelter for the four-legged residents to sleep on.

For EXTRA CREDIT: Try this with your guild members as a nice by-product of your workshops & community service projects.

IN-FLIGHT SEWING, SIMPLIFIED: Need another reason to floss daily? To get to the empty container sooner...Don't throw away your dental floss containers when they are empty. Just pry out the top that has the cutter blade and fill with a few sewing necessities, including a bob-bin of thread, a few buttons, safety pins and a bit of fusible web tape for quick hotel room fixes. Perfect for sewing on flights, since it's airport security- friendly! Just run thread through the top of the dispenser, pop the cutter top back in place and cut thread as needed.

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Here's the Challenge: (1) Begin with a completed quilt you are no longer are attached to. Take a full photo of it, straight on, front and back. (2) Examine the quilt to come up with at least three new projects. Be sure to take pictures of it at the first cut, and some other key

cuts as you work. Additional fabrics can be added to complete the projects, but a majority of the project must be made from the quilt. The original quilt can also be over-dyed, embroidered or otherwise manipulated as long as it is recognizable as the original piece in the finished projects.

(3) Then include one (1) photo of each finished project, minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) projects.

Some ideas: handbag, small accessories, tablet case, wall hanging, table runner, placemats, mugrugs, pillows, clothing, pet accessories, wall organizers. Original designs are preferred, but commercial patterns may also be used.

Cut up this...

Take CE’s

Cut It Up Quilt Challenge

Feeling adventurous?

All you have to do is cut up a quilt you're no longer in love with,

and upcycle it into new projects!

Yep, I did it, and if you've never done it, you should try it too, at least once! While it isn’t something you’d do recklessly, I think it can definitely release the Fabrigasmic qualities of the fabrics involved when you make the decision to cut into a quilt you’ve made. As long as it's a quilt that no longer thrills you, what do you have to lose? And you're working with pre-quilted fabric, making the new projects a pleasure to create. Trust me, it's quite liberating ; ) - lisa

First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded for the best transformations!

Complete details available online Jan 15, 2015 Deadline for entries: April 30, 2015

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...to create these

Quilt Challenge Inspiration

We've got some great supplies to help you in your upcycling challenge…

(No purchase is necessary to enter or to win) Vintage Coin Purse Kit

Brass Cage Beads

Jacquard Batik Fat Quarters

Brass Round Accents

CE Border Fabric

African Print Fat Quarters

Bead Embellishment Packs

Color Block Bag Pattern

Leather Handbag Handles

Cut It Up

Shop CE Now!

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CENTERFOLD

My personal connection to real woven Kente cloth began around 1998, when I was writing my first book, AFRICAN ACCENTS, when, as fate would have it, the world-class Newark Museum exhibited "Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente & African American Identity" I was transfixed by the video showing the weaver's hands and feet in what looked like fast-motion film, but was simply the natural speed of a skilled artisan. Just three years later I was afforded an opportunity to visit Ghana with Novica.com, one of the first global e-commerce companies, to document the stories and works of their West African artists. It was there, waiting for our \audience with King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, that we also met his chief dresser, with whom I communicated via inter-preter. I learned that it's his job to know every kente pattern and its meaning, in order to dress the King appropriately for any occasion.

Woven in narrow strips that are then stitched together to form large, toga-style garments, each distinct pattern and color combination tells a story, from the wearer's family history to depictions of historic events, proverbs and more. Kente cloth has history ranging back over 400 years. Legend has it that kente fabric was first made by two friends who went hunting in a forest. They watched a spider making its web over a two-day period. They returned home and wove cloth, inspired by the spider's technique.

Naturally, the best way to procure your own kente is by traveling to Ghana and selecting it from among the weavers at Bonwire, or one of the many markets. If that isn't an immediate option, CE offers a varying se-lection of single strips ready for your creativity. Check them out at our shows, workshops and other events.

Kente !!

Royal Cloth of the Ashanti

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A visit to Bonwire (pronounced Bone-REE), the center of kente production in Ghana. Canustsndit??

Caring for Your Kente: Less is more when cleaning Kente. For kente that is worn, opt for infrequent dry cleaning, or careful spot cleaning with a mild soap. A friend of mine (not a fabric person) once machine washed a kente and the resulting random striations from the red dyes were kind of interesting, I don't recommend it — though you could always remove ONE strip for experimentation.


Creating with Kente:

ONE-STRIP Wonders

!!!!

Have a single strip of kente in your stash? Or maybe you're looking to stretch out the piece you have by separating the strips and using them very sparingly. Either way, a little kente can go a long way. For starters, here are two projects featured in ON THE GO! Designing Accessories with Cultural Style.

"Beadazzling" Kente Evening Bag

Leather & Kente Flatpack

Create a similar look with some kente and ON THE GO: Designing Accessories with Cultural Style. Or try CE'sAfrican Vintage Coin Purse Kit. Both are available online at www.CulturedExpressions.com/shop

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Happens! Do you have a

dedicated creative space? Or does your Magic happen across the dining room table? With so many resources available now to help us design our best possible creative spaces, I wanted give you a glimpse into Cultured Expressions' own Mission Control (the den was renovated in 2013). Until I find the right window treatment inspiration, pleated paper shades from Home Depot do the trick!

Thanks to CE friends and fiber artists Celeste B. Janey and Jessica Smith Vaughn for sharing their spaces and tips with us in the following pages...

Your Creative Space: Where the MAGIC

My feet love carpet, so I cut small remnants from the Berber rug to cover my wooden footrests under the desk and sewing machine. I bound the cut edges of the back of the carpet remnants with masking tape to prevent raveling (1) , then just hot-glued them to the footrests (2) and (3). My sewing table is counter height, so the stool is the right height to elevate both the foot pedal and my feet (3).

1. 2

3

Happy Feet,

Happy Workspace

Wall hanging by Pat Mabry hides "extra" outlets

& phone jacks

SEWING

Moving in — May 2013 Six windows of natural light

OFFICE

More Rug Tips ► Page 18

KwikSew 3900 Fabric organizers

The view from my Elna 7200 ; )

Built-ins are all that remains of the original den paneling.

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My sewing table/storage unit is an Elfa setup... A customized arrangement of frames is topped with Velcro strips to help hold the Ikea desktop in place. Pricey but well built. Eight years so far and still holding up great. Various sizes of wire bins slide in, accessible from both sides.

11Lessons Learned During My Creative Space Renovation

• Double the estimate you first expected to spend,

then add another 10-20 %...per week ; ) • Never make grandiose statements like "this space

MUST be done by X-date. " Kiss of Death. The renovation gods have a field day with that one. • It's OK to feed the hired help, but only AFTER at least

6 hours of work has been completed. • Not everyone knows the difference between off-

white and eggshell. Be specific. • Have lots of sage on hand to burn away your stress

and impatience. And lots of well-chilled Pinot Grigio. • If work continues on the reno while you are out of

town, DO NOT call in for progress reports. • If Married: (1) Pick your battles when he insists on installing 57 electrical outlets and jacks in a 14' x 11' space because "you'll need them". I've since covered half of them with wall hangings… At least he's handy.

• If Married: (2) Enjoy the fact that this is your space, so there is really no need to compromise on the decorating decisions.

• If you build the right rapport with your contractor,

sometimes pouting works as a last resort. • Shopping for cubby baskets is fun -- and it means The

End is in sight! But don't put away the sage just yet. • Keep the Korbel chilled, remind yourself that One Day

it will be done, and celebrate when that day finally

Eddie, the Contractor Glen, the Husband

Before...

During...

Cubby storage under countertop

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Your Creative Space: (Relatively) Easy Bogolan Rug Binding

Cut strips of bogolan to bind left-over pieces of the Berber rug. Right sides together, sew strips to each edge of the rug, stitching slowly and carefully with a large needle (about size 16). Wrap fabric around the edge of the rug and secure the strips on underside of rug with wide electrical or cloth tape (the tape with strings in it).

Denver area fiber artist & longarm quilter Jessica M. Smith-Vaughn offers two organizing tips: (1) Clear plastic storage containers for UFO's and (2) Billy Bookcases from Ikea, perfect size, sturdy, able to hold yards and yards of fabric. "I love having separate spaces for my studio sewing, personal sewing and longarm services. " Vera is Jessica's longarm, an Innova 22" with Lightning Stitch.

Need Jessica's longarm services? Email [email protected] Facebook: JMV Quilts

Vera, the longarm

Jessica M. Smith-Vaughn

Nice binding storage! ►

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Where the MAGIC Happens

Love the Scissor Caddy!

BEFORE ► AFTER

I loved this Before & After tip from Celeste B. Janey, a Boston area quilter & instructor (and Ghana 2013 alum) - Before: Her blue fabric bins were "inefficient, in that every time I wanted a particular fabric, I had to dump the baskets to search for the fabric." After: The new see-thru containers with lids to keep out the dust, "and also I don't have to dump the basket each time I want a fabric. I just look through the wall to see if it matches, before I pull it out." Below: Other areas of Celeste's two-room studio are set up to accommodate her larger projects, machine quilting and embroidery. She is also preparing a space to teach weaving workshops. It will house her two sit-down looms, table loom and peg board loom.

Celeste B. Janey

Interested? Contact Celeste at The Yellow Rose studio [email protected]

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African Mosaic Tote (Page 32-33)

Vintage Coin Purse KITS & Frames

NEW! Leather Handbag Handles 3 colors, sizes!

"ON THE GO! Designing

Accessories with

Cultural Style"

NEW!

Plan a CE Handbag Workshop for your quilt guild, school, church group, or just a bunch of creative friends! It's the perfect mix of education, entertainment, socializing, and of course, a little Retail Therapy — all wrapped up in one fun-filled session. Workshops can be customized to fit your interests, skill level and budget! Contact [email protected]

Color Block Batik Bag PATTERN & Jacquard Batik 7" Squares

Plus… Bogolan / Mudcloth, Print and Batik Fat Quarters, Cotton Batting, Beads & Brass Embellishments & more!

Bogolan Mini Purse KIT

Handbag Happenings From change purses to oversized weekenders, great bags play a unique place in our Fabrigasmic lifestyle. Why? Because not only can you enjoy your passion for Bogolans, Batiks, Kubas and Kentes in public, but you can also evoke the same Fabrigasmic responses from complete strangers, too. What could be better? Bagnistas already know that carrying the right handbag is the ultimate Power Play, and it's only multiplied by the power of African textiles.

Make 2015 "The Year of the Fabrigasmic Bag"...we've got what you need

FABRICS BOOKS & PATTERNS KITS SUPPLIES

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Join Us for Our 2nd Annual

Customer Appreciation Day!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Yara African Fabrics (warehouse) Bronx, New York Details To Follow

and

Creative Collaboration - Our Customers Make It Possible!

• Shopping! - Fabrics, kits, patterns, books, embellishments • Afrocentric Inspiration! - For sewing, quilting, crafts, décor, fashion • Exciting Giveaways! - and goodie bags (while supplies last) • Refreshments ...of course!

SAVE The

DATE

SAVE The

DATE

DAVID KIBUUKA returns to the CE Studio

In Rahway, NJ Saturday & Sunday

May 23-24, 2015

We sold out in 2013, so be sure to register early!

Details online www.CulturedExpressions.com

TWO DAY Workshop!

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COLOR is probably the most significant design element we consider when planning our creative projects. It’s the first thing we notice about that pillow, tissue box, quilt or picture frame, a make-or-break factor that affects one’s entire creative process, not to mention its affect on a room once the project is finished.

Naturally, the home décor and fashion accents you create yourself would showcase the colors you like best. But do you ever inten-tionally include certain hues for the subtle energies they provide, making color functional as well as fashionable? You might want to promote a particular mood of success for a

home office, increase the level of tranquility in your bedroom, heighten the creativity in your sewing area, or even reflect the scholarly qualities of higher learning in a den or library -- all by choosing the appropriate colors. Bringing the energy of a particular color to a room setting doesn’t mean sacrificing your overall color scheme or preferences. Keep in mind that to successfully incorporate a color into a room to benefit from its particular properties while still blending it with your décor, the key is to find the right version of the color. So, if you’re looking to add a touch of pink to a room to encourage love and romance, your choices range from deep fuchsia to bub-ble gum pink to dusty, peachy tones to the palest petal pinks. For years, corporate and institutional interior designers have used certain colors are preferred for certain settings. For instance, shades of green found in hospitals are said to echo the growth and renewal found in nature, providing a restorative atmosphere in which patients can recuperate. Another example is the increasing use of color in the corporate world. Offices are no longer limited to cool, steely greys and blues, or overly practical tans and browns. Instead, brighter, more expressive colors are found in busi-nesses of every description, fueled in part by relaxed employee dress codes, and the realization of the power of color on our psyches. It makes sense, considering how much time the average person spends in a work environment, even those who work from home. Ready to use color for its function as well as its fashion? Check out these guidelines and suggested projects to maximize your creative color decisions:

RED is propitious and ideal for business, symbolizing good fortune, strength, action and energy, as well as anger and sexual passion. (Cover for an iPad) YELLOW/GOLD is the color of the earth, and promotes leadership, making it beneficial for a business atmosphere. (Office chair cushions) ORANGE combines the properties of red and yellow, making it both powerful and

happy. Use it in areas that need an energy boost. (Breakfast nook table linens) GREEN represents rebirth and renewal, a wonderful touch for the nursery. (Room

accessories during recuperation) BLUE has long been associated with knowledge, with deeper tones offering an air of

authority. (Simple wall organizer for a computer/study area) PURPLE is the color of royalty, therefore yielding wealth and prosperity. (Dramatic window treatments or wall hanging) PINK signifies love and romance, but don’t limit its use to the bedroom – (Shower curtains or sitting area neckroll pillows) BLACK is the thought-provoking color. It is a strong color that denotes mystery and

power, and provides an excellent backdrop for other colors.

the function of color

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Why do so many quilters buy so many Fat Quarters? Because we love them! But how often to they go hidden because they're not quilt-ready? We've got a few suggestions on how to liberate your stash, and enjoy it even before the perfect quilt/craft inspiration hits. Don't worry… these ideas keep your 18" x 22" fabric treasures intact for their future intended use!

Framed Art ► Wrap a set of coordinating FQs around art canvases of various sizes

up to 16" x 20. Secure with staple gun. Arrange artfully on the wall, in a hallway, or going up a staircase wall.

Bread Basket Liners Use two coordinating FQs: one to line

the basket, and a second placed diagonally on top of it, to keep bread

& rolls warm during the meal.

Throw Pillow Makeover Center a small pillow diagonally in the center of the FQ, bring in

all corners, tucking them in neatly at the venter of the back of the pillow. Or wrap a neckroll pillow, turning in the raw edges of the FQ first. Secure with a hand stictches or safety pins.

Vase Wrap Place the vase in the center of the FQ. Bring up the four corners

of the fabric, then gather up and tuck in the fabric between the corners. Secure with a few pins and/or tie with sheer coordinat-ing ribbon, or use a second FQ, tucking in the ends.

Quick Jewelry ► Twist the FQ lengthwise for maximum length, tucking in the

shorter edges as you twist, then wrap the piece with gold cord-ing (or a coordinating color cording) to secure the twisting. Tie off cording at both ends, then tie the ends of the fabric to make a choker. Or triple-wrap the piece around your wrist as a chunky but lightweight cuff.

Collectibles Where non-quilters might display their favorite objets d'art, pull

out your best FQs, displaying them in decorative baskets, or just stacked and tied, or even house them in CD racks or curio

cabinets as unique conversational décor.

Valance ► Drape the FQ over a simple curtain rod for front-door privacy.

(For long-term use, layer a piece of blockout shade under the FQ to help prevent fading from direct sunlight.)

Gfit Wrap This one is tricky and requires the recipient to be someone you

know well enough to request that the FQ come back to you, but Jacquard Batik FQs make gorgeous gift wrap!

88 Ways Ways to Use to Use

Fat QuartersFat Quarters BeforeBefore You Make the Quilt You Make the Quilt

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Create a simple pouch necklace as a holder for a favorite amulet or small treasure, even business cards. Assemble by hand or machine.

YOU’LL NEED:

• Bogolan strip, approx. 7½" to 8” long • Waxed cotton Necklace Cording • Cowrie Shell or Bead • Fusible tape • Sewing machine or needle and thread

NOTE: Before cutting the fabric, decide what part of the fabric design you want to show off as the front of the pouch necklace - maybe a symbol or other design. Be sure that section appears in the shaded area at right, then cut your fabric. (After folding, this shaded area becomes the front of the pouch.) STEP 1: Place fabric wrong side up. Turn up about ½" on the bottom edge to finish it. Press the fold. Stitch or fuse the fold in place. STEP 2: Turn in one long side so its edge meets the center. Press. Turn in the second long side so that its edge butts against the first. Press along both folds, then open up both folds again and place fusible tape underneath, centering the tape between the two fabric edges where they meet; fuse in place.

STEP 3: Turn down about 1½" of the unfinished short edge. Measure cording around your neck for length, allowing a few extra inches to tie the ends together; trim ends of cording if necessary. Place the knot under the crease of the top flap. Sew or fuse the flap down, keeping the cording free; press securely. STEP 4: Turn up the bottom of the pouch so that it overlaps the top flap. Optional embellishment: Sew a bead or cowrie shell to front. Then machine sew or hand sew into place using an overcast stitch.

Designed by Lisa Shepard Stewart

FREE PROJECT

BOGOLAN / MUDCLOTH is available online in two sizes and four colors at CulturedExpressions.com One 15" x 20" size makes up to eight (8) Bogolan Pouch Necklaces, perfect for friends, a project with the kids or gifts for your quilt guild members (Imagine how many you can whip up from the 30" x 40" size!)

©2009-2014Cultured Expressions,Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced in whole or part by any means without express consent from Cultured Expressions. 24

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COLORGASM!! —

This color affects me in a way I can't even describe, and I love that PANTONE, the world's color authority, has named it Color of the Year for 2015. They call it "Marsala", but I've always called it "Brick" or "CE Red" since 1996, when I saw a suit in this color in a boutique window in Hong Kong. The yarns I bought just for the color (I don't knit or crochet!) and the batik, of course, is also from my personal Ghana stash.

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RIT DYE has a great new website where you can create your own RIT studio (it's FREE!) and show off your custom color projects. I don't do a whole lotta dyeing (my batik artists in Ghana have me spoiled) but this might get me going. Lots of ideas and inspiration...check out my studio, and start your own. More experiments will be added through the year!

www.ritstudio/author/lisashepard

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So, have you heard? AFRICAN ACCENTS: Fabrics and Crafts to Decorate Your Home, is officially sold out and no longer available. The book that launched the Cultured Expressions empire ; ) back

in 1999 is officially done… while I like the idea of selling through its second printing, it's a little bittersweet. Time for a new chapter, as it were, so the early stages of Book #4 are underway. Should it be a quilting book, crafts, sewing, more home décor, or a mix of these?

Should it include works from a variety of fiber artists? More of a coffee-table inspi-ration book, or more step-by-steps? What would you like to see? Contact [email protected]

HARBOR FREIGHT — Locations are popping up all over… If there is one of these tool & hardware specialty stores near you, you might enjoy browsing the aisles for things you can use in your quilting / sewing / crafting. Like this magnetic ► dish designed for nails & screws, but perfect for pins, too. I especially love how it clings to the metal legs of my sewing table when I'm pinning on the floor. Also look for rotary blades free-motion grippy gloves and more, at a fraction of the cost of the quilt shops. Did I mention they also have coupon specials that rival JoAnns?


More Stuff We Like ...

KYRA HICKS is at it again! A quilter and historian, she

combines her passion for both through her books, and has just

released her latest, Quilters Questions. Explore topics ranging

from quilter identity, creative inspiration, collaboration, legacy and

more! Among the 300 questions are: * Would you accept $25,000

to stop quilting forever? * Can you just look at a quilt and know

whether a male quilter stitched it? Learn more at

www.black-threads.com

COLORED BAMBOO - Next to tree branches, bamboo is a favorite rod of choice for hanging quilts. I usually get mine in the wholesale floral district in NYC (around 6th Avenue and 28th Street, or at Mushtari Hardware on 125th Street in Harlem.

QUILT TOP AS HEADWRAP - The best of both worlds… Fiber artist Brandy Browner models her work-in-progress quilt top (a gorgeous arrangement of CE Jacquard Batik strips from bundles she collected over time) as an impromptu headwrap. So when you need a headwrap, don't overlook the UFOs on your quilting table.

SICK SEWING MACHINE? If you're located in the NJ metro area, contact CE's "Official Sewing Machine Whisperer." Randy Krickus offers reliable, fast, friendly service. And affordable, too ; )

SUBSCRIBE to the CE Blog

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2015 APRIL 25 Bronx, NY 2nd Annual Customer Appreciation Day w/ Yara African Fabrics MAY 23-24 Rahway, NJ Guest Instructor David Kibuuka Modern Batik Art JULY 23-26 Hershey, PA Quilt Odyssey Vendor Booth AUGUST 2015 NJ Metro Area CE Summer Stitch-In Retreat FALL 2015 (Dates TBA) Santa Fe, NM SewJourn to Santa Fe II FALL 2015 (Dates TBA) Charleston, SC SewJourn to SC / Gullah Culture & Craft Tour Watch for more events to be added all year long at CulturedExpressions.com

To plan a special event or workshop for your group, contact [email protected]

Mark your Calendar!

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Issue #1 (28 Pages) Issue # 2 (28 Pages) Issue # 3 (36 Pages) Spring 2012 Winter 2012/2013 Winter 2014 — Ghana Exhibit Issue Digital Available Digital Available Print & Digital Available

Complete your FABRIGASM® Collection with these Back Issues www.CulturedExpressions.com

"Feel the fabric . . . Embrace the Culture"

Documents

FABRIGASM · Instead, cut the black fabric AND a piece of fusible craft batting the same size as the African Mosaic block (Fig. 1). Fuse batting to back of the block. Sew black fabric