About YOUR Creative Business…

Hey everyone, and Happy 2020!  Welcome to a brand new year, the perfect time to hit the ground running ; )  I know many of you are engaged in your creative businesses, or planning to launch your business soon. Congratulations, that is Excellent!  And like some of the talented individuals I’ve helped over the years, you might feel as though you need some help focusing your business, whether it’s tightening up your actual creative techniques, getting over your Sewcrastination, or wanting some insight into marketing and developing your business  —  trust me, I get it!

With more creatives deciding to start or further develop their businesses than ever before, I decided to give more structure to the way I’ve been helping others.  So, in Fall 2019 I launched Artisan Business Coaching just for you!  With over 20 years growing the Cultured Expressions brand, and over 30 years in the sewing/quilting/craft industry altogether, I’ve experienced a lot, I’ve figured out a lot, and I’m still enjoying the journey!

If you feel YOU are at a point where you and your business can benefit from a coaching relationship, check out Artisan Business Coaching and complete the contact form online., or call me at 866-MUDCLOTH.

**** And as a New Year’s Get Busy bonus, I’m offering an extra bit of motivation: Sign on by January 31 and get 10% off Cultured Expressions products for the length of your coaching!  Just mention this blog post.

Cyber Monday Begins NOW!

Don’t Miss These CYBER Specials:

• FAT QUARTER FUN! Save 20% on all African Print FQ assortments, including 10-, 20- and 40-packs, kente 6-packs and black/white 8-packs. Shop Fat Quarters Now
• Purchase any GIFT CERTIFICATE of $50 or more and get 10% bonus value added to it! For example, order a $100 certificate and we’ll adjust it manually in the amount of $110. They are beautifully packaged with a Fabric Surprise. Please include the names of the Giver and Recipient, along with a preferred color, in the Comments when you order (or just email us these details after you place the order) And yes, Giver and Recipient can be the same person, so go ahead, treat yourself, too Shop Gift Certificates Now

Offers Valid Online, Now thru Monday, December 2 at 11:59pm!

Holiday Fun & Winter Workshops!

Happy Holidays, everyone!!  Yes, again, already!!  Which means it’s time to upload my favorite Holiday Couple graphic, so I hope you find them as amusing as I do ; )

I’m not sure where 2019 went, but I hope yours included a good amount of creative time with your favorite African fabrics ; )  If you fell a bit short of your creative goals, there’s still time to immerse yourself at the CE Studio.

Our December thru February workshop schedule gives you several chances to end 2019 and begin 2020 with an interesting project in hand!  New to the lineup is our Free Spirit Doll.  

Choose your batik or African print, and your natural hairstyle – Bantu knots, locks, braids, Afro – then embellish as you like. The class makes a fun Girls’ Night Out project, or even a Mommy & Me creative session.

You’ll also find studio favorites including the String Quilt, Corded Organizer, Color Block Batik Bag, Waistbeads and more, all offered at various dates and times. See you soon!  Register by phone at 866-MUDCLOTH, in person at the studio, or online at CulturedExpressions (click on Shop Online / Workshops)

And be sure to join us at the studio December 13 & 14, 2019 from 1-4 pm for Holiday Gift Make & Takes — Drop in and make your choice of five fast, fun gifts, priced from $5 to $25 each.  Make one, two, or all of them, including: Brass & Bead Necklace, Wine Glass Charms, Batik Bookmarks, Fabric Coasters, Embellished Pouch Necklace. No pre-registration needed. Light refreshments will be served, too. Bring a friend and make gifts for each other ; )  See you soon!

DOWNLOAD the Dec – Feb Workshop Schedule

 

Pls Note Our November Studio Schedule…

Hi Everyone! Please note that due to my travel schedule, the  studio will be closed on the following dates:

Oct 31-Nov 2

Nov 8 – Nov 20

You can reach me by email anytime, and any orders placed online at this time will be shipped beginning Nov 22.

Aside from the above dates, our regular hours are:

Wednesday 4-8pm

Thursday 12-6pm

Friday 12-6pm

Saturday 10-6pm

Until then, keep creating and watch for our upcoming event calendar!  –lisa

Introducing CE Artisan Business Coaching…

Increasingly, since opening the CE studio in downtown Rahway almost 2 years ago (!), I’ve come across other talented people who wanted to carve out their own piece of this exciting industry, but needed some help getting started, or moving forward.

I began to help a few of these creatives toward their goals and decided to better structure my own efforts along the way.

As a result, I’m thrilled to announce Artisan Business Coaching, a new branch of the Cultured Expressions experience READ MORE, and if I can be of service, just yell!

lisa

The One with the Bluest Hands Wins!

The highlight of Cultured Expressions’ SewJourn Santa Fe is our two-day workshop with master fiber artist Gasali Adeyemo.  We immersed ourselves in glorious indigo, learning his batik and tie-dye techniques, along with the cultural significance of indigo in Yoruba culture.

I always provide the SewJourners with white brocade fabric and rubber gloves to use during the workshop, but I always look forward to the opportunity to dunk my hands into the freshly prepared indigo.  This year, I was accompanied by several of the participants. Who needs gloves when you can experience the undeniable spirit that exists in the dye.

Later that day, we took it to the NextLevel by applying clear nail polish to preserve the indigo dye on our nails only, as the rest of it washed away or wore off…

We loved he results!  I generally don’t bother with nail polish on my fingers, but this here is different.  i guess it’ll be my once-a-year Indigo manicure.  I wonder how long it will last with a few touchups of clear…

Join me in Santa Fe next year for authentic indigo batik… and manicures ; )  Thanks, brother Gasali!!

Sew This Bogolan Shrug on Saturday!

Casual chic…  you will love this cute bolero jacket styling in gorgeous, richly textured bogolan/mudcloth fabric!  It’s perfect for this time of year, and a great way to celebrate African Fabric Month, too ; )

Join us for class this Saturday, September 7 from 11am-1:30pm and sew your shurg on our Janome S5 machines!  The workshop is $60.  You can bring your own fabric (at least 5 strips wide and 72″ long) , or purchase a piece here before class.  Please register by Friday evening either online, or call us at 866-683-2568 (aka 866-MUDCLOTH!!)  See you soon…