We’re Reopening the CE Studio This Wednesday, July 8!

Hi Everyone!

I hope this post finds you navigating life as creatively as possible ; ) It’s been a Blessing to continue to serve you through all of your newly-found sewing and quilting time, the mask-making and more. Your curbside pickups, online orders and virtual visits have kept us afloat and we THANK YOU SEW MUCH! We miss our regular tribe of visitors, and have made sew many new friends in the past few months who are curious to explore the studio, too!

SO…we’re re-opening the Studio this Wednesday, July 8! 

Please see important information below… 

We welcome you back starting this Wednesday with a few simple precautions to help ensure everyone’s safety:

• To help maintain social distancing, we will serve a MAXIMUM of 3 customers inside the studio at one time.  Please CALL THE STUDIO at 866-683-2568 or TEXT Lisa at 908-553-0196 to let us know approximately what time you’d like to come by. This will help us to give you personal service, juggling with virtual visits, etc.
• A FACE MASK is required by EVERYONE entering the studio.
• Please use our HAND SANITIZER, available as you enter, so you can safely enjoy the tactile, Fabrigasmic experience of fabric shopping.
• Naturally, we must all observe social distancing as much as possible.
• You can now schedule your Virtual Visits ONLINE! If you’re far away, (or even if you’re just around the corner!) visit us virtually! Check out our new online booking page. Appointments are now generally available Wednesdays thru Fridays.
• ONLINE ORDERS and VIRTUALS: Due to our higher volume of orders AND increasing shipping delays of the USPS, it may be taking a few extra days to receive your orders. Please keep this in mind if you’re working with a specific deadline.
• An update on CLASSES:  I’ve decided to suspend all of our in-person classes, events and parties thru the summer, and will revisit plans based on the conditions in September.   Sorry for any inconvenience, but I look forward to booking events again when possible, and am now actively preparing online classes and trunk shows, so stay tuned for details!!

This Wednesday we’ll open for extended hours of 12-8pm, and we’ll start back with regular hours for the rest of the week – Thu 12-6; Fri 12-6 and Sat 10-6pm.  Of course, as regulations and situations continue to change, hours may also change, so please feel free to call, check our email newsletter (subscribe here), and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @culturedexpressions for updates.

NEW IN THE STUDIO…

Bead Packs!

Handbag Handles!

Brass Embellishments!

MORE New Ankara Prints!

1417 MAIN STREET, RAHWAY, NJ 07065   –   www.CulturedExpressions.com

Thanks for your cooperation —

we look forward to seeing you soon, in person and/or virtually!

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New in the Studio, and a Quick Contest!

Hey everyone! Check out these new arrivals at the studio… vivid prints and gorgeous bogolan/mudcloth for pillows, fun tote bags, table settings, headwraps, clothing, quilts and sew much more!  Stop by the studio or call to order 866-MUDCLOTH. Prints are $8 yard and the bogolan pieces are $50 each, measuring approximately 64 x 44″.  If you need more inspiration, download our workshop schedule for May thru July

     

      

And here’s the contest:  If you’re a true collector, you probably recognize this print of elegant ladies.  You know the print, they measure about 12″ tall and come in various colors. This combo is my favorite.  Ever wonder what they are discussing, or where they are going, or coming from?  Tell us their story below in THREE SENTENCES or less, and the best narrative (as judged by an independent panel of Cultured Expressions studio associates) will win a yard of the fabric! Reply by Monday, June 3, 2019 at 11:59pm for your chance to win!  Good Luck ; )

UPDATE:  The winner of one yard of fabric is @sisterquilternyc, aka Ghana SewJourn alum, Dee Huffman. Thanks everyone for playing along on Instaram and Facebook!  If you don’t follow us there, check us out @culturedexpressions.

 

 

 

 

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Coming Up May 13: We’ll Be Wrappin’ at Roc-A-Natural!!

Today I’m thrilled to share the news that I’ll be a part of the mainstage lineup for the 4th Annual Roc-A-Natural, on Saturday, May 13 in NYC!  I’m demonstrating my favorite headwrap and bodywrap ideas, on a variety of live models (I still might have a few openings if you’d like to model, contact me!).  Headwraps aren’t just a fashion choice, they’re a lifestyle choice, and I’ll sow you how you can incorporate your favorite African fabrics into your everyday life. Of course, I’ll be vending too, so come hang out with us for some no-sew fashion inspiration!

For updates, follow @culturedexpressions and @rocanatural.  See you there  ; )

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#AfricanFabricMonth…Win Fabric on Fridays in September!

#AfricanFabricMonth…Win Fabric on Fridays in September!  Take the #AfricanFabricMonth Challenge, co-sponsored by Cultured Expressions and Harlem Needle Arts…

For four Fridays during the month (September 9,16, 23 and 30), we challenge all African Fabric Lovers to post Instagram photos of your favorite African fabric projects between 10:00am and 12 Noon EST, and be sure to include #AfricanFabricMonth!  All pictures posted with the hashtag will be entered into random drawings for Fabrigasmic fabric prizes provided weekly by Harlem Needle Arts and Cultured Expressions!

Share images of how you use African Fabric in your home décor.  Show off throw pillows, quilts, wall hangings, upholstery, draperies, shower curtains, table settings, etc. in textiles like Ankara prints, Bogolan/Mudcloth, Batiks, Brocade, Adire (tie and dye), Aso-oke, Adinkra cloth, Kuba, and Kente.  Take pics of your existing decor, or create something new just for the Challenge.(Shown above is a daskihi-print-as-tablecloth, and for a little extra credit, a kuba cloth on the upper-right wall. Below, Glen’s  piano bench, which I quickly reupholstered in classic black/cream bogolan.)

Of course, you can hashtag your creations throughout September – then just re-post your favorites during the hours of the Challenge.   And be sure to follow @iamharlemneedlearts and @culturedexpressions on Instagram for great AFM inspiration all month long,and beyond!

Thanks to the illustrious Michelle Bishop of Harlem Needle Arts for co-sponsoring!  You might remember our interview with her in the 2nd issue of Fabrigasm magazine (Winter 2012)

Note: The Challenge is open to US residents only.  Participants may enter any or all of the four drawings, however, each participant can only win once….Good Luck to all  ; )

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Headwraps!

You know that moment when you’re reviewing pix on your phone from months ago, and realize you intended to share something, but never got around to it?  Well, here’s my favorite pic from Roc-A-Natural, a natural hair and healthy living expo that took place in April in NYC.  These ladies above were happy customers and couldn’t wait to try on their purchases – the lady in turq wrapped both herself and her friend. Flawless African Style, ladies, and thanks for modeling our gorgeous Ghanian batiks!! Each wrap was a simple 1-yard length.

For more on headwraps and natural hair in general, check out Cultured Expressions’ new hair page.

And if you missed RocANatural in April, you can still get great headwrapping tips and fabrics at our upcoming Customer Appreciation Day, in conjunction with Yara African Fabrics.  It happens on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 12 to 5pm.  Details!

#africanfabric #headwraps #AfricanStyle #CulturedExpressions #RocANatural #naturalhair @CulturedExpressions

 

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