January 2010 - Posts

• Exhibition of African Folklore Embroidery Art draws 20,000 people

  I was so excited by the number and diversity of entries and the positive response from over 20,000 people that viewed the African Folklore Embroidery Exhibition at the Road to California Quilt Show. While the rules of African Folklore Embroidery are simple,  (‘Whatever color you choose to stitch is the right color”; Chain stitch is the dominant stitch; You do not need a hoop and The designs are pre-drawn on black over-locked fabric), each entrant took the design to a unique level, introducing beads, buttons, silk ribbons and converting these designs into wearable-art aprons, table runners and walll-hangings. You can see some of these designs in this blog as well as on my face book page.     Congratulations to First Place winner, Katherine Blaire of Agoura, CA.  Her wall hanging, comprised of five embroidered kits, consists of the four teacup designs and the African Kettle. According to Katherine, "The inspiration for this quilt came from the desire to create a project that would 'tie together' the creative talents of my mothers, my daughter and me. Collaborating across the country, between CA and IN, our wall hanging took shape. With the addition of the metal spoon pin from my grandmother, four generations of creative tea drinkers are now represented.”       Second place was awarded to Claire Jungerson for her beautiful color coordinated table-runner including the Poppy, Rose and Sunflower design.       Vicki Hamilton won third pace for her innovative and creative apron, which included teacups and a kettle.   Honorable mentions were received by Laura-Kong for her exquisite hanging beaded African Village, Bonnie Swielson, St Paul, MN for her silk woven African elephant kettle, Satah Humphrety, MN for her fabric infused rooster on an apron, Ginny Phillips, Santa Fe, NM and Nancy Mastrioni for her amazing and colorful quilt that incorporated several designs.    To all those who participated, thank you so much.  Your work is beautiful and I look forward to your new entries! We have launched the $500 challenge.   ARE YOU UP FOR THE $500 CHALLENGE??   WIN OVER $500 IN PRIZES IN THE AFRICAN FOLKLORE EMBROIDERY CHALLENGE!!!!!   To participate in the $500 Challenge,   Choose any one or more of the following designs: rooster, flowers, African baskets, kettle or sea shells,   Stitch one or more and make into a quilt, pillow , wall-hanging or wearable art piece to exhibit and   Enter at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, July 23-25th 2010.   Completed designs need to be submitted by no later than July 10th 2010 to www.aflembroidery.com   Questions: contact Leora Raikin @(818) 999-6094 or info@aflembroidery.com   If you would like postcards about the challenge mailed to your guild, please let me know and I will be happy to get them to you!   When you sign up to become a friend of African Folklore Embroidery on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234386778169 you will be the first to see new designs, hear about upcoming exhibitions and receive special offers.   I Teach African Folklore Embroidery Classes around the country, here are a few upcoming lectures and workshops   **Feb 10th 4-6pm Exhibition @ Calabasas Library, lecture and interactive workshop for children & adults 23975 Park Sorrento, Calabasas, CA 91302-4015 **Feb 18th 7pm, Lecture, High Country Quilter Guild, Palmdale **Feb 19th Workshop 6 hours, High Country Quilters Guild ***Feb 28th Advanced fabric fiber African Folklore Embroidery workshop @ Monica's Quilt & Bead Creations, Palm Springs (760) 772-2400 March 9th Lecture, River walk Quilters Guild, Illinois March 10th Workshop, River Walk Quilters Guild, Illinois   Special offer from Jan 27th-Feb 28th, Receive a Free copy of my Book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery with any purchase of $30.00 or more! The book is for quilters, knitters and those who enjoy beading, stitching and being creative!   Wishing you good health and plenty of creative time in 2010 Leora Raikin www.aflembroidery.com     Posted Jan 29 2010, 05:00 PM by lraikin with no comments Filed under: Africa, needle art, African Folklore Embroidery, leora Raikin, south africa, chain stitch, embroidery, African art, Stithing, wearable art, Quilt

• Positive Bead Crafts- African Folklore Embroidery Traveling Exhibition

  BEADED AFRICAN VILLAGE, - Positive beadwork and the Rainbow nation   Perceptions and associations of Africa frequently revolve around drought, starvation and AIDS. I wanted to design a piece that reflected the artistic and diverse cultural beauty of South Africa. While I love living in America I continue to feel a deep love and affiliation towards the country of my birth.  My work while living in South Africa involved research into different tribal communities and sharing those findings amongst all groups to facilitate greater understanding and communication.  This research allowed me to develop an appreciation for the art forms practiced by each tribe.   With South Africa’s eleven official languages it is a country rich and diverse in culture and traditions. In designing this quilt, I wanted to incorporate the various cultural practices and art forms of the different tribes.  The Ndebele tribe, who are known for their intricate beadwork, beaded dolls and brightly colored wall murals, inspired many of the designs. Basket weaving and pot making are the dominant functional arts of the Zulu tribe and the craft dates back hundreds of years when tribe members began turning dried grass into functional objects, using natural dyes made from grass, berries and roots.     I embroidered the designs using African –hand –dyed threads. These variegated threads are made in South Africa and create employment for women. Hand dying threads is an intricate process, with the threads first washed, then dried on a washing line and then with a teaspoon colors are spooned onto the cotton. The threads are environmentally friendly. All the women involved in the thread dying process have been able to move from shack housing to formal housing with running water and electricity. Beaded wire art, sunflowers, beaded teaspoon, Beaded bookmarks, beaded Zulu necklace, beaded Zulu love pin , African fabric and buttons have been incorporated into the design, allowing for it to return to the true root of many African arts of including every day objects and artifacts into artistic forms. Highlighting AIDS in South Africa is part of my mission. Through my work all the beaded items are made by women with AIDS and in purchasing these beaded items it assists in supporting AIDS projects such as Kidzpositive.org and Starfish Charity. South African has one of the highest AIDS rates in the world with nearly five million people infected with HIV.  The beaded pins, beaded spoons, beaded book marks have all been made by women from the KIDZPositive charity and the purchase and use of these items allows them to earn much needed income to support themselves and care for their children who are HIV positive. Over 20,000 people will be viewing the African Folklore Embroidery special exhibition at the Road to California quilt show, Ontario Convention Center, Jan 14th-17th @2010, Ontario Convention Center, 2200 Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA The exhibition, which coincides with the Martin Luther King weekend, is a celebration of South African art and culture through a fiber art medium, African Folklore Embroidery. The exhibition will be traveling throughout the United States. For dates, lectures and classes you can email info@aflembroidery.com. Over the past few years, Leora Raikin, a South African native, now living in California, has lectured to nearly 10,000 people about tribal crafts and customs in South Africa, through a cultural needle art, African Folklore Embroidery.   WHO- Raikin’s lectures, workshops and book, Safari through African Folklore, allow people to experience the beauty of Africa and the wonder of an African Safari, while learning about African tribal traditions and wildlife through a creative and culture needle art called African Folklore Embroidery. Leora Raikin’s newly released book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery (www.aflembroidery.com) takes the reader on a visual safari using the African Folklore Embroidery designs as the medium to explain and educate about wildlife, the people of South Africa, tribal art forms, cultures and customs of the different tribes, the land and its vegetation. While many dream of going on an African Safari, movies such as Invictus give a small taste of the rich cultural diversity of South Africa, the rainbow nation. The upcoming World Cup Soccer in 2010 is creating international interest in South Africa as a tourist destination.  African Folklore Embroidery kits are easy to follow and no experience is necessary. Completed craft kits can be made into purses, pillows, quilts or wearable art. WHEN- In celebration of black history month, - EXHIBITION, of African Folklore Embroidery Art, lecture & book signing at Calabasas Library, Feb 10th 4pm.  23975 Park Sorrento, Calabasas, CA   Posted Jan 08 2010, 01:00 PM by lraikin with no comments Filed under: Africa, needle art, African Folklore Embroidery, leora Raikin, hand embroidery, south africa, chain stitch, embroidery, African