It was such an honor being invited by the South African consulate to exhibit my art-quilt, BEADED AFRICAN VILLAGE, for the hosting of the final game of the world cup soccer.  I got to meet and spent time with the delightful Vice Consul general as well as other African consulate members who were thrilled with the lectures, workshops and classes that are taking place to educate people about South Africa through the fiber and needle art, African Folklore Embroidery.

 July is a busy month for quilt, craft and beads trade shows and African Folklore Embroidery will be a vendor at the International Quilt show in Long Beach, July 22-July 25^th at the Long Beach Convention Center.

 Over 500 vendors and hundreds of quilts will be on display. Last year over twenty-five thousand people attended the show, hosted by the same company that sponsor the Houston Quilt show in the fall.

A few days later I will be teaching and vending at the Pasadena Bead and design show at the Pasadena Hilton. http://www.pasadenabeadanddesignshow.com.  
Two new classes we will be offering are at the Pasadena Bead & Design Show are – Beaded Safari through African Folklore Embroidery and the second class, Appliqué and Embellishment with African Folklore Embroidery.

 For those visiting California during the summer, these shows are creative, exciting and inspiring. 

 If you do attend these shows, our booth number is 1729 and we are offering a 15% discount off when you spend $30 or more.

For those not able to attend these wonderful shows, you can receive the same discounted offer by placing an order on AnntheGran.com between July 26^th-July 29^th . 
African Folklore Embroidery kits are  perfect to take-along with you where ever you go, easy to follow and no experience is necessary. Completed craft kits can be made into purses, pillows, quilts or wearable art. You DO NOT need a hoop and your stitches do not need to be perfect to make this beautiful!


Wishing you a safe, happy and creative summer, Leora Raikin

In the next few weeks’ world attention will be focused on South Africa as a million visitors arrive for the FIFA 2010 world cup soccer. Not since the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990 has so much attention been given to this country of forty-eight million people at the southern tip of Africa.

While many dream of going on an African safari the twenty-six-hour flight and cost of an air ticket can make such a trip prohibitive.  Through my African Folklore Embroidery lectures and workshops people will be able to experience the wonder of an African Safari, learn about African tribal traditions and wildlife through a creative and culture needle art called African Folklore Embroidery.

In the past few weeks I have had a wonderful time teaching workshops in all parts of the country, Naperville, IL, Anaheim, Esconido and Tehachapi, California. I am always amazed at the spirit  of people who quilt, embroider and do other hand crafts.  There is no such thing as a generic quilter, but what they do share is a love and appreciation of their craft and passion. 

In this blog, I will be sharing some pictures of some our workshops. There are many workshops and classes scheduled for the summer and if you would lke my schedule please do not hesitate contact me.  The only thing you need for an African Folklore Embroidery workshop is a pair of scissors and if you can not attend one, buy a kit (they come with a needle, African threads and easy to follow instructions) which mean you can take them with you on a road or plane trip, beach, RV  and you DO NOT NEED a Hoop. Even if you have never held a needle or stitched a stitch you will be stunned at how easy it to do and how quickly the chain stitch flows and goes ( chain stitch is the dominant stitch)

For the past eight weeks I have been teaching thirty home schooled Children the art of African Folklore Embroidery. A reporter and photographer from the Ventura County Reporter came to interview the kids and take pictures. I thought you may find the article interesting, how craft and education can be combined in a fun manner.  Click here to read about these kids. 

In celebration of the world cup soccer taking place in South Africa, and in celebrating America's birthday - 4th of July,  we are offering  a FREE kit of your choice with every three kits you purchase. In addition when you purchase three or more kits, you will receive a FREE copy of my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery. Is that a great offer or what?

There are a few more weeks to enter your completed African Folklore Embroidery designs in the $500 challenge.  Entry forms and details are online and the closing date is July 17th, 2010.  Entries will be on display at the African Folklore Embroidery booth at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, Long Beach Conventrion Center, July 22-25th, and the Pasadena Bead and Design show, July 20 - Aug 1st at the Pasadena Hilton in California.  I am teaching several classes at the show and I look forward to seeing you there.  For class details and registration email info@aflembroidery.com or call for questions, (818) 999-6094.

Hope you all had a great July 4th, Leora Raikin, www.aflembroidery.com 

Any one up for a Bird Safari... introducing the SANUFU BIRD,Roosters and chickens... Bring your binoculars....

South Africa has a large and varied bird population. Over 3 000 birds (and small animals) of 400 different species are uniquely presented in more than 100 spacious landscaped walk through aviaries

 While many of African Folklore Embroidery bird designs are of a folkloric nature, the largest population of ostriches in the world can be found in a tiny city in South Africa called Oudtshoorn.

 The Ostrich is the largest living bird on earth. Few people can say they've ridden an Ostrich? In South Africa, if you dare, you can ride an ostrich in one of the over 400 ostrich farms. The ostrich industry sells and promotes their ostrich meat, ostrich leather, ostrich eggs and general tourism. Ostrich eggs ornately decorated and painted are collectable items and displayed in peoples home as ornaments. The ostrich is the only bird that cannot fly.  When fully grown an ostrich weighs over 240 pounds. The male ostrich is easy to recognize with soft black feathers on its back and white feathers on its wings and tail. Females and young ostriches have brown feathers instead of black to camouflage them. Both males and females have bare necks and thighs. Ostrich are distinguishable by their have long necks, small heads, large eyes, long, powerful legs, and two toes on each foot. One ostrich egg is equivalent to sixteen regular eggs. That's quite an omelet you can make!

 In celebration of the world cup soccer-taking place in South Africa, we are offering a FREE kit of your choice with every three African Folklore Embroidery kits you purchase. All kits include needle, magnificent African variegated threads, the design and easy to follow instructions. You do not need a hoop so you can carry the kit around with you and stitch with you whenever you are waiting, or on a road trip. In addition when you purchase three or more African Folklore kits, you will receive a FREE copy of my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery.  The book has beautiful pictures and ideas for completing your designs as well as instructions for embellishment and enhancement. Is that a great offer or what?

 Remember I LOVE seeing pictures of your completed designs, so please email me a picture and who knows you could be featured in my next book, out in 2011!

 PENGUINS & other South African attractions

 If you are feeling hot from time spent outside while on safari, and in need of some time at the beach to cool off, Boulders Beach is the perfect place.  It is also one of my favorite places to spend time while in South Africa, swimming and frolicking with penguins. Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is home to over 2500 penguins. Boulders Beach is the only place in the world where one can actually swim amongst the penguins. Boulders is located near Cape Point, about 20 minutes drive from Cape Town. Boulder's Beach is home to a large colony of African Penguins (also known as the Jackass Penguin). These penguins are not bothered or afraid of people, however one should avoid harassing them by getting too close or chasing them. These penguins are very happy to be quietly observed from a close distance.

These African penguins are tame and comfortable with humans. They can be seen playing and sunning themselves in between people sun bathing and swimming on the beach. They are not bothered or scared of people, however one should avoid harassing them by getting too close or chasing them. Beware!! They can bite

Penguins cannot fly, however they are excellent divers and can remain underwater for up to 20 minutes!

While there are many species of penguins, the African, Jackass Penguin is the only one to inhabit the African continent.

 African penguins can be recognized by a black stripe curving across the top of the chest.  African penguins are known to be clumsy on land, however in the sea they are extremely skilful and graceful swimmer and can swim up to fifteen miles per hour.

 African penguins inhabit twenty-seven sites in Africa. Most are on inshore islands, of which the best known is Robben Island, along the South African coastline. Three of the other main penguin sites in South Africa include the largest existing colony is on St Croix island near Port Elizabeth, with about 50 000 birds. Dassen Island off Yzerfontein, once home to over a million penguins, now has about 30 000, while Dyer Island near Gansbaai has about 20 000.

 African penguins feed mainly on small pelagic fish (fish which swim on the upper layers of the open ocean) like pilchards, anchovies, horse mackerel and herrings. Competition with commercial fishing has forced them to adapt their diet. They also eat squid and small crustaceans. . Male penguins are slightly larger than female penguins. Penguins are usually about 4 years old when they begin breeding. African penguins will remain with a single partner for many years, producing one or two eggs a year. The boulders penguin population tends to breed in March to May. The incubation period lasts forty days, and the fledging period from 60 to 130 days.

 The penguin's nest in crude shallow burrows dug out of the sand or under beach vegetation. The main reason for digging burrows is to protect the eggs and chicks from the heat of the sun. Penguins prefer to return to the same nesting site each year.

 Other birds that are plentiful in South Africa are the rooster, hen and chickens.  In rural areas you will see rooster wondering around the road and outside people's houses. One of my favorite South African based books I called " my best friend is a chicken. This booked written by the famous American author, Maya Angelow describes with beautiful and colorful pictures the friendship and daily routine of a little Ndebele girl and her best friend, a chicken.

  If you are interested in more information on South Africa, you can purchase my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery.

Home can mean different things to different people. To many of us home implies the house we live in, with solid walls and floors.  To many in Africa, home is a hut with thatched roof, known as a “rondavel’

South Africa, the country in which I was born and grew up, is a country rich in beauty and diverse in cultures. Each tribe in South Africa has its own language, customs and traditions. Many of the African Folklore Embroidery kit designs are inspired by the customs and traditions of various tribes and cultural art in South Africa.

Before entering a Zulu village it is customary to shout out the greeting “Uku-Khuleka “. This identifies the guest and indicates that they come in friendship. In Zulu culture, wealth is measured in cattle. Cattle are also used for “Ilobola”, the dowry or bride price. The dowry is usually more than eleven heads of cattle. The Zulu custom when setting out to travel on a long journey is to spit on a stone and then to throw it away. This is to ward off any evil spirits that may be tempted to come on the journey and to evoke good luck and good fortune on the journey.

In a traditional Zulu village, the house or bee-hived shaped hut of the grandmother is known as the “INdlu-Nkulu”.  This hut is the most important in the homestead. The Zulus emphasize tremendous respect to the grandmothers in their tribe and families. The bee-hive huts are hand woven.   The bee hive huts are usually built in a circle, surrounding their cattle (which is their main asset).

In Xhosa villages, individual homes are built in the shape of conical roofed huts with mud walls. The inside of the huts is smeared with cow dung and traditionally men sit to the left and women sit on the right of the fireplace. Corn, also known as maize or “mielies”, is crushed in the middle in a hole in the ground. Crushed corn is used to make a staple meal called “pap”.

In the Ndebele tribe, it is customary for the young women of the tribe to re-plaster the outside walls of their home and reconstruct the entranceways. They then paint and repaint each year their impressions of every day life interspersed with geometrical designs on the wall surfaces. While the young men are away at “wella”, the young women throw their homes open to the visitors and relatives who travel from far away places. A white flag hoisted on a pole outside the front entrance signifies that the mother has a son at “Wella”.

Our embroidery kits feature houses and village scenes that  are inspired by traditional African houses.  You will see that all our kits include African Threads. The manufacture and dying of these beautiful threads create employment and income for women in South Africa. We carry over three- hundred variegated thread colors in stranded floss, rayon, silks and ribbons. You can visit our thread room online or print out our catalog with all our kit designs at www.aflembroidery.com

To learn more about South African art and culture, you can read my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery, which will take you on a visual safari through South African using African Folklore Embroidery as the medium to educate about life in South Africa.

Between June and July, nearly half a million people will visit South Africa for the World Cup Soccer. Most of these will be Americans, visiting South Africa and the African continent for the first time. To  celebrate the world cup soccer taking place in South Africa, we are offering  20% discount during the month of June on all orders over $30.00 You can order online at www.aflembroidery.com or by phone 818 999-6094.

 If you would like s schedule of classes, lectures and workshops, please email me at info@aflembroidery.com and I will be happy to send you’ my summer schedule.  If you  are a member of a quilt, embroidery or fiber art guild and  are interested in expanding your guilds members  creative journeys or and would  like to see my teaching information and availability, please contact me.

Nothing suggests spring more than flowers. Walk around your neighborhood and the beauty and colors of spring abound. This year in California we have been fortunate to have some additional rainfall, which has definitely helped our garden.

While I do not have the proverbial "green thumb" my eleven-year-old son has developed a passion for gardening. We have cornered off a section of the yard for him; we went to the nursery where he chose plants, and flowers and even strawberries. I have been amazed at the dedication he has shown to looking after his garden. He did all the planting himself and for the first few weeks watered in the morning and then in the afternoon, the minute he arrived home from school.  Many days I am greeted by an excited voice, calling Mom, the strawberries are starting to appear or the Strelitzias have bloomed another flower.   His excitement as the flowers begin to bloom and his garden takes shape due to his effort and commitment is wonderful to observe.

 While he tends to his garden in the afternoon I get to tend to my "proverbial garden". I get to sit next to him and stitch, embellish and embroider my flowers.  I get to decide if a button or bead is needed or if silk thread will enhance a particular feature of my sunflower. . We get to compare how our flowers look, how clever nature is and how beautiful my variegated threads are as they are inspired by nature, by their ever changing colors and subtleties. I look at the hand-dyed thread colors, like forest (54), moss ( 32), fern (4) and oak (10) and see how similarly they mirror the real thing.

  Below you will see the Rose Design and next to it the Sunflower. I had a stash of yellow beads which just "begged" to be stitched onto the sun flower, I am so excited with the results and when I was completed with the stitching and button work I stitched it onto this yellow bag. Every time I wear this bag, I receive so many compliments.  It is large enough to carry a lap top computer as well as all the other things I tend to carry in my bag. Till May 1^st we will have the zebra black and white bag as well as the yellow (or blue) tote bag in stock. ($25.) That means when you are complete with your African Folklore Embroidery deign you can stitch it onto either of these bags and create a unique tote bag for yourself, of course it makes a great gift to give someone! Fantasy flower bag

While I am no gardener I can create my own African Folklore Embroidery garden with the many flower designs that we have. Of course the over 300 hand -dyed variegated threads that we carry which change color every two inches and are inspired by nature certainly help in creating my own " embroidered botanical garden". I am currently working on my fourth sunflower design. I have used silk ribbon, beads and fabric to embellish and then make into a tote bag. I could not think of a better and more pleasant way to spend quality time with my son, than watching him tend to his garden while I embroider and embellish one of the African Folklore Embroidery flower designs.  Many of my kits are available on annthegran here.   You can more designs on our website at http://www.aflembroidery.com/ receive FREE threads when you order $25.00 or more of threads till May 1st from either place.

Sign up now for our
Big Event on May 1, 2010

Dear Friends,
Come to the Anaheim Park Hotel on May 1, 2010 for a big event!
A DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA, with African Folklore Embroidery fiber and embroidery artist, Leora Raikin, visual safari
 Anaheim Park Hotel, 222 West Houston Ave
 Fullerton CA
10:00 AM
 - Exhibition of African Folklore Embroidery by Leora Raikin, followed by an interactive and visual Lecture
12 PM - 1:30 PM
 - Trunk show, & book singing
 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
 Workshop - Learn the stitching & beading techniques for African Folklore Embroidery.
To register, call Sandi at (714) 814- 6935 or e-mail cormaciheirlooms@att.net
Hosted by Mountainview Chapter of the Embroiderers

Leora Raikin,, Author Safari through African Folklore Embroidery

I recently began teaching a new class called: "The application and inclusion of silk ribbon in your African Folklore Embroidery design". The class focuses on using the silk ribbon as one would regular embroidery thread. Silk ribbon is wonderfully versatile and forgiving fiber. For those of you that have already experimented with an African Folklore Embroidery design, you will know that kits include African hand dyed threads (these threads made in South Africa) assist in creating employment and income for women in South Africa. What some of you may also know is that all the threads included in the kits are environmentally friendly and that every two inches you will see a color change. These threads are also referred to as either variegated or multi-colored threads. What you may not know is that all 200 colors in the pearl 8, cotton, stranded floss, pearl 5 and pearl 12 are also carried through into 2mm, 4mm and 7mm silk ribbon.

Silk ribbon can enhance any design and when used in combination with regular embroidery cotton threads it acts as an enhancement of the actual stitches and overall design. Further using the silk ribbon as an embellishment technique to complete the Mola Barbara Interweaving Technique, which is a diagonal wrapping technique over the traditional chain stitch, the effect is stunning, When silk ribbon is used for couching with cotton threads to securing the couching, the effect is spectacular. In these two examples below you will see the silk ribbon being intertwined between two rows of the running stitch. 

Using silk ribbon to wrap a chain stitch, really gives the outline extra dimension and depth, creating a three-dimensional surface effect. If you look at the middle of the sunflower you will see two rows of chain stitch wrapped by a silk ribbon using the Mola Barbara Interweaving technique.

My favorite silk ribbon colors to use include Freesia, 48, peacock, 38, Maple, 65 and Fern 4. These are magnificent colors and awesome variegation.  In my newest design below, you will see that small pieces of fabric have been applied to the design. I began this design on a recent flight into Chicago to give a lecture and teach a workshop to the Riverwalk Quilters Guild in Naperville. (I completed the design on the flight and yes, you can bring the kit and stitching needles on the plane)

In the class we learnt how to incorporate fabric into a design the African Folklore Embroidery way, where no formal appliqué is required, but rather through manipulation and securing of the fabric using the chain stitch and thereafter using the Mola Barbara technique to wrap any “stray” pieces of threads underneath. The fabric becomes secure and an intrinsic part of the design, adding to the overall effect.

You can read about these techniques as well as the "strings of beads" technique which is illustrated below in my book, SAFARI THROUGH AFRICAN FOLKLORE EMBROIDERY, which takes you the reader on a creative Safari though South Africa, using the African Folklore Embroidery designs as the means to educate and share. You can see all African Variegated silk ribbon and other threads on our website at www.aflembroidery.com.

If you would like to see more interesting creations and feel like you are with us in an African Folklore Embroidery class, you can also become a friend of African Folklore Embroidery at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid

Remember there  are still three months to complete and enter your African Folklore Embroidery design and win $500. Details are online at www.aflembroidery.com

Wishing you boundless creativty, 

Leora Raikin

Author: Safari through African Folklore Embroidery

While I love teaching the techniques to complete a African Folklore Embroidery, I get even more pleasure in seeing how each person takes their design to a whole new creative level. Chain stitch is the dominant stitch, and any color can be used to stitch on the pre-drawn black fabric, however what each person does with the chain stitch differs considerably. Some will do a  tight chain stitch, with no open spaces, others will use silk ribbons or metalic thread to embellish the chain stitch by using a technique known as the "Mola Barbara Interweaving technique" to wrap around the chain stitch. This creates a "rope-like" three dimensional appearance. Others will fill an area with chain stitch in a vertical manner and others in a horizontal manner and according to the consistent direction of the chain stitch, this takes on various effects. To  illustrate this, view the African kettle design, each one completed so differently.  

We can learn so much from the creativity of others. In a classroom setting, I always encourage my students to look around at what other people are doing. So many times, colors or threads we may not have thought of incorporating are inspired when we look around. I, too am constantly inspired by the creativity of my students and am in awe of their completed designs, taking the techniques I have taught them to a whole new level! 

Reusable grocery bags

Many African Folklore Embroidery enthusiasts have stitched  their completed designs onto reusable grocery bags. Once completed the design can be easily hand stitched onto the grocery bag. No sewing machine is necessary and within minutes one has a stunning reusable grocery bag, that will attract a multitude of compliments and be enviromentally friendly at the same time.

In addition our kits are socially responsoble as the African threads included in the kits create employment for women in South Africa. All threads are enviromentally friendly and comply with the strictest procedures.  The African variegated threads are offered in over 200 colors and available in silk ribbons, stranded floss, rayon and pearl 8, 5 and 12 cotton. 

Free give-away in Month of February

In celebration of black history month, we are giving away a free signed copy of my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery when you spend $25 or more! Offer valid till Feb 28th 2010  Click here to see all the current designs.

Would you like to win $500 in cash?

By entering the African Folklore Embroidery $500 challenge and having your completed African Foklore Embroidery design exhibited at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, July 22-25th you will become eligible to win 1st prize in this exciting and creative compeittion. details of the competition and how to submit your entry are in my  last blog.

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 23-25^th 2010.

Completed designs need to be submitted by no later than July 10^th 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 10^th 4-6pm Exhibition @ Calabasas Library, lecture and interactive workshop for children & adults 23975 Park Sorrento, Calabasas, CA 91302-4015

**Feb 18^th 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 9^th Lecture, River walk Quilters Guild, Illinois

March 10^th Workshop, River Walk Quilters Guild, Illinois

Special offer from Jan 27^th-Feb 28^th, 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

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 14^th-17^th @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

I used to be a really nervous flyer, every bump, thump, or noise would startle me. Reading just would not relax me and chatting to the passenger next to me would not succeed in calming me.

Things began changing for me once I started bringing my African Folklore Embroidery kit on board the airplane. The kit includes the design (pre-drawn on black fabric), needle and African threads. There are many items you are not allowed to bring on an airplane, in fact the list sometimes seems endless, but needles for sewing are ALLOWED. The minute I know I am going on to a trip to lecture or teach in another city or state, i decide which project i am going to work on.

I just returned this weekend from a trip to New York and almost completed the entire poppy flower design on the flight from JFK to Los Angeles. My trip to Minnesota a few months ago allowed me to complete the elephant kettle design and I am already planning what I am going to stitch on my flight to Phoenix, AZ in December where i will be teaching three days of classes at Bernina Connection, including a special class for children, called teaching the next generation to stitch through African Folklore Embroidery.

Given the holiday season coming up and that many people travel, whether by plane, train or road to visit family and friends, this is the perfect time to get started on one of our beautiful African Folklore Embroidery designs. With this in mind we are offering FREE SHIPPING  on all order from now till November 30th.

It is amazing, how many people do not know that you are allowed to bring needles on an airplane. This allows me (guilt free) time to pursue one of my favorite pleasures and has even resulted in me looking forward to my flying time. 

Remember there is still time to enter your completed  African Folklore Embroidery design in a special exhibition at the Road to California Quilt show, Ontario, CA , Jan 14-17th, 2010. Entry forms are online and we are offering cash prizes for first, second and third place. There is also a separate children's category.  You can find the entry form here.

Fall is my favorite season. I love how the weather changes from brutally hot to just perfect! I love being cozy and taking out my current stitching project, curling up on a chair beside the fire and watching how my African Folklore Embroidery design takes on a life of its own. My parents are currently visiting from South Africa and since it was my mom that taught me African Folklore Embroidery it is our best pastime to sit together and stitch. Have you noticed that sometimes when you stitch or knit with someone you love, you don’t even have to talk? It is that sense of quiet peacefulness and togetherness. Fall is the time for Halloween, candy and starting to get ready for the holidays. What could be more fun! With this in mind you will see some of our new designs, such as pumpkins and Christmas trees. In the Christmas tree design you will see that there are four trees and each one can be stitched and then made into a holiday card.  The hand dyed threads included in the kits have names such as Christmas green, Salvia, Flame, Harvest and Hellebore. These pearl 8 multi-colored threads change color every two inches.

When it comes to starting an African Folklore Embroidery design, I have no idea what the end result is going to look like, whether I will decide to put in beads or buttons, cut up and appliqué some fabric or use some special silk ribbons. Some times an old necklace or bracelet that I do not wear any more will become part of the project with it being couched into the design.  Most people I know have a stash of fabric around that they do not want to throw away, so this is the perfect kind of project to incorporate and recycle.

I realize the idea of starting a project with no idea as to what the final outcome will look like can be foreign and scary.  To me African Folklore Embroidery mirrors life, we can spend a lot of time planning, but the end result does not always end up like our initial planned thought.  Most needle art projects will give you detailed instruction as to what color to use in every part of a design, what stitch to embroider, where to sew on a bead or button and how to finish it. African Folklore Embroidery is the complete opposite. I think knowing in advance that a design it not meant to be perfect, that life is full of imperfections and surprises, allows us the freedom to explore the creative side and extend ourselves beyond our limits. Knowing in advance that the bright colors against the black fabric are going to look stunning, certainly helps the process.

I recently was the guest teacher at a retreat for the Minnesota Embroidery guild. I was so honored to be amongst these highly talented women. Most have been involved in stitching and needle arts for many years and their work is beautiful. This is an annual retreat at Lake Buffalo, MN and all the stitching, dining and sleeping rooms overlook this beautiful lake with gorgeous sunset.  I was one of three guest teachers that taught classes for the four days.  I have included some pictures of some of the completed designs or half completed from this workshop. All the women coming into the class had no idea what their completed project was going to look like, but their enthusiasm and bubbly and exuberant comments afterwards were proof as to how much their creative leap of faith had paid off. . Most importantly these women appreciated the freedom which the class gave them to use any colors and fibers that they wished, to not be fixated on the perfection of stitches, to try new techniques, to go “out the box “. Many said that they had learnt more in the 6 hour class than in twenty years of classes and books. Words such as fun, new, and imagination were the concepts thrown around. So don’t be afraid to try one of our kits, there are basic guidelines and stitch diagrams, but I know that each one of you has the ability to complete a really stunning African Folklore Embroidery design.

For the first time ever, there will be an international competition for all our customers to enter their completed African Folklore Embroidery design at the Road to California 2010 Quilt show. Over 25,000 attend the show and will be viewing the entries.

Exhibition - Competition- Win Prizes –Entry Form

You are invited to submit your completed African Folklore Embroidery designs for a SPECIAL EXHBITION AT THE 2010 ROAD TO CALIFORNIA QUILT SHOW from Jan 14th- Jan 17th at the Ontario Convention Center.  Winners will be announced Jan 15th and ribbon placed on winning entries. Cash prizes: 1st $150, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. Separate category for children.  Entry forms at www.aflembroidery.com

For the holidays I am offering a special sale price on my book, Safari through African Folklore Embroidery ($25.00 www.aflembroidery.com) and it includes a free gift from South Africa.

Wishing you good health and abundant creativity!

Leora Raikin

www.aflembroidery.com

When I was a little girl growing up in South Africa, Fridays were always special baking days and cupcakes were my favorite thing to bake with my mother and sister. Even better than baking the cupcakes was the frosting and decorating of them afterwards. My mother would decorate each cupcake with twirls, whirls, hearts, flowers and lots of love. It was these beautiful memories and my ongoing love affair with cupcakes that prompted the cupcake designs.

Just the thought of cupcakes makes my mouth start to water. In fact as I am writing this, I am thinking about baking some, but oooh, those calories, not so good. So after finishing writing this blog,I will continue "frosting" with threads my cupcake designs. Using the chain stitch which is an easy and rhythmical stitch, I will frost my cupcakes in pinks, reds, blues and greens.

Remember that when it comes to African Folklore Embroidery, "what ever color you choose to stitch, is the right color".  I may add some satin stitch to fill in the spaces on the cupcake holder, and perhaps even add buttons and beads for cherries and sprinkles on top. All this will make for a delcious cupcake, and does not add anything to my waist line. While there is nothing to beat the taste of a cupcake in your mouth, stitching a cupcake design, comes a close second!

I recently purchased some gorgeous cupcake fabric and stitched my frosted cupcakes onto the fabric and cut out and appliqued some of the cupcakes from the fabric onto the design. I am thinking of completing another two cupcakes and then making four into a quilt to hang in my kitchen, after all what better place to think about cupcakes. (rather there then to dream about them at night).  You will see on our website some of the new cupcake designs on an eight inch block, which comes along with needle and unique delicious threads, as well as the platter of frosted cupcakes. (12 inches)

I would love to see pictures of your completed cupcakes, so please email them to me, together we can have a cyber tea party!

wishing you a creative weekend, best leora Raikin

African Folklore Embroidery

www.aflembroidery.com

Some people are surprised by our African tea cup designs... Why tea cups? What do tea cups and teapots have to do with Africa? Good question. What many people do not know is that South Africa used to be a British colony. For many years the British ruled South Africa and as a result many of the British customs and traditions were incorporated and adopted by local South Africans. Today tea drinking from a tea cup and a saucer is an every day, actually twice a day ritual. Once at 11am in the morning- tea time and again at 4pm in the afternoon, tea time. Tea is never drunk in a mug or plastic container as it is believed that it changes the taste of the tea and the ritual itself. In fact as i am writing this blog, i am sipping a cup of tea.  In South Africa it is customary, when a guest enters your house, to immediately offer them a cup of tea.

A cup of tea whether you are drinking it in South Africa or Britain is usually served with milk. Customs differ as to whether to pour the milk in first or after the hot water.   When having guests one places the tea cups on a tray along with a jug of milk a, bowl of sugar, and a teapot with the tea inside brewing. Letting the tea bag brew and seep in the hot water adds to the taste. 

I am excited to show you our African inspired tea cups and African kettle. there are so many different ways one can stitch these designs. While chain stitch is the dominant stitch, satin stich and various embelishment techniques can be incorporated for enhancment and effect. 

In my blog today you will see some of the very different ways in which the tea cups have been completed. I have one customers who has completed eight tea cups and is making them into a table runner.  Another has combined four of the tea cup designs into a quilt and another has placed the African Kettle on the top of a glass tea box. Oh and wait till you see the women who stitched all four tea cup designs and placed them on a black apron.  I love using the African hand dyed vaerigated threads for the teacups as the subtle color changes create added interest in the design. My favorite color freesia ( #48) has over ten color changes.  You can see these new designs on our website at www.aflembroidery.com.

Oh and any time you are in California, please join me for a cup of tea.

best leora Raikin

African Folklore Embroidery

Dear AnnTheGran readers, thank you so much for your comments and your excitment regarding South Africa. I so enjoy sharing this information with you and giving you a small taste and experience of African art and culture.

I am always amazed how creative people can be with so little! Creativity does not necessitate vast sums of money.This is so evident in South Africa where so many art related objects are made from the earth as well as recycled from the environment.  Most people involved in the creation of functional art have had no formal art training and many have had little or no formal education.  Many times art practises are past down from one generation to the next. In rural areas in South Africa today, people create art out of indigenous materials, such as clay, wood grass and make richly decorated items for household purposes such as serving spoons, silver ware, bowls, etc , beading of these items is very common and is a craft practiced by many in southern Africa. Some rural communities even create art out of recycled items such as coca-cola tins, murals, traditionally the men do most of the wood carving and the women the beading.

Woman make most of the items that are sold commercially and do this while raising their children at home in the rural communities while husbands work in the cities.  Many of these women are now being encouraged by development agencies to produce work for outside markets to be sold to the rest of the world- an example of this is the Ndebele dolls.  African Folklore Embroidery sells many of these hand made products on their website. The custom of carving artifacts associated with rituals is common throughout Africa, Drums and other musical instruments are commonly made by men, however in ceremonies such as weddings they are played by the women.

Doll making is one of the most ancient arts practiced by African Communities. The Ndebele tribe are the most well known for this art form. The Zulu women also produce beautiful dolls.  Most of the fertility dolls are covered in beads, but the core remains invisible. The core may be made out of maize cobs, clay or even recycled tins and jars.  The Tsonga dolls are dressed in layered cloth skirts similar to those worn by the Tsonga women.

I am particualr fascinated by the intricacy involved in basket weaving (many compare basket weaving to quilting) and the use of baskets and hand made pots as a functional part of every day life. For example large pots are generally used for brewing beer; people drink the beer from smaller bowls while the mail bowl is passed from person to person.

Rural women, in South Africa, generally carry pots and other containers on their heads. Many learned this art of balancing large items on their heads at a very young age from their mothers.

Many African women make beautiful baskets out of grass. They first pick the grass and then color the grass using different berries for dying.  Traditionally these were used to store grain and other items, these days they are produced to be sold. Grass is also used to make various objects related to initiation rites such as grass woven masks.  In this design featued in this blog, you will see how people have interpreted the basket design.  From using colorful threads to more muted colors.

What I love about African Folklore Embroidery is that it is so transportable , you do not need a machine and it is truly a great take-along project. since the kits come with a needle and African threads, one can get started immediately, the chain stitch the dominant stitch and kits include basic instructions. However what appeals to me the most is being able to incorporate every object and piece from ones life into the design, for example an old necklace one does not want to throw away, a piece of fabric, pine needles, beads and other items. This makes African Folklore Embroidery as a much a fiber art as  a form of recycable art.  Combing traditional art practises  with new art forms takes African Folklore Embroidery to a whole new level.

My Television experience on the show Uncommon Threads with host Alison Whitlock.
Leora Raikin, African Folklore Embroidery
www.aflembroidery.com
info@aflembroidery.com
(818) 999-6094

Click here to view clips from the HGTV show.

Back to Our Roots

During summer I spent seven weeks in South Africa, regrouping, rediscovering, spending time with different tribes, learning new cultures and traditions, sourcing new & unique African products, visiting with family, meeting with the African folklore Embroidery designers, experiencing the African wild life and meeting with people who are making a difference to help with the country’s SEVERE aids & unemployment crises. South Africa has a 30% unemployment rate and severe aids crises. While I was in South Africa, I received an email from the producers of the television show Uncommon Threads, a show on the Do It Yourself Network inviting me to appear as a guest on their show. While I was excited to receive this invitation, I had no idea what this would involve.

I decided to invite one of my students to be on the show with me.  It was a tough choice as so many people have completed such beautiful and creative African Folklore Embroidery designs. I finally decided on Analee Perica, a retired teacher andfiber artist, who is really creative. Analee was first introduced to African Folklore Embroidery after reading an article about my African Folklore Embroidery teaching program in the Los Angeles Times in 2003. I also knew it would be fun and helpful to have someone help with preparing all the mock-ups or as they call themin show business “step-outs” for the show.

On arriving back home to Los Angeles, I met with the producers of the show at their studio in Burbank, California. Since they were experienced in producing craft /needle art type shows, they knew exactly the type of format and what they wanted the viewer to experience in African Folklore Embroidery. Let us say that any expectations that I had that the project would actually be done on the show evaporated quickly. I soon learned that I would need to prepare before filming ten mock-ups or as in the industry calls them step outs of the single design. The producers decided that the giraffe design would be a good one to film. I had one week to embroidery ten examples of the giraffe, with each giraffe's design building on the steps and stitches completed in the one before. The aim is that it should read like a book.  If you flip through from the first step out where there is just the design to the final design which is complete with all the techniques, beads and fibers.

I have never stitched so quickly, so much or so fast in any one week. The producers went through the format of the show and what kind of things we could or could not say. They were interested in the techniques involved in completing an African Folklore Embroidery design, the fact that you do not need a hoop, can use any color to stitch ( no wrong color).  The fact that your stitches do not need to be perfect as there are no needle art police coming to inspect, really fascinated them.   They were also interested to know that I had learned African Folklore Embroidery in South Africa ( my mom taught me) and to understand the method I used to teach over 3,000 people the art of African Folklore Embroidery over the past three years at guilds, schools, camps, enrichment programs, senior centers, girl scouts and conventions.

When the day came for the actual filming I was nervous.  They had told us what we could wear, that to film a thirty minute segment we would need to be at the studio for four to six hours, (there is a lot of stop, start and waiting involved- so my African Folklore Embroidery came in very handy during those “down Times”) and even what jewelry was suitable and appropriate so would not distract . And of course to have clean nails, not polished. We needed to bring three potential outfits from our own for wardrobe for their review and once they selected the one they felt was most suitable it was off to make up- to touch up. Throughout the day there was a constant stream of food being provided.  I do not know how the people in the film industry remain so skinny with all that delicious food on set.

I was amazed at how many people are involved in the filming of a thirty minute segment from several camera people, as they film from all angles, to several directors, producers and assistants. Seeing the set for the first time was an experience. It is set up to look like someone’s living room. There are lovely sofas, beautiful pictures, art and other interesting objects on the walls and on display, every item specifically chosen and located, staged in a particular way. Nothing is on the set randomly. On the coffee table there were mugs, I expected to be sipping my coffee throughout the show and was surprised when the producers said they were to be empty, no coffee drinking as they were only for effect. This was my rude awakening to the world of television, where everything is staged, when I voiced this opinion to the producer he said that he had ruined television viewing for many people who had appeared on the show.

The host of the show was amazing, Alison Whitlock, made me feel so comfortable and at ease throughout the entire taping. I do not know how she does it, filming sixty five shows, three a day in five weeks. She looks beautiful, is calm, inviting and one really does feel like you are in her living room discussing your favorite project. Her interest is genuine. There were many times through-out  the filming we had to do the same scene several times due to the angle being incorrect or a thumb covering a design or any number of small, little things.  We were never made to feel bad if we had to do a scene several times.

Most of all the whole process gave me a huge sense of appreciation for all the work that goes into filming a television show. The experience was fun, even if I never got to drink my coffee.

Click here to view more clips and pictures from the show.

Click here to view dates for the episodes.