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 Just in: beautiful new Aboriginal patterned fabric! These fabrics are 100% cotton, with bright and exciting colors, often paired in unusual combinations. The wonderful hues and dynamic, organic shapes make this fabric ideal for quilting, home decor and wearable art. Aborigine art patterns and techniques, more than 50,000 years old, represent the spirit world for the native peoples of Australia; each design has its own contextual and historical significance. M & S Textiles in Australia was established in 1995 with the objective to promote Aboriginal designs to the quilting community. The company pays each Aborigine artist a fair market wage and licenses these original indigenous art designs, guaranteeing authenticity.
New Publications!
Stunning Surface Design!
 A new series of books, each introducing you to one simple concept to build upon to produce amazing textiles, has been introduced by d4daisy books, a British publishing company specializing in state of the art technique and project books in all areas of surface design. The series notes that many readers today don’t feel they can afford to buy lots of expensive supplies; for example, Fabulous Surfaces by Lynda Monk uses tissue paper as her main ingredient. You’ll marvel at what she achieves with tissue, old dressmaking patterns and wrapping paper, using paints, transfer foils and some surprising special effects: rusting, printing and distressing as well as sculpting and cut-outs. Dissolvable Delights by Maggie Grey features a myriad of ways to use basic water-soluble materials (film- and paper-based) combined with paper, metal and stitch. The book includes ideas for rusting, casting, shaping, fringing and much more. The purchase of either book gives you access to exclusive, free online classes and tutorials: visit their website to learn more. Shop all books at Artistic Artifacts »
 The Latest Magazine Issues
Most of us are still enduring the heat and humidity of summer, but in Stitch world, it’s Winter 2012! This latest 148-page special issue magazine offers 32 simple sewing patterns and snuggle-worthy projects ranging from garments and accessories to home accents and fabulous décor — all inspired by the very best of winter, with a special emphasis on using wool fabrics. Learn more and order »
 And remember, once a new issue of a magazine is released, we mark down past issues, such as past issues of Stitch and CPS Studios — catch up on your craft reading and save!
Books on Sale!
Please check out our online sale section for savings on a variety of products, including some wonderful book titles! Pictured here is Quilting Line and Color: Techniques and Designs for Abstract Quilts, now available at more than $10 off! In it internationally known weaver, dyer, fabric artist, teacher, and quilter Yoshiko Jinzenji explores shape, color, stitching, and fabric in more than 30 gorgeous projects.
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 As always, we’ve got a wide variety of workshops — fun and creative fiber, mixed media and jewelry classes — planned through this summer’s end and into the fall and winter. It's not too late to sign up for these classes, taking place this Saturday (August 18):
 Other upcoming offerings include Barbara Boatman's mixed media shadowbox assemblage on August 24, a great way to turn a collection into an artful display; Turn Your Photos into Thermofax Screens on August 25, a computer (laptop required) with Susan Price teaching you all you need to know to use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements create your own silkscreens; and a felting and garment embellishment class with Her Majesty Margo Duke on August 26.
Please check our website frequently as we continue to update our schedule with repeated favorites as well as brand-new classes! Unless otherwise noted, all Artistic Artifacts workshops are suitable for beginners, while experienced artists can pick up new-to-them techniques or simply enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded souls.
Schedule Your Own Custom Class!
Remember, we are always happy to arrange a custom class, if you can’t make a scheduled date — gather five (or more) friends and we’ll set it up! Apart from our regular offerings, we may also be able to create a brand-new class for you — email us and let us know what you are interested in! |
