The customized itinerary is designed to appeal to quilters, fiber artists, sewing & craft enthusiasts, dollmakers and those with related interests. Activities include hands-workshops in wax batik, adinkra stamping, bead making, kente weaving, and a dazzling variety of “shopportunities,”
The events will be based mostly in Accra, the country’s capital, with overnight excursions to Cape Coast and Kumasi, and a day trip to Koforidua. The schedule balances crafting activities with traditional Ghana tourist stops to give visitors a well-rounded understanding of Ghana’s people and culture.
Cultured Expressions is a niche company that promotes the creative use of authentic African textiles for sewing, crafts, quilting and home décor. It specializes in fabrics, beads & brass embellishments, kits, creative supplies, and how-to project books by Lisa Shepard Stewart, owner of the company. Its mission is to educate & inspire DIY (do-it-yourself)
In planning the upcoming Ghana tour, Lisa includes some of her favorite resources and regions for the items she sells nationally at quilt shows and events, and internationally through CE’s website, CulturedExpressions.com.
Another component of the trip is the launch of the “CE Cares” Project, in which the trip participants will be asked to create a small, useful item while in they are Ghana, such as a simple baby quilt, cloth doll, bib or other craft. These will be presented to a nearby orphanage or children’s hospital on the last day of the trip.
“The crafting activity will give us a chance to work with some of our newly acquired materials and actually engage in our craft while we’re there, using materials we’ve obtained locally. I hope that creating something useful & meaningful that we can leave behind will symbolize the start of lasting relationships between the participants and their new Ghanaian friends,” says Lisa, who has been to Ghana six times.
CE has also organized several Quilters’ Retreats at Jackie’s on the Reef (a holistic spa in Negril, Jamaica) – it blends African-inspired quilting with spa treatments, gourmet food and rejuvenating wellness activities. All of the company’s unique offerings encourage people to express themselves creatively, and to “Feel the Fabric…Embrace the Culture,” as the company tagline suggests.
The cost of the Textile and Craft Tour of Ghana is $3850 based on double occupancy; an initial minimum deposit of $500 is payable by January 1, 2010, with the final payment due on July 15, 2010. A suggested payment plan is available. To receive additional trip details and registration form via email, contact info@CulturedExpressions.com or call 1-866-MUDLOTH.
