Need help for a friend

[recoveringrepublican]

so many knowledgeable people here on DU. I'm going to copy and paste her email.

When I was in my 20s I knew a guy who collected some sort of fabric folk art from somewhere other than the US. I would like to buy a piece of this art, but can't remember what it is called, can't remember where it is from, can't find the guy who collected it. I wonder if someone here will know what I am talking about if I describe this art? (I have checked the internet, ebay, etc and come up empty handed.)

What it ISN'T:
tapestry
batik
a quilt
cross-stitch
crewel
tie-dye

What it looks like:
Imagine a dark (usually black) fabric background with bright colors of fabric sewn on top to make a design. I don't recall ever seeing pastel colors used. It seems that the art might have been a little 'puffy' where the top fabric was sewn onto the black fabric - but it wasn't puffy due to stuffing but just because the bright fabric strips were folded under on the edges to make a nice edge before stitching. The bright fabric was almost always thin strips of material rather than big pieces. It was very colorful and the ones I saw were about 12" x 12" up to 20" x 20".

There is a definite NAME for this type of art but I can't remember what it is! I have a slight memory that it could be S. American tribal?

Does this ring a bell for anyone? I can SEE the art in my head but can't find it!

[Why Syzygy]

1. Is it abstract?

Or scenery? Other?