Fluttering Friends...

Do birds flutter? or is it butterflies? hmmm, that could be debatable.
Nonetheless, these intriguing little gals were created out of metal by
our friend in Columbia, SC, Caroline Hatchell.
These are for sale here in our shop and she will take special orders for
"special" birds, with special words on each one.
Get your order in time for the holiday gift giving season.

Lea Nickless, watercolor artist who resides here in Saluda
part time, provided an interesting demo using large sheets of
decorative hand made papers.
After creating several large 5x7 foldable books
Lea added to the excitement by telling us that
any size paper will work because it's all about the folding
that makes it happen!

Jen added to the excitement of the evening by
demonstrating a very awesome bead making technique
using strips of batik fabric along with vintage paper bits.
After rolling the pieces together Jen coated each piece with
UTEE and glazed them with Rox to create glass like beads.







Rounding off the evening was Louise Mc Clure, Jewelry
Artist from Saluda who makes amazing things happen
with shrink plastic. Yes, you heard that right, but it
is NOT your mother's "shrinky dinks" any more!
Louise's talent far surpasses anything that you can even
imagine using this fabulous product for jewelry.
Oak leafs, fleur de lis, floral elements and more
add to the range of pieces that Louise can turn
into a breath taking work of art.

We weren't going to the end the weekend on
Friday night so we continued the excitement
into Saturday with mixed media artist Susan Edmonson.
Susan was here to teach her ever popular
canvas pendant workshop
"sticks and stitches".
Yes, a sewing machine was a must but
oh my! What beautiful results
one can achieve while sewing up a hem
or mending a knee patch.
Again, it's "not your grandmothers sewing machine anymore"!
What a marvelous piece of machinery
and what marvelous things we can make!

Below, happy students and a happy teacher
show their appreciation for a
great day of creativity in Saluda.

Susi Cook works on her beading
on the canvas pendant.

Below is Sharon Kolbye's
"almost" complete pendant.
Just a few more beads at the bottom
along with that very special "bird in flight"
and her project will be complete.
I love it! Just look at that
little feather that Sharon added.

From challenging charms to beautiful books

These translucent charms were a hit
in Louise McClures workshop here last week.
I think that it might have had something to
do with pounding the copper wire into
interesting shapes. Next step was to
attach the wire to a very old page of
an old dictionary, trim and fill the center
with amazing glaze or UTEE.
Do a little heat with the toaster oven and
presto, magico, a fascinating hand crafted charm!

Using mica, Utee, photo holders and images,
each person was able to create a menagerie
of beautiful charms.


Next came Jen Salak's
uniquely designed book that utilized
strip paper covers and pages,
sewn signatures, painted edges and spines
and lots of batiks fabrics.

We're in Batik heaven

All those long,luscious strips of beautiful batiks
and nothing to do with them?
Right......
Share them with the world around us and create
our own little batik heaven right here at Random Arts.
That all time favorite woven ribbon served as a great
carrier to attach all these strips of batik, and one
thing led to another and it got longer and longer.
All of sudden we had a banner and then we had
side banners and now we have leaves on the
banner and words on the leaves.

Any other suggestions?
We have more batik!

Back to play...

It's time to get back to "work" for me after my little Costa Rican adventure and that starts with scheduling upcoming classes and events. Let's start with Jen's Eyelet Bound Book on Sat. October 10th. This is full day filled with paper creations, book binding, a little sewing and a lot of FUN! It's only $50. for the entire day of instruction and all the materials are included. Don't miss out as the space is limited. Call or email us to register. 828-749-1165

Time: 10 am till 4pm

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Wed. October 14 - 10 till 4
Louise McClure's Charms Galore
Join Louise for a fun filled day creating
a multitude of unique charms with modern day shrink plastic,
mica, images, UTEE, and more.
You will have the opportunity to view, up close and personal,
some of her finished creations which incorporate her charms.
Each one is sure to inspire you to use your
charms in very special ways.
$50.

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Susan Edmonson's "sticks and stitches"
pendant workshop.
Sat. Oct 24th
Join quilt/mixed media artist, Susan Edmonson
for this unique workshop using canvas, paints,
stitching, beads and... her inspiration.
Your imagination will take you where you want
to go, but Susan will be your guide gently
encouraging you to "fly" with your creativity.
This can be hand stitched or free motioned
with your sewing machine. Either way
it will become one of a kind "wearable art".
10 am till 4pm
$65

Sustainable, Eco Friendly, Enviro Conscious

The driver from Finca Rosa Blanca drove us
through little villages and farms to our final destination
in the beautiful Central Valley mountains of Heredia, provence in Costa Rica.
It is surrounded by towering "Higueron" trees and exotic flora.
There are views of the cloud forest, volcanoes and coffee plantations nearby
from it's 4000 feet above sea level location.

Each of the 11 private suites is architecturally interesting
with it's curved windows, doors, hand made tile
and bright colors. Our room was an inspiration in
and of itself.

Leo took us on a 2 hour tour of their very small but
productive organic coffee plantation.
They grow 30 acres of Arabica hard bean coffee which is
certified organic by international organization called OKO Garantie.
It is also certified sustainable by the Rain Forest Alliance and ICAFE.
Native banana trees planted within the coffee rows provide
shade and nutrients while rows of lemon grass
filter run off water for recycling.

The rain fell mid afternoon into the spring fed infinity
pool that features solar heated chemical free water.

Organic banana leaves nestle my
warm & inviting gallo pinto, sauteed bananas
and locally raised scrambled eggs
This "tipico" Costa Rican breakfast is
prepared each morning by this amazing chef,
Jose Pedro Alas Villafranco.

The show continues...

The ONE and ONLY mixed media sculpture
found in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Looks to me like they are still working on it.

A couple that we met here from Charlotte, NC
call these the camouflage trees. Up close the
muted colors of rust, ochres & chartreuse blend
with the brown earth tones. LaSabana Park in
San Jose is filled with these trees and no one seemed
to know, or care, what they were.
What a great background for art work, huh?

Each night we sat here on the terrace and played
cards, read, visited with other Americans & Canadians.
The peacefulness of the night overlooking the pool
was always a soothing way to end the busy day.

But, during the day, this crystal clear pool was
my respite.

Another flower market on Avenida Central in Downtown San Jose.

Costa Rican Observations

While enjoying the lush grounds at the
Finca Rosa Blanca coffee plantation in
the provence of Hererdia, Costa Rica,
these unusual plants caught my eye.
These unique flowers filled with water as the rain fell
and continued to look as though they stayed full
the entire day. Quite an amazing plant in my estimation.

In San Jose, Costa Rica, the capital city, we spent
much time walking through the sometimes
hazardous sidewalks & streets. Hazardous to us because the
driving practices are clearly dangerous and
hazardous because every sidewalk, anywhere you go
has holes in it... BIG holes. Holes big enough to
lose a child, even an adult. No marking, no covers,
no warning, just a hole.
I could do an entire photo essay of the holes
found in and around San Jose.
So, while avoiding the holes and the
possible broken bones we would duck into
interesting museums that we found enroute.
That was part of our adventure
and in the Teatro Nacional, we found a lovely
exhibition that included textile work by
Dinorah Bolandi
along with a friendly tour guide
from Overseas Adventures that was happy to
include us on the tour.

A simple path leading to the spa
at our hotel in LaSabana Park, San Jose.
Simple, clean, undisturbed, nurturing and silent.

On the wall grew contrasting vines that
grew profusely as grass and created instant
attraction. Inspiration for color choices in an
upcoming journal page? Maybe so.

The colorful display of local flowers spill
over into the Mercado Central in San Jose.
Everyone has fresh flowers in their house and why
not? With the temperate climate, only 9 degrees from
the equator, of course everything would flourish.