cones of all kinds

From a lowly little cardboard cone to a creative interpretation of like minded artists.

This is how I decided it should look.

This is how Kristi Steiner envisioned the cone.

Denine Henderson took it to an entirely different level.

and, Joyce Berger dressed it up in bright ribbons & sparkling beads!
Anyone else have any ideas? These cones are about 8" tall and about 3" diameter at the bottom
and the creative field is wide open. Are your wheels turning? Mine are. My idea will become a completed project by Feb 1st for the Book Art Show at the Hendersonville Arts Council.

Still on the Hill

You never know who might show up in Saluda at Random Arts and this time we met this awesome musical duo couple, Donna Stjerna & Kelly Mulhollan of "Still on the Hill".
Not only are they exceptionally nice people but SHE does altered art. She's never seen
Cloth Paper Scissors, or Somerset or any altered art magazine.... she just does it and she has a story to tell about her work too. Some of her pieces are created with the lyrics of her songs in mind and then auctioned off in their hometown in the Ozarks for local benefits. How awesome is that? She had these pants on the day that I met her and I couldn't help but start asking her all about them.... What she needs to do is start a blog so we can see all of her creations.Seemingly oblivious to the limitations of what two musicians can create, Still on the Hill has set new boundaries of originality. This duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and scrub board) as well as other exotic offerings (Moon guitar from Japan, African Mbira, and Tenor Ukulele) to create a kaleidoscope of musical color and texture:

Picture yourself here....

Serenity, Peacefulness, Silence, Nature,
All at your fingertips here in North Carolina at Hidden Lake.

ANOTHER PRICE REDUCTION - JUST IN TIME FOR 2007 TAX RIGHT OFF

REDUCED TO
$259,000
FROM $329,000.
I'm mixing business and pleasure today trying to help my daughter and her husband sell their mountain house in North Carolina. Since they moved from Charlotte to Columbus,Ohio they can no longer use this house for the weekends.
Do you know anybody who wants a great value on a weekend getaway house? Just one hour from Saluda, 1 hour from Charlotte and only a 15 minutes from I 40. Great location and easy to get to from anywhere.
Their like-new lakefront home sits on 2 acres in Hidden Lake with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a spacious loft for added sleeping area. A full size kitchen with all appliances and laundry area are convenient to the dining area and great room. Hardwood floors and a stone, floor to "vaulted ceiling" fireplace set the warm, backwoods cabin feeling.
COMPLETELY FURNISHED, TOO. New beds, dining set, custom sofa.
A well worn path leads from the house to the dock and is an easy and relaxing 3 minute walk.
The community is gated, wooded and has an awesome pool, clubhouse, streamside park & community dock for members. We have enjoyed several weekends there at the pool this summer and the pool is kept sparkly clean all the time.
They have reduced the price from $329,000, to $259,000 and are accepting all
reasonable offers. You can email me for further information. JUST REDUCED TO $259,000.

You might want to check out the new web site of Martine House, one of our many talented teachers who frequent our shop here in Saluda. Martine is a fiber artist who teaches worldwide...and we are fortunate enough that she lives in the area and can come share her talents with us.

Speaking of talents, here a few more pictures of the Tree project quilt squares from the Diva Reunion. The painted tree square with the quilted mountains belongs to Betsy's husband, Bob.
The middle one with texture is mine and the one on the bottom was created by Lauren Grant.

Diva Reunion photos

Here are just a few of the 12 projects from our diva reunion 2 weeks ago in Hendersonville.
Top is Betsy's tone on tone square using luscious silk fabrics and painted leaf beads.The blues and rusts on this is piece was created by Jane using rusted and painted fabrics sewn onto a walnut stained muslin. An antique button was added for glitz along with a transparency transfer word , memories.
Marny used a handmade paper from Europe to stamp the roots section of a tree using mystery foam as a medium. She has sewn various fabrics and fibers in earth tones to reflect the colors and textures of trees.

Dicovery Italy

Join me in Orvieto, Italy in Sept 2008 along with Kristi Steiner as we discover the authentic colors of Italy in our very own personal way. Each of us, day by day during this week in the Tuscany Region will be creating with colorful Italian papers & fibers, mysterious micas, precious pigments and fabulous fabrics as we "find our way" through our day to day discoveries to our completed project. This adventure will be relaxing, fulfilling & inspiring along with a quiet mix of self discovery ... all in a retreat like setting in Orvieto Italy.
The New York Times today has a great little travel article about Orvieto. Be sure to check it out.
Learn more about Kristi and Bill Steiner's Italy Discovery Tours and envision yourself joining us for a life changing experience.

Till we meet again. . .

It's been almost 2 years since our "diva" retreat with Kristi Steiner here in Saluda and can you believe that ALL of us were able to get together again to celebrate our connected spirits?
Top row from left to right
Jane, Marney, Linda, Sharon,
Middle Row
Betsy, Linda, Suzie
Bottom Row
Lauren, Kristi, Jen
Not only did we reunite,but since May of this year we have been working on a "project" to share with each other to celebrate our creative journey. Each of us created 12 - 5 x 5 mixed media squares using "trees" as our theme. So, we left our houses with 12 alike and came home from Marney's with 12 unique, artistic creations all made from our hearts with memories of our first retreat with Kristi. With Kristi, the packaging is everything. It's as good as what's inside which is what I will reveal in the days to come. Each of the 12 pieces in all their glory will be on display here on my blog.
So stay tuned for our amazingly creative journey.

Meet Michael deMeng

Are you all wondering who and what this Michael deMeng character is? Check out this article that was published recently in his local newspaper, The Missoulian, in Missoula, Montana.
Michael is set to be here in May, 2008 so be sure to get your name on the list and bookmark this page for more info on Michael.
Michael read some excerpts from his new book "Secrets of Rusty Things" last May when he was here.

This, that & a little color...

That's what Jen was thinking when she started this technique from Bernie Berlin's book "Artist Trading Card Workshop". We have been working "studiously" (is that a word?) ever since the girls from Raleigh were here last week, but we are doing a new technique/chapter ... a day! If we don't get it in a day we try for the next day.
These are Jen's creations from the Emboss-Technique chapter. We all used the Golden Acrylics, both fluid and heavy body along with clear embossing, and some Adirondack refills. Of course this involves the use of the iron and heat tool. Meg Fowler joined in too and hers will be up tomorrow. Awesome, huh?