Deadline for Orvieto Italy approaching.....

I will choose my flowers carefully...
each petal as special
as the other
each petal imperfect
each petal a wonder
with these in hand I place
them on the sill in my room
Sharing my thoughts of the
day, wandering through the
narrow streets of Orvieto.

I am getting so excited about teaching in Orvieto Italy

this Sept. and I wanted to share a few hints of what you
can expect from this awesome experience.

Notice the rich colors,
the rusted wholey paper,
the marriage of texture & design.
It's all about Orvieto.

It's all about
the journey that we will take for those
5 days through the streets and into the
caves and through the vineyards.

Imagine
yourself sitting in a 300 year old
convent, peering out the aged glass windows
or feeling the breeze blow through the open
doors. Inside you are creating with abandon.
You are doing what you love in this magical place
called Orvieto. You are here with special
people who share your interests in art,
living a full life and being true to who you
really are.
Imagine bringing an olive tree leaf
into our classroom and using it for
an impression on our ever so famous
"mystery foam". Using colors
to make that impression from what
you see outside your space... bringing
it within and feeling free to create
in a nurturing atmosphere.
I am so looking forward to seeing you
in this special place.
Kristi Steiner and her husband Bill
coordinate this event perfectly for
each and everyone of us and are happy
to answer any questions you may have.
Please feel free to email her with your
questions about Orvieto, the classes,
companion day trips and more.
It's an Adventure in Italy to say the least!

mystery arrival

OK who sent this to us?

a package with no return address... no note,
and our only clue is a Charlotte postmark.
Yes, there is another clue... it arrived right
after the quilt show in Charlotte.
Anyone have any more clues as to why
we received this in the mail?
Any ideas as to why someone would send
us a package containing about 20 "artgirlz"
pewter charms?

Michael deMeng - hotter than ever!!!

With his 3rd year of workshops here in Saluda,

Michael continues to be a very hot commodity

and a very very popular teacher.
( notice the palette of Michael's "ushze" Golden Paints colors)



Day 1: Assemblooks
Belinda started this day by having
an encounter with a very sharp exacto knife.
After a quick trip to the Saluda Medical Center
and 5 stitches later she was back at it
creating her version of the "assemblook".
What a trooper!


The very talented Eleanor Love from
West Palm Beach, Florida arrived early
on Thursday to "get ready" for her
big weekend with Michael.

Michael & Jen's sister, Flavia
discuss paint washes on her
geographical maps that
she used in her book.
Just look at the cover that
she chose...

Since Flavia is a geologist and has a background
with animals it only made sense to her
to use her "ushze" materials.
and look at the notes that she
keeps...

Leslie Hamlin used a vintage
camera face that actually "clicked"
when she pushed the little lever.
How cool is that?
Does Jen look happy or what?
Michael shows everyone how to use
matte medium to transform the colors
and textures of his "ushze" washes on
Wholey Paper.
Greta's box of materials proved to
be a work of art in itself.

Eleanor Love's partially completed
Morpheus Box begins with
her covering the surface to
create a rich patina texture.
When all was said and done, it was all about the
process of creating and our mess
proved that to be "oh so true".

Savannah does it again!!!

8 grateful participants were pleasantly surprised at the
end of their
book class last weekend
with Savannah. After a "grueling" day of creating a
coptic stitch book and a nesting box .
10 shining King Tut original models were created
by photographer and artist Nancy Gruber
using professional rubber molds. Each were hand
painted and gold leafed.

Savannah and Nancy performed the ultimate "planned" surprise...
a handcrafted, original casting of King Tut to complete the book cover.

Savannah (L) and Nancy (R) show their complete King Tut
Egyptian Coptic Stitch 4 needle Book Project.
Left to Right
Cheryl Prose, Nancy Gruber, Savannah Canfield (aka queen of zirconia)
Marilyn Prudhomme, Libby Miller, Janet Hince (back) Betsy Libbey (front)
and Bob Libbey

Back from the Eastern Shore

No, not a beachy vacation but a working one at Art and Soul Retreat
in Hampton, VA. Wouldn't a nice leisurely stay at a sunny beach
resort be just the thing?
Instead Joyce and I packed up the Matrix with "assorted goods
for creative mindfulness" and headed to the Eastern Shore of VA.
Hitting a few exciting spots along the way made the trip a little less
trying. First stop: Trader Joes in Charlotte, then Chipotle in Greensboro

then on to the show.

Arriving in Hampton meant unpacking the Matrix and loading onto
a cart for an interesting ride up to the ballroom in a freight elevator.

Unpacking and getting our booth set up was another story. Between
taking classes
all day Saturday from Stephanie Lee and LK Ludwig

we rushed back and forth arranging our "goods" in just the right places
in our booth.
Low and behold and lines formed outside the market area, we completed
our last minute tasks and the crowds poured in.

After all was said and done
and we finally packed up
what was left, had a good
nights sleep and prepared to
head back home.
A quick breakfast at the embassy
suites and great conversations with
Crystal Chappell of Charlotte
helped reinforce our plans
for the upcoming year and
give us the momentum for
more successful events.
We love Crystal! What a joy
to interact with a like minded
soul who "is what she is" and has "purity of intent"

Armed with coffee and snacks we began our road trip back to Saluda with
a few intentional stops along the way that included Whole Foods in Durham,
an antique mall in Burlington, Trader Joes again in Charlotte for
Crystal's recommendations of peanut butter filled
pretzels & chile spiced mangoes. Last but not least
a "must have" Frappacino at Starbucks to hold us over.
It was a great weekend meeting new people, learning new things and
brainstorming about the future of Random Arts with new classes,
products and teachers.
It's going to be a great year at Random Arts with a few surprises, both
big and small as we make some important changes here.
Until then... the clues and secrets will be revealed a little at a time.

Sometimes it just happens....

We can't be in 2 places at once, as much as we all
have tried to make that happen. Somethings gotta
give, so the shop in Saluda has to be closed this Sat. May 3rd
because we will be at Art and Soul in Hampton, VA.
Everyone there will be so excited to see us selling
our "assorted goods for creative mindfulness".
Live in the area? come by and see us form 7-10 on
Sat. night at the Embassy Suites on Colisseum Drive
in Hampton, VA.
Look at them, they are all looking through our 50¢ stacks of scrap fabrics!!!
It's a 3 hour frenzy of frantic shoppers
looking for the unique and out of the
ordinary "assorted goods" that we have become
known for. Do ya think that they will find something good?
In the meantime, don't try stopping by our retail shop in Saluda 'cause the doors will
be closed for the day... that's Sat. May 3rd, 2008. See ya when we get back.