Can't resist that fabric. . .

My new friends at Sew to Speak in Columbus, Ohio (Beechwold)
now carry Heather Bailey and Amy Butler fabric. Isn't it awesome?
When I was in Ohio last week I just had to stop by and
see their shop on High Street and it was as sweet
as I thought it would be.
Anita and her daughter April were there working
when we stopped in and were very helpful
in helping me choose my new bundles of fabric.
Actually I told her to pick it out and send
it to me so I would be surprised.
Along with those 2 bundles of goodies
she sent one of their handcrafted, one of a kind,
embroidered buttons.

These sweet buttons are created by April and I am honored that they
included one as a gift to me in the package.
You can contact them and they will be happy
to create fat quarters for your altered art projects.
Keep posted to see what I do with
these adorable fabrics.

She's on her way. . .

This time it's about family and that's something that you don't generally see on my blog, however this week is different. My youngest daughter, Jonquil, who lives in Bozeman, Montana celebrated 3 extraordinary lifetime events last week.
Whitefish, MT is home to the Two Bear Marathon
and I am excited to report that
she finished first in her age group & 6th in overall women.

With that said and done she was on way via Amtrak Empire Builder through the edge of Glacier National Park onward to Seattle where she became engaged to Erik Nelson, the love of her life.

Erik is a lifelong resident of Bozeman, which is unheard of these days in Bozeman. With family in the area including his parents, he and Jonquil plan to stay in town Bozeman where both of them can walk or ride bikes to work. He is partner in Think Tank Design Group and she is.... well, that's the other story!
She just signed a contract last week with The Greater Yellowstone Coalition as an associate development director. Her work with the Wilderness Society and the Sonoran Institute guided her on this path to her lifelong dream. Living and working in Bozeman, Montana and marrying the man of her dreams... Life doesn't get better than this for this 35 year old go-getter.

Lost but not forgotten

Elizabeth Woodford's newest fiber beaded jewelry

I wrote this entry back at the end of August after Elizabeth
visited Random Arts from VA. It remained in draft form until
today, so a little "catch up" is in order.

Elizabeth's blog from August 31st is all about us - Random Arts! check it out! You will also enjoy her September entries that include other beads that she is creating. Elizabeth and her family spent a week here recently, staying at Cabin Fever. We spent some time with her oooohing and ahhhhing over her felted bead jewelry,which she sold some of to a local gallery. Good for her!!!

$ave $ave, $ave

BACK IN STOCK with FREE shipping to U.S.
"Taking Flight" by Kelly Rae Roberts
Kelly shows how to give our creative spirit "wings" in this
colorful, interactive book. Each pages helps
us "stretch" our wings with journaling exercises,
thought provoking prompts & quotes, encouraging
stories, insights & gentle guidance for
your creative journey. A MUST HAVE
in your book collection.
• • • • •
Look below to see what else is happening at Random Arts

AVAILABLE SOON AT RANDOM ARTS

Distressed Acorn Bracelet is the perfect gift at the
perfect cost. Just $15. + $4.95 shipping in US.
Each kit includes 14 acorn halves
jump rings
a toggle set
and complete 'step by step' instructions.
Don't stop there! Add your own
ephemera and embellishments and make
it personal or design it for a special friend.

This Classic Oak Leaf necklace is created with
moldable & heatable shrink plastic,
and is being offered as a workshop
here on Sat. Oct 18th.
Louise McClure is the designer and teacher,
and will provide all materials.
You will choose your own earthy, color scheme
using a wide array of mediums available here.

This premium kit will also be available soon for only $15.
plus$4.95
Each kit includes
• 18" antique gold chain
• toggle closure
• acorn charm
• leaf shapes to color & shape
• grommets for attachments
•glass focal bead
•18 gauge copper wire
•assorted jump rings
•silicon sand paper
•Step by step instructions for at home completion

Close up of the Autumn Leaf spectacular necklace.
There are a few spaces available for this
workshop on Oct 18th $75.
10-4
contact us at 828-749-1165

the nature of Meg's work

Look closely at the detail of Meg Fowler's newest work.
Only she could tell the story of how she created this
piece with inspiration from her trip to the southwest.
Each piece is exquisitely designed with attention to
detail and attention to the story that each piece tells.

Live and Bloom in Full Color

Here's a quick pic of our space at the retreat last weekend in Blowing Rock.
See me telling Joyce what to do...
Or maybe it's the other way around. hmmmmm
Thanks to Carol Sloan for including us in
your photos from the event.
Speaking of Carol Sloan,

she has captured almost every precious and creative moment from last weekend's retreat in Blowing Rock on her blog.
Check it out to see what you missed at Kristi Steiner's and Susan Edmonson's 3rd annual Believe in Yourself Retreat.

While I was there I created this sassy wall hanging using an original 'Meg Fowler' transparency that I transferred onto rusted fabric created by Carol Sloan. I did the transfer with Golden Fluid Matte Medium onto the rusted fabric that Carol sells on Etsy. Each and every piece of fabric is hand rusted with unique objects and each one is uniquely different from the other. I chose a softer tone for the transfer piece and then added color with Glitter Pens , Golden Paints and markers. Using the painted wholey board as a substrate the entire piece is pulled together with complimentary fabrics & forms a really cool mixed media piece. I love it and I owe it all to Meg and those fanciful and funfilled faces that she creates.

Home again in Saluda

Our trip to Blowing Rock was an amazing adventure infused with enormous amounts of creativity, fun, food and inspiration. Check out this piece being transformed by Nancy..... from Waynesville and Indianapolis. She rusted the roof, with a few lessons from us, by using the Iron resurfacing product and the Instant Rust. What fun we had with that!!! So much patience was needed as we expected " instant gratification". She also used one of our very own "die cut bingo birds". Don't you just love it?

We had such a big space for our "assorted goods" filling it completely! Someone said that we must have brought it all in a tractor trailer. Little did they know that Joyce and I packed it all up in my little toyota matrix! We definitely had do some creative packing to get it all in there.
More posts to follow in the next few days

Lovely Visit

Martha Lever from Jacksonville, FL visited us this past
Saturday and shared her blog and web site with us.
What a charming and talented lady and one that we would
love to see more of. Check out her blog and etsy shop
to see her delightful watercolors.