2 FREE Tickets

The Quilting Needle Art Extravaganza
is right around the corner in
Sanford, NC
Jan 8th and 9th, 2010

And, "we" are giving away

2 FREE Tickets

to the event ($8.00 value)

to a very lucky winner!

Just add a comment on the photo below
and tell us what you know about it!



A winner (or maybe more than one)
will be chosen at random
and your tickets will arrive
by mail!!!!
Hurry, You don't want miss out on winning!

Sharing Memories with you...

Christmas at The Stamp Peddler - 2001

Cathy Knothe winner of stamp contest

Handmade Paper display at the shop

Stamp Art Group

Our holiday window in 2001

Melanie bringing organic veggies

Judy Ferguson teaching her wrapped pin workshop

Sherrill Kahn here in 2001

Sa Smith and Amy Zollo in background making marbled paper

remember this?

Michael Demeng and Flavia Wood

Our "Sweet Tweet" journal challenge book

Kristi Steiner and Susan Edmonson

Jen Salak at the Hendersonville Quilt Show

One of our favorite workshops
Stamp Carving

Remembering Random Arts

Fall fliers created from Batik Strips

Wholey Paper Pinwheels










Ellen Warlick at the
Random Face workshop in Shelby

Remembering Random Arts

Our Booth at Believe Retreat in Blowing Rock,NC

Dawn Treadway - What a doll!

Costa Rican Journal Pages

When I left for Costa Rica 
in September I thought I would
keep some sort of journal of 
my thoughts, observations, 
feelings and adventures and I 
pretty much kept true to my 
word.  Even though I do 
not draw or sketch very well
at all!!!!, I still felt that I could
do a little something with my paints
and markers to capture the moments.
 This page here on the right
is the table top of this amazing 
place that we stayed at  just
20 miles or so north of San Jose.
Finca Rosa Blanca Inn and Coffee plantation. If you want to feel pampered and be surrounded by art, architecture, great food and luscious landscape, this is the place for you. Not to mention
perfect weather year round.
While there  I absorbed the colors of the flowers
the mosaic work on the  pool, the murals in the 
gardens and nature itself.

I didn't focus on doing anything perfect while I was there as I didn't want to feel any pressure from myself. I just scribbled and drew and used my paints and I did it all outdoors because it was 75 degrees everyday and life "is" outdoors in Costa Rica. Thinking about that, there weren't any bugs either. I really don't think that I can say that I saw any bugs, anywhere. There are no screens on any of the hotel windows, just bars. Everyone has bars  on their windows, everywhere, it's just part of their culture. We were told that when an architect is designing a new house for someone, his plans also included a design for the bars. (not drinking bars but steel rods, designs of sorts, slats over all the windows)

 

Holiday Treats

Each year we anticipate the arrival of
Kristi Steiner's tasty toffee and as usual
it is delightfully wrapped with heartfelt
wishes for a happy holiday season.

Those who came in this week
were able to enjoy Kristi's
hand made goodies as well.
Thank you Kristi for always thinking of us this
time of year.

We love it!

The sign is gone....

What a weird feeling it is to see that the finalization of Random Arts, had become a reality, when the sign came down last night. Only 5 little bolts holding it up - big and strong for all those years. Our little oasis of creativity in the mountains has come and gone.

Although I am sounding somewhat bittersweet about this, I am relishing in the excitement of what's to come. You all know how much I love doing the shows and after the first show in Sanford, I will be going on a "ribbon buying" trip to Atlanta, to seek out some new and exciting products for the next show in Statesville.

So, as you see, I am "happily" moving on to the next page in my book.
Anyone care to write a page/comment in the Random Arts book.....

Remembering Random Arts

Here's Jen and Flavia

at Donna Downey's

Inspired Artist Retreat

in Concord, NC last May.

A couple of years ago

Paul and I decided to go to Art and Soul

in Hampton,VA and set up our store

and sell our "assorted goods for creative mindfulness"

So, here we are, ringing it up

Katie Kendrick and Cheryl Prater enjoying a happy photo op after a day of workshops here in Saluda. 2007

Generally, our vehicle looks like this when

we are off to a show, but sometimes we double it

up and take 2 vehicles. We amaze ourselves when

we look at just how much we can fit into our car.

Sharyn Stresing and Trinka Seals enjoy a playful moment during Katie Kendrick's class

In January of 2005 we went to set up at the Myrtle Beach Quilt Show. We had such a large space and we had so much fun learning from Carol Britt at Batiks Etc/Wytheville, Va. and we became fast friends.

Observations - final phase

Museu of Contemporary Art & Design

San Jose street scene

Christmas decorations streetside

Cemetario in San Jose

There's more than one way to ripen a banana . . .

observations in San Jose

The "city center" is amass with locals purchasing
goods such as herbs, spices, fruit, vegetables,
cd's (?) nuts, and a menagerie of
assorted off shore items.
The Mercado Central sells fresh cut
meats hung in stalls, along with
local fish, shrimp and other items
unknown to me.
It's a place not to go on the weekend, especially
before Christmas, which is a really
big celebration.

Observing the colors of the goods,
and the arrangement that perhaps is created
each and every day for shopping.
All the steel shutters and blinds come
down on stores that are not open
and are secured until the next shopping day.
In some neighborhoods, one does not even
know that the store would exist
until you see the window display or the
steel gates open during shop hours.

Plastic bags are a problem here and there doesn't
seem to be a bit of recycling at all. at least I have not seen it.
They say it but I don't see it.
There are 2 things here that I see to be the biggest issue
and that is plastic and brush.
Plastic is strewn everywhere and not picked up
and because of the amount of vegetation, it is always
laying somewhere in piles along the street,
in vacant lots, etc.

A photo essay will follow when I share my observations
on the "holes" in the sidewalks and the 18" curbs deep enough
and wide enough to cause considerable damage to one's limbs.

While the cat's away . . .

The mice will play!
or something like that, as the saying goes.
In this case it means that the girls at the shop are having

a 50% off SALE
on all regular priced merchandise.
(in store sales only, no mail orders)


Hurry in for great savings on everything including
Golden Paints, Lumiere, ribbons and more!
You have until the 15th to take advantage of
these drastic reductions.

Sorry, no mail orders

Observations from Esterillos Oeste