I'm Looking Back

2007 was the year of "wholey paper & rust". Oh yes, just sum it up in those words and it's all over the place. It took over our lives. We were absorbed in all things wholey .
We
painted it
stitched it
distressed it
tore it
rusted it
torched it
stamped it
dyed it
glued it
transfered onto it
printed it
and.... more, to come.

mmmmmm gooooood

McFarlan's old fashioned bakery in Hendersonville, North Carolina is an addictive place, just ask Cheryl Prater. She is quite fond of the macaroons but I personally like (love) the cinnamon bear claws.... (or cinnamon bobka as I like to refer to these scrumptious morsels of heavenly delight)
After a brief & unexpected visit to the ER this past Sat morning, it was early enough to avoid the shopping crowds in downtown Hendersonville and stop by for a quick munchie. Oh my goodness, fresh out of the oven and only 2 bites for me this time, but once I recovered a bit I had to go back for more on Monday. How many did I get, you ask? Not 1, not 2, not3 but 4 . Four Cinnamon Bear Claws! One is definitely big enough to split so that's what we did and now there are 3 left for later. (maybe) So, if you are ever in the Hendersonville area stop by McFarlan's bakery on Main Street for an absolutely decadent and delightful non fat, fat free, low cal (LOL) taste of ... anything ..... right out of the oven. Yummmm.
PS
I don't work there or have relatives that work there or have any monetary interest in this establishment. Purely a gastronomical attraction.

Put this one on your "must have" list!

Mixed Media Nature Journals by L.K. Ludwig has just been released and I have found it hard to put down, even in this busy season. You will find new techniques for exploring nature, life and memories. She has written this book in a way that brings together glorious colors, easy to follow instructions and the inspiration & creativity that focuses on a wide range of techniques for creating journals. Included are creative twists on leaf rubbings, plant pressings, and non traditional printmaking using patina solutions on brass, copper mesh, and layering with mica and resins. I am already planning on doing the print making with the procion dyes out back on the picnic table this spring, so I give this the "thumbs up". Now in stock at the shop.

50% off all holiday decor and christmas rubber stamps --- from companies such as Hero Arts, Stampington, Inkadinkadoo, Penny Black, and more.

I CAN PAINT. . .

These 2 paintings came in the form of inspiration in a new book by Alisa Golden entitled
Painted Paper. She is a book artist and author of several books on creative and expressive bookmaking and book binding. I saw an exhibit of hers at the main library in San Francisco a few years ago and it was truly amazing to see these works of art up close and personal.
This particular technique focuses on holding your paintbrush by the bristles and dipping the other end into a very liquid acrylic paint or acrylic ink. This method leaves out of total control of moving the brush where you want it. It's a flimsy little technique that really lets you move out of the box. When your black lines of your object is complete, you let it dry, or dry it quickly like me with a heat tool, and proceed to wash colors into and around the image. You need to try it, its a lot of fun.
Right now her book is sold out but I plan to get more in after Christmas. Each page is filled with new techniques just like this... but different.

Nothing is stopping me now!

Inspiration from Marney at our holiday get together set me in motion with my very own textured book cover. It all started with the Oct/Nov issue of Quilting Arts .
This is where Marney saw the Textured Book Wrap by Angie Hughes and gave it a try.
Once I saw hers I knew that I wanted to do my own, so I did.
The process was fairly simple although the weaving took a little time. Not too much to stop me from trying this awesome technique.
I used pieces of scrap fabric ( not scrap to me of course), some random ribbon pieces,
beautiful leftover fibers and lace.
Once the weaving was done I secured
it onto fusible interfacing and a synthetic
organdy. Synthetic because the "plastic"
part of it will melt when "torched" with a
heat tool. That was the cool part. Then I began
to sew. I decided to do a spiral
theme starting from the middle of
the piece and going outward.
That turned out pretty good since
I didn't want to end up with gloppy
fabric in the center. My way of having a "rule" of sort.
Only when it is all sewn do you start
in with the torching. The transformation
is breathtaking when the colors
from the base begin to appear through the
seared organdy.
A few little applications of design around the edges
and a handmade cord completes the design.

"Cone -activity" Get it?

The cones are appearing out of nowhere, everywhere, here and there and they get better and better. Pretty soon it will be enough for a "cone show" here at Random Arts. I am lovin' it guys and if any of you might want to commit to participate, let me know. The only thing is I get to keep the cone, at least until the cone show. Who knows what might come of all of this? Another article in CPS? Hmmmm. That's quite an idea.
In the meantime here is a glimpse of Meg Fowler's contribution.... Her piece is completed covered with fabric and silk ribbon embroidery. Each hand stitched part of this exquisite work of art sparkles with creative energy and love for what she does. I can just see her high atop her mountain in that cozy little cabin, sitting back in her comfy chair, listening to a crackling fire, gently piecing her silk ribbons onto the delicate silk base. Each piece tells her story, especially this one, how she was expecting her daughter to have a baby girl for 8 months and then found it was a boy... so all the girl colored quilts and projects got set aside for future generations and she had to scurry around to complete the right things for that baby boy. Thus the abundance of soft pinks, lilac and whites in her stash of lovely fabrics.
PS. She made the tassel too!

I've been "elfing"

JINGLE ME HERE

THANKS TO CHERYL PRATER FOR TURNING ME ON TO THIS... HAVE FUN!

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?