From bloggers to bookies

All you have to do is start blogging or getting into Facebook
and you will find
more like-minded friends than you ever would
have imagined... just like us!
Julie Bagamary, Sally Casper, Martha Lever, Me, Carol Sloan

One thing led to another and with the magic
of email we all gathered at the shop
to chat, play and inspire each other
with our works of art.
What a joy it was to have all these
talented artists in one special place.

Jen's Eyelet Bound Book Workshop was fast and furious
as 7 artistic and creative women joined together
to create a very unique book.
From gluing to stripping, to painting to molding,
to using the sewing machine to bind it all....
They did it!
What fun we had... What's next on the schedule Jen?

Wonders of Lettering

I look at this and think " what a beautiful
way to address an envelope" or "how special
it is to receive something like this in the mail".
Thanks to calligrapher Catherine Langsdorf
of Hendersonville, I AM the lucky recipient
of such a work of art.
Catherine has been a master calligrapher for quite some
time now and we have been fortunate enough
to have her teach here in the past.
One of the workshops that seemed to be the most
popular was the Pointed Brush Calligraphy
where using the dual tip Tombow markers were
the tools of choice. How easy is that?

She is back on the "teaching circuit" and will be
here this fall.
Check out her blog and see what she is doing,
other than homeschooling her twins.
Not only is she a great calligrapher, she is
a talented instructor who provides
gentle guidance lovingly and from the heart.
We look forward to her next assignment
here at Random Arts in Saluda.
Be sure to get on the list if you are interested.

Carol Sloan's "her awakening" rusted fabric wall hanging
was an all out success. Each of us, including me, completed our
project (well, almost), had time for lunch and ...
time to chatter away and enjoy creative interaction with
each other. Great great great fun!!!! A big
thank you to Carol for "pre-drawing" these
beautiful faces. Without that, who
knows what we would have done.
We all decided that with a little help
from Carol on how to draw a face, and
a lot of practice, we might be able to
that part fairly soon.

Karen Hope works away at the placement of
her rusted fabric.

Tonya Peters is almost finished with her
glorious creation. I especially love the
rusted flourish on the right side.

Karen added felt ribbon and dyed cheesecloth
to her wall hanging. She will complete it
with hand beading at home.

I work way too fast for my own good
and then I never like what I have done.
The one thing that I did like is the overspray
mask with walnut ink.
Mine was a bit smaller and I did some
"art quilt stitching" on my batik fabric.

Betsy Libbey used
Golden Paints Titan buff with other
shading techniques for a soft, mysterious look.

This Saturday - Fabric Wall Hanging

Date: Sat. 18th of July

Event: Rusted Wall Hanging
Create a 14 x 14 inch fabric wall hanging
utilizing hand rusted fabrics,
vintage laces, photo transfers, painting
and stitched embellishments.



Where: Random Arts

Who: Carol Sloan

Time: 10 am till 4pm

Supplies: Sewing Machine, thread, scissors

State of Mind: Creativity

Patti Digh - Life is a Verb Request

I just read Patti Digh's blog "37 days" and thought
that this might be a really fun way to connect with her.
This is what she wrote... or you can go to her blog, directly
and read it.... (it's the July 10th entry) Sounds like fun!
Nonetheless, I think it's a great idea!


I love quilts. Love, love, love them.

There is an old one in my closet, now sheer as a piece of phyllo, whose straight lines served as roads for many Matchbox cars in my childhood. There is the one my mother made me, her first. And many more. I am drawn to them.

I've thought for a long time about how I'd like to commemorate my 50th birthday. And I'd like to celebrate it by creating with you a special quilt--a paper one--for my 50th birthday. Which will be in, oh, exactly THIRTY-SEVEN DAYS.

Can you help?

Let's make a paper quilt, you and I. Get a 4x6-inch index card, or cut a piece of card stock paper that size, and make a wee piece of art on it for me. Whatever you'd like. Play! Perhaps in response to 37days or Life is a Verb, a message to me or to the universe, whatever makes you happy. A collage, a painting, a puzzle, fabric, a poem, a photograph, anything! Sign the back (with your mailing address, if you would).

Send it to me by August 10th:

Patti Digh
37days
P.O. Box 18323
Asheville, NC 28814
USA

I will piece them together into a magical paper quilt and be very very happy. I will sit and look at it for the next 50 years.

I would love that. I would dearly, deeply love that.

Love,
Patti, the 49-year-old

It's coming along

The floor in the studio is now "officially" painted
and we actually have some work spaces aligned.
Doesn't it look great?

Vintage magazines anyone?

Somerset Studio?
Artitude Zine?

I have quite a few of these
"zines" and I just put some
of them up on my eBay store.

Starting bid?

99¢
for groups of 3 or more.

They're all different so be sure to check it out,
especially if you are looking for a specific issue.
It's the deal of the century!

And don't forget
the BIG SALE continues in our back room
when we open up at 11am
next Wednesday, July 15th.

You can't beat the prices on all these
"assorted goods for creative mindfulness"

We have a gate... or 2

Oh that rusted corrugated metal is hard to come by, especially
here in the south.One would think that it could
be found everywhere since it used to be on roofs and garages,
and junkyards, and chicken coops and woodsheds.
It all must have corroded away, but we got it figured
out now. WE make our own. It looks pretty grungy
and all it took was some patience,
perserverence and a whole lot of time.

Getting it level to the "millionth" of an inch
was Paul's job... not mine.
I am of the "that's good enough" mindset.

Not only do I have a security fence but
I have a security guy too,
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Click on picture for a visual.

I know him... really well..

He's a star and now the whole USA Today network knows it.
Who is it you ask? It's Ralph Berger (Joyce's dh) right here in
the area who was asked by USA Today to contribute to their
article entitled: Art in Airports.
Click here for the entire article.

The process.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Check out the full length view of my
rusting process on this shiny metal.
Can't wait to show you how cool
it looks when it's on the gate.
That will be today.

What page is it on?

Spanikopita on 4th of July?

Jewelry artist, instructor
& friend Louise McClure,
decided to make Cheryl Prater's recipe
for Spanikopita and invite us to dinner.

Why? You ask? Why did Louise choose Spanikopita
as the main dish
on 4th of July? The answer,
of course... because wanted to.
You see, Cheryl included a recipe for
her delicious Spanikopita in
her book
Mixed Mania
"Recipes for Mixed Media Creations"

Cheryl and Debbi Crane were just here teaching
a few weeks ago and Louise really enjoyed meeting
Cheryl and reading the book.

Here's my portion along with
the Dragon "something" green beans and mozarella/tomato salad.

The end; no one wants to eat the last piece.
What's that all about?

Thank you Cheryl Prater for adding the recipe to
your book, but can you send me the
recipe so I can add it to this blog?

Thanks Louise for a great evening
along with fireworks on the veranda.

The lonely swing

This swing has such an
interesting story having
come from a house ready
to be razed in Charlotte, NC.
I can only imagine the moments
spent by the lovely couple
who first bought it back in
the 40's or 50's.
A city lot, enormous trees,
beautiful flowers, well pruned
hedges, garden paths,
friendly neighbors, private
fenced yard with the whole
world yet to be discovered.
Then suddenly, those years
have passed them by and
it all disappeared into the past...
their house, their family,
their garden.
I think that I will keep this
"lonely swing"
and the memories that only
I can imagine or perhaps
create lovely new ones.

Just in today!
Art Revolution is on the cutting edge, exploring how artists are reinterpreting, reinventingand redefining everything from the surfaces on which they work to the way viewers interact with their finished pieces.
Available now at Random arts

Mixed Media Techniques for successful tranfers.
NO FEAR Transfers...
If you have ever tried image transfers or have experienced image transfer
mishaps, then Image Transfer Workshop is for you.
This book presents step by step techniques for 35 image transfer
processes, extensive tips for fixing mishaps and examples of how
to combine transfers in finished pieces of mixed media art.
Available now at Random Arts in Saluda

Making jewelry with meaning.
The things that you collect - the ticket stubs, the coins, the pieces of shell from a
beach - hold meaning and significance, reminding you not only where you have been,
but also where you are capable of going. Making these items into wearable pieces
of art - amplifying their power to become amulets and talismans- is a rewarding
experience that's easy to do.
Available now at Random Arts

Woven Rug Books

I loved making this book!

•••••••••••

Many thanks Sally Casper,

for inspiring me to make my woven "rug" book!
We call it a "rug" book because a couple of years
ago, Sally started one of the woven cuffs and
woven it both up and down instead of the way
we were doing it... just one way.
So she ended up with a really thick
piece of woven fabric... thus, "the rug".
Sally surprised me a few weeks ago
with a finished "rug book" project and
I got inspired by her, to take it in the same
direction. Although I did not remember what
her rug book looked like, I bought my batik
fabricsat the quilt show
in Hendersonville, and started weaving.
I must say that it does take a lot longer
to weave the cuff ribbon both ways.


These batik fabrics
really got me going.

Here's the cover with ragged edges
and a photo transfer sewn
on with 2 little buttons for embellishment.

Inside, I used some handmade indigo paper
for interest, that I received as a gift
from Wendy McEntire, on some
140# watercolor paper.
I used waxed lined to sew the signatures
together with a simple pamphlet stitch.

On the back I added an inkjet transparency
"handmade" with Golden Fluid Matte Medium.


•••••••••
Here is Sally Casper's inspiration book
that got this whole thing started.

2 more views of Sally's "rug" book.
I love it!
Thank you Sally.


•••••••••••••••••••

More of Sally Casper's work
can be seen in the latest
Somerset publication on page 70.

Reminder...

We will be closed from
Wed.July 1st
through
Tues.July 14th
Remember---
Don't come to town on Coon Dog Day
Sat. July 11th
We won't be here
and you won't be able to
get into town.

Quilt Show Weekend

The Winner... and still champion
Mama Crow aka...

Linda Knight shows
her "delight" with
her eBay win!

Linda Knight

Our amazingly creative booth
at the Hendersonville quilt Show.

Here's another view and there's Jen

Linda and I "sharing the moment"

2 New Books

I am pretty sure that I ordered this book
by LK Ludwig sometime last November
and finally, we can say... "it's here!"

Her book includes instructions and tips
for organizing collaborative ventures,
techniques & how to's
instructions for participating
and much much more.
It's over 130 full color pages of inspiration
for mixed media applications.
•••••


re-bound
by
Jeannine Stein

This new book as all about creating
handmade books from recycled & repurposed materials.

This book shows you how to take everyday materials and turn them
into clever and eye-catching hand- bound books.
Full color with 16 fully illustrated projects
Gallery of leading artists offering further inspiration
Ideas on where and how to gather unique supplies.
Available now, here at Random Arts

Sweet Tweet Books have a new home!

$232.50 was the high bid for
the Sweet Tweet Book
that was auctioned off this past week.
We are so happy that we were able to
raise money for Arts For Life North Carolina
and we are even happier for Linda Knight
from Charlotte, NC
who was the highest bidder.


Thanks to everyone who spent their time
and energy with me preparing the books
for "binding" and many many
thanks to all the participants in the book.

Each and every one of us should be thrilled
that our work was chosen by a like minded
artist, Linda Knight, to have in her collection.
Linda was a participant in the book, as well.
Maybe you remember... "crow, crow, crow your boat"...

Come see us at the Quilt Show

Wherever you go, there we are!

That's right... this coming week
you will find us showing off our
"assorted goods for creative mindfulness"
at the quilt show in Hendersonville, NC.


One of my favorite quilt artist that I admire
from afar is Nancy Crow. This is a piece that
she created in 1992 and it is still current today.
Thank you Nancy for allowing us to show
your work here.


HENDERSONVILLE — Quilts of all sizes will be on display at the
Garden of Quilts show
at East Henderson High School Thursday-Saturday.
This is a new location for the show.
The quilts exhibited will show a large range of techniques and designs,
from traditional, hand-quilted to art quilts.

This judged show continues a 25-year tradition of quilt shows
in Hendersonville. It is jointly sponsored by the
Western North Carolina Quilters Guild
and the Tarheel Piecemakers Quilt Club.

At the show, vendors (including us) will be presenting an assortment of quilting fabric, books and notions.The Quilters' Shoppe will have handmade items, many with a holiday theme. And a small quilt raffle has been added this year, featuring quilts made by members of each guild.

Show hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5. Maps and information can be obtained at:
quiltshow@westernncquilters.org

OK, This is it!

Your last chance!!!!
Bid now!!!
Arts for Life North Carolina