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

Visions of sugarplums danced in my head

Not really sugarplums,
even though it is close to the holidays,
but how about heart shaped rocks
found on the beach, sea glass,
shells, driftwood and tipico costa rican food.
hmmmm
feed me please!

Esterillos Costa Rica Pics

Check out some of these pics taken by Kate Treadway who lives in Esterillos Oeste. Costa Rica.
She's been living here for almost 5 years and has probably seen it all and has taken much better picture than I can even imagine taking in my short time here.

It's Jen and Joyce this week

There are still plenty of savings
as well as new items here at the shop
for those of you that
want to stop by and see us.
This week Jen and Joyce
will be mixing it up for you with new packets,
new silk sari ribbon and
new paper packets created by Joyce.
Who knows what new goodies they might pull out of the back room!!!!

Come see us in Saluda - one last time...

Traveling to the mountains of North Carolina over Thanksgiving?
Stop in and see us at Random Arts
while we are still open to the public.
Meet up with Jen or Louise Tues, Wed. Fri or Sat
this next week and
see the beautiful new colors of recycled silk ribbons that just came in!!!

Transferring birds - one tree to another

The tag collection continues today as one more of my interesting little tags
makes an appearance. I
am pretty sure that this tag
didn't live long at my shop
as it was quickly snatched up
by a bird catcher....
Someone really liked this one.

Tag me not...

I created this tag a while ago but found it again while I was cleaning up and packing.
I love those bird stickers from Cavallinni. There are so many things that you can do
with them.
This tag started with a piece of heavy interfacing, then I added some fabric, a transferred
word, mica, and a vintage tape measure. Oh yeah, the leaf ribbon that has been dyed to
work with my colors at hand. Keep an eye out for more new ribbon to make it's debut at
our first show in Sanford, Jan. 8th and 9th.



While you're at it, don't forget to sign up for our woven book class at the Hampton Inn in Sanford, NC (that's near Raleigh) from 6-10pm (after the show closes on Friday). Just $50. and you will leave with a completed, hand crafted, Italian blank page journal, ready for your most intimate (or not) entries.
Reservations can be made by emailing us at:
randomarts@charter.net
or we can send you a pay pal invoice.

Is it 2010 yet?

We will be here in Concord, Nc
in blooming spring color and textural radiance to
bring you Random Arts as you have never seen us before.

Can you believe we are already

getting excited about
this event next year?
This will be our
3rd year as a vendor at Donna Downey's
Inspired Artist Event in
Concord, NC.
It's a 3 day, fun filled, non stop
art retreat over flowing with
high energy and maximized enthusiasm.
Check with Donna for available space so
you won't miss out!!!

Louise's completed charm bracelet with a
variety of elements from vintage buttons
to paper clay coins to photo holders and glass beads

Eight eager and anxious participants listened patiently to
each and every word as Louise McClure walked them
through the elements of creating their first charm bracelet.

Sandra Foy from Charlotte, NC and Marsha Stup
from Simpsonville, SC dutifully added beads,
wire and charms.

The whole group had a blast as did Louise,
this past Saturday.

Louise will be at Random Arts next year in our
new studio space for more exciting classes.
She will be joining me when we travel in 2010
to
The Quilt Needle Art Extravaganza
Jan 8th and 9th in Sanford, NC
&
Jan 29th & 30th in Statesville, NC

and
Artiscape in Ohio
on April 16th and 17th 2010
where she will be selling her jewelry.

What a group!!!

The Shady Ladies Altered Art group stopped by the shop last weekend for a shopping frenzy. This pic is only 6 of them, there were 2 more who missed out on the photo opp & 2 more that stayed behind to continue playing.
They came, they shopped, they ate, they shopped and off they went, back to their weekend retreat in the mountains of North Carolina.
Jeri Aaron organized this group and set them up in a huge house in Maggie Valley. Now that sounds like a fun weekend.

Everchanging leaves?

Mae Hawkins decided to find her own way
to play with the glorious fall leaves this year.
Here is her "formula" for transforming leaves
from disappearing treasures into
permanent, colorful collage pieces.

This is what you will need:

• fresh leaves
• rubber stamps & black/brown permanent stamp pad
• mulberry paper or other soft, flexible paper
• versamark stamp pad or embossing pad
• UTEE or Amazing Glaze clear embossing powder
• Ultimate or Sobo glue for gluing words on leaves
• Heat tool
  

Stamp words of your choice using a permanent stamp pad onto the mulberry paper.
let dry.
Then tear each section of words into little segments and glue onto leaves
When dry and secure, coat each leaf with the embossing pad by rubbing it on.
Quickly coat each leaf, before the embossing fluid dries, with the powder and heat with the heat tool until melted. Dip into the powder again, and heat. Repeat up to 4 times until the desired effect is achieved.
That's all there is to it, but try experimenting with other kinds of leaves, different translucent powders and other papers to see how it works.

Finally be sure to send us photos of your results so we can post them online.

Fluttering Friends...

Do birds flutter? or is it butterflies? hmmm, that could be debatable.
Nonetheless, these intriguing little gals were created out of metal by
our friend in Columbia, SC, Caroline Hatchell.
These are for sale here in our shop and she will take special orders for
"special" birds, with special words on each one.
Get your order in time for the holiday gift giving season.

Lea Nickless, watercolor artist who resides here in Saluda
part time, provided an interesting demo using large sheets of
decorative hand made papers.
After creating several large 5x7 foldable books
Lea added to the excitement by telling us that
any size paper will work because it's all about the folding
that makes it happen!

Jen added to the excitement of the evening by
demonstrating a very awesome bead making technique
using strips of batik fabric along with vintage paper bits.
After rolling the pieces together Jen coated each piece with
UTEE and glazed them with Rox to create glass like beads.







Rounding off the evening was Louise Mc Clure, Jewelry
Artist from Saluda who makes amazing things happen
with shrink plastic. Yes, you heard that right, but it
is NOT your mother's "shrinky dinks" any more!
Louise's talent far surpasses anything that you can even
imagine using this fabulous product for jewelry.
Oak leafs, fleur de lis, floral elements and more
add to the range of pieces that Louise can turn
into a breath taking work of art.

We weren't going to the end the weekend on
Friday night so we continued the excitement
into Saturday with mixed media artist Susan Edmonson.
Susan was here to teach her ever popular
canvas pendant workshop
"sticks and stitches".
Yes, a sewing machine was a must but
oh my! What beautiful results
one can achieve while sewing up a hem
or mending a knee patch.
Again, it's "not your grandmothers sewing machine anymore"!
What a marvelous piece of machinery
and what marvelous things we can make!

Below, happy students and a happy teacher
show their appreciation for a
great day of creativity in Saluda.

Susi Cook works on her beading
on the canvas pendant.

Below is Sharon Kolbye's
"almost" complete pendant.
Just a few more beads at the bottom
along with that very special "bird in flight"
and her project will be complete.
I love it! Just look at that
little feather that Sharon added.

From challenging charms to beautiful books

These translucent charms were a hit
in Louise McClures workshop here last week.
I think that it might have had something to
do with pounding the copper wire into
interesting shapes. Next step was to
attach the wire to a very old page of
an old dictionary, trim and fill the center
with amazing glaze or UTEE.
Do a little heat with the toaster oven and
presto, magico, a fascinating hand crafted charm!

Using mica, Utee, photo holders and images,
each person was able to create a menagerie
of beautiful charms.


Next came Jen Salak's
uniquely designed book that utilized
strip paper covers and pages,
sewn signatures, painted edges and spines
and lots of batiks fabrics.

We're in Batik heaven

All those long,luscious strips of beautiful batiks
and nothing to do with them?
Right......
Share them with the world around us and create
our own little batik heaven right here at Random Arts.
That all time favorite woven ribbon served as a great
carrier to attach all these strips of batik, and one
thing led to another and it got longer and longer.
All of sudden we had a banner and then we had
side banners and now we have leaves on the
banner and words on the leaves.

Any other suggestions?
We have more batik!

Back to play...

It's time to get back to "work" for me after my little Costa Rican adventure and that starts with scheduling upcoming classes and events. Let's start with Jen's Eyelet Bound Book on Sat. October 10th. This is full day filled with paper creations, book binding, a little sewing and a lot of FUN! It's only $50. for the entire day of instruction and all the materials are included. Don't miss out as the space is limited. Call or email us to register. 828-749-1165

Time: 10 am till 4pm

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Wed. October 14 - 10 till 4
Louise McClure's Charms Galore
Join Louise for a fun filled day creating
a multitude of unique charms with modern day shrink plastic,
mica, images, UTEE, and more.
You will have the opportunity to view, up close and personal,
some of her finished creations which incorporate her charms.
Each one is sure to inspire you to use your
charms in very special ways.
$50.

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Susan Edmonson's "sticks and stitches"
pendant workshop.
Sat. Oct 24th
Join quilt/mixed media artist, Susan Edmonson
for this unique workshop using canvas, paints,
stitching, beads and... her inspiration.
Your imagination will take you where you want
to go, but Susan will be your guide gently
encouraging you to "fly" with your creativity.
This can be hand stitched or free motioned
with your sewing machine. Either way
it will become one of a kind "wearable art".
10 am till 4pm
$65