michelle ward

now and almost now

A reminder that registration for workshops at Valley Ridge begins Monday, December 7th at 9:00 am Central Standard Time.  Classes filled quickly last year so if you are interested be ready at the keyboard!

The two workshops I am offering:  Roll With It, and Parlor Tricks.

 
 

  

Out right now is Artists Cafe No. III from Stampington & Co.  They have revisited three of my articles from Somerset Studio, one is an interview I did of friend and favorite artist:  Julie Pearson. 

And in books - I'm pleased to announce I am in Lynne's book (in stock now at Amazon!) and Bee's book, due in February. 

And of course, I can't close without mentioning this: HIM's new single Heartkiller will be released December 8th (check itunes).  You can click over to their myspace for a listen tomorrow!   Album release date:  2/9/10
 

ruby tuesday number five

I almost missed it!  Five minutes until Wednesday.  I'm sorry I missed saying Happy Thanksgiving to all....I caught a bug.  No, not that one, a different one, and it really knocked me off my feet.  Still managed to have a good visit with my parents.  Today's pages are about getting prepared spiritually for Christmas.  Easy to think about on December first, especially as Advent just started.  As the month marches on the pressure tends to build and the meaning can get blurry.  Trying to maintain my perspective....putting out the Nativity set is always my first ritual.

 

I always try to leave at least one thing unfinished in my journal.  It helps me to jump right back in when I have the chance to play again.  It's a good trick, try it! *wink*

RT No. 4 & GPP No. 35

I believe in signs.  I have written several times about the *signs* I have for loved ones.  I love the connection between *things* and *thoughts of someone*.  I love that thinking of someone can be prompted by seeing something unique and specific.  That is exactly what Crusade No. 35 is about - What's Your Sign?   

Slightly more complicated to explain is what I consider to be *sign transference*.  Here's a great example:  yesterday my friend Carrie sent me an etsy link to go look at some cute deer.  She sees deer and thinks of me because she knows that deer make me think of Shannon.  It's a big wide circle of thought....a ripple effect.

Ruby Tuesday pages for this week happen to work for the Crusade too.  I have two very special friends *P*, and *E*, who have never met, (yet remind me of each other).  Both of them claim the cardinal as the sign for their Grandmother.   Because they shared that with me whenever I see a cardinal I think of them.  It's all so special, because it widens the circle of thought and remembrance.  Sign Transferred.  Sure, may not be such a thing....but it makes sense to me *grin*

mark your calendars

Album release date:  February 9, 2010.  *squeeee*

Get your calendar HERE.

ruby tuesday number three and a half

Ok, so it's not Tuesday, but I worked in my RT journal today.  Sunday is my rock star crush's birthday.  11/22 Ville Valo will be 33.  Doesn't that portrait stencil rock?  

 
Hyvää Syntymäpäivää!  It's going to be an exciting year.  The new HIM album comes out in February:  Screamworks - Love in Theory and Practice.  Thirteen track names have been revealed.  Cover art is still a mystery.   Our fan friends in Australia and England already have tour dates scheduled.  We can't wait to learn about the U.S. tour!  The first single will be out soon...and a video?  *faints*  

RT No. 3

 

 

 
  (for feed readers:  three journal spreads)
 

hip hip....

 
I was cleaning up around my garden yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that amongst all the green and yellowing leaves of my rose bushes there were scores of lovely hips.  I never knew they came from the last blooms left on the stems. 

Remember when I said I was going to leave that last bud to grow?  Look what she produced!  I gathered up a handful of hips and was so inspired by the organic shape that I cut a few stencils to use in my Ruby Tuesday journal.  Check back tomorrow to see what I came up with.

I have several rolls of tyvek, purchased from ebay years ago that work really well as stencils and masks.  The stuff doesn't tear but it is super easy to cut.  Plus - the material takes paint nicely so the tool can double as an element on a page.   

My friend Kathryn and I seem to follow synchronistic paths....she blogged some lovely hip photos yesterday.  Go SEE.

one more, for remembrance

One more for Ruby Tuesday, a little late, but on time for Veteran's Day.

 

Thinking of, with gratitude, all our troops, both active and retired, those living and those passed on, especially my grandfather Justice Fallon Kelly. 

self-imposed sanity

Heading into holiday season do you find you set aside your artwork?  While I enjoy the preparations and festivities my studio becomes cluttered with gifts and wrappings.  This year I have a self-imposed assignment of keeping up with my visual journal, at least on a weekly basis to stay plugged into creativity.  I'm going to use my stash of favorite red things that sit in my journal kit.  Using them feels good.  Making stuff feels good.  Dirty hands feels good.  Why not try to set aside one morning a week for yourself?  I started last week:

 

 

 

My rose bushes don't know what to think.  The weather keeps changing.  I clip off roses as they enthusiastically dare to appear, not knowing if it will be in the 70s or the 30s.  I think this may be the last bud.  I'll leave her on and watch her grow.

   

i spy.....

 

 

(for feed readers:  click through to see the graphics on this post)

The 2010 schedule for Valley Ridge is now up!  Nearly 40 workshops to choose from.  Several artists make their debut at VR this season including my friends Judy Wilkenfeld and Laurie Mika.  You'll find me there in September.  I've posted new buttons in the left sidebar that take you to pages (with class descriptions) on my site for each workshop.  Click on the words to take you to the Valley Ridge site for more information and registration which begins December 7th. 

i heart VRAS

Valley Ridge Art Studio, near Madison, Wisconsin.  I've said it before, it's the most magical place to experience ~ a very special venue for art workshops.  The schedule for 2010 goes live on Monday.  Registration takes place December 7th, 9:00 am (central standard time).  Here's a brand new video to get you excited and motivated to come visit next year.  Lots of fabulous workshops from a stellar line-up of instructors!  We heart Kathy and Bill.  We heart VRAS!!

 

Did you spy me, and my Mom?  Or yourself?  Can't you just visualize being there?!!

Sneak peeks of my workshops coming soon :)

i *get* myself :)

While I tend to feel guilty buying anything for myself in December, that doesn't count for November!  Some recent cool finds from Etsy:  crocheted lariat from SewJennyJo,  felted scarf from DutchFeltArt, and more crocheted loveliness from ShelbyRose.  Don't forget to visit ETSY.com for your holiday shopping.  To revisit posts I've made about Etsy finds you can click on the category cloud at the left.

Tonight I posted a new crusade on my Street Team blog.  You know I love *signs*.  I am encouraging you to document yours in your journal, and share the story.  It's a cool thing knowing someone else's signs because when you see them you widen the circle of connection.  I know many of you think of me when you see pink socks, which means that Shannon is being thought of too, right?  It's all good.  Share your signs!

I need to make a journal page with pansies.  They are Mom's favorite flower.  Some years ago I got her a press so she could send me dried blossoms and I have handfuls of lovely pansies I've used to make her cards and gifts but I never have made a journal page about it.  I motivate myself to do it now.....and I will include that she turns 70 today!

day of the living

While many were celebrating Day of the Dead, I was a spectator at the New York City marathon.  Talk about a Day of the Living!  The city was buzzing with energy.  Crowds gathered often ten people deep along the 26 mile course.  I met up with friends who traveled from Minnesota to support our Susie.  She was spotted at five points thanks in part to determination of the cheering squad AND the cool technology of the tracking chip in her shoe.  Can you imagine?  What a cool thing.  Her brothers were back home at the computer, texting messages of where she was and we dashed ahead to several mile markers.

I am so proud of her, not only for this accomplishment, but for raising the funds it took to be entered in the marathon as a charity runner for the American Cancer Society in honor of her mom, Liz.  Sunday was her offering.....not unlike the Day of the Dead remembrance celebrations that took place around the world.  A time to welcome connection with loved ones who are in a better place.  Liz was with us, I know it.

 

At the last mile, while waiting for Susie to run by, we met an awesome group of people.  We learned later that many of them had just met.  Pressed up against to barricades they were whooping and clapping and shouting out names.  I was thinking: sheesh, they sure know alot of people in this race!  Then they let me on the secret - they were simply calling out the names on the runner's shirts.  Some were markered in, or taped on....Susie said the organizers encouraged them to do it.  I'm telling you - it was such a gas to latch onto their purpose, and shout out names with them.  Then Susie sprints past us, we cheered her on with our new friends, then we legged it across Central Park toward the finish line to see her there.  I will never forget the 20 minutes I stood with strangers, shoulder to shoulder, with loudest of voices, calling out "Come On Rebecca, one more to go!" 

(The gentleman who let me slide in to scream for Susie cheered on *Rebecca* as a default name whenever there was a lull in racers with titles....you had to see the face of a real Rebecca who passed by - she had 20 strangers whoop it up for her as she closed in on the last mile!)

Well done Susie!  You rocked it!  Well done Susie's friend Rhonda!  Well done Rebecca!  And Seth - I looked for you.  Well done to you too!  What a great day!

it's time

Uncle Sam, Jack Skellington, and Snow White are ready.  Bring it on!  Have a great weekend!

Years ago, my grandfather had received a digital watch as a special gift.  He wore it with pride - thinking it was so modern and easy to read.  One day I noticed he wasn't wearing it.  He couldn't figure out how to adjust the time for daylight savings, so he put it away and planned on getting it back out in the fall.  It took me two seconds to 'fix' it for him that April and I promised to 'fix' it again in October.  When he died in 1983 there wasn't an opportunity to request a significant keepsake.  I would have asked for the watch.  Doesn't matter as the memory is still treasured, and revisited every time I turn back the clocks. 

viral vs. virus

I'm sure you've already seen this:  I Gotta Feelin' by the Black Eyed Peas on Oprah.  The flash mob dance was a total surprise to her.  Isn't this so cool?  I can't stop watching it - gives me goosebumps, tears, and cheers.

 

(Typepad has a new easy click to embed videos, yay!)  EDIT:  Trying another version.  Let's see how long it stays up before they remove it.  If it goes away you can always visit youtube.com and search for another version.  I get that they have copyright issues but we are just trying to spread the love!

Last week Oprah interviewed the director of the mob break-out, Michael Gracey (of the famed T-Mobile train station mob dances) as well as some of the participants.  Did you see it on Thursday?  That one guy was so infectious, beaming at being a part of the experience.  He even said something about it being a like a community prayer, and offered that it might even be what heaven would be like - people dancing, celebrating together.  He called it Joy Rising. 

I'd so much rather watch this over and over again than listen to the news tell me how devastating the N1H1 virus is and that the promised vaccines are not in sight.  (Our school sent home consent forms only to postpone or cancel distribution.)

Let's see, Viral or Virus?  I'll take Viral.  Especially videos like this that spread the good feelings.

blackgrounds

Crusade No. 34 ~ Come Over to the Dark Side.....Just playing along in my own challenge :)  Got some new brass stencils so what better way to try them out than on black journal pages?  Do you do that?  Do you try out your new stuff as soon as you get it?  Sometimes I just get started by making blackgrounds that I will add to later.  These arrived last week from Heritage Handcrafts and I finally got to give them the test drive.  Loving them! 

Fallon even got out her journal to paint a few pages.  Aren't they cool?  We sat at the table while watching Castle.  Did you see his costume?  Perfect as Poe! 

 

  

Need a way to store your brass stencils?  These little photo albums keep them nicely organized.  For those of you who know I spray paint alot.....yes, I do spray through the brass ones but only if I have two copies of an image.  One I save for acrylic, ink, and dry embossing, and one is the designated spray stencil.  It's too hard to clean off the spray so I just let those ones get all mucky.   

One week left to play in the crusade.  Come on over......

  

got spirit?

I didn't manage to get out the Halloween decorations before I went to Valley Ridge so I got a late start this year.  Check out the coolness that came in the Gift-from-Linda bag....got me in the spirit!  Fallon and I finally hauled out the black-and-orange bins and put out our favorite things for the holiday....11 days away!  Winston is an October baby.  We aren't sure of his actual birthday so we claimed 10/31.  Perfect don't you think?

Linda not only makes lovely packages, the stuff inside them rocks too.  I would love to follow her around to see where she scores all the loot.  Thanks Linda.  You get me.

I do know that Sandy scored this while on a mission in Cuba.  I admit not knowing anything about the culture there and had no idea they had this community of artists making books.  Her eyes glimmered as she spoke of discovering these.  I did a little research and found this link, click if you want to learn more HERE.  The book she gifted me with is very cool book, almost zine-like, with xeroxed pages and individual embellishments and cut-outs.  I managed to find the translation for this one - it's a poem.  Lovely, thanks Sandy.

And another special thanks.  (I keep saying I'm a lucky girl!)  This one is a double gift.  You can see the necklace....this girls gets me too.  She knows it's a favorite shape.   She knew it would make me swoon.  The first part of the gift is a letter.  A lovely letter.  A long letter.  Handwritten with thoughtfulness and honesty.  The kind that makes you laugh and makes you cry.  The kind you read and re-read.  Then tuck away somewhere special.....and read again the next day.  The kind of letter that validates, encourages, inspires.  Aren't words powerful?  Especially when they are used for goodness?  Aren't connections amazing?  Doesn't it blow you away that we can feel like a kindred spirit to someone we have never met just because of the words we exchange?  To you, you know who you are.....there is so much more to say, but for now - thank you.  xoxo

commitment

Just reflecting on the past weekend....and I am feeling so fulfilled.  It's an amazing thing to have an idea, to visualize it, to nurture it, to explore it, and then finally, to share it.  Stairway to Heaven is a workshop concept I have lived with for over a year.  It's been like holding a secret.  I got to reveal it not once but twice to an awesome group of women.  Some were new-to-me friends, some were veteran favorites.  They ALL ROCKED.  It was thrilling to see them take on this project, each with their own flair.  As an instructor you commit yourself to presenting something new and fresh, and hope it takes hold and provides a platform for growth.  You endeavor to teach *process*, disguised as a *project*.  You put yourself out there, hoping that their greatest take-away is enthusiasm for creativity. 

I don't take it lightly that artists choose to spend their time and money on a workshop with me.  I consider it an honor that the time they set aside to commit to art is with me.  While I hope to fuel, or re-fuel them, they most definitely re-fuel me.  Their presence, their eagerness to work, and the results that follow offer me validation on many levels.  I am so grateful.

Unplanned, there was a word I latched onto and repeated during class:  commit.  It was the perfect prompt at the time, as I tried to encourage students to commit to a color palette, commit to a page shape and arrangement, to commit to adding content.  It was appropriate then, and when you think about it, it is the best way to continue moving forward as you build a book, or work on a painting or collage or whatever it is you do.  Small steps, small commitments, inform and direct the following steps, the following choices.  You make a decision and it opens up the possibilities to what happens next.  Mistakes may occur but that is where the real learning often takes place.  It is in making commitments that you evolve.

There were a few jokes about *fear of commitment* but it was all in fun.  I'm sure there were moments we could have asked to be *committed*.  They did commit big time by creating really wonderful, special, unique books.  They committed by making time for art and friendship, and by sharing in the creative process as we all learned things from one another.  That's what happens in workshops.  ESPECIALLY at Valley Ridge.  We all extend our thanks to Kathy and Bill for their commitment to providing this spectacular venue where magic takes place.  I'm certain there is fairy dust in the air.

How cool is that?  You see my cute little Mom?  She committed a weekend to join us in the fun! 

Right now I am committing time to wrap up my proposals for 2010 at VRAS.  I am psyched for the ideas that are channeling in.  I am giddy about going back next September.  The workshop schedule will be posted soon, I'll let you know when to hop over for a look.

Thank you ladies, for your commitment.  You have gifted me with energy and validation and satisfaction and fulfillment.  I am a lucky girl to have climbed the Stairway to Heaven with you.