michelle ward

new collection: where ideas come from

Here are a few visuals to begin telling you the history behind the designs for the new collection of rubber stamps.  It was easier to type the story right onto the images.  Here is part one.  I'll be back later with more...and the collection will be up on Thursday.

 

to be continued.....

more sneak peeks

You might say I'm getting carried away.  While messing around with my new images I got a few more ideas to add to this collection.  This was only going to be one or two sheets but it ended up being more like 12 - including half and quarter sheets.  I will have them up for pre-order on my site July 1st.  I will be taking more photos and explaining my philosophy behind it this week.  Until then, here is another sneak peek.

 

Thank you for your enthusiastic feedback so far.  You have me so excited to share this new set of images!!  More details tomorrow!

late tuesday

It's late on Tuesday....and I'm finally getting around to posting my RT Journal pages!  It's nearly full so I picked up a new one today because I want to carry on in this theme.  Today's pages are test-run print-outs of my new stamp images.  I had been working on a totally different collection when these ideas came to me - I will explain my vision when I upload the completed sheets this weekend.  Since we are working on grid formats with the GPP Street Team I thought I would stretch the definition of linear layout and make an Evidence spread with these circular punch-outs in my journal.  Some terrific entries posted on the link list over at the crusade blog.  Go see what we are up to and join in! 

I'm sticking to my self-imposed deadlines for several projects including this collection and the other one which will follow in a few weeks.  Kids are out of school - nice to be able to sleep in :)  My wrist is slowly mending.  X-ray didn't show anything but it is still painful when I twist it - so I wear a brace during most of the day to keep it protected.  Had a lovely Father's Day weekend - took Graham to our first country western concert, Toby Keith, in an outdoor amphitheater venue.  Really wonderful.   Been following the World Cup.  Tomorrow is a big day for both US and England.  Cheering for both!

Hope you are enjoying the sun and all that comes with the change of the season. 

grid and google

{rubytuesday} journal page 

 
 
Pulling double duty - catching up on Ruby Tuesday journal pages plus creating sample for current GPP Street Team Crusade No. 41 ~ Grid Lock.  Super easy way to make a page.  Collecting evidence of a recent project, or stash of faves, or remnants from the studio table...makes for a cool and quick spread.  Check out the crusade HERE.

Have you noticed the background options at Google?  I have mine set at Boontje.  There were several Chihuly options too.  *swoon*

p.s.  no official diagnosis on the wrist yet.  still wearing this annoying brace.

report card

A+ for all the students!  I admit I was a bit disarmed by their quiet demeanor but it was early in the morning (7:30 a.m.).  There was hardly any feedback via expression when I first started talking.  But we got started with some easy exercises and before long they each found a groove and you could observe their claim on self-expression.  My only regret was that the day ended too soon!  I wish I was back there today, continuing the mission of sharing the enthusiasm for making cool stuff together.

 

I am grateful to Mrs. Lentini-Pombrio and Mrs. Amme for the invitation to be the class tour guide into Altered Books.  Check out how cool these art teachers are - back in March they were on a photo campaign.  This is a very small sampling of the photos collected around school that they presented on a massive set of boards....ART SAVES!  HCIT?

 So many great comments have come in here, and by email, requesting the *handout* I mentioned for the class.  I think it's awesome there are so many artists who want to give it a try!  Give me a little time to wrap up some other deadlines (like getting the new rubber collection uploaded!!) and I will make it available.  I want to do it properly with downloadable text, images, and photographed samples so it may take me a while.  But I'm so psyched to do this.  I am HARDLY an expert, but I think I have put together a nice jumpstart into the artform and I'm more than happy to share it.  After it gets posted I was thinking it might be cool to take additional recommendations on page manipulations from YOU.  I could compile the tips into a part two.  Listen to me....I'm not even ready with part one yet.  *smacks head*

  

one hand tied.....

I'm lucky it's my left hand that is out-of-commission.  I would be so bummed and restless if it was my right.  And thankfully I can still type....although it's slow-going fixing typos.  Oh, what happened exactly?  Not sure.  Self-diagnosis is a re-injury of the wrist, x-rays Tuesday.

 
My week has been spent preparing for an altered book class. I've been invited to teach a special full day workshop at the high school.  Loved revisiting this art form.  Fun to think about introducing it to students who have never heard of it.  They have no clue what coolness they are about to step into ;) I made a handout covering nearly twenty techiques so if we don't get to them all they can continue the work on their own.  Class is Monday.  I'll let you know how we do.

Have a great weekend.