michelle ward

playful and illusive

 

I love when a friend surprises me with a book, especially when it's one I haven't seen.  Recently, Judi gave me this one  - Playful Type, which is soon to come out in paperback.  If you enjoy lettering of all kinds then you might want to give this one a peek. 

Also about to launch:  Illusive 3.  I loved 1 & 2 so I will totally get 3.  I really enjoy these publications from Gestalten.com as they are simply full of art, no wordy explanations.  They give us views of artists who we might not otherwise meet, and leaves it up to us to further investigate, if interested, through the resource page. 

 

 

masters of illusion

 

I think Bergdorf has a total of 14 windows (edit: 18 windows!).  What a task to complete these scenes.  They change over several times a year - the holiday windows are worth a visit.  The 5th Avenue showcases will mesmerize you, but don't forget to go around the other two sides!  I wish you could get a sense of the dimension on these - lots of layers, lots of huge props, and tiny details.

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

The backdrops for these windows are enlargements from one of my favorite clipart books.  I adore the white windows on 5th Avenue, but I swooned at all the black&white&red on 57th.

 

  

We make the journey by train into the city every December just to see the windows, but we were lucky to catch them this year in November.  Hope you've enjoyed the illusion from your chair, wherever you are.  It's been a visually intensive few posts but I wanted to show you as much as I could - it's hard to capture the total wonderfulness with my humble camera, the glare, and other window gazers about.  How dare they get in my way?  Here are a few more from 5th Avenue, and 58th Street.

 

 

All credit for the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows goes to Linda Fargo and David Hoey and their team of visual magic makers.  I saw David directing positioning of props and really wanted to interrupt for a fangirl moment and autograph but I could tell he was trying to beat the clock.  Very cool to see him right out on the street while hands behind the glass moved things around in the larger-than-life assemblage art.  I have seen a few local newscasts covering the window displays with sneak peeks into the workrooms.  This morning they interviewed David and he said it takes 9 months to prepare the Christmas windows, and they do it to entertain and inspire.  Mission accomplished!

Linda has a book, Dreams Through the Glass, that is hard-to-find (copies go for around $100).  I wish they would release a yearly publication with professional photos of the overall windows, the details and secrets hidden in each vignette, and some behind-the-scenes shots.  I'd buy it, wouldn't you?

Oh, and I dug up a photo taken of the phrenology heads from the 2006 holiday windows, wonder where they'll show up next:

 

   EDIT:  an article about Fargo and Hoey from 2007 HERE.

on my desk

 

Love shopping at tjmaxx, marshalls and home goods.  There are several that are dangerously close to everything.  This weeks score was a journal.  Cheap thrill.  And how about these pins?  What?  Your first stop at the mall isn't Hot Topic?   Usually it's our only destination.

  

It's time to read up on how to handle the seasonal change with my lovely rose bushes.  I'm clueless and need to figure out what I need to do asap.   It has brought me such simple pleasure to go visit my roses every day and I want to keep them safe for next year.  Any hints? 

My cousin Molly sent me this book, 90 minutes in heaven, and suggested I read chapter 2.  I admit I have not read the rest of the book.  All I needed to hear was Don Piper's account of heaven to give me a rush of peace and comfort.  Sure, I trusted that heaven was the kingdom it is promised to be, but his words came at the right time for me.  He describes, in simple words, what it was like to enter heaven.  My take-away is that there are no words yet invented to express the immense joy ahead of us.  My take-away, from this one chapter, was to be thrilled that my sister is there.  Thank you Molly, for this precious gift, for this perspective.  Another book I have found helpful is Surviving the Death of a Sibling.  Grief takes on many faces and it is different for all of us, even within one family.  Shannon was a wife, a daughter, a friend - but she was also my sister. 

Love my jumbo size Sharpie paint pens.  Messing around with them makes me really happy.  Love when they smear.  The nib on these things are 1/2" wide!  Get some!! 

 

 

 

 

  

And the braces are off!  Look at this lovely face.  I promised Fallon I wouldn't blog about her new *friend* (Anthony)....I'm not.  He may have been edited from the photo, but the blush he provoked is there.  Does that still get me in trouble?  *wink*

 

Congratulations to Kathryn Antyr for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 23.  It's our second anniversary at the Street Team blog! 

*Throws confetti on self*.

making headlines

See the news story HERE.  How about that headline?   I swear it was the author's choice, but it couldn't have been cooler!!  If you're here for the first time because of the article, here is the Marineland story:  READ  To order a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Children with Special Needs, click HERE.  As you can imagine, it's a book filled with heartwarming stories.  (Great holiday or teacher gift!)

More Cleverness......

I just got a copy of my friend Laurie Mika's new book:  Mixed Media Mosaics.  It is a fantastic tutorial and handsome display of all the magic you can make with polymer clay.  She gives you all the tricks to make interesting tiles which can be used for all kinds of clever projects.  Even if you've never considered working in clay you will smack yourself in the forehead and wonder why not when you see what can be done with this versatile medium.  I'm NOT kidding, you'll love it!

I met Laurie online about 4 or 5 years ago when I came across her website showcasing her unique Icons.  (Later we were able to meet in real life.)  You get reeled in by her work as you investigate every little detail and marvel at her compositions and style.  I adored the architectural-ness of her pieces but what remains as my primary impression of seeing her work was the way she used color.  Uninhibited riot of color.  It was so refreshing, and still is.  Just as I was about to open an email to write my appreciation of her work I recognized that she was using some of the stamps I had designed in her work.  Say it with me:  How cool it that?  A friendship was born.  I am thrilled to be able to stand up on my chair (what?  you don't believe I'm standing?) and tell the world my friend has a wonderful book you just gotta get.  HERE.

Lovely Lovely

Recently I received this lovely book by Beryl Taylor.  You've seen her work in Somerset Studio and Cloth, Paper, Scissors, and now you can enjoy seeing more of her lovely work in this fine book available at Amazon.  It's fabric, it's paper, it's everything.... and simply takes your breath away as you investigate the pages and realize the intricate detail that is put into her art.  If the cover intriques you, you will be delighted with the contents.

I've been asked alot of questions about the visual journaling process so I have put together a few things that I will blog about AFTER our return from a Niagara Falls vacation.  I promise to finish the last few details on the rubber and will post as soon as I get back.  If you have been to my GPP site and wonder why there are "X"s on the new images it's because I have only put in the item numbers (there's nothing wrong with your computer).  As soon as the images are complete I will be able to quickly upload them into the place markers.

We're off to see the Orca's at Marineland!