michelle ward

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.

  

love metal *

I love old embossed metal.  Love the grungy shabby chippy remnants from past eras.  Check out these cool items from Annette.  Isn't she clever to take these relics and turn them into new pieces?  Discarded tin being repurposed....and they even come with hooks so they are ready to hang.  Her Etsy site is here:  CottageInTheSun. 

 

I have had this ceiling tin hanging in my studio for years as inspiration.  I just discovered it holds magnets!  HCIT?  (Ceramic rose magnets were found online....just can't remember where I got them!)  The items below it aren't old....they are probably from Michaels or TJ Maxx.  I can't resist affordable metal stuff.

I've been meaning to try embossing metal myself, but have never armed myself with the proper tools.  (Lisa is really good at it and steps way out of the box with her tools.)  Someday I will take the plunge over at Ten Seconds Studio and drop a wad on some supplies.  I did develop a class on making faux ceiling tiles from paper and paint that is in the files somewhere.  Here's the photo:

I never taught that class but I use the technique alot...in fact, here is a page from my Stairway to Heaven book (sneak peek):

Love faking out the embossed look with stuff I already have.  Sa-wooon!
 
 

  * the post title is the name of my favorite HIM album.  i crack myself up ;)

oh, come on!

Yesterday I posted a new challenge on the Street Team blog.  Didn't have time to cross post over here last night since we were off to see Toy Story 1&2 in 3-D.  So this morning I open up typepad and see they have officially switched the New Platform to be the Permanent Platform.  Rrrrgghhhh.  I don't mind learning new stuff....in fact I enjoy it.  But come on, I liked the old format.   Anyone else frustrated by the change?  And this:  I'm wondering if it's only a glitch, but the comments aren't being emailed to me anymore.  AND leaving comments using a typepad ID never works.  And responding to comments has gotten complicated.  Ok, thanks for letting me vent...onward....it's Rockober!  LOVE this time of year.

This marks the third anniversary of Crusading for Creativity!  This month I invite you to Come Over to the Dark Side ;)  It's not all that sinister...it's about using black paper or black backgrounds in your work because sometimes starting on a non-white surface can lead to new discoveries.

Earlier I showed you this cool punch from Lisa.  Then this cool stamp arrived from Judi.  Love these new little toys...but I wanted to work bigger on my black pages so I took inspiration from these shapes and made a new stencil/mask set.  It was a beautiful day to spray paint and I must have made at least a dozen backgrounds.  And how about those cool crows from Martha?  They can be used as masks too!  And the placemat?  Perfect plastic tool for any kind of paint.  Don't you see stencil opportunities everywhere?

Isn't that silver totally swoonworthy on black?  Gah!
 
  
 

  
 

ready to climb

In ten days I'll be leaving for Madison....I'm almost done packing my supplies.  It's such a phenomenal experience to participate in an event at Valley Ridge Art Studio.  I feel so blessed to have this opportunity each year.  Next week we'll be climbing the Stairway to Heaven.  I've got so many ideas to share I feel like I'm going to burst.  Can't wait to unload all of them on my students! 

 

 

 

There are a few spots left if you want to come join the fun.  I've been asked if this class will be made available as a kit like my house book...not sure yet.  Stay tuned.

the high road

A favorite line, from a favorite film, DUETS, is this:

"And they say our society is losing its finesse."

Taking the High Road.  Do you sometimes wonder if that is the Road Less Traveled? 

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."  Robert Frost. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD.  Beyonce showed us that last night at MTV's Video Music Awards.  She has finesse.  If you didn't watch I'm sure you have seen the news coverage.  Classy gesture.  Classy. 

(Ooooh!  Another sneak peek at stamps *grin*)

 

sneak peek

 

I'm nearing the finish line....new stamps will go up for pre-order soon.  I'm not promising a date yet as I have to get ready for a workshop in October too.  Can't wait for both events! 

My first collection of rubber stamps for Green Pepper Press was called HomeWard.  The next one was called WayWard.  Can't decide what should be the name of the new collection.  ForWard, UpWard, BackWard, InWard, OutWard, DownWard, AfterWard.....Graham said AwkWard *grin*.  Good gracious...I'm having so much fun....can't wait to show you!

saint or sinner?

 

Saint or sinner?  How about both!  Do you do this?  Do you stop in for a spritz of a new fragrance and *try it on* for a day?  I strolled into Sephora and sampled Saint on the right and Sinner on the left.  They are clean and sweet.  I sniffed myself all day.  Didn't come running home to wash it off so they must be good.  I do prefer one over the other but will probably have to buy both.  Do you do that too?  When something is cleverly designed as a set....and even though you can purchase separate you end up doing exactly what they want: buy both.

pinch me: punches!

I'm a sucker for punches.  I won't even tell you how many drawers I have filled with them.  Both Judi and Lisa picked up this Martha Stewart Graveyard punch for me....I have been waiting for it to come out but my store doesn't have them yet.   How cool to have friends that look out for you *wink* (You can find them at Michaels.)  It is a new format - still a border punch with the extended image there so you can line it up, but the extension folds up for easier storage.  Speaking of that - the new EK punches have a fancy little button underneath so you can clip the top to lay flat.  Makes it easier to get more in my drawer!

 

And can I get a *swoon* for those crosses?  Especially that tiny one!  (Found via ebay) They are going to be perfect for my Stairway to Heaven class in October.   

I am inspired by this shirt I got for Fallon.  The colors are glorious, and the random copper crosses really got my attention. 

I'm off the Channel and Filter.  (What's that?  Channel the inspiration, then run through my Filters to Make It My Own on a journal page.) 

more xoxo

How cool is Robin?  She sent this keychain....just because.  XOXO back atcha Robin.

 

Earlier this summer I ordered these new images from Stampotique.  I don't draw people...but if I did I would want to be Daniel Torrente when I grow up.  The XOXO (by artist Amy Wilson Wellenstein) is FAB don't you think?   

 

I don't like this time of year.  Summer is winding down.  The school season is about to begin.  Long days with everyone around will become weekends only.  I've been enjoying Just Being.  Time with friends, time with family.  Trying to wrap up some new designs for fall release but since I'm my own boss I'm not stressing over it, Just Enjoying It.  Pre-production is always the funnest time.  It's when you get all your ideas.  Some become reality, some go in the journal for future use.  It's all good.  You'll be the first to know when I'm done.

see this and see ya

 

XO bowl:  reader Leau gave me the heads up and soon I was the owner of this lovely ceramic piece from Annie at Blissful Arts on Etsy.  Type-adorned bangles:  another reader Joan sent these!!  I love that you know what I love!  The hat:  I'm off to somewhere warm and sunny.  It's just me and he-who-doesn't-like-to-be-blogged-about at an undisclosed location :)  I'm a lucky girl ~ See you next week.

 

P.S.  It's been a busy summer for everyone so I've extended the current crusade to September 1st.  Come on over and Knock Yourself Off.

treasures

First treasure:  getting to spend time with my Grandmother while in MN.  I finally got a photo of her with this triptych, a favorite of mine.  She's had it on her grand table as long as I can remember.  A short time ago I was prowling around ebay trying to find one similar to hers.  Not having a photo of it I went by memory, and I think I did pretty well with my score.  It's much smaller in scale, but it sits on my table now and reminds me of her. 

 

I won't give away her age, but you can gather what it might be since my Dad (her son) turns 71 TODAY.  Happy Birthday Dad.

Another treasure:  Seth, my friend at The Altered Page, launched a viral plan last week - to revisit an old blog post in his adventure called Buried Treasure.  He is inviting participants for round 2 tomorrow.  Isn't that a cool idea?  Visit Seth to see his long list of players from last week and to see who joins in for another go at it.  If you are a blogger why not do it too?  Check back to see my submission in the morning.

 

This got me thinking:  What do you consider a great blog post?  Is it the content?  The attitude?  Some bloggers are wordy, some are visual.  Some are both.  Do you prefer one over the other?  I bet there is a difference in what we consider good depending on whether we are the reader or the writer.  As a blog writer I tend to judge good posts by the number of comments it gets.  You tend to think readers leave feedback when your thoughts or images jive with their own interests.  And while we don't assess our success by comments it does give us a sense of what hits the mark with our audience. 

I have selected a favorite archived post to share with you tomorrow because I know it was one that was a turning point for me personally, giving me confidence in how I blogged, and what was ok to share.  I'm curious....what was the post that made you bookmark me and want to come back? 

See you tomorrow.

paging through

Friday I met with friends Lynne and Beryl to see the Barron Storey journals at The Society of Illustrators in New York.  First, it was really cool to experience the work with fellow artists.  Second, it was even cooler to witness a light-bulb moment in a complete stranger who walked into the exhibit having no idea what it was about, who Mr. Storey is, and what visual journals are.  She was compelled to ask me about it all and was lamenting her commitment to lunch with friends in a few short minutes as she really wanted to stay and page through alongside us.  THAT is pure evidence of how intriguing it is to look through someone's pages.

 

This man presents 30 something years of work in 100 journals, laying open with the invitation to leaf through.  He is a master illustrator - in pencil, in ink, and with paint.  Some pages were simply sketches, others were complex and layered with both imagery and text.  Some looked like fine art paintings, others were comic book/graphic novel style -  there were pages filled with thumbnail sketches, lists, architectural elements, costumes, faces, abstract doodles - he is skilled with any mark-making tool....and has an immense visual vocabulary.  If you pause long enough on any given page you are granted a direct line into his thoughts and perspective, relative to the entry made that day.  This event was such a unique experience to be allowed access to every single page.  It was personal, it was moving, it was a gift, it was a privilege.  There is a publication, a reprint of Life After Black, available at the venue which documents Journal #45.  I appreciate having the evidence of this adventure to take home.

 

Many of us are familiar with how journal pages look as seen in a book or magazine, or on a blog.  Seeing visual journals in Real Life is way different.  There is something so cool about observing DIMENSION that can't be caught in print.  Color, scale, texture, metallics, shiny or dull bits can all be misinterpreted by the camera or scanner.  I recall the thrill of being in my first collaboration of art journals.  Seeing, touching, turning the pages on work that wasn't my own was an incredible learning experience.  If you've ever paged through someone else's journal then you know what I mean.  There is so much more to a page than what is captured on film.  It's a magical thing to hold a book of art in your hands.  Magic.

If you live in the NYC area get your plans made to see this event.  It ends July 31st.

sensory sensitive

Check out this article written by Caitlin Reiss, daughter of Sam's teacher, our friend Maureen:

 

How cool is that?  To see the article CLICK HERE. For a list of theaters offering sensory-friendly showings, visit THIS courtesy of the Autism Society of America.  Bravo!!

Just back from Minnesota where I had a terrific visit with family and friends.  I thank you for all the comments about the Book of Love, and a heartfelt thanks to the participants.  I shared it with my parents and they were just as moved as I was to feel the love you have surrounded us with.  xo

before i go....one more reveal

This would be the mother of all reveals, if one were keeping score.  I thought I was going to skulk off into the sky, flying back to Minnesota, carrying with me the cloud of grief, but instead I will be carrying this Book of Love, to share with my family.  How does one go about finding and composing the most apt words to convey how you have made me feel?  You obviously know me well enough to know I am utterly moved.  Picture me surrounded with rays of light, casting a pink glow.  Both eyes filled with tears.  One for sorrow, one for joy.

 

I will let the photos do the talking.  Special thanks to Secret Agents JeriAnn, Julie, and Lisa who schemed and plotted and gathered a generous, thoughtful, loving, talented team of participants.  I thank you all for the quiet, gentle embrace.  I feel you.

 

 

 

  

Julie has loaded the pages onto flickr, you can visit HERE.

 

I know, can you imagine?  I'm blown away too. 

I am missing Shannon so much, but look how many art-sisters I have (plus an art-brother, Seth).  A swarm of angels.  I've said it before: You make grief endurable.  With humble gratitude, Michelle.

revealing...

Some recent updates.  (If you are reading through a feed you'll notice I don't approve full posts or graphics to appear so click on in.  I appreciate feed services as a way to be notified that a blog has been updated but it's my preference to limit the excerpt and invite you to come on over.)

 

New crusade is up, come over and play!   I've been working behind the scenes on assignment for my friend Lynne.  She had the impulse to try a slide show and before I knew it she had created 28 new pieces and some banner graphics.  We not only launched a new web page featuring these but we also got her set up with an Etsy shop where you can purchase her original art.

 

And because you asked for it.....

 

When I went in for my Shannon tattoo in May there was time for a quickie 2nd one!  The ankle ink is a repeat of a much larger one on my lower back but since I don't reveal that one too often I thought it would be fun to have it in a more visible place. 

 

 

I'm not going to apologize for showing tattoos on my blog....I know some people don't like seeing ink so I should probably have posted a warning.  I don't like food photos but people never warn you before they visually assault you with their dinner do they?  ;)

 

They say once you start....Of course I'm kidding with these.  Besides, no time for a tattoo, I'm hitting the road.  I've packed some pink socks - I know you are with me.  See you next week.  xoxo

wrong holiday, right font

 

I picked these up at Michaels today.  Yeah, I know....it's the 4th of July weekend...crazy to be buying Halloween stuff but I HAD TO.  Hard to tell in this photo but these are meant to sit on a surface, and are over an inch thick, about five inches high.  How Cool Are They?

 

Enjoy the long weekend....especially the fireworks.

m.i.y.o.

Tomorrow is the last day for the current GPP Street Team Crusade.  We've been Making It Our Own and many artists have come by to share their inspiration and interpretations as we strive to add an authentic and personal touch to all that we do.  Often we turn to custom tools to keep things original and unique - like carved stamps or cut stencils.  There have been many times where I have created an element simply because it didn't exist and I needed/wanted it.  THAT is how I began designing and selling rubber stamps.  I made images I wanted to have that weren't available yet.

 

As you know, we are huge HIM fans in this house.  I have an entire drawer of HIM shirts, at least 5 hoodies, several bags, and countless accessories with heartagrams thanks to Hot Topic, Spencers, Heartagram.com, and concerts.  In the early days there was not alot of merchandise with the heartagram on it....so we had to Make Our Own.

 

I carved these stamps and we used them with fabric paint or even cooler: bleach, to make tshirts and stuff.  I cut stencils too.  And the heartagram pendant came by request of Peter and his friends (they all wanted one), made from pink wire.   It's awfully primitive but pretty cool of me don't you think? 

 

A couple summers ago I made these for my NJ/NY HIM Street Team.  Super quick and easy and inexpensive.  Great party favor.  

The heartagram selections at Hot Topic these days are kinda scarce again until the new album comes out (too long from now!) so I may have to go back to Making My Own HIM merch.  (Very closely related to Make It Your Own is Do It Yourself!)  Stop in at the Street Team to see what we are doing....and then come back later in the week to see the new challenge and play along with us.

oh my goth*

*Swooon*  My favorite font, hands down, is Blackletter.  So imagine how fast I ordered up Fraktur mon Amour by Judith Schalansky featuring 333 historical and contemporary Blackletter variations.  Yes, it's pricey, but it comes with a cd containing 150 of them...and it's a gorgeous volume that makes me so happy just to page through.

 

 

 

Can you stand how cool this is?  I love the random and abstract graphic play with the fonts on the left pages....had to have a go at it...with my fave song title.

 

* post title 'oh my goth' borrowed from lisa. 

making unlikely connections

As soon as I found this site, Villainess, I knew I wanted to share it with you.  I also wanted to tell you about a *sign* uncovered there - the synchronistic kind of connection I was not looking for but smacked me in the head.  First, the cool site....they have some terrific products.  Perfume oils, soaps, and body scrubs with clever and inventive titles, and interesting scents.

 

Brooke kindly granted me permission to use images from her site.  How could you not be intrigued by these descriptions?  Signature scent, Villainess:  all ball gowns and combat boots - raw, smokey leather and sweet vanilla musk engulfed in a sheer haze of exotic florals - ylang, neroli, jasmine, lilac and tuberose. Or Byzantium:  precious woods and resins - cedar, pine and sandalwood, frankincense, amber and myrrh - at play against a sheer base of Egyptian musk, barely spiked with imported spices, and lightly veiled in smoke.  I got these two and a handful of adorable and equally appealing samplers of soaps and scrubs.  Go check out the fab selections.

 

So here is the unlikely connection....Do you see the floral background from Brooke's site?  It reminded me of a similar fabric in brown/black I had scored at Wal-Mart a while back.  Yes, Wal-Mart!  Here's the thing:  on my to-do list before family arrived was to clean my dining room chair seats (a filthy ivory).  By Tuesday night (troops were arriving Thursday) I hadn't touched the chairs and most likely they'd never be dry in time.  It was Tuesday that I stumbled upon Villainess.  So Wednesday afternoon I dashed over to pick up a few yards of the fabric from Wal-Mart, and by dinner time I had recovered 6 chairs!  Scissors, tacks, and less than 3 yds. for less than $30.  A great solution don't you think?  That's how it is when you are open to signs....at the 11th hour unexpected inspiration channels in.  Now my chairs looks great and I smell stunning.

 

Condolences to the family, friends, and fans of familiar faces who left this week....Ed, Farrah, and Michael.  I can't say I was ever an MJ fan, but I have heard him in our home almost daily....Sam watches Free Willy over and over, it's his special connection to the orcas....he rewinds this track.....HERE.  So another unlikely connection...respecting that Micheal Jackson was not only on the soundtrack for Free Willy, but he is on the soundtrack of our generation.

navigating

Serendipity, synchronicity, coincidence.....I pay attention and feel like I'm in tune to the meaning of what happens around me.  I look for connections, significance, in art-making and in life.  Not long ago Lisa pointed me toward these books.  Mr. Rushnell is my kind of guy.  He not only identifies with my favorite, *winks*, but he takes the position that they are God-sent.  I'll buy that.

 

This month my friend Kathryn posted to her True North Arts blog about serendipity and synchronicity, and the role it plays in the creative process.  I was honored to be an invited guest - you can read her interview with me HERE.  She then challenged her readers to invent a compass.  I didn't have the time to create something this month, but in my studio overhaul I came across a portfolio of old sketches.  Synchronicity!  Check out my compasses.

 

This doesn't really count as an entry to her challenge, but the message is timely....especially as our oldest has just graduated.  The deadline for Kathryn's prompt is Friday, therefore I'm not-so-timely in directing you her way.  Don't let that stop you.  There is alot to read and think about over there, and I'm certain she has more up her sleeve with future projects.

the master

If you've caught the spray paint frenzy you no doubt are onto Shepard Fairey.  He is masterful...and you can see him in action in this video HERE.  *swoon*  Then catch him in Arkitip #51.  This is perfect spraying weather and I'm itching to get outside with some of my new stencils.  The studio is still in-progress and company comes Thursday, all three kids have graduation ceremonies Friday, so the cans will have to wait a little longer.  In my excavations I came across this journal....the first weekend I started spray painting.  I completed an entire journal in two days.  That's how it is with spray paint....fast & fun.  Watch Shepard....you'll agree.

feels good!

 

Not going to show you the inside YET.  It's still in-progress but nearly done.  Feels so good to shake off stuff and declutter, organize....and rediscover some of my supplies!  When I'm short on surfaces to work on there is always the trusty clipboard, one of my favorite studio tools.  I clip under a page I'm working on - sometimes one under each side.  They keep my pages flat which is especially nice if there is something lumpy on the previous spread.  I can cut right into a page with my exacto, the board acting as a cutting mat too. 

 

During the clean sweep my eyes were opened to just how many clipboards I have accumulated.  I won't even admit to how many scissors I have *grin*.

 

I do admit I'm a terrible put-away-er.  Mail bins seem to multiply in my studio.  No more!  No fines for me. (The U.S. Mail bins clearly warn against misuse of postal property.  I'm returning these today.) 

 

Most of the trash bags left on Friday but more will go out on Tuesday.  Dude!  I'm nearly done!  Who wants a tour?  Bribes required.

out of my league

Check out this perfume!  What clever packaging.  One even sprays in color (then it fades).  I'd love a whiff of it....might have to pop into Barneys next time I'm in the city to see if they have a sample.  I wish my favorite room spray came in a can like this.  THAT I could afford.

 

I've been tucked away in my studio doing a major overhaul and shaking off alot of stuff.  It feels good to invest time in this place - way overdue.  I've cleared a path so you don't have to hop on one foot to get around, and soon you won't need a helmet or tetanus booster to visit me here.  All my books are finally in one place, all my spray cans, stencils, and brushes are neatly organized.  I have 5 large plastic bins filled with bottles of acrylic paint.  If I ever mention I'm going out to buy paint STOP ME.   I can even see a cleared work surface.  *faints*