michelle ward

crusades

 

I've posted Crusade No. 33 ~ Back to School on the GPP Street Team blog.  Come over and play!  It's nearly three years since I started the creativity crusades, can you believe that? 

A different kind of crusade ~ one of loss and love:  Today is the anniversary of The Sending of the Pink Socks.  September 5th we mailed off 700 pairs to the University of Minnesota Hospital, Unit 7B.  They were gathered from generous and giving souls around the globe and the experience left a permanent pink glow in my heart.  Thank you, again.  xoxo

 

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

the bloopers

 

Coal for Sam?  He would NOT look at me and we were frozen, so we gave up.  Peter was such a sport trying to get him to pose properly.  The beret?  It's a wink.   Printed, stamped, sent!

a *wink* for my stable

 

I have this very special friend and our gift to one another is to postpone exchanging Christmas goodies until Valentine's Day.  But she surprised me with an unexpected arrival today.  If a stable has a Finnish Hippo, it can have a pink glitter deer, right?  My Mom said "all kinds of animals were in the ark, why not the stable?"  I know my readers will grin with me at this timely wink.  Thanks Judi.  xo

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*.

in the news

 

Marietta sent me a copy of the e-newsletter from the U of M Hospital!!!  And she forwarded these photos too.  *high five* to everyone!

  

  

And a reminder if you are new to the *pink wink* story you can read it in chronological order by clicking on the link, see right.  

*700*  for 7B, squeeee! 

moving forward

I thought our new rose bushes may have reached their peak a few days ago.  I trimmed off all the old blooms and thought they looked a little sad, missing their pinkness.  Then I took a closer look and spied all the buds.

 

This doesn't begin to capture the new flowers I have today.  It's a full wall of roses - standing at attention to salut the new day, the new season.  Did they arrive because I was willing to cut off the expired flowers?  Probably not.  But I like to think that tending to the rose bushes and cutting them back led to the growth.

  

I bum out a little when the kids go back to school but it's a good time to establish new routines.  I've said this before, but it's amazing that the year can be 3/4 of the way through and you still have a chance to start again.  A new school year.  A new season.  A new rose.  And this month, a new Crusade:

 

Congratulations to Julie Prichard for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 22.  You can read more about Crusade No. 23 HERE.  I have so many loose ends to work on to make room on my table and in my mind for new ideas, new projects, new directions.  One thing that helps me GET STARTED on FINISHING is being organized. 

  

Then there is Gathering.  Isn't that part of the process for beginning but also for ending?  I love the Gathering ritual - whether finding new stuff or re-discovering my own stuff, pulling it all toghether in one supply box is a thrill for me and makes the creative phase so much more enjoyable.

  

And I love Gathering at the end too:  usually at the end of a project I clip paper scraps and remnants into my process journal then begin the task of putting away all the supplies (ok I'm really bad at THAT).  For this recent project I have enjoyed putting all the Evidence together as I embark on writing Thanks Yous for 700 socks, gather all my thoughts and remembrances, and clippings of ribbons and tissues, painted envelopes, and all the lovely cards and notes, to chronicle in a scrapbook.

  

New season = housecleaning of the blog variety.  You may notice on the left side I created new buttons which will take you to my link lists.  They were getting long so this was my solution. 

On the right I added a new *pink wink* button which will open a new page and you can read about the project in chronological order.  I know there are visitors who are still arriving to read about it and this was a *duh* for making it easier. 

  

The last of the socks came in this week.  I will send them on to 7B soon.

  

And to wrap up this post...I'll share with you a recent diversion.  I made one of these for Fallon and myself.  You know I swooned when I found the asterisk bead.  *faints*  I wear this daily with a full heart.

 

sock central....(edited)

it has been reported that the socks have arrived and will be presented this afternoon.  stay tuned...

 

EDIT:  rather than make a new post, I am editing this one because I want you to be able to click on "comments" and read the message left by Angie, one of our favorite nurses from 7B.   So yesterday afternoon I got to be a fly-on-the-wall (by way of a speaker phone) while Marietta, the nurse manager on 7B gathered two shifts of nurses and aides, therapists (OT and RT) and some other special people, including Shannon's doctor.  On the table were only *65* pairs of socks.  Marietta read the letter I had composed (see below).  Very cool to hear my words come through someone else's mouth.  At the key moment, the remaining 600-and-something socks were brought in as Marietta continued to explain the project.  Wonderful to hear that Angie was there, as well as other favorite caregivers.   For a few minutes yesterday there were people having thoughts about my sister.  For a few minutes, before the hustle and bustle of starting a shift (or leaving one), there were people who got the group wink, the thanks, the validation that the call they have answered is of great value, and that they matter. 

Did you feel it?  Did you feel that goosebump moment?  Wow!  We really did it.  *high five*  XOXO

 

*pink wink* posted

 

The final pink arrivals which include a pair knitted just for me:

  

Dear friends,

Who knew that my request, on July 29th, for collecting 65 pairs of pink socks would end with 700?  It isn't the end, it's only the beginning.  Several angels are at work on the other end as they are in on the surprise and are planning to make a celebration for the Pink Wink arrival.  You know I will keep you posted!  One of the last emails I got from my sister was in May when she wrote to me about the blog comments you left for her, sending your positive vibes.  She enjoyed all the well wishes and said they were definite day brighteners.  Imagine what she would say to this - 700 socks sent in her honor. 

I am without words to describe what this has meant to me.  I recognize that it was a loving effort to participate in this.  You shopped for socks, came home and packaged them, then went back out to post them.  Many envelopes were winks themselves - decorated with pink paint or ink and roses and x's & o's and hearts and flourishes and messages.  Some were filled with pink wrappings and ribbons.  Some came with beautiful cards or lovely gift offerings.  Others came in a plain envelope with a quick note and some were simply anonymous - no return address at all.  There were boxes containing more than a dozen pairs, and envelopes filled with a single pair.  Some socks were dropped off at my home and others were delivered from overseas.  No matter how the socks arrived I felt the love energy tucked inside.  I get it that by sending me socks you are offering your support and sympathy.  I get it that by sending socks you help me honor the memory of Shannon.  I get it that you can't imagine loss, or have experienced a loss of your own.  I get it that you love your sister, or your sibling, or your best-friend-who-is-practically-a-sister.  I get it that you may know someone with Cystic Fibrosis.  I get it that you are a caregiver, or know a caregiver, or believe that acknowledging caregivers is important.  I get it that it just feels good to join in something that is about sharing gratitude.  I get it that the impulse to be with me on this may have no specific definition.  I feel the love, and as I said before:  you make grief endurable. 

There is more to tell, more to share, and more to celebrate as the story continues to unfold.  For now, let me offer my humble thanks.   Posting the boxes felt good, although a little sad as it's been a daily task for me to attend to this project.  It began as an idea to pay-it-forward to my sister's caregivers and then it became bigger but offered a distraction to keep my mind occupied.  I reflect on the whole thing now and see that it was so comforting to share my grief.   By dividing it, it slowly diminishes. 

I know you are with me.  SHE is with me.  You have helped me say that she mattered.  I will never forget this.  NEVER.  Thank you.  THANK YOU.

xoxo, Michelle 

are you still with me?

Back in April I asked for your help.  In the post {are you with me} I made a request for your good wishes for my sister who was in the hospital.   You came through for me.  To many of you it may have been the introduction to Shannon.  For many it was my introduction to you as you left a comment for the first time.  It was a wonderful few days to see all the kind words pour in and to hear Shannon's reaction after being put in the spotlight.  What I'm realizing now is that because I shared her with you here, you are all invested in her.  YOU know that she mattered to me.  You are offering your kind words to me this time.  You get it. 

 

In the last 13 days of her life I was privileged to spend every possible minute with her.  I witnessed grace.  I witnessed strength.  I witnessed faith.  I witnessed love.  I witnessed power - power of God, power of medicine, and power of spirit.  I watched nurses who knew by experience that the end was near yet continued to give Shannon respect and dignity and control.  I will never forget some of the gestures they made to her husband Andy, and to our family, to make us more comfortable as we held vigil.  I will never forget that many of them wore PINK - pink shirts or pink socks, as though there was a Shannon Street Team.  She was dressed in pink so we got her groovy pink socks to change into everyday.  The socks got comments from anyone who had to come into the room - visitors or staff.  Pink is her color. 

I have this idea.  I want to acknowledge the staff on 7B of the U of M Hospital where my sister spent the last 4 months of her life.  I especially want to recognize those who I got to know - the professionals who cared for her and cared about her.  I think it would be a very powerful thing to see a box of PINK socks show up on the 7th floor.  With the box will come a note that will explain the gesture and the message.  

I will tell the story of my sister who courageously battled cystic fibrosis.  I will share the story of how I watched nurses and aides and therapists and doctors let Shannon be in control.  They offered her respect, dignity, privacy, and honesty.  I will share how we were all wearing PINK the last few days of her life - family and staff.  I will share how important their role is - not only in the care as described on the charts, but in what they offer that is off the charts.  Off the charts. 

I want there to be hoards of pink socks that spill out on the counter of the nursing station.  I want the staff on 7B to feel thanked, to feel appreciated, to feel validated.  I want them to know I was paying attention.  I want them to know I saw what they did....I was listening and watching and recognized the angel within them.  I want each person (man or woman) to get a pair of pink socks and to put them on the next day and think about the shift they are about to begin.  How they conduct themselves may have a huge impact on someone that day.  {Shouldn't we all think that way everyday?}   Someone is healing, someone is hurting, someone is lonely, someone is dying.  Someone may be dying.  How a nurse treats the patient really makes a difference.  How each of us walk the halls can make a difference.  Holding someone's hand as they die doesn't get you a bonus or a gold star on your paycheck if you are a nurse.  But it might get you a pair of Pink Socks that are an offering of gratitude and validation to be worn with pride as the practice of making a difference continues.

I want there to be an a-ha moment on 7B that radiates to 7A and the rest of the 7th floor....and the 6th floor, and the 5th floor, and the coffee shop, and the pharmacy, and the clinic where the Cystic Fibrosis patients go each month,....and the nearby hospitals, and - well you get it.  I want THINK PINK to be more than Breast Cancer awareness....I want THINK PINK to be more than Shannon and Cystic Fibrosis awareness.  I want it to be more than being about Pink Socks.  In fact, forget THINK PINK and make that PINK WINK.  I want each of us to begin every day with the awareness that what we do and how we behave may directly affect someone....As you put on your socks, or your shoes, say a little prayer or give a little thought to how you will use this day, every day.  We can all wear a wink.

 

So here is the mission:  send me a pair of pink socks.  That's it.  Men's or women's, long or short.  A little or a lot of pink, any shade - dark or light.  I will gather until mid August.  And I will send in one humungo box to the University of Minnesota Hospital, floor 7B, where they take care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis.  It's one of the ways I want to honor the memory of my sister.  It's one of the ideas I had for offering thanks to the caregivers.  When I asked for your good wishes I told you the nickname for CF is Sixty-Five Roses.  So you guessed it....

Send to P.O. Box 73, Piscataway, NJ 08855.  Let's call the due date August 15.  Many thanks.  I close my eyes and think of the dozens of you who have reached out to me at this time and I am so moved.  Truly.

 

 

positive spin

I've adored the maltese cross for years.  I wear one every day.  I play with the image often in my work, and you've seen it show up in my own carvings and my rubber line.  Because I tend to be linear, and literal, I never considered the 45 degree variation of the "+" to make it a "x".   You'll see I went nuts experimenting with my new perspective.  Anytime I discover a form or shape I invest a little time making new tools....

 

 

 

And more unfinished pages....sometimes it just feels good to get something started on the page.  It's a process to make additions to a painted background....it can take days to complete, or it may always stay as an experimental background. 

I'm taking an a quick trip home to see my sister.  Squeeze your eyes tight and spin those positive vibes and prayers our way.  Take a deep breath and appreciate what your healthy lungs can do.  Shout and sing on the 4th of July....because you can.  And never forget to wink and whisper sweet somethings to your loved ones.  xoxo 

she's a winker

Come on, isn't this the coolest?  So clever!  I never think of this kind of thing....which is why I'm sharing it with you - to inspire you.  It's that time of year when you may need to get a graduation gift. Sure, many of us think of a personalized something, an engraved item to mark a momentous occasion.  Forget the pen set - go for a metallic red iPod shuffle.  That rocks!  

No, I'm not graduating from anything.....I just have a friend who GETS me.  Thanks Buzz *wink*

onWARD

Let me introduce you to my friend Linda Warlyn.  If you are a frequent commentor here then you recognize her name.  And if you subscribe to Somerset Studio, then you know her from there too.  And if you got Lynne's new book, then you saw her there too.  In fact, her piece is my favorite-ist.  She could easily win the MVNBC award because she sprinkles sunshine and enthusiasm wherever she goes.  I met Linda something like three years ago in a workshop, and then got to spend time with her again last fall.  But beyond that - I really attribute getting to know one another better because of the blogger/commentor relationship.  She is simply the dearest girl - someone you want living next door, or at the desk next to you, or on the other end of the phone.  She's a reader (of people) and a remember-er.  She's a GETter.

Just recently I was a lucky girl to get TWO packages of loot from Linda.  Before I had a chance to share on the blog all the great stuff from No. 1 that came in a wonderful black and white patterned envelope sitting inside a black and white patterned tray that was lined with red (of course!) and then No. 2 arrived!  Who would even want to open this?  Faye (my faithful mail carrier) handed it over with a grin.

So during the recent clean-up of my studio I sorted all the cool mail art and loot packages into one humungous container.  Normally when I get unexpected deliveries I set them aside and eventually put what I can on my blog and in my journal - evidence, right?  Cards, envelopes, cool wrappings, you name it....it would go in the journal.  But I got so behind that all this great stuff is piled in a bin.  No more!  So with Linda's gifts I made a pact with myself to journal about it and use all the great stuff. 

And I love this:  on the little note seen below Linda wrote "maybe you can use some of this stuff, if not shake it off".  Told ya, she's a rememberer.  And I'm using it.

So you can see I didn't get very far - just have a few pages in progess - but at least I'm doing it!   Thanks Linda for all the very special "you-get-me" stash. 

I appreciate all my commentors.  Is it commenter or commentor?  I couldn't find a definite answer so I went with commentor since it's more like contributor.  Commentors really contribute to a blog - and make the blogger feel validated.  I have many MVNBC and many MVBC too.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enthusiasm.  It's how friendships can begin.

More to share....from more friends met online (*wink* you know who you are)....but I gotta get my journal pages started first.

EDIT:  With permission granted by Linda, here is an excerpt of her artwork in Lynne Perrella's new book.  I believe in sneak peeks only....you have to get the book to see the entire glorious piece. Art Making is a terrific book of visuals - and if you're obsessed with collecting you'll feel like you found a group of souls who Get it.

knock knock

Isn't it a great feeling when you see something that just makes you laugh out loud?  This company gives us that *wink* with their clever products.  I dare you not to smile.  I double dare you not to go running right over to their site and scoop up a bunch of their cool things.  When you're there, be sure to read their Philosophy.  Love these people!  Thanks to Mary at KnockKnock.biz for permission to use the graphics from their site.

 

They also have some fun books, paper pads, and well......just go there.

did you get the memo?

Wasn't it delightful to check your mailbox in December as you received so many hand-addressed envelopes filled with holiday cheer?  Getting "real mail" is a treat, something we also discovered during our Crusade a few months ago:  Spread the Love.  Laura reminded us that this is National Letter Writing Week (and she's hosting a party on her blog!)  What?  You didn't get the memo either?  It's never too late to make this a priority, to not just think about writing a letter, but to do it.  Now that I think about it, Kathy also blogged about writing a letter.  Here's a *smack to the forehead* - write someone today. 

There are many ways to get your message across - you can be all fancy with the pens and wax seals or funky with cards and stamps.  You can think big like we did when we wrote to both the Queen and the Queen Mother - and we got letters back*!  Or you can just write the most minimal words, from the heart.

I've been writing Fan Mail for years.  First letter was probably to David Cassidy, most recent was to David Carson.  In fact, this week I sent off a handful of emails to several people who were featured in Helvetica, and heard back from a few already!  The cool thing about this cyber world is we can follow an impulse, find a person, and make a connection.  Instant gratification.  Instant expression of gratitude.  I keep a file of fan mail I've sent and the responses I've gotten - both through real mail and via email.  Sadly, I've lost some copies because I didn't print them out right away - so learn from me, after you hit send, hit print.  (Yes, I admit that most of my letters are by email lately but I'm vowing to change that because how do you know that your recipient is hitting print?  Don't you want them to have a real letter from you?)  It's really interesting to look back at the letters I've sent as a fan and to remember what struck me to reach out to another person - whether it was an artist, or a writer, or a someone who touched me in some way. 

I was doing a little digging around online and came across THIS from Emily Post's Etiquette.  She was lamenting that letter writing was going to become a lost art and be replaced with telegrams and phone messages.  THAT was in 1922.  Hello?  Email, texting, voicemail.....she would die!  She goes into great detail about the kind of letter we don't like to get - letters no one likes to read.  (Not a bad lesson to review for us bloggers!)  But she also tells us this, above.  Love that.

I'm not dissing email - you got it, use it!  It's been a terrific means of communicating.  (Leaving comments is like a little letter of validation too!)  I'm just saying, write a letter - whether it's a quick note, or a thought-out paragraph, to let someone know you're glad they're around, you're thinking of them, they have influenced you, or you just like their music.  *wink*

Who will you write to?

* Because my husband is from England, I made it a practice to send notes to the Queen from our kids.  When Windsor Castle suffered a fire we sent $2 from Peter and Sam and rec'd a letter thanking us for the donation and how the money would be deposited.  Later, when Fallon was born on the Queen Mother's birthday we would send her cards, telling her it was Fallon's birthday too.  Every year we would get a letter with birthday wishes in return.   Ya never know who will write back!  Of all the letters to people I consider "stars", I've heard back from the majority.  Of course it's about SENDING your positive vibes out into the world without any expectation of response, but it's kinda cool to hear back too! 

i'm in trouble

Yes, two posts in one day.  Do you think it depends on what part of the country you're from if you call it a Purse or a Handbag?  Like Soda or Pop?  Wikipedia makes it sound like they are equally used, along with Pocketbook.  So my post below ruffled the feathers of my dear friend Edie who is a HotShot at this place.  And apparently I'm not only using the wrong term, but she thinks I may possibly influence you NOT to get the latest "it" purse (or handbag).  And since I'm hardly "in the know" of what's cool in the purse category (proof below), I will make a plug for her company, to get you all stoked up about their newest and their classics just to show I wasn't dissing purses, or the buying of purses.  (And if you read the Wikipedia entry on purses you'll learn women buy an average of one purse every three months, so I think Edie's company is safe, but I'll still plug away in the spirit of friendship.)

I finally found two great purses this year - one for concerts, and one for my regular day job as a mom - backpack style.  And yep, that Coach bag was a gift, from you-know-who.  I use it sparingly as I don't often have something of this caliber in my closet. 

My totes are many....can't find them all at the moment for their photoshoot but here's what I found on the surface in my studio.  I have 10 times more totes than purses.

Hmmmm.  I guess we buy what we like, label or not.....logo or not.  (The tote I point out is cleverly made from a HIM tshirt by Vamptropolis @ Etsy.)  My favorite band will probably never make the Washington Post "in" list.....fine with me, I'll continue to get good concert tickets.  NOBODY can tell me they aren't all that, because to me, they are.

Are pointy shoes still in?  Bleh!  Who cares.  I'll NEVER buy those things.  I KNOW that Edie KNOWS my post below wasn't really about not buying the "it" purse.  And I know that you GET that it's not about what's Trendy or what's Over.  We know what our "look" is when it comes to clothes or jewelry (or purses) or home decor.  We don't let the List determine how we will make our selections because we like what we like, regardless of who approves it.  Why not figure out what your look is when it comes to your art? 

Hey, do you think this post might lure Edie from her lurking position and get her comment?  *wink*

It's been a good week!

Saturday, I was a lucky girl - had a lovely day in the city with my friend Lynne.  We had planned to catch Wendy Addison's Trunk Show at Tinsel Trading but serendipity was at play and we got to squeeze in a Klimt show too!  The Neue Gallery is hosting a show on Gustav Klimt, with a handful of his paintings, many drawings, and some other treats.  The biggest thrill for me was seeing this beauty....a familiar piece to many of us but you just gotta see it for real.  The textures and metallics are stunning! 

After a terrific lunch and visit to the gallery Lynne and I dashed down to Tinsel Trading Co.  We stood and awwwwed in the window before heading in.  I can't believe this is the only photo I have of us together from yesterday.....you can just see us in the reflection of the Pierrot costume that stopped me in my tracks:

I can't remember when I first discovered Wendy - maybe in a magazine?  (Like Victoria or M.E.)  Might have been when I saw some of her wonderful pieces done in black and white.  Then the book Where Women Create hit the shelves and I buckled at the knees when I saw her studio/shoppe.  You KNOW what I'm talking about if you have that book.  It was indeed a privilege to meet her and to see her journal filled with deliciously juicy sketches.  And to stand and watch her theater in motion as she stood with a wink and pulled the tassle-ended string.  She's a girl after my own heart - embedding secrets in her work.

We had a wonderful time seeing all her products too.  The halloween items are clever - I especially love the skeleton in the coffin.  After Lynne left one of the things I asked Wendy about was the costume we had spied earlier.  Since I have a thing for Pierrots I asked her stand next to it for a photo.  Look how cute she is with her hand through the sleeve.  Like a fangirl I ran out onto the sidewalk for a quick snap.

I will print out that photo and place it on my Wendy Addison (signed!) frame.  Doesn't it almost look like an "M"?  Had to have it....as well as some other goodies from Tinsel Trading.

You might remember seeing on Pam Garrison's blog that she and Jenny Doh were sprinkled with the lucky dust as they got to visit Wendy's studio some months back (which led to an Artist Portfolio in Somerset Studio, Jul/Aug 07). 

I've been such a lucky girl - to take a train to the city for a warm October day with a friend, to catch up on conversation, and to feast on inspiring visuals.....the hour ride home was not enough time to scribble down all my thoughts and fresh ideas.  Thanks Lynne, thanks Gustav, thanks Wendy!

Lots of incoming goodies to show you...some will wait until later this week when I post my Halloween stuff.  How about this from Marylinn Kelly?  She delivers sunshine with her hand-colored-with-love envelopes.  Do you love her skullies?  The pin was a gift earlier this year - don't you think she needs to be selling these on her site?  New rubber designs by Marylinn are at Rubber Moon.

Here are some cards.....the first from my ghoulfriend Lisa, I think she needs a tattoo of these guys:

And Michelle was so sweet to send this....she entered it for the Crush Crusade as she was crushing on the ink blot article on Somerset.  She dedicated it to me since I crush on red, and then surprised me by mailing it here!  I had to get that skull stamp for myself...she was an enabler - oh, and the Top Hat pick for the crusade!!  (Skull by Inkadinkado)

Paint the town Red?  Judi knew I'd love it.  And just a few days ago Lynne sent this....might have to try a few verses of my own.

Two more things I have to share.  While at Valley Ridge I was giving Andrew a hard time about his Frank Lloyd Wright stencils he had just scored at Taliesin East.  I was teasing him that he should have gotten me some....and I even had the nerve to continue after we got home by threatening to spray paint his picnic table in exchange for the stencils.  Such a sweet man, he was actually going to send me two but I refused because I can get my own with a few clicks on the keyboard.  It was a touching offer wasn't it?  So I never got around to ordering them and this week a fantastically painted box arrived on my doorstep.  You guessed it FLW stencils!  FROM BONNIE BENSON, another student at Valley Ridge.  She witnessed the fuss I made over them and as she passed by Taliesin on her way back home she got them for me.  How cool is that?  Thanks Bonnie!

And the last story to wind up a really good week is a gift I got from my sweet friend Linda Warlyn.  I'm late in sharing this one as it was two weeks ago that she gave me this thoughtful present.  If you read the comments on this blog you have no doubt read Linda's warm and generous words.....and wished she had a blog because you just know you'd like her.  So in the bag were these two boxes...not any ordinary boxes.  Black licorice!  I don't even remember telling you here that I like black licorice but I blather on about everything I crush on so I'm not surprised it slipped out.  (Easter:  black jelly bean mention according to Linda)  BUT HERE'S WHY THESE BOXES ARE SO SPECIAL:  THEY ARE FROM FINLAND.  And you thought I might get through an entire long post without a single mention of ......well, you know.  But SHE knows, and so when she pointed it out I fell over in amazement at her cleverness.  AND because she knows I crush on scents, and four leaf clovers too, THIS sachet was another PERFECT thing.  Thanks Linda!  (and start a blog would ya?)

NEXT:  my halloween pictures!  We are having a party Saturday.....and I'm not even done!

how often do you......WINK?

Sure, a wink is a physical gesture of blinking one eye with a twinkle in the other and a sly smile that delivers a secret message.  Maybe it says "I'm thinking if you in a special way", or "I knew you'd love that", or "I'm full of surprises", or "See, I'm paying attention, and I GET you".  Sometimes it's not even a facial expression, but an act that makes you realize someone is winking at you.  Take for instance a few months ago when I told you about an article where my friend Jenny Doh, director of publishing at Stampington, was winking at me.  You can read about that HERE.

The latest issue of Somerset Studio arrived and I got WINKED at again.

 

If you've seen Lynne's book Beyond Paper Dolls then you're familiar with this paper theater.  Somerset presents additional views in my article in the Sept/Oct issue.  It was fun to revisit this project and give it new words.  It was so much fun to make and provided endless amusement as I conjured up all the set drop-ins.  When I first sent it to Lynne I had enclosed in the prop drawer a figure of Edgar Allan Poe as well as a scaled down replica of a puppet I had created for Teesha's Art and Life, depicting my favorite rock star Ville Valo.  It was a way of sending a little WINK to Lynne.  To my surprise and delight, Ville showed up on stage in the Somerset article.  A total WINK from Jenny.  Not many people will know who he is or why he's there but WE know.  Say it....H.C.I.T.  There is a Valo/Poe connection which is another reason why I included him in the theater but I'll spare you that story today.  For more views of The Willow Playhouse presents The Raven, see HERE.

 

If you've been following my blog this is old news, but here are the pages I had done for Teesha over a year ago....and a photo of me with Ville when I gave him the puppet.  Now you know who that dude is on stage in the article...and why it was a WINK from my editor and friend.  And because I'm on a music crusade for the GPP Street Team I will share with you a HIM video where Ville is wearing the top hat. 

Also in this issue is an Artist Portfolio on Julie Pearson.  I was honored to be the one to introduce you to her as she is a very dear friend and incredible artist and mentor.  It was difficult to edit myself and not sound like a total fangirl when I wrote the article.  It's only here that I can share with you HOW CRAZY I AM ABOUT THIS WOMAN.  We are working together on a website for her and you will be the first to know when it's ready.  Pick up the issue to see her beautiful work. 

Today, when I should have been packing, I escaped with Susanna to see Becoming Jane.  DIVINE film.  If you're a Jane Austen fan DO NOT MISS IT!   

Raise your hand if you want to see a spin-off that follows the life of Henry Austen.  Susanna and I vote YES.