michelle ward

the view from here

While the rest of the world is racing by - school buses and UPS trucks blast down the street about 40 feet from my bedroom window.  But just beyond the sash is a pine tree, where a mama and daddy dove have taken up residence.  Each morning I open the window and whisper hello.  Winston waits patiently to take his perch on the sill and spends hours watching them.  Today I startled the mama and off she flew....revealing her lovely pearl.  It was hard to get the photo - had to reach way around the tree and got a couple of blurry shots (while in my jammies!) but I wanted to be quick so she wouldn't stress out and could come back.

I am grateful for my daily visit with the dove family.  They are a quiet calming reminder that whatever else happens today, I am lucky to be a wife and a mother in a little nest of our own. 

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*

findings

In case you hadn't heard....Jenny Doh has a new blog.  Hop over and say hello, then bookmark for regular visits with your morning coffee.

Yesterday I got to spend a-perfect-weather-day in NYC with my friend Edie.  Time flies when I'm with this girl - had a blast, beginning with a tour of her way-cool apartment.  Then off to Tinsel Trading for another visit with Wendy Addison.  And THEN, I finally got to Metalliferous - a place Beryl Taylor told me about last year.  What a find!  I kinda knew what to expect so I had a wishlist of things to look for which really helped since there is so much to see.  Here's some of my loot.  Those hearts are made of copper mesh! 

 

And now for the reveal on the tree root I showed you earlier....loved all the responses.  It was fun to read what your perspectives were.  I saw England in view No. 2.  I plan on putting it in a box, positioned over a map, with a heart placed over Birmingham (where I met my husband!)

Have a wonderful long weekend!

pip pip hooray!

Congrats to David Cook!!  This was my favorite part of the evening....I rewound on tivo several times, and then searched youtube this morning....

Earlier in the night we got to see our own american idol.  Check out Sam and his classmates HERE.  It's a little dark....but what a moment!  (Sam is second from left).

perspective

I'm not trying to get all deep here, just bring an awareness to perspective.  Whether you are thinking about something little, or something big, don't you find yourself trying to get another perspective?  We say "step back for greater or different perspective", but maybe we mean "lean in closer", or "step away".  We are lucky when we can count on our loved ones to offer an honest perspective, given their experiences, and how well they know us.  Another perspective can give us clarity or confusion. 

Like I said, I'm not trying be all deep.  I'm really just thinking about how we can think bigger when we widen our viewfinder.  Focus is good, but so is blurry.  It allows you to imagine. 

Your view vs. mine:  while collecting fallen branches in the yard last year I came across this root-y thing.  I never would have seen it's potential (to be used in my art) if I hadn't approached it the way I did.  If it was turned another way I would have chucked it in the pile with the other "for the fire" branches.  But I was looking for a specific size of branch to set in my "save for the studio" pile when I came across it.  It reminded me of something instantly.  I won't tell you which view I'm talking about....take a look at these directional photos and tell me what YOU see. 

There has been alot of chatter online about the Orphan Works Act of 2008 - threatening to change the copyright laws as we know them (which still seem a little murky).  Well, it's going to get murkier.  Here's my perspective:  you have to do what you have to do to feel like you can make a difference or advocate for your rights.....I haven't read through every detail but this became clear:  you need to protect yourself.  LABEL YOUR WORK.  Label every photo you post online.  Take credit for your work.  Orphan means that the originating artist can't be found.  Make sure you can be found.  Have a blog or website?  Make it easy to contact you.  Don't have your name on your blog?  What's that about?  TAKE CREDIT.  Be find-able.  *steps off soapbox*

double trouble (in a good way)

Today we got good news that Shannon is leaving the hospital!  We've been praying for this day for weeks.  We have all been wanting to break her out so that she could enjoy her 40th birthday at HOME. 

Tomorrow she will be 40, and I will be 44.  Having the same birthday is just one of the special things I share with my sister.  There were probably many years that we blew out candles on the same cake - but I remember one year in particular where there was a party, and one large sheet cake, and we each got to pick our own color for the frosted roses.  I think I picked yellow or red, but I'm sure she picked pink.  Shannon ~ let's skip the frosted roses and get something decadent and chocolatey and call each other with our mouths full.

How is possible that this sweet thing in the flowered purple coat below is now 40?

The best gift will be getting a birthday call from you and the caller ID tells me you are HOME.

*launches etsy*

 

After being a fan and supporter of ETSY for some time now, I've finally launched my own shop!  I'm starting out by selling the remaining Marie Antoinette unmounted rubber stamp sets that were created for the collaborative project you read about HERE.  Before I was even able to get this post up some of them sold.  I have more to load tomorrow, and then will be working on painted canvases and maybe some other cool stuff to sell as I get the hang of this new thing.  If you haven't been to ETSY, scoot over there now and check out all the wonderful handcrafted goodies.  See my link, upper right. 

If you subscribe to Stampington's Post Script you can enter to win one of these sets too (by May 25th.) 

what day is it?

This week was one of those this-feels-like-a-monday-on-wednesday AND this-feels-like-a-friday-on-wednesday.  At least today is Saturday and could sleep in, one of my favorite indulgences.  So here's a catch-up post so I can clear my head and the memory card on my camera.....

 

Another terrific weekend spent making cool stuff with old friends and new ones.  Kathy and Bill are The Best hosts and the additions they made to their compound are wonderful.  The weekend began with a delightful ride from the airport with new-friend-who-felt-like-an-old-friend-because-we-talked-and-talked-and-talked, Beth.  Fun to meet you in person Beth!  Mom drives to Valley Ridge each year from the Twin Cities so she can see hang out and try out the groovy things we like to do with paint.

Then we spent two days painting pages.  There's nothing quite like an extended workshop - to be able to set up camp and leave your stuff out for two days is really cool.  The artists made great stuff!  Great to see Judy, Bonnie, and Bernadette again.  And I got to give a hug to Tina and Marlynn - both are friends made online and met in person for the first time.  And it was delight to meet Kelley, Julia, Kaye, Michelle, Sue, Jennifer, Kathy, and the token dude, Gary.

And at VRAS they have a new community building not only for amazing lunches, but for a wine-and-cheese-or-soda happy hour.  I think we were all very happy - as in it was great to spend time together making art and making new friends.  For more photos of the weekend you can visit VRAS's album HERE.

EDIT:  OMG!  Look at my thumb and index finger on Kelley's shoulder!  It's covered in black spray paint.  What a riot.  Where were my gloves?

 

I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to teach at this wonderful place, and to have a classroom full of students who are eager to learn and play and made it so much fun.  It's so energizing to see creativity at work, and to be part of that.  And I'm grateful to my husband and kids - that they make it easy for me to get away, to be a full-time artist for a few days.  I'll be back in October 2009 and have already started inventing my class - can't wait! 

 

Since Shannon is still in the hospital I modified my return plans and caught a ride back to MN with Mom and Judy, and got to spend some time visiting with Mom and Dad, Shannon and her husband Andy, my Grandma, my cousins Kathy and Molly, and friends Virginia and Peggy.  So fab to see so many loved ones.  Whew!  Got alot in for less than 48 hours.  Shannon is doing much better and it was The Best to get to see her.  Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers coming in....hope she's out before her 40th birthday on the 17th.

Got home at midnight Tuesday, then headed out Wednesday afternoon for an MCR concert with Fallon and our friend Leci.  Home at 1 am.  Do you blame me for not knowing what day it was?

Twenty Crusades!  Phew!  I can hardly believe it.  Congrats to Sarah Harris from the U.K. for being the Top Hat Pick for No. 19.  I was late in getting No. 20 up but it's an easy one....plenty of time to try it before June 1st.  Come play! 

Wishing all you all a Happy Mother's Day!  I'm feeling so grateful to have time with my Mom this week, and to come home to three wonderful children.  I am so lucky!  Check this out, found in Sam's backpack:

Adorable!

*waves*

I'm outta here.  See ya Wednesday.  Crusade extended until 5/7....still time to join.