michelle ward

bring it on

 

 

 

2008 will settle itself in my heart, but not as a dark cloud....as a pink glow.  I will continue to process the evidence of '08 in my journal but I am ready for what lies ahead.  I can take it.  I embrace it.  Bring it on.

drum roll.......

 

i know that they have several meaings - in gesture form it's 'crossing fingers' for good luck or to negate a promise, and the other is 'a-ok', or 'all is well'.  they are letters in sign language too. 

but to me, i see 'x' and 'o'.  in text-talk it's #9 x2, #6 x3.   tina got it first.  she knows me well.  and yes, megan, when they are finished, and on display in our home, it will be a *wink*.  

the clue:  journal pages from here and here.  and one of my graphics, made for inge last january to explain the meaning of "xo".

 

More on the subject, some etsy finds from Renee at PanicMama, and Andrea at SterlingNStones.  (More etsy finds after the 1st.)

 

This is a teeny weeny magnetic sculpture thing that is addictive to play with.  Scored it at Borders on one of those spinners at the checkout meant for impulse buyers like me.

  

And these, from Michaels, will be spray painted as soon as I can get outside to do it.

 

I promise you I'm not already in Valentine mode.  Just testing my camera :)

hand signals

 

The hand on the left I've had for a while.  I was planning on making a paper-pleated cuff for it.  As I was revisiting my list of projects to complete I suddenly had an epiphany.  I knew that the hand on the right was sitting on the shelf at TJ Maxx.  Ran out and got it today.  In addition to being another hand-that-needs-a-cool-paper-cuff, it was necessary to have.   (And I'm trying out my new camera from Graham.  It has an anti-jiggle thing that really works.) 

Do you see what I see?

 

It's really easy and I'm sure you can see it now.  It's just a fun example of seeing something beyond what it's meant to mean.  Still not sure?  Tune in tomorrow.

EDIT:  Oh, and on the Street Team we are taking evidence in our journals with Scent of the Season, Crusade No. 26.  Document the scents from right now to recall your just-made memories at another time.  There are a few days left to come play.  Due January 1st.

precious metal

 

 

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!

grab a tissue...

Grab a whole box.  I woulda got ya some but this was the last one.  Cool, isn't it?

naughty or nice

Don't you feel like preparing for Christmas is an exercise of endurance?  You make list after list, check them twice, and decide if you want to be naughty or nice.  Naughty is relative isn't it?  Spending too much, or not enough, might be naughty.  Endulging in something for yourself might be naughty...or maybe not being good to yourself at this time of year might be get you in trouble.  Breathe, be good.

Here's some nice things that happened since we last spoke....Wednesday night the Room 10 boys performed with the band at the school's holiday show.  They played the drums, and they rocked it.  We were in the last row - best view, but bad for photos.  Still, so nice.

 

I was out shopping with Fallon today, and we scored a pink tree to go with the deer.  Nice.

  

A nice surprise came in the mail today from Ann Marie and the Festival Ballet of Providence (Rhode Island).  They have permission to use my nutcracker image for their merchandise - this year they made black hoodies with a silver print, and she sent me one!  Thanks Ann Marie.  Nice.  When I took this photo I had an a-ha moment.  Sam collects calendars, and that is all he wants for Christmas.  There are about 40 on the walls of his room.  He has a few perpetual calendars - and he loves this nutcracker with the countdown numbers.  It never occured to me to paint some blocks for him - a gift I'll be making tomorrow.

  

The local fire station suited up and paraded through our part of town with Santa.  The all-volunteer firemen ran up and down the street delivering candy canes while the sirens blasted and rockin' loud music played.  How nice is that?

  

This just in - Artists' Cafe Volume 2.  It is really NICE.  (I have a few things in it!)

   

We're expecting a big snow storm.  How perfect that I'm almost done preparing and can spend a day wrapping while listening to my Christmas music.  Nice.

the more, the merrier

breaking news....

'Tis the season......for buying Stairways!  Wow, thanks for the validation today.  The workshop sold out this morning so Kathy invited me to double dip on the magic of Valley Ridge.  Second class is being offered on Thursday & Friday, October 8 & 9, 2009.  To register, CLICK HERE.  ($75 deposit holds your place.) 

   

confessions of a packrat

Do you tear off the used postage from your holiday cards every year like I do?  It's a habit I started years ago, and I'm happy to admit I have stashes of lovely stamps to use in my art.  I'll take yours if you don't want them.  Really.  Tear off the corner, and save it for me.  P.O.Box 73, Piscataway, NJ 08854

 

Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, registration begins for the workshops at Valley Ridge.  It's the only place I have committed to teach at for next year.  If you are thinking of taking the class with me you might want to save your used postage, right now, and tuck it away until October.

    

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

play your *drum*

 

Follow me.  I was watching the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree (so I could tell Sam when Miley Cyrus was on), and Faith Hill performed Little Drummer Boy.  I couldn't find it on youtube, but found her on Letterman HERE.  Beautiful.  That made me want to revisit Bing & Bowie's version HERE.  LOVE that one.  Then I wanted to see the original.... HERE.  So dear.  And you know when you are on youtube you can spend a whole morning clicking through the 'related videos'.  And whether you prefer the Bob Seger version of the song, or Josh Grobans, the message is clear....

 

I know it may be hard to find the time as the holiday approaches to make gifts which makes it even more special to actually Do It, and Give It.  We often underestimate ourselves and our work don't we?  Shake that off.  You have the Stuff, you have the Talent.  Use It.  Made with Love, Wrapped with Love, Sent with Love.  Do It.

 

 

 

If you didn't click on my links above (they open in a new window so you can listen and keep bloghopping) stop for a minute.  And listen.   You can blame me for the song playing in your head all day.  Keep painting, keep knitting, keep drumming.

 

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.

spring's aviary

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Almost done.  Can you imagine how much fun it was to compile this stuff?  I notice a few repurposed things from previous years, like the phrenology heads.  Very cool.  Told ya, *swoon*. 

iridescent summer

  

  

  

  

  

My fave is next - Spring.  After that I'll show you the 57th Street side windows, more swooning. 

the moons of autumn

 

  

  

 

 

After the Windows, we took rode a rickshaw to dinner, and walked the busy streets to Madison Square Garden for Cirque du Soleil:  Wintuk.  This was my 3rd CDS, but the first that had a skateboard ramp and BMX-style bikers, and a grand finale with snowflake confetti which dropped throughout the entire audience!

 

Still more windows to follow.....

  

painting winter

 

  

  

   

 

 

More tomorrow........

tip of the iceberg

The five main windows at BG are all white.  Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter, and Holiday.  Breathtaking.  Wonderous.  Over-the-top cool.  Here is "Holiday":

 

  

  

  

  

Much more to come.............. 

angels gather here

When our brother-in-law arrived for Thanksgiving he had gifts for the kids.  Fallon received these two angels and Andy shared that Shannon requested her collection be given to her four nieces.  It was very special to get Angel of Prayer, and Angel of the Heart.

 

Sunday seemed the perfect time to bring out the Nativity set which matches the angels.  A special friend started me on the collection, adding to it every year.  I found the stable in an unfinished furniture shop - need to add some straw and pine boughs this week.  I painted the stable and added the star, then I found the ceiling tile tree.  I wish I could find more like this one!

 

The Shannon Angels are surrounded by a host of gifted angels, from Mom and Judi:  Hope, Wonder, Warmth, and Remembrance.  They are Willow Tree by Sue Lordi for Demdaco.

  

Oh, and a score from a McDonald's Happy Meal.  *wink*

behind window no. 1

 

I love anything with little windows and doors, especially when there are secrets behind them.  Today I got out my collection of Advent Calendars.  Here are a few, collected over the years from BasBleu.  Can you stand it?  Russian and Italian architecture with WINDOWS AND DOORS! 

 

Here's one I made a few years ago - behind each window is my collection of Madonna & Child Christmas postage stamps - looks kinda lame now so I'm about to start a new one.  Not a real advent calendar, but still a countdown of sorts.  I'm determined to make a little something each day before Christmas as inspired by my friend Kathryn who has prompted her posse of Soul Journalers on her blog.  Kathryn challenges you to chronicle gifts of gratitude....on the heels of Thanksgiving, it's perfect.  Two inches a day on a journal page seems do-able, and it will keep me plugged in to good vibes taking me right up to Christmas.  The day is almost over....gotta get Day One made.