michelle ward

RT No. 4 & GPP No. 35

I believe in signs.  I have written several times about the *signs* I have for loved ones.  I love the connection between *things* and *thoughts of someone*.  I love that thinking of someone can be prompted by seeing something unique and specific.  That is exactly what Crusade No. 35 is about - What's Your Sign?   

Slightly more complicated to explain is what I consider to be *sign transference*.  Here's a great example:  yesterday my friend Carrie sent me an etsy link to go look at some cute deer.  She sees deer and thinks of me because she knows that deer make me think of Shannon.  It's a big wide circle of thought....a ripple effect.

Ruby Tuesday pages for this week happen to work for the Crusade too.  I have two very special friends *P*, and *E*, who have never met, (yet remind me of each other).  Both of them claim the cardinal as the sign for their Grandmother.   Because they shared that with me whenever I see a cardinal I think of them.  It's all so special, because it widens the circle of thought and remembrance.  Sign Transferred.  Sure, may not be such a thing....but it makes sense to me *grin*

mark your calendars

Album release date:  February 9, 2010.  *squeeee*

Get your calendar HERE.

ruby tuesday number three and a half

Ok, so it's not Tuesday, but I worked in my RT journal today.  Sunday is my rock star crush's birthday.  11/22 Ville Valo will be 33.  Doesn't that portrait stencil rock?  

 
Hyvää Syntymäpäivää!  It's going to be an exciting year.  The new HIM album comes out in February:  Screamworks - Love in Theory and Practice.  Thirteen track names have been revealed.  Cover art is still a mystery.   Our fan friends in Australia and England already have tour dates scheduled.  We can't wait to learn about the U.S. tour!  The first single will be out soon...and a video?  *faints*  

RT No. 3

 

 

 
  (for feed readers:  three journal spreads)
 

hip hip....

 
I was cleaning up around my garden yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that amongst all the green and yellowing leaves of my rose bushes there were scores of lovely hips.  I never knew they came from the last blooms left on the stems. 

Remember when I said I was going to leave that last bud to grow?  Look what she produced!  I gathered up a handful of hips and was so inspired by the organic shape that I cut a few stencils to use in my Ruby Tuesday journal.  Check back tomorrow to see what I came up with.

I have several rolls of tyvek, purchased from ebay years ago that work really well as stencils and masks.  The stuff doesn't tear but it is super easy to cut.  Plus - the material takes paint nicely so the tool can double as an element on a page.   

My friend Kathryn and I seem to follow synchronistic paths....she blogged some lovely hip photos yesterday.  Go SEE.

one more, for remembrance

One more for Ruby Tuesday, a little late, but on time for Veteran's Day.

 

Thinking of, with gratitude, all our troops, both active and retired, those living and those passed on, especially my grandfather Justice Fallon Kelly. 

self-imposed sanity

Heading into holiday season do you find you set aside your artwork?  While I enjoy the preparations and festivities my studio becomes cluttered with gifts and wrappings.  This year I have a self-imposed assignment of keeping up with my visual journal, at least on a weekly basis to stay plugged into creativity.  I'm going to use my stash of favorite red things that sit in my journal kit.  Using them feels good.  Making stuff feels good.  Dirty hands feels good.  Why not try to set aside one morning a week for yourself?  I started last week:

 

 

 

My rose bushes don't know what to think.  The weather keeps changing.  I clip off roses as they enthusiastically dare to appear, not knowing if it will be in the 70s or the 30s.  I think this may be the last bud.  I'll leave her on and watch her grow.

   

i spy.....

 

 

(for feed readers:  click through to see the graphics on this post)

The 2010 schedule for Valley Ridge is now up!  Nearly 40 workshops to choose from.  Several artists make their debut at VR this season including my friends Judy Wilkenfeld and Laurie Mika.  You'll find me there in September.  I've posted new buttons in the left sidebar that take you to pages (with class descriptions) on my site for each workshop.  Click on the words to take you to the Valley Ridge site for more information and registration which begins December 7th. 

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!