michelle ward

onWARD

 

 

seize the day

We are a rock and roll loving family.  There are several bands we all adore. A7X is one of them. This morning Peter told us some really sad news - The Rev, drummer for the band, passed away at 28.  Here is a favorite track by them:  Seize the Day.

Sending out healing vibes to the Avenged Sevenfold family. 

Seize the Day.  Everyday.

the learning curve.....

Whew boy!  I have been a lucky girl!  I am writing this post from my new laptop....and added details to this photo using a new version of photoshop!  I am trying not to let the learning curve of these devices make me crabby because it's all good. 

Yesterday Fallon and I finally made it into the city to see the Bergdorf Goodman windows.  We shared the experience with two treasured friends, Bonnie and Anne.   What fun it was to be there with artists....we were supposed to go earlier in the month with Lisa but I got sick :(   I have alot of editing to do before the photos are ready to present.  This year Fallon was the photographer.  If you get a chance to see the windows in the next week or so (before they change them out) do it!  If you can't make it then check back here in the following days for Fallon's perspective.  You may remember my posts from last year HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  A sneak peek of 2009.......*swooooooon*.

Hope Santa was good to you.  No coal here, that's for sure.

christmas eve

Fallon has made the Jesus Birthday cake and we are about to head out to church.  Graham has put on the Christmas Music Mix and we are feeling festive as the evening gets dark.  Sam is looking forward to Santa's visit....bringing the requested calendars he asks for every year.  There is snow on the ground.  All is good.

The first track on the compilation:  Do They Know It's Christmas?  It's a favorite for several reasons, the most important being it was released a few months after I met my husband.  Twenty-five years ago!

 

 

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas.

ruby tuesday number eight

I admit that today was a little too packed with wrapping duty to indulge in making journal pages.  So I am reviewing pages shown on my blog from the past two years where I used some red.  It was really fun to scroll back through my own blog!

Lots of red around the home, in the wardrobe, on the tree.  I love that it is everywhere....all the way until Valentines Day! 

and the winner is.....

Manja Uhlig from Germany!  Congratulations Manja.  I have your address and will send tomorrow.  I thank all the participants - it was super cool to read your kind words and I appreciate the interest and enthusiasm you have for the new images.  More will be unveiled soon, and this half sheet will be for sale on GPP in January.

spreading the luck

I told you I was a lucky girl....now is your chance to be one too.  I have a new half sheet of unmounted rubber I will give away this week.  It's going to be part of the new collection - I had them made early for the Stairway to Heaven class.  If you leave a comment below I will enter your name for a drawing on Sunday.  The sheets will be available to order in January.

The graphic above shows the images spaced out - it is actually a 5 x 8 half sheet. 

 
Try your luck....enter a comment below.  Drawing on Sunday night.

ruby tuesday number seven

 
Took a break from writing out cards....did some quick painting in my Ruby Tuesday journal.

Had two unexpected surprises arrive in the mail, I'm a Lucky Girl!  Catherine gifted me with these PMC charms that she makes.  She is a master at silversmithing and if I lived near her I would sign up for her classes in a heartbeat.  Thank you Catherine, these are precious.

And from Cindi - this girl Gets Me too.  I had to wear this today, even though it was 50 degrees.  I wish you could see how soft it is, and the deep rich color of red and black.  Perfect perfect perfect.  Thanks Cindi.  Heartagram hugs to you.

 

pink christmases

In the beginning....Mom had a lovely tree in the living room, filled with glass balls of soft pink and green.  The last time I held one it was speckled with stains from sprayed *snow*, from the days when that was cool.  I'm not sure if any of them survived past my childhood - they may have been tucked away, leaving room on the branches for livelier colors and handmade ornaments.  Recently I scooped up some of these pink *Shiny Brites*, (remember them?) from ebay, to add to our collection in remembrance of our family tree.

 
Last year we reclaimed pink for Christmas, as another remembrance.  Judi sent this deer, a special sign, that draws attention in our stable.....and we just *wink*.

Last week I found this sweet little angel practically hiding on a store shelf.  She's only about two inches high....but she caught my eye with her pink heart, and special message.

 

I will ask Mom if she has any pink glass balls left from her first tree in the 60s.  If not, I will send her some replacements.....and she'll know their double meaning. 

Here's to keeping things meaningful.
 

about paint

I often get asked about what kind of acrylic paint I use.  My answer:  the cheap stuff.  Those who have taken classes with me know that I like to tease the *paint snobs* who only use Golden.  Don't get me wrong, that stuff is wonderful but for journaling purposes I have found it makes me crabby.  My pages stick to each other.  Nothing is more frustrating than to see a student work really hard on a great spread then suffer heartbreak when the pages stick together.  Give me the cheap stuff.  In my opinion, you can be more reckless and smather surfcaes with a abandon when you are working with less precious materials.  Golden (and other pricier brands) are lovely and appropriate for use in finer art but when you are playing around on pages I say go cheap.

Even the gesso I use is cheap - student grade, from Pearl.  $4.99 a quart.

I've also been asked about the scraping.  Similar to *dirty brushing*, is *dirty scraping*.  I covered some brushing effects in Crusade No. 29 where I point out that using two colors of paint on a brush makes for a more interesting surface coverage than a single color.  That's what I call dirty brushing.  The same can be done with scraping.  Pour out some gesso and acrylic colors onto a paper plate.  Dip your old credit card or scraping device into several colors and drag across the surface.  Be light handed and random.  Dip and scrape.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Let dry.  Do some more.  As your surface gets built up with paint you'll see some terrific textures emerge.

 

ruby tuesday number six

  
I am really loving this scraping and may end up leaving this as another unfinished page.  Sometimes my journal pages are simply studies that can inform future work, like on canvas.  When stamping out Rose Hips below I notice the letters are nearly equal to Promises, which is what the little seed pods are, aren't they?

 

I treasure the memory, from many Springs ago, of coloring pussy willow buds with pastel chalks.  Not sure why I thought of willows in winter....  maybe because I'm on a roll of creating stencils and masks of natural things.   

  

and the winner is.....

Carmen!!  Congratulations!  Thanks to all who left a comment - I sincerely wish I had more to give away!  Stay tuned....I might have something else to win later this month ;)

And thank you to those who wrote about the new rubber.  I recently had a little glitch with a new sheet and it took a while to resolve so I decided to wait until January to launch the new line.  And about the Stairway class kits:  I appreciate the interest, truly, and I will be working on that for early 2010.

oh, and this....want one?

I meant to post about this yesterday - Somerset Studio 2010 Calendar, I'm the March girl.  I will give one away, drawing on Monday morning.  Want one?  Leave a comment to enter.

now and almost now

A reminder that registration for workshops at Valley Ridge begins Monday, December 7th at 9:00 am Central Standard Time.  Classes filled quickly last year so if you are interested be ready at the keyboard!

The two workshops I am offering:  Roll With It, and Parlor Tricks.

 
 

  

Out right now is Artists Cafe No. III from Stampington & Co.  They have revisited three of my articles from Somerset Studio, one is an interview I did of friend and favorite artist:  Julie Pearson. 

And in books - I'm pleased to announce I am in Lynne's book (in stock now at Amazon!) and Bee's book, due in February. 

And of course, I can't close without mentioning this: HIM's new single Heartkiller will be released December 8th (check itunes).  You can click over to their myspace for a listen tomorrow!   Album release date:  2/9/10
 

ruby tuesday number five

I almost missed it!  Five minutes until Wednesday.  I'm sorry I missed saying Happy Thanksgiving to all....I caught a bug.  No, not that one, a different one, and it really knocked me off my feet.  Still managed to have a good visit with my parents.  Today's pages are about getting prepared spiritually for Christmas.  Easy to think about on December first, especially as Advent just started.  As the month marches on the pressure tends to build and the meaning can get blurry.  Trying to maintain my perspective....putting out the Nativity set is always my first ritual.

 

I always try to leave at least one thing unfinished in my journal.  It helps me to jump right back in when I have the chance to play again.  It's a good trick, try it! *wink*