michelle ward

E is for enthusiasm, evidence

I had limited time today to make my rubytuesday pages since I'm heading out to pick up Mom from the airport.  It was easy to do these - simply documented recent events by tucking away some *evidence*, and scribbling down some thoughts. 

 
I was so touched and tickled by the responses you left on my last post.  I printed out the comments for my journal page.  I get it that not all of you are HIM fans.  And you may even roll your eyes when you arrive to see another post about them.  But what is really cool is that you were still able to share the enthusiasm with me.  And you get it that these projects and experiences are important to me.   Thank you.

Oh!  You want to know where that cool *evidence* tape came from? When I was looking for pre-printed toe tags I came across  crimescene.com   I ended up making my own toe tags, but found lots of great stuff at that place.  I have been keeping a journal....yes another....that is all about barrier tape.  I collect different specimens of tape while out and about, and friends even send me some.  I have tape confiscated from the local premises of Greece, Italy, and France! 

 

And courtesy of ATPhotography, a few shots from the show Friday night.  It was spectacular!  Next up:  three more dates in May!

the report

It was a glorious day!  We arrived in Deptford and took our place in line.  Hundreds of fans were there and we met up with our friends, and many new ones.  I have been to signings and meet & greets before, but this one was run tight and strict, and very fast.  Fallon was a wreck as we inched closer.  They had several check points where they held you back so you couldn't really even see the band until you were standing right in front of them.  We had prepared gifts but they were swiftly wisked away by some record exec. but we got to tell them about it.  I practically shreiked "but I made them Toe Tags".  We thanked them for this opportunity and had our items signed (had to sweet talk the exec. to let us go with unconventional surfaces, a tshirt and a journal).  I explained what my journal was and they took a look and thought it was really clever.  *grin*

 

So there is a song on the new album called Acoustic Funeral.  (It was actually playing in the store during the signing!!)  You can hear Ville explain the song HERE.   You can hear the song HERE.   (Very pretty, take a listen).  The chorus is this....

 
Epiphany!  Toe Tags!  We also brought a book, a Black Sabbath dvd, and some cool socks.  (they say they always lose socks on tour)  I mentioned we had given him the collections of grave dirt and he said the bottles are all lined up on his mantel at home!  And they thought my HIMnal was cool.   Can't wait for them to get a good look at the Toe Tags.  *faints*

They didn't allow photographs....but I got this one of Fallon with their manager, Seppo.  And the others are courtesy of Hot Topic.

 

 

What a blast we had!  So fun to see our favorite band again.  They were all so charming and nice, and really tuned into you when you spoke with them.  Great to hang with Bill, Laure, Mark, Suzanne, Cindi, and Cherie.  Had to go out for a fun meal to decompress together....

 

Next up:  concert tonight!  *blows kisses*

xx

(click through for rubytuesday journal page) 

whatta week!

Before I talk about the week ahead I will say something about the last weekend.  I was super lucky to have an opportunity to teach at the Career Capades day at our kid's high school.  It was an action packed day with many presentations in all kinds of departments.  I was asked to set up for a workshop and chose to go with monoprinting as it is fast, easy, and quick-drying.  With the assistance of some art students we kept the tables turning over so we could let everyone who was interested come have a try at a painting technique.  Some 'customers' whizzed in and out but there were some who stayed and kept at it, making lots of cool painted prints.  LOVE that I got to witness young kids taking an interest in making art.

There is still time to "Grab a Tissue", then next month we will try monoprinting for the crusades.

And now this week.  OMG.  Love my him, Him, and HIM. him:  it is our 20th anniversary tomorrow!  I am such a lucky girl to have this man in my life.  What a blessing to exchange vows with him and launch a family together.  Life is good.  Him:  this weekend is Palm Sunday.  The beginning of Holy Week.  I remember learning as a kid that the ashes we get crossed on our forehead at the beginning of Lent is from the burned palms of the year before.  I don't know if that's true but I like the connection.  Mom and Dad will be arriving next week to celebrate Easter with us.  And HIM:  the new video was just released...my favorite track on the album too!  Thursday, Fallon and I go to the signing.  (I am frantically preparing gifts right now!)   Friday, Graham and I go to the opening night of the tour.  We are out of our minds with excitement!  Gah!

 

 

sah-weet, sweeeeet, and sweet

Check out this new score (from Heart of the Home in New Hope, PA).  It's not just sweet, it's sah-weet....said with two syllables.  I was introduced to Tammy Smith in the current Somerset Studio.  Such clever work.  Great imagination and skill with wire.  She has a blog too...go SEE.

Also in this issue is my friend Linda Warlyn.  She is the sweeeeeetest, and so talented.  The Artist Portfolio article is written by another sweet friend, Lynne.  Here is the journal page Linda made for me in the Love Book I received last year from a host of sweet friends.  All those teeny delicate details.  It is so her and I treasure it like everything she has given me.

 
 
 

Check out this sweet treat that was delivered, YES DELIVERED, to our home recently.  From Linda!  She is an amazing giver, and she really *gets me*.  We gobbled this right up...and if she wasn't so far away we would've gobbled her up too.  Time to start nagging Linda to blog ;)

another lucky day

You can see I'm still enjoying the felting thing.  I didn't get organized enough to send any out so I hung these up at home.  Heard some really good news this week.  It's a case of being lucky again, and living in the right state.  *faints*

Off to spend the day with my dear friend Judi.  Hope you have a grand day too!

cross my heart

So I picked up this Sanctum bracelet from Brighton over the weekend.  Like I needed another cross charm bracelet...but I couldn't resist.  The gift bag and printed tissue paper was the final *sign* that it was meant to be mine.  I cut up the evidence to use on this journal page.

We are using tissue paper on our journal pages for Crusade No. 38 so it was a cinch to begin this spread...layered the thin printed tissue on the left.  Love how layers of roses show through because of the sheerness of the tissue.  Added torn pieces from the gift bag...painted over it all to *make it mine*.  Had a *duh* moment and added the crosses (since that's what was in the bag!)

I love the clanking of all the charms.  Makes me happy.  It reminds me of my Mom and what it would sound like when she wore her charm bracelet.  Plus I just *heart* crosses.

past pockets

I've gotten lots of feedback here, and by email, on the pockets I created on the last RubyTuesday journal page.  I guess I have always liked to give a little dimension to a page - especially to hold something special like a message or a token of some kind.  I browsed through my archives recently and found lots of evidence that am indeed a pocket-kind-of-girl.

 

 
What's in your pockets?

saving stories

I've been writing.  Writing down stories about how Art Saves.  I think they can be as short as a sentence, or much longer.  I made these journal pages this morning to hold some of my thoughts.  Each week I witness the power of creativity and how it influences myself and others.  In April I will be sharing my story on Crescendoh.com.  I'm already finding it difficult to choose which angle to take.  When the time comes the right one will reveal itself.  For now, I'm enjoying the process of documenting the many ways I know that Art Saves.  Have you thought about your own story?

 

Over the weekend a package of Art Saves loot arrived.  Beautifully packaged and great quality stuff.  Very cool to see the logo transformed from my sharpie drawing....and to see Jenny's vision in action.  Bravo girl!  Be sure to pop over to her site...new stuff there every day.

a thing for dirt

If you've been following along then you know I have a thing for dirt.  Collecting dirt from special places.   People send me dirt too.  Susanne sent dirt from Finland while attending a festival where HIM was playing.  I know, crazy and cleverly good!  This thing I do actually started with saving sand from beaches we visited.  Then it became collecting grave dirt for a rock-star-crush gift. 

I don't expect anyone to get it.  But I'm sure you can appreciate that I squee'd when I found these at Marshalls today.  The items are also available online HERE.  I little piece of Ireland!  You can even get a pound of dirt and a package of shamrock seeds.  HCIT?  Great gift for St. Patrick's Day.  Even if you aren't into dirt.

Previous dirt posts: Got Dirt, Dirt Updates, Dig This, Mission Accomplished, Sleepy Hollow

catching up

Thank you so much for the loving and caring comments and emails.  You have made me feel connected even though I've been unplugged for a while.  It's been a blurry few weeks and I am feeling so much better.  Thank you, truly.

 
My pages from yesterday fall into the *evidence* category.  Lots of messages that came in cards, with gifts, a fruit basket, fresh flower bouquets, and LOTS of ROSES!   How about this message from Lisa...made me grin, and it's so true ;)

I put in some time on my other blog today too.  Crusade No. 38 is posted.  A super easy and fun way to layer on a page is to use tissue paper....even cooler if it's painted.  Go see, then play along with us. 

Journaling reads:  I think being and feeling lucky is entirely on your attitude and perspective.  I am a lucky girl.