michelle ward

Reminder: Crowning Glories

Just a reminder that if you are interested in registering for the Perrella/Ward Crowning Glories workshop, we will begin taking deposits September 1st.  Both classes filled up quickly last year.  The dates are May 2-4 or May 9-11, 2014.  Scroll down to see the full announcement, or if you're reading through a feed click HERE.

I've been sorting through files and finally moved some over onto the tutorial page which is still under construction.  I've completed carving stamps, cutting stencils, digital tricks, and mounting stamps.  More to follow at a later date.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

sun dried paper

Before the sunny summer days are over, and the evening darkness starts to creep into the afternoons, I have a suggested project:  Paper Casting.  I've written an article about it for my column in Somerset Studio - the September/October 2013 issue should be arriving to your home, or your local bookstore soon.  It's not required to utilize the sun to dry your casts, but it certainly makes it more fun to have them dry quickly, so you can 'harvest' them and refill for more.

 

 

Since I took alot of photos to support this article I chose to edit and leave out a few - the embossing folder casts were cool, but they were fabricated in a different manner than all the other casts so I didn't include for the article.  I've been making and using paper casts for years, and have talked about them on this blog several times, but if you are new to the concept, perhaps the article will be useful....you know I love to advocate for Making It Your Own :)

 

 

gifted

Today is my friend Linda Warlyn's birthday.  It was exactly one year ago that I gifted her with the beginnings of a website.  Thanks to many of her friends, who answered the call to share their photos, I was able to launch the site in secret.  Across many years, several of us have been lucky recipients of Linda's precious work.  Believe me, these gems are keepers.  On the site you'll see evidence of her charming cards, generous gifts, figures and assemblages, and lovely items for swaps or collaborative projects - each meticulously detailed, full of magic, and recognizable to those who love and admire her work, as so very Linda.  She is a clever one - not only with her inventive compositions, and handsome displays, but in the manner in which she demonstrates that she gets you.  Her choice of color, her selection of subject matter, her insertion of little secrets, prove that she observes, listens, and never forgets.  And you should see how she wraps the offereings!  She is a master of details so I gave her website the tiny title "it's the little things". 

I had the best of intentions to keep up with additions to the site, as I have alot more images to share of Linda's work.  I thought I would roll out a big announcement last year once I was completed - but it's still a work-in-progess, and as I turned the calendar page over to today, I realized I never publicly shared the link here.  Please visit, and see why we think she is so gifted.  You've seen her work in Somerset Studio many times, and she appears in books too.  Perhaps you've sat near her in a workshop and marveled at her intricate handling of the artful process....or maybe you're just meeting her today.  Let me formally introduce you - here is the birthday girl,  Linda Warlyn.

 

A recent gift, from Linda to me, is the newest update....I told you, she's gets you.  The colors - black and white and red, all those fabulous patterns - diamond, dot, stripe, and check, a Top Hat, those wings!, pleated paper and fabulous little dangles and tucked-in treats, and then (gasp) that tiny toy theater.  She's got my number, don't you agree?  OMG.  Right? 

 

 

Happy Birthday sweet friend, and many many more!  xoxo

Announcing - Crowning Glories

Lynne and I are excited to announce our workshop taking place in May 2014 in Connecticut.  We had an amazing experience last year with two stellar groups of artists, and we look forward to presenting another two weekends with Crowning Glories.  An information dossier is available upon request from Lynne, LKPerrella (at) aol (dot) com beginning today.  Registration will begin September 1st.  Hope to see you there!

Here is a sneak peek at our studio tables as we prepare the materials and samples.  We love sharing our favorite techniques and we love digging into the art-making process, and have conjured up a multi-layered project that we will build upon across the three-day event.  The beautiful thing that happens in a real-life workshop is the connections we make with other artists, and the many peripheral learning opportunities that occur as we interpret the assignments with our individual perspective. 

We are happy to answer any questions you have about the workshop or the venue.  Just ask!

LINKS:  Lynne Perrella's site:  LKPerrella.com, and the Interlaken Inn.