michelle ward

New article: Buttonhole Books

The Winter issue of Somerset Studio arrived this week.  My column features Buttonhole Books - named for the style of binding.  It was a really easy method to stitch together pages with an exposed spine.  I loved it.  There's something really satisfying about working on a project that just fits into the palm of your hand.  Here's a sneak peek from Nov/Dec/Jan, out soon at your local bookstore or it can be ordered online at Stampington.com.  

 

For the article I made three books, wrote my text, and took 20+ photos.  Since the magazine was a little skimpy on what was shown I have decided to share many more views here, because I can!  You'll see the completed books, as well as the full sheet painted papers used as a foundation.  It's always fun to start a journal with paint + stencil backgrounds....great jumping off platform, and plenty of opportunities to enhance, elaborate, and unify a spread with more color, pattern, or repetitive motif.  

 

Stencils in these books are from StencilGirlProducts.com and GreenPepperPress.com, as well as some hand cut designs.  Rubber stamps used are from ShopTheInkPad.com and GreenPepperPress.com.  

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 4

Another terrific bundle of creative videos from Nathalie's Creative JumpStart.  The theme for Vol. 4 from 2018 is Now We’re Cooking: Mixed Media Art Recipes.  My particular segment is titled:  Let's Have TakeOut.  Ha!  Clever of me, right?  It's about subtractive stenciling.  Loved making the video, some samples from it are shown above.  

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 4 is the fourth collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2018. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 unique and super talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics. This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity! Learn more and read a description of the lessons HERE

It's a good time to scoop up this deal, especially if you missed it back in 2018.  

Here is a list of the 12 artists and their lesson included in this collection:

• Nat Kalbach: The Secret Ingredient
• Mystele Kirkeeng: A Recipe for Play
• Catherine Scanlon: Traced Flower Painting
• Marsha Valk: Sole Picasso
• Diana Trout: Spice of Life
• Sandra Evertson: Hot Glue Cooking
• Pam Carriker: Mixed Media Angels
• Birgit Koopsen: A Delicious Little Hors D’oeuvre
• Rae Missigman: A Recipe for Color and Resist
• Michelle Ward: Let’s Have Take Out!
• Gwen Lafleur: Collage Papers
• Jen Crossley: Metal Etched Book

And here is a peek at the projects included in this bundle:

 

Home Work - new article

I just got my copy of the new Somerset Studio - Aug/Sep/Oct 2020.  My column is usually featured in "departments", and you'll see my name listed, but the article and art is actually by Kim Collister.  My article is there, but found in the Table of Contents under "special features".  Turn to page 122 (thanks Sharon for the heads up).  The theme for this issue: Home is Where the Heart Is.  Always a favorite subject for me, I made some art to hang in our home.  I've been doing a lot of that lately and it makes me so happy to be safe at home and working in my new studio.  Using up lots of painted papers on the work table, and a few special cuts of Italian marbled paper, along with the ever-faithful black cardstock, I made three pieces, driven in size by the frames I had available.  Such a blast!  

It's a terrific issue, grab a copy at your local bookstore or order online.  You can even get a digital download HERE.

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 3!

Another bundle bargain from Nathalie's Studio:  Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 3 is the third collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2017. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 unique and super talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics.

The theme for 2017 was Mix/Match/Master and I enjoyed the assignment - sneak peek above.  

This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity!

Learn more, read a description of the lessons, and sign up HERE

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 2!!

My friend Nathalie is at it again - presenting a bundle of creative mini workshops, revisiting some projects that were revealed in 2016.  Here's a chance to "jump" back in with her special offer.  Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 2 is another great collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2016. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 different talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics. This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity!

My assignment was Matisse + Spray Paint.  Twist my arm, right?  Had a blast making my first ever video.  Learn more, read a description of the lessons, and sign up HERE

 

New article - I'm a Believer

The newest Somerset Studio has arrived.  The theme for this issue was using words in art.  I literally used just one word, in many different ways. It's a little game I play with myself from time to time, to try something familiar in a new way.  The first time I worked with Believer is explained HERE, a blog post from 12 years ago.  You can read more about it all in the May/June/July issue - it's a very handsome magazine, filled with beautiful articles.  If you don't have a subscription you could always start one, since shopping seems to be out of the question right now.  Single copies also available on Stampington.com

 

In the article I mention that Fallon and I exchange "believer" items annually.  We've had jewelry engraved, and in a pinch we will take a pre-made "believe" and dangle on an "r".  Here's some of them....

And I also tell the story of how Fallon was deciding on which college to accept....when she saw the "sign" on my studio wall....the red R we placed behind our word years before ended up being the logo for the school she chose:  Rutgers.  Love when that kind of synchronicity reveals the right answer. 

I'm off to look for the Super Moon.  Last one of 2020.  Hope you're staying well.

Happy Easter

This is likely the first time in my life that I haven't dyed eggs for the holiday.  In these unusual circumstances, where buying eggs is limited at our store, it seems wasteful to use only to color, leave for the Easter bunny to hide, then toss before they start smelling bad. 

Late 2011 I made these felted eggs, along with some collaged wood eggs for an article (Somerset Studio Jan/Feb 2012). I also made some wood burned eggs (HERE) which inspired an article I did on pyrography.  (Woodburning article Somerset Studio May/June 2017). These collections come out every year, and remind me that Easter eggs don't have to be brightly colored and temporary.  In fact, we don't even need eggs to celebrate Easter....because the real gift of the holy day is not something you set out on a table, but something you hold in your heart.  

Wishing you a blessed day, whatever your faith.  

Penny Candy - new article

Getting caught up with you, I will start with some of my recent articles.  Somerset Studio is now quarterly so the Spring issue is February/March/April, and was available on store shelves 2/1/2020.  Stitching was this theme this time around and since I'm not much of a machine girl, I thought I'd so some more hand-stitching.  I LOVED working in my fabric book a few years ago - you can see some of that HERE.  An old technique (Civil War era), became new-to-me as I learned more about Penny Rugs.  Gave it a try for this article, and a handful of the results helped me complete one of my fabric books from 2016.  Here's a sneak peek of the article, and below are additional photos of the work I did - some are in the article, some aren't.  Please don't go out and get a copy if you don't already have one - order online....and stay safe.  

 

 

 

I will wager you have all the supplies you need to jump on the penny bandwagon.  Felt, floss or thread, needle, scissors.  Fun and easy to do.  Addictive.  Satisfying.  Once they start stacking up you can decide what to do with them.  Google "penny rugs" and you'll see both historical and contemporary compositions for inspiration and motivation.  Great to have a distraction, that is a portable project - doesn't take up a lot of space and isn't messy.  Let me know if you give it a try.

 

It's been a year....and it's been a year!

Literally, it has been a year since I blogged.  But what a year it's been.  I'm pleased to be finally set up in my studio. In the previous house I had all my books, my business, my computer, and my art supplies all in one space.  In this house I have an office for my computer and business, a library for all our books, and a studio that is just a studio.  Took a while to get everything organized but I'M WORKING IN THERE!!!  I'm a lucky girl.

Whether there was an imposed quarantine or not, being home it just the ticket for me on any given day.  My plan for 2020 was to get back on here and become a regular poster.  It's mid-March and I've finally carved out a few minutes.  At least it's still Winter, though only for a couple more days.  You'd never guess it....our flowering trees are blooming, the sunny days are gorgeous.  It's 50-something now and will be in the 70s this week.  

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

I always like to say:  Be Well and Behave.  Now I really really mean it....behave so you can be well.

See you again soon.  XOXO

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We have our green on...and are getting the green food ready.  Some salad, some pesto on pasta, green jello (jigglers), and of course, some mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Sam always remind me of the menu.  Just making a quick run to the liquor store for some Guinness and Baileys.  

Things are coming along in the new house.  Lots of little projects completed and a few more big ones in the works.  Soon my studio contents will be released from storage.  Can't wait to get set up.  I miss my stuff!

Hope you have a great day!  Be well and behave.

 

 

checking in and catching up

My last post was Halloween?  Next week is New Years?  My oh my how time has flown.  It's not like I've been slacking....the past two months have been a whirlwind.  Let me catch up by saying a belated Happy Thanksgiving, a belated Happy Birthday to my favorite rock star (I post every year here), and a belated Merry Christmas.  We'll be sending out cards late this year - but we have a good excuse. The news from here is that we are in the process of buying a home in south Jersey.  Graham started a new job and has been commuting home on weekends or we visit him at his temporary digs.  If all goes as planned we will be leaving this home that we've loved for twenty years and will begin adventures at a new address.  It will be our sixth move as a family - while still stressful it is so much easier now that the kids are grown - they've been a terrific help in packing and prepping this home for a sale.  

A big step in our process is getting my studio contents into storage.  That happens next week.  Ack!!!  So I have to put Green Pepper Press on vacation mode for a few months.  Anticipated reopening is February.  It's likely you won't hear much from me until then.  I've got a lot to do!  I'll say it now, a little early, so I can cross one more thing off my to-do list:  Happy New Year and cheers to a wonderful 2019!!

 

H.H.!!!

Feels funny to post about Halloween since my last entry was about Christmas ornaments.  We had a gorgeous day here so it was surprising that we had less trick-or-treaters than usual.  Perhaps the dumpster in our driveway scared them off.  I'm sad that this will be the last Halloween in this neighborhood and in this house.  You know what's really frightening?  Packing up a home you've lived in for twenty years.  OnWARD to new adventures!

new article - nov/dec somerset studio

It's a beautiful Fall day and it's hard to imagine that two months from today it will be Christmas.  In July I felt like I was in a time warp as my mornings in the studio were spent making these ornaments, then by afternoon I was floating around the in pool. It was weird to channel the holidays while wearing my flip flops.  That's the nature of working for a publication.  This week I'm in the middle of a project that you won't see until February.  In case you haven't heard, Somerset Studio is moving to quarterly for 2019.  In a time where we've learned that Stampington has retired a number of publications, and that Cloth, Paper, Scissors has closed it's doors, I am grateful to still have this creative platform.  I've been a fan and reader of Somerset since the inaugural issue in 1997.

 

 

With a handful of inexpensive supplies, you are poised to make a host of ornaments.  Spend and afternoon with a friend, sharing your materials, and you'll have plenty of glittering globes to give away.  

Here's a sneak peek of my article that appears in the November/December Somerset Studio: 

 

Do you remember making similar pinned-sequin-ornaments as a kid?  Chime in and tell us about it.

We Three Kings - new article

The September/October issue of Somerset Studio just arrived, which means it will be at your favorite retail store soon (also available online at Stampington.com). When they announced the theme of Art Doll Extravaganza I had no idea that I would actually heed the call. But I've always wanted to investigate the Three Kings and so what started as a plan to work flat with layers of paper turned into polymer clay sculpture.  I love PC as a medium, but definitely stepped out of my comfort zone when I embarked on these pieces. There were many casualties in the process, which led to better solutions and improvising on the fly.  Don't you love when that happens?  In the previous post I showed you my stencil on clay - that became the garment on Caspar.

You can read more about these guys in the issue - here's a peek at the article for my column, Make It Your Own.

If you're a regular reader you have seen my Nativity set, complete with the Wise Men.  Even though I love the collection, I've been interested in making my own Three Kings ever since seeing The Little Drummer Boy when I was a kid.  I'm so thrilled to finally have these guys completed and have so many new ideas for polymer clay!  

sneak peek

Back in May I began what became an ambitious project.  Starting with much different plans, the thing took on a life of its own and eventually morphed into using a familiar medium in a new way.  I will show you the results tomorrow.  Below is a sneak peek where I used my Damask stencil, rolled across it for an impression, then dusted with gold powder.  LOVE how the powder sticks to the clay and stays there after baking.  

New-to-me:  using clay to mimic hands and faces.  Here's a peek at the hand process.  Stay tuned for the update on the finished pieces tomorrow.

5,256,000 minutes

 

 

We've been missing her for ten years......but feel so lucky to have had her with us for forty.

*blows kisses to the sky*

stencils + stencils!

So how cool is this?  A few months ago Lorna from Martha Stewart Living inquired about my Frond Collection stencils.  I've been waiting to hear about the results of the upcoming feature and found a copy of the magazine this week. (July/August issue).  It was such a thrill to see my own stencil line (GreenPepperPress.com) along with Mary Beth's (StencilGirlProducts.com) in the article.  The spread is also featured on the Martha Stewart website under DIY, see HERE.  It's so nice that on the site, and in the magazine, all sources are listed WITH the project - unlike the old days where you had to read the fine print in the back pages to find contact info.  

Thanks Lorna + Martha!  Cool projects!

 

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And in more stencil news - it's Mary Beth Shaw's birthday and she's throwing a party where you get to enjoy 14% off your stencil purchases today through Sunday (July 6, 7 8).  

All designs are on sale - you can find my designs HERE.

Receive 14% OFF all StencilGirl stencil designs - Use code:  MBS14

$100+ orders** CHOOSE 1 FREE Large STENCIL***
***You MUST put the L### in the comment box at checkout. Sorry, no exceptions.

**6 of the same size 10% discount is applied first! $100+ orders post-discount.
*Sale does not apply to wholesale accounts or StencilClub membership.

The stencil sale begins July 6th and ends July 8th at 11:59 p.m. CST 

Happy 4th!

Time for Tea

The July/August issue of Somerset Studio is on shelves at your local bookstore now!  In my column I show some of the Tea Books I've been making.  It was 2001 when I made my first one, and have made several over the years - enough to fill a tea caddy.  In May we had out all the tea fixings for an early morning viewing of the Royal Wedding....including scones with clotted cream and jam.  I think I need to make a mini book for all the weddings I've risen early to watch.  Back in April my two sister-in-laws treated me to a fun cream tea in England, so I made a little book about that event.  There's always a good reason to make tea, and there's always a good excuse to make a sweet little tea book.  Here's a sneak peek at the article:

Some images that got mentioned in the text didn't show up in the published piece - like the tea caddy I found to hold my collection of books.  I scored this one at the Container Store - perfect fit!  

And I mentioned in the article that the tea party book was shown in a cup I inherited from my Grandma Campbell.  Here it is.

I love coffee every morning, but for special occasions we break out the tea.  These little books are the size of a tea packet, and some have a string and tag like a tea bag.  It's a nice departure to work on a small scale, and it's such an addictive process.  Great for a gift, and a fun format for an invitation.

P.S.  I spy my own work on pages 56 + 57 too as artist Edan Ruthan Miller makes a ring bound journal to remind her of ideas....clippings from one of my articles (HERE, May/June 2012) appear on her pages. 

 

Summer catch-up

I can't believe it's officially summer!  I guess I've been on a little blog vacation.  I meant to chime in on my birthday, to show you the first blossom, definitely a sign from Shannon who would have been 50 on our special day.  By the following week in May the garden was in full bloom.  I also meant to post photos of our Fallon, who graduated from Rutgers.  So I will do that now.

Here are two of the four walls of roses.  The last photo shows how tall they've become - wanting to show off to the neighborhood.

And here's our girl graduating on Mother's Day from Rutgers University with honors.  As we looked back at photos of my college graduation we noticed that both Fallon and I wore a black dress with white polka dots.  Love that one of her baby photos has her dressed in red scarlet.

  

Here's a wonderful story of Synchronicity.  Ten years ago I posted this story: HERE. If you don't click through to read I'll summarize.  I was in a Self-Portrait round robin journal project and I was working on a page where I had typed up tiny strips of repeated words that described me.  Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend, Artist....you get it.  So I had Fallon read them and tell me if I was missing anything.  She said: Believer.  So Believer became significant between us.  Every year since then I have gotten her a gift with Believer as an engraving or marking.  I have a wood sign in my studio that says Believe, so I found an R to add to it.  For some reason I painted it red.  See photo.  That was 2008.  Then a few years ago, when Fallon was deciding where to finish college, we were having a family discussion at the dinner table, reviewing the options.  She happens to look up from her placet at the table, and saw I had moved the Believer sign + R to a spot in the studio within view....and it was a "sign".  Literally.  Rutgers logo is a red R.  So she accepted Rutgers, and has graduated as a Scarlet Knight.

 

I've had a fun time working on a project for the last two weeks - something totally new for me.  There was a bit of a learning curve but that is what happens when you try to educate yourself on the properties of a material.  You'll see more about it in September. Meanwhile, here's some of my worktable:

 

So that's a quick catch-up from May....had some issues uploading photos but it appears to be working now so I will have another post going up later today.

Happy Mother's Day!

To my mom, who is here with my dad for Fallon's college graduation today.  Lots to celebrate!

And to all my mom friends, have a lovely day!

The Unexpected Rosarian

I've been nurturing a rose garden for ten years in honor of my sister.  I love that the latest Somerset Studio arrives in May as it's the month I share a birthday with Shannon.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my visual journal that chronicles the past ten seasons of growth.  I never thought I would ever be a successful gardener, so it was unexpected that I have become a rosarian.  

(My mom even makes an appearance in my article....do you spy her?)

Two seasons ago my original rose bush passed 10 ft. tall.  

Here's a view from the side yard in 2014.

In March we had a terrible snow storm (several actually) that brought down many trees in the neighborhood.  On the left you'll see it didn't look promising for the roses, but then by the end of April, with some assistance of propping agents, they appear to be recovering.

And then this morning....I spied the first bud.  The promise of another season.  I'm so excited.

"Show me a garden that's bursting into life" from Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.

Are you a gardener?  Have you started a garden journal?  It's a fun process, especially during Winter as you wait for Spring.

 

 

Happy Easter

Photo from 1996.  Peter was 5, Sam was 4, and Fallon was 8 months.  Wearing jelly bean shirts from L.L. Bean, and bunny ears.....Easter decals on the window above in our home when we lived in Michigan.  As usual, at least one egg was missing from the hunt.  We still dye eggs the same way, and still use the baskets from those early days, but now we use paper grass instead of that green plastic stuff because we have a cat.  We've traded in some of the old plastic eggs for the ones that are hinged - so much easier to fill when you don't have to find the matching top or bottom.  Wake up time is a little different so the "Easter Bunny" doesn't have to scramble in the wee hours to hide eggs and put out the baskets.  I can no longer dress Fallon with ruffles and a hat ....because she's 22!  And while the boys are 26 and 27, all three kids + mom + dad colored eggs Friday night.

Happy memories, and Happy Easter. 

MindFULLness OR MindLESSness?

Happy Monday.  I'm the guest over at StencilGirlTalk - the blog for StencilGirlProducts.  I think one of the hidden secrets of stencils is to use them as templates to help you draw.  We all LOVE using stencils with paint, but how about relying on them to use with pen only?

 

Go see my tutorial!  Disclaimer:  once you start, it's hard to stop!  Visit HERE.

 

3.17.18

Be well and behave ;)

new article: shadow play

The latest Somerset Studio has arrived - March/April 2018.  My column features recent experiments with paper cutting to create shadows.  The first photo is a close-up I took of one piece - derived from my Rose Window stencil.  I've always been intrigued by illuminated dimensional art, and while I didn't take mine that far, it was a fun self-imposed assignment to create pattern and depth with paper and just a few tools.  As I was turning the pages of the new issue, it was a nice surprise to land on Mary Beth Shaw's interesting article on pigments - there's a full page of my Maltese Mix stencil.  Very cool.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's been a fun two weeks of February so far.  First, the Eagles win the Super Bowl - my husband's favorite team!!!  It was a great game and I'm so excited my favorite Eagles fan got to experience the big win.  It was a sight to behold, and so fun to share as a family (with lots of delicious food!)  

Then the Olympics!  Love the figure skating....but watching snowboarding is the best!!!  Shaun White taking the gold last night was so thrilling.  Big congrats to him.

I've been slowly working through a "frozen shoulder" with physical therapy appointments twice a week (thanks Jaime) and at-home exercises.  I can tell my movement is improving but it's a long process.  Makes you grateful that all your other parts are working fine. Luckily it hasn't hindered my time in the studio.  So many silver linings.

Wishing you a Valentine's day filled with many good things - whether flowers, chocolate, cards and calls, or just a simple text that warms your heart.  Don't forget to GIVE more than you get <3

 

Epiphany

I've always wanted to make my own set of three kings - something I've done digitally for years, but haven't made in 3-D yet.  After I worked on my castle earlier this year I thought maybe I would create a set from the wooden pegs like I used HERE.  Then I came across this Nativity from Target and I had to have it.  If you can believe it I'm actually starting on ideas for next Christmas....maybe I will get those kings made by summer...wouldn't that be great?

 

Happy Epiphany.  Now we can officially start putting away all the decorations.  Gosh it goes by fast.

*tosses confetti*

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2018!!  xo

Article: Chromabridge Revisited

One of my favorite classes from college was Color Theory.  Not only did we learn a lot about hue perception and color relationships in conceptual form, but we also had to mix paint on swatches (hundreds of them), then cut and manipulate into compositions. There were many projects that had to adhere to strict format of presentation. Even with all the rules there was enough room for personal choices, thereby yielding unique expressions of creativity amongst my fellow students.   The lessons learned from that course still resonate with me today and it was so much fun to revisit – this time with less rules and no grading rubric.  The article appears in the January/February issue of Somerset Studio.

 

 

Below are pieces from 1984 - I still have the zippered leather three-ring binder filled with the assignments that gave me great angst at the time.  It was a pleasure to take artistic liberty as I reinvented using the Chromabridge to build new work.

 

As I was preparing for this article I reached out to the current instructor of the same class at the University of Minnesota.  Turns out she was also a student of Lee Fargo, and we may have passed one another in the halls.  I was disappointed to learn that students are no longer required to mix paints, and instead prepare all their assignments digitally, as most of the class is online.  While I think there is merit in learning how to build similar compositions with the aid of a computer, I also think the students are missing out on a huge element of discovery - using their hands to mix paint and apply to paper, using their eyes to discern equal steps of a gradation, and then carefully measure, cut and assemble a collage with tangible moving parts.  However, I got the sense that she is enthusiastic about the subject and the students are in good hands, regardless of the format.

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Don't forget!!!  Creative JumpStart starts January 1st!!  Have you signed up? Early registration discount ends 12/31 ($45) so get in on this deal!!! You will be treated to 31 days of inspiration to start the year with motivation to stay creative.

I'm excited to be playing along. Come join us!! More details here:
http://nathaliesstudio.com/learn/online-workshops/creative-jumpstart-2018/?wpam_id=15