greenpepperpressblog

Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

signs and symbols and strides

May 14, 2009

Oooh! Up for pre-order is the new Dan Brown novel The Lost Symbol. And this weekend Angels and Demons hits the screen. Can't wait. I loved the Da Vinci Code (book was better than the film) and soaked up all the connections made with signs and symbolism. On my drawing table is a study of symbols, with my own personal connections….the obvious: a cross, a pink rose, and a four leaf clover. and the secret: an "S".

Friday @ 4:15 I will be honoring my sister with this permanent sign. If I could see her reaction I know it would be a roll of the eyes, just before they well up with tears.

On Sunday, Shannon's husband Andy will be honoring her with a team of walkers for Great Strides to benefit Cystic Fibrosis. Love that their mantra is to turn CF into Cure Found. Love that it is on our birthday.
signs and symbols and strides

May 14, 2009

Oooh! Up for pre-order is the new Dan Brown novel The Lost Symbol. And this weekend Angels and Demons hits the screen. Can't wait. I loved the Da Vinci Code (book was better than the film) and soaked up all the connections made with signs and symbolism. On my drawing table is a study of symbols, with my own personal connections….the obvious: a cross, a pink rose, and a four leaf clover. and the secret: an "S".

Friday @ 4:15 I will be honoring my sister with this permanent sign. If I could see her reaction I know it would be a roll of the eyes, just before they well up with tears.

On Sunday, Shannon's husband Andy will be honoring her with a team of walkers for Great Strides to benefit Cystic Fibrosis. Love that their mantra is to turn CF into Cure Found. Love that it is on our birthday.
may flowers

May 8, 2009

I can't really count these lovely Diana roses as my first blooms since I recenty just bought her. She makes me so happy. This weekend she will finally have a permanent home in the garden after days of rain.

The dark clouds made me turn to my journal to work out a few thoughts and to write down some memories.

You may remember that this time last year I was able to sneak in a visit with Shannon after my workshop at Valley Ridge. Here's the amazing thing: I usually teach in October. Kinda cool that it happened I was there in May, and made this visit to Minnesota happen. Tucked in the envelope are some of the last emails I got from her. One of them mentions what a "day-brightener" it was to receive all your blog comments filled with good wishes. Thank you for coming through for me back then. This is the last photo I have of us. That day she told me I was a great hugger. I never knew that. Do you see that pink and black sleeve? I was wearing it for her.

The sun was out today – finally! I inspected the roses and was gifted with this. There are many teeny weeny buds but only one revealing petals. Even better than a rainbow. Send your good vibes the sun sticks around tomorrow as we are having the annual party for Sam (bumped from April in hopes of better weather!).
may flowers

May 8, 2009

I can't really count these lovely Diana roses as my first blooms since I recenty just bought her. She makes me so happy. This weekend she will finally have a permanent home in the garden after days of rain.

The dark clouds made me turn to my journal to work out a few thoughts and to write down some memories.

You may remember that this time last year I was able to sneak in a visit with Shannon after my workshop at Valley Ridge. Here's the amazing thing: I usually teach in October. Kinda cool that it happened I was there in May, and made this visit to Minnesota happen. Tucked in the envelope are some of the last emails I got from her. One of them mentions what a "day-brightener" it was to receive all your blog comments filled with good wishes. Thank you for coming through for me back then. This is the last photo I have of us. That day she told me I was a great hugger. I never knew that. Do you see that pink and black sleeve? I was wearing it for her.

The sun was out today – finally! I inspected the roses and was gifted with this. There are many teeny weeny buds but only one revealing petals. Even better than a rainbow. Send your good vibes the sun sticks around tomorrow as we are having the annual party for Sam (bumped from April in hopes of better weather!).
5.5………5

May 5, 2009

Do you have MSN.com set as your home page? If you do, you were treated to this clever ad campaign by Chanel for their new No. 5 commercial starring Audrey Tautou. Love how the train ran across the top banner and the schedule billboard dropped down across the screen. Love how the whole page was redesigned. I spent some time this morning clicking around HERE where you can see the long and short version of the 'film', and even behind-the-scenes. Then it dawned on me…..today is 5/5. LOVE that kind of CLEVER.

Everything about Chanel is classy don't you think? Karl Lagerfeld puts on tremendous runway shows for House of Chanel. Did you see the one with all the paper flowers? Imagine the work that went into this!

My own connection to Chanel: the first gift I ever got from Graham was Chanel perfume, before we were married. No. 5 is a fave. And not more than a mile from our home is a huge Chanel coumpound. It's two buildings and there is an over-the-street walkway connection between them. I often wonder what goes on in there – kinda like the Wonka factory. When the packaging used to say "Paris London New York" I thought it should include Piscataway. What if the same water I drink is used to make No. 5?

I adored the Baz Luhrmann/Nicole Kidman commercial from a few years back. I never knew you could see the "making of" clips until I went HERE, also found on youtube. And for the newest one, visit HERE. Did anyone see the Coco Avant Chanel? It hasn't been here yet. Hope I didn't miss it.
5.5………5

May 5, 2009

Do you have MSN.com set as your home page? If you do, you were treated to this clever ad campaign by Chanel for their new No. 5 commercial starring Audrey Tautou. Love how the train ran across the top banner and the schedule billboard dropped down across the screen. Love how the whole page was redesigned. I spent some time this morning clicking around HERE where you can see the long and short version of the 'film', and even behind-the-scenes. Then it dawned on me…..today is 5/5. LOVE that kind of CLEVER.

Everything about Chanel is classy don't you think? Karl Lagerfeld puts on tremendous runway shows for House of Chanel. Did you see the one with all the paper flowers? Imagine the work that went into this!

My own connection to Chanel: the first gift I ever got from Graham was Chanel perfume, before we were married. No. 5 is a fave. And not more than a mile from our home is a huge Chanel coumpound. It's two buildings and there is an over-the-street walkway connection between them. I often wonder what goes on in there – kinda like the Wonka factory. When the packaging used to say "Paris London New York" I thought it should include Piscataway. What if the same water I drink is used to make No. 5?

I adored the Baz Luhrmann/Nicole Kidman commercial from a few years back. I never knew you could see the "making of" clips until I went HERE, also found on youtube. And for the newest one, visit HERE. Did anyone see the Coco Avant Chanel? It hasn't been here yet. Hope I didn't miss it.
don’t you love May?

May 3, 2009

I went to Lowe's for some contact cement (for mounting rubber, see below) and walked out with this lovely new rose bush. I could have added 3 or 4 more other rose varieties to my cart but I will let my kids get me some for Mother's Day and my birthday later this month :) Isn't this Diana divine?

Right out front we have this lilac bush – I love this time of year when the fragrance surrounds our home, inside and out. Mmmm, take a deep breath.

The TruGreen guy stopped by this week. He was walking the neighborhood trying to drum up business. He thinks we need to get rid of the clover patches in our yard. So I made him wait a second while I fetched my "lucky soup". He nodded and walked away after claiming he had never seen a real four leaf clover, let alone a bowl of them. I love how he took a second look out of the corner of his eye as he walked back down the driveway past my lucky "weeds".

This week we had a lucky visit from my Mom to celebrate Fallon's confirmation! She knows some of my Valley Ridge friends will see this so she said to say hello. Hello.

The first batch of Hot Topic has been arriving around the globe! There have been a few questions from first-timers to unmounted rubber. First, let me say the images are really packed in on the sheet and you have to carefully cut them apart. I know I know I know you are cursing me that some are too close and you are saying you didn't realize you had to have a surgical residency before cutting rubber. Just take it slow and try using a utility knife in the tight spots. Second, here is a quickie on how I mount my rubber with kneeling pads. (They were in the dollar section of my Target this week, bonus!)
don’t you love May?

May 3, 2009

I went to Lowe's for some contact cement (for mounting rubber, see below) and walked out with this lovely new rose bush. I could have added 3 or 4 more other rose varieties to my cart but I will let my kids get me some for Mother's Day and my birthday later this month :) Isn't this Diana divine?

Right out front we have this lilac bush – I love this time of year when the fragrance surrounds our home, inside and out. Mmmm, take a deep breath.

The TruGreen guy stopped by this week. He was walking the neighborhood trying to drum up business. He thinks we need to get rid of the clover patches in our yard. So I made him wait a second while I fetched my "lucky soup". He nodded and walked away after claiming he had never seen a real four leaf clover, let alone a bowl of them. I love how he took a second look out of the corner of his eye as he walked back down the driveway past my lucky "weeds".

This week we had a lucky visit from my Mom to celebrate Fallon's confirmation! She knows some of my Valley Ridge friends will see this so she said to say hello. Hello.

The first batch of Hot Topic has been arriving around the globe! There have been a few questions from first-timers to unmounted rubber. First, let me say the images are really packed in on the sheet and you have to carefully cut them apart. I know I know I know you are cursing me that some are too close and you are saying you didn't realize you had to have a surgical residency before cutting rubber. Just take it slow and try using a utility knife in the tight spots. Second, here is a quickie on how I mount my rubber with kneeling pads. (They were in the dollar section of my Target this week, bonus!)
sheesh, it’s hot

April 27, 2009

We melted today. 95* is too hot for April. At least it didn't rain and I could do a little spraying.

I love collecting type from magazines but I don't really care what it says. I will scudge up these pages tomorrow with some sandpaper and then spray paint so they look like decaying posters often seen on random surfaces in New York. This Walls Notebook is perfect for that.

I confess, I've put up a few posters myself – although it's been a while since my HIM Street Team sniped in the city. We need a new album so we can launch a crusade. Here's some old Evidence. Kat didn't mind getting the heartagram sticker…she's a fan.

Speaking of crusades, No. 30 is coming to an end. We are discussing journaling in your journal with Cat Got Your Tongue? Come play before it's over!
sheesh, it’s hot

April 27, 2009

We melted today. 95* is too hot for April. At least it didn't rain and I could do a little spraying.

I love collecting type from magazines but I don't really care what it says. I will scudge up these pages tomorrow with some sandpaper and then spray paint so they look like decaying posters often seen on random surfaces in New York. This Walls Notebook is perfect for that.

I confess, I've put up a few posters myself – although it's been a while since my HIM Street Team sniped in the city. We need a new album so we can launch a crusade. Here's some old Evidence. Kat didn't mind getting the heartagram sticker…she's a fan.

Speaking of crusades, No. 30 is coming to an end. We are discussing journaling in your journal with Cat Got Your Tongue? Come play before it's over!