greenpepperpressblog

Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

  • tomorrow…

    Mw_no_rain

    Tuesday was Sam’s 16th birthday.  Tomorrow we will have the annual party for classmates, teachers, and buddies.  LAST YEAR we were blessed with a glorious day.  The forecast is for rain, but it looks better than they predicted earlier this week (thunder storms, ack!)  It would be great if we could enjoy an afternoon on the deck, so put your positive vibes out will ya?

    Mw_sam_party_08a 

    Special party guest:  Miley Cyrus (under glass).  It’s so cool that Sam’s birthday falls in the month we honor Autism Awareness.  We can take the opportunity to show our apppreciation to all those who touch Sam’s life and make his school experience one that he looks forward to every morning with bright eyes and an eagerness to be there, part of a school that embraces his diversity.  This year the take home goodie is a mini-car magnet…..should work on locker doors too don’t you think?

    Mw_sam_party_08b 

    Also tomorrow:  my father-in-laws birthday, Happy Birthday Phil!  My sister and her husband celebrate twelve years of marriage, Happy Anniversary Shannon and Andy!  And of course one more birthday…don’t have time to make him a special message so I’ll share the one from last year HERE.

    *waves and runs off to continue cleaning*

  • tomorrow…

    Mw_no_rain

    Tuesday was Sam’s 16th birthday.  Tomorrow we will have the annual party for classmates, teachers, and buddies.  LAST YEAR we were blessed with a glorious day.  The forecast is for rain, but it looks better than they predicted earlier this week (thunder storms, ack!)  It would be great if we could enjoy an afternoon on the deck, so put your positive vibes out will ya?

    Mw_sam_party_08a 

    Special party guest:  Miley Cyrus (under glass).  It’s so cool that Sam’s birthday falls in the month we honor Autism Awareness.  We can take the opportunity to show our apppreciation to all those who touch Sam’s life and make his school experience one that he looks forward to every morning with bright eyes and an eagerness to be there, part of a school that embraces his diversity.  This year the take home goodie is a mini-car magnet…..should work on locker doors too don’t you think?

    Mw_sam_party_08b 

    Also tomorrow:  my father-in-laws birthday, Happy Birthday Phil!  My sister and her husband celebrate twelve years of marriage, Happy Anniversary Shannon and Andy!  And of course one more birthday…don’t have time to make him a special message so I’ll share the one from last year HERE.

    *waves and runs off to continue cleaning*

  • passion

    Mm_lovesquared

    Don’t you admire passion?  At it’s core, no matter what the subject, passion has power.  Power to motivate, to influence, to make a difference.  Monica has been a poster child for passion – passion to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.  You know I love enthusiasm and THIS girl has it.  And the doll?  Well, she is stitched with love and hope and enthusiasm that the momentum keeps moving toward a cure.  I cannot imagine the hours that went into creating her.  I’m guessing PASSION kept her going.  To see more about Love Squared, visit HERE. 

    * throws confetti for Monica*  *crosses fingers the sale of her brings $$$ and awareness*

  • passion

    Mm_lovesquared

    Don’t you admire passion?  At it’s core, no matter what the subject, passion has power.  Power to motivate, to influence, to make a difference.  Monica has been a poster child for passion – passion to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.  You know I love enthusiasm and THIS girl has it.  And the doll?  Well, she is stitched with love and hope and enthusiasm that the momentum keeps moving toward a cure.  I cannot imagine the hours that went into creating her.  I’m guessing PASSION kept her going.  To see more about Love Squared, visit HERE. 

    * throws confetti for Monica*  *crosses fingers the sale of her brings $$$ and awareness*

  • crusading, cutting

    Mw_stc19

    We wrapped up the month of March with a record number of participants who shared links to their custom cut rubber stamps.  We took a vote and bumped cutting stencils to April.  Congrats to Susan Warder for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 18.  I made a little tutorial on stencil cutting over on the Street Team blog, and will continue adding to it as I did last month with the carving tips.  I’m still obsessing over roses…had to make stamps and stencils yesterday.  WARNING:  It’s Addictive.

    Mw_making_stencils_and_stamps

    Mw_using_rose_stamps

    Mw_using_rose_stencils

    The only way to know if you have cut a good and useful image is to put it to work.  These are the beginnings of journal pages using both acrylic paint and spray paint with my new stamps, stencils, and masks.  Give them a test run before cutting more because you’ll learn what you might have done differently, or what additions you’d like to have:  for instance, a solid image of your stencil to create a foundation to make it *pop*.

    Mw_using_it_grid

    I don’t often use people or faces in my work so I’ve stayed away from attempting a portrait stencil.  But I’ve been wanting to do a Valo, and a Poe, and finally starting working on them.  I had an a-ha moment when I decided to take this design which wasn’t quite working, and turn it into a half-face.  I got so excited with it I had to make a PS brush and take it for a test ride digitally.  I think I’m ready to cut HIM out now.  *grins*

    Mwvillestencildoomtext

    Mwvillestencildigitalred_3 

    Mw_ville_stencil_test_2

    Wanna join a fun community of artists?  Come see what we’re doing on the Street Team.  We have new players every month, so don’t be shy.  We have artists who share their time and talent, but most of all, their enthusiasm for making cool stuff.  Seriously, *we rock*.

  • crusading, cutting

    Mw_stc19

    We wrapped up the month of March with a record number of participants who shared links to their custom cut rubber stamps.  We took a vote and bumped cutting stencils to April.  Congrats to Susan Warder for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 18.  I made a little tutorial on stencil cutting over on the Street Team blog, and will continue adding to it as I did last month with the carving tips.  I’m still obsessing over roses…had to make stamps and stencils yesterday.  WARNING:  It’s Addictive.

    Mw_making_stencils_and_stamps

    Mw_using_rose_stamps

    Mw_using_rose_stencils

    The only way to know if you have cut a good and useful image is to put it to work.  These are the beginnings of journal pages using both acrylic paint and spray paint with my new stamps, stencils, and masks.  Give them a test run before cutting more because you’ll learn what you might have done differently, or what additions you’d like to have:  for instance, a solid image of your stencil to create a foundation to make it *pop*.

    Mw_using_it_grid

    I don’t often use people or faces in my work so I’ve stayed away from attempting a portrait stencil.  But I’ve been wanting to do a Valo, and a Poe, and finally starting working on them.  I had an a-ha moment when I decided to take this design which wasn’t quite working, and turn it into a half-face.  I got so excited with it I had to make a PS brush and take it for a test ride digitally.  I think I’m ready to cut HIM out now.  *grins*

    Mwvillestencildoomtext

    Mwvillestencildigitalred_3 

    Mw_ville_stencil_test_2

    Wanna join a fun community of artists?  Come see what we’re doing on the Street Team.  We have new players every month, so don’t be shy.  We have artists who share their time and talent, but most of all, their enthusiasm for making cool stuff.  Seriously, *we rock*.

  • perspective

    I keep some of these relics on my desk.  They remind me that there is always something new to be discovered.  Imagine what the inventor of these 45 record centers would think of cassette tapes, compact discs, and ipods.  New technology aside, even items that have been around longer than 45s have been reinvented over and over again.  Need convincing?  Step into Sephora and notice the hundreds of ways perfume can be bottled.  Pop into a Hallmark and see how clever their Fresh Ink line is. 

    Mw_relics

    This weekend I took Fallon to an antique store which was more like an indoor flea market.  She loves rummaging through all the stuff – old jewelry, vintage clothing, other people’s stuff.  She was fascinated by a telephone with a DIAL and a handset attached with a CORD.  And she tapped away on an old TYPEWRITER.  It made me think about my 45 centers….these things she only knows as relics.  At one time they were innovations.  The day provided an interesting perspective to see the world through Fallon’s eyes.

    Mw_thriftfinds

    When thrifting I rarely look at old books anymore.  I have enough piled in this studio and they have fallen out of favor in my work.  But this little green dictionary got my attention, and my $4, when I saw that it’s owner was also a collector of four leaf clovers.  Pressed within it’s pages were at least a dozen.  A kindred spirit.  I also have enough Victorian Scrap so I didn’t need to finger through the neatly packaged keepsakes except to look for those that had Roses as I’m still infatuated.  Imagine my surprise to find one that was *winking* at me….holding up the Rock and Roll horns.  Had to have it.  HCIT?

  • perspective

    I keep some of these relics on my desk.  They remind me that there is always something new to be discovered.  Imagine what the inventor of these 45 record centers would think of cassette tapes, compact discs, and ipods.  New technology aside, even items that have been around longer than 45s have been reinvented over and over again.  Need convincing?  Step into Sephora and notice the hundreds of ways perfume can be bottled.  Pop into a Hallmark and see how clever their Fresh Ink line is. 

    Mw_relics

    This weekend I took Fallon to an antique store which was more like an indoor flea market.  She loves rummaging through all the stuff – old jewelry, vintage clothing, other people’s stuff.  She was fascinated by a telephone with a DIAL and a handset attached with a CORD.  And she tapped away on an old TYPEWRITER.  It made me think about my 45 centers….these things she only knows as relics.  At one time they were innovations.  The day provided an interesting perspective to see the world through Fallon’s eyes.

    Mw_thriftfinds

    When thrifting I rarely look at old books anymore.  I have enough piled in this studio and they have fallen out of favor in my work.  But this little green dictionary got my attention, and my $4, when I saw that it’s owner was also a collector of four leaf clovers.  Pressed within it’s pages were at least a dozen.  A kindred spirit.  I also have enough Victorian Scrap so I didn’t need to finger through the neatly packaged keepsakes except to look for those that had Roses as I’m still infatuated.  Imagine my surprise to find one that was *winking* at me….holding up the Rock and Roll horns.  Had to have it.  HCIT?

  • nothing beats a messy day

    Mw_playswithpaint

    Not sure where I got this habit of using an asterick ( * ) when writing on my blog or leaving comments.  It usually surrounds a verb, like this:  *blows kisses*  or *scrambles to find a link* or *grins*.  I think it evolved from a messageboard I belong to that used to have The Best smilies to include in a reply.  So when the board changed servers we lost the smilies and we had to invent a way to *say* what we wanted a smilie for….like when a new photo of our favorite rock star got posted we would *faint* or *swoon*  or *squeeee*. 

    A few days away from my studio makes me crabby.  I love when there are so many ideas rattling around that it only takes a nano-second to engage and get messy.  Seems like I never get my task completed which is ok because it’s ready for me the next morning.  Can’t show you just yet what it is I’m working on but that isn’t the point….it’s to remind you how good it feels to be in the moment and make stuff. Mw_messy

    Mw_messy2

    I was watching L.A. Ink last night and was inspired by Guy, Hannah’s brother, and how he designed an edge of a shoulder tattoo (couldn’t find you a picture) but it was kinda like the brush I made today to border the photos above.  Super cool.

    Just one more thing…a note about blogging.  You’ll notice I put my signature circle brush on all my photos.  If you have the capability I suggest you do the same.  Just today I saw one of my journal pages on someone’s blog.  First, I think that’s a no-no unless you’ve asked for permission.  But stuff like that will happen in this online world so take credit for your photos and mark with your name.  *steps off soapbox* 

  • nothing beats a messy day

    Mw_playswithpaint

    Not sure where I got this habit of using an asterick ( * ) when writing on my blog or leaving comments.  It usually surrounds a verb, like this:  *blows kisses*  or *scrambles to find a link* or *grins*.  I think it evolved from a messageboard I belong to that used to have The Best smilies to include in a reply.  So when the board changed servers we lost the smilies and we had to invent a way to *say* what we wanted a smilie for….like when a new photo of our favorite rock star got posted we would *faint* or *swoon*  or *squeeee*. 

    A few days away from my studio makes me crabby.  I love when there are so many ideas rattling around that it only takes a nano-second to engage and get messy.  Seems like I never get my task completed which is ok because it’s ready for me the next morning.  Can’t show you just yet what it is I’m working on but that isn’t the point….it’s to remind you how good it feels to be in the moment and make stuff. Mw_messy

    Mw_messy2

    I was watching L.A. Ink last night and was inspired by Guy, Hannah’s brother, and how he designed an edge of a shoulder tattoo (couldn’t find you a picture) but it was kinda like the brush I made today to border the photos above.  Super cool.

    Just one more thing…a note about blogging.  You’ll notice I put my signature circle brush on all my photos.  If you have the capability I suggest you do the same.  Just today I saw one of my journal pages on someone’s blog.  First, I think that’s a no-no unless you’ve asked for permission.  But stuff like that will happen in this online world so take credit for your photos and mark with your name.  *steps off soapbox*