greenpepperpressblog

Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

W.O.W.

February 22, 2008

More roses. EB had a photo on her blog that reminded me of these pretties (actually it’s on her banner now but she changes it all the time so you might miss it). My grandfather, whose name we borrowed for our daughter Fallon, and affectionately called Bumpa, had these in his safe deposit box for years as they are silver, even the food-touching part. He and my grandmother gave them to me – probably because I was the first to get married, and became a "W". My silver chest is an eclectic collection of monogrammed silver from both sides of my family, in addition to pieces added from friends, and others found in dusty shops, brought home and shined up. I cave for anything with "M" or "W". I love setting the table with all the various pieces – reminds me of all my loved ones.

Some messing around with Photoshop. Fun to try out the different options. I’ve printed some of these on transparency to put in my journal, and will write down the stories behind each silver pattern and engraving.

Speaking of "M"s, scored this custom necklace from ETSY. It is the coolest bezel I have ever seen on a typewriter letter. Love when an artist finds a way to Make It Your Own. And these tags rock too.

Visit Elizabeth’s shop for all the cool stuff she makes with typewriter keys, watchparts, and….well, just go to KeysandMemories.etsy.com And then pop over to see Kelly, and scoop up several batches of wonderful patterned die-cut doo-dahs for your journal at The Paper Pixie.

The scene from here…..no school today! I have the new Somerset Studio, the March Vogue (over one inch thick!), the Oscar Special Vanity Fair, and Illusive 2 (I’ve already listed 30 sites to visit from this book!) Who needs food?
W.O.W.

February 22, 2008

More roses. EB had a photo on her blog that reminded me of these pretties (actually it’s on her banner now but she changes it all the time so you might miss it). My grandfather, whose name we borrowed for our daughter Fallon, and affectionately called Bumpa, had these in his safe deposit box for years as they are silver, even the food-touching part. He and my grandmother gave them to me – probably because I was the first to get married, and became a "W". My silver chest is an eclectic collection of monogrammed silver from both sides of my family, in addition to pieces added from friends, and others found in dusty shops, brought home and shined up. I cave for anything with "M" or "W". I love setting the table with all the various pieces – reminds me of all my loved ones.

Some messing around with Photoshop. Fun to try out the different options. I’ve printed some of these on transparency to put in my journal, and will write down the stories behind each silver pattern and engraving.

Speaking of "M"s, scored this custom necklace from ETSY. It is the coolest bezel I have ever seen on a typewriter letter. Love when an artist finds a way to Make It Your Own. And these tags rock too.

Visit Elizabeth’s shop for all the cool stuff she makes with typewriter keys, watchparts, and….well, just go to KeysandMemories.etsy.com And then pop over to see Kelly, and scoop up several batches of wonderful patterned die-cut doo-dahs for your journal at The Paper Pixie.

The scene from here…..no school today! I have the new Somerset Studio, the March Vogue (over one inch thick!), the Oscar Special Vanity Fair, and Illusive 2 (I’ve already listed 30 sites to visit from this book!) Who needs food?
rent it, buy it, SEE it

February 20, 2008

PulseGirl told me about this one, like before it came out….and then she reported back on it’s amazingness merely a nano-second after she left her seat (might have texted me before she stood up).

I missed it in the theater, but got to watch it, and all the terrific extra footage on the dvd from the comforts of home. Didn’t even have to worry that the movie house might be out of popcorn because I could make my own. (Yes, it happened to us at Sweeney Todd, can you believe THAT?) LOVE LOVE LOVE Julie Taymor and her passion. (We saw her Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera on New Year’s Day, 2007). I always feel it’s a privilege to go behind the scenes to see the REAL people involved in making a film and to hear their vision and witness their enthusiasm. If you saw it in the theater you might want to get the dvd just for that All Access Pass.

Did you love the whole strawberry painting scene and his studio room? Swoooooon!

Makes me wish I had a paint ball gun and a big canvas wall. Did you see The Princess Diaries? Loved when the mom had balloons filled with paint hanging above a canvas and she threw darts at them so they’d pop and spill out and splatter randomly. Tried to find a photo for you but came up empty. Maybe this summer I’ll try it outside and show ya.
rent it, buy it, SEE it

February 20, 2008

PulseGirl told me about this one, like before it came out….and then she reported back on it’s amazingness merely a nano-second after she left her seat (might have texted me before she stood up).

I missed it in the theater, but got to watch it, and all the terrific extra footage on the dvd from the comforts of home. Didn’t even have to worry that the movie house might be out of popcorn because I could make my own. (Yes, it happened to us at Sweeney Todd, can you believe THAT?) LOVE LOVE LOVE Julie Taymor and her passion. (We saw her Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera on New Year’s Day, 2007). I always feel it’s a privilege to go behind the scenes to see the REAL people involved in making a film and to hear their vision and witness their enthusiasm. If you saw it in the theater you might want to get the dvd just for that All Access Pass.

Did you love the whole strawberry painting scene and his studio room? Swoooooon!

Makes me wish I had a paint ball gun and a big canvas wall. Did you see The Princess Diaries? Loved when the mom had balloons filled with paint hanging above a canvas and she threw darts at them so they’d pop and spill out and splatter randomly. Tried to find a photo for you but came up empty. Maybe this summer I’ll try it outside and show ya.
onWARD

February 16, 2008

Let me introduce you to my friend Linda Warlyn. If you are a frequent commentor here then you recognize her name. And if you subscribe to Somerset Studio, then you know her from there too. And if you got Lynne’s new book, then you saw her there too. In fact, her piece is my favorite-ist. She could easily win the MVNBC award because she sprinkles sunshine and enthusiasm wherever she goes. I met Linda something like three years ago in a workshop, and then got to spend time with her again last fall. But beyond that – I really attribute getting to know one another better because of the blogger/commentor relationship. She is simply the dearest girl – someone you want living next door, or at the desk next to you, or on the other end of the phone. She’s a reader (of people) and a remember-er. She’s a GETter.

Just recently I was a lucky girl to get TWO packages of loot from Linda. Before I had a chance to share on the blog all the great stuff from No. 1 that came in a wonderful black and white patterned envelope sitting inside a black and white patterned tray that was lined with red (of course!) and then No. 2 arrived! Who would even want to open this? Faye (my faithful mail carrier) handed it over with a grin.

So during the recent clean-up of my studio I sorted all the cool mail art and loot packages into one humungous container. Normally when I get unexpected deliveries I set them aside and eventually put what I can on my blog and in my journal – evidence, right? Cards, envelopes, cool wrappings, you name it….it would go in the journal. But I got so behind that all this great stuff is piled in a bin. No more! So with Linda’s gifts I made a pact with myself to journal about it and use all the great stuff.

And I love this: on the little note seen below Linda wrote "maybe you can use some of this stuff, if not shake it off". Told ya, she’s a rememberer. And I’m using it.

So you can see I didn’t get very far – just have a few pages in progess – but at least I’m doing it! Thanks Linda for all the very special "you-get-me" stash.

I appreciate all my commentors. Is it commenter or commentor? I couldn’t find a definite answer so I went with commentor since it’s more like contributor. Commentors really contribute to a blog – and make the blogger feel validated. I have many MVNBC and many MVBC too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enthusiasm. It’s how friendships can begin.

More to share….from more friends met online (*wink* you know who you are)….but I gotta get my journal pages started first.

EDIT: With permission granted by Linda, here is an excerpt of her artwork in Lynne Perrella’s new book. I believe in sneak peeks only….you have to get the book to see the entire glorious piece. Art Making is a terrific book of visuals – and if you’re obsessed with collecting you’ll feel like you found a group of souls who Get it.
onWARD

February 16, 2008

Let me introduce you to my friend Linda Warlyn. If you are a frequent commentor here then you recognize her name. And if you subscribe to Somerset Studio, then you know her from there too. And if you got Lynne’s new book, then you saw her there too. In fact, her piece is my favorite-ist. She could easily win the MVNBC award because she sprinkles sunshine and enthusiasm wherever she goes. I met Linda something like three years ago in a workshop, and then got to spend time with her again last fall. But beyond that – I really attribute getting to know one another better because of the blogger/commentor relationship. She is simply the dearest girl – someone you want living next door, or at the desk next to you, or on the other end of the phone. She’s a reader (of people) and a remember-er. She’s a GETter.

Just recently I was a lucky girl to get TWO packages of loot from Linda. Before I had a chance to share on the blog all the great stuff from No. 1 that came in a wonderful black and white patterned envelope sitting inside a black and white patterned tray that was lined with red (of course!) and then No. 2 arrived! Who would even want to open this? Faye (my faithful mail carrier) handed it over with a grin.

So during the recent clean-up of my studio I sorted all the cool mail art and loot packages into one humungous container. Normally when I get unexpected deliveries I set them aside and eventually put what I can on my blog and in my journal – evidence, right? Cards, envelopes, cool wrappings, you name it….it would go in the journal. But I got so behind that all this great stuff is piled in a bin. No more! So with Linda’s gifts I made a pact with myself to journal about it and use all the great stuff.

And I love this: on the little note seen below Linda wrote "maybe you can use some of this stuff, if not shake it off". Told ya, she’s a rememberer. And I’m using it.

So you can see I didn’t get very far – just have a few pages in progess – but at least I’m doing it! Thanks Linda for all the very special "you-get-me" stash.

I appreciate all my commentors. Is it commenter or commentor? I couldn’t find a definite answer so I went with commentor since it’s more like contributor. Commentors really contribute to a blog – and make the blogger feel validated. I have many MVNBC and many MVBC too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enthusiasm. It’s how friendships can begin.

More to share….from more friends met online (*wink* you know who you are)….but I gotta get my journal pages started first.

EDIT: With permission granted by Linda, here is an excerpt of her artwork in Lynne Perrella’s new book. I believe in sneak peeks only….you have to get the book to see the entire glorious piece. Art Making is a terrific book of visuals – and if you’re obsessed with collecting you’ll feel like you found a group of souls who Get it.
can i vent for a sec?

February 15, 2008

I’m wondering if there is a new wave of soliciting taking place in the blogging environment. Within the last two weeks I have been sent emails saying my blog has been reviewed and I was approved to host advertising for xyz companies. Hello? Advertising? Has this happened to you? Why in the blazes would I host advertising? I don’t even advertise my OWN company, anywhere (with the exception of link on here, does that count?)

I was also offered to switch to a different blog service, and there was another place that offered a stat tracker that promised blahblahblah. I won’t even put a sitemeter on my blog. Who needs that much information? I find those things an invasion of sorts. Take a look at all the things a sitemeter will tell you, in addition to all the information they keep for themselves and you will cover your eyes and run the other way. I mean, if you were Amazon you might want to know what web pages were visited most, and where they were from, and where they went next, and how long they stayed, but a personal blog? Scary.

So to those who are out there "reviewing my blog" for advertising placement, no thanks. Take me off your mailing list. I don’t want your $.

I have some really wonderful things to share with you – stuff that came in the mail from friends, and from etsy. I’ve set a goal for myself on a new format for this kind of sharing – hope to get it up during the weekend. But for now, thanks for letting me vent.

And have a good weekend!
can i vent for a sec?

February 15, 2008

I’m wondering if there is a new wave of soliciting taking place in the blogging environment. Within the last two weeks I have been sent emails saying my blog has been reviewed and I was approved to host advertising for xyz companies. Hello? Advertising? Has this happened to you? Why in the blazes would I host advertising? I don’t even advertise my OWN company, anywhere (with the exception of link on here, does that count?)

I was also offered to switch to a different blog service, and there was another place that offered a stat tracker that promised blahblahblah. I won’t even put a sitemeter on my blog. Who needs that much information? I find those things an invasion of sorts. Take a look at all the things a sitemeter will tell you, in addition to all the information they keep for themselves and you will cover your eyes and run the other way. I mean, if you were Amazon you might want to know what web pages were visited most, and where they were from, and where they went next, and how long they stayed, but a personal blog? Scary.

So to those who are out there "reviewing my blog" for advertising placement, no thanks. Take me off your mailing list. I don’t want your $.

I have some really wonderful things to share with you – stuff that came in the mail from friends, and from etsy. I’ve set a goal for myself on a new format for this kind of sharing – hope to get it up during the weekend. But for now, thanks for letting me vent.

And have a good weekend!
for you

February 14, 2008

Or as we say at our house…….

I had this made when Fallon was born, and we would use it for her handmade classroom cards. Just below it you will see that adorable lopsided circle with an "S". When Peter was like 5 or 6 he thought I needed to have a Skittle stamp to use with my M&M stamp, so he drew this for me and I had it made into rubber. Sometime I’ll show you the stamps made from Sam’s drawings.

Love to you!
for you

February 14, 2008

Or as we say at our house…….

I had this made when Fallon was born, and we would use it for her handmade classroom cards. Just below it you will see that adorable lopsided circle with an "S". When Peter was like 5 or 6 he thought I needed to have a Skittle stamp to use with my M&M stamp, so he drew this for me and I had it made into rubber. Sometime I’ll show you the stamps made from Sam’s drawings.

Love to you!