Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

  • It's such a privilege to spend time with artists both in the classroom and at an event.  What a terrific group of ladies that came from near and far to join me and the other instructors for some creative time together.  Of course we hope to learn something, and leave with enthusiasm to keep at it, and even pick up the pace, but to me the greatest take-away is the connections we make with other makers.  Outside of the venue, like in real life, it's likely we have a handful of creative friends….but here, for five days, we are in a hub of creative energy.  What happens in the classroom fulfills me in such a unique way and I can hardly wait to do it again.  

    I didn't stop to take many photos along the way but I did manage to pause for group photos.  I have to say that the Roll With It class picture has to be the best group shot ever.  I've taught this class a number of times in the last twelve years, and we try to get a composite of all the rolls prior to journal assembly – not always easy to get 25 feet x 25 students in one photo….so thankful for a hotel balcony this year.  The collest, right?  It was a fast-paced with lots of techniques and they did an amazing job keeping up, and cranked out some stellar pages.  Well done ladies!

     

    MW Roll With It NJ 2014

    MW Roll With It NJ 2014 b

     

    Next was Color Collision where we mixed paints, then applied them using stencils.  Beautiful paintings!  I wish I had taken close-up photos to show you how fabulous they all were.  Here are the artists:

     

    MW Color Collision NJ 2014

    Last was Compose Yourself – we went through a series of exercises to practice collage in black and white. We all learned so much from the simple assignments, and from each other during the review sessions.  I did get a photo of the Notan collages.  Super cool.  Awesome job ladies!

     

    MW Compose Yourself NJ 2014

     

    I also got to be a student!  I had a really wonderful time making a mini clay crown with the amazing Laurie Mika.  We've known each other a long time, we even collaborated on a project for an article years ago, but this was only our second real life meeting.  I learned so much and had a blast!!!  

    MW Crowns with Laurie 1

    MW Crowns with Laurie 2

    MW Crowns with Laurie 3

    MW Crowns with Laurie 4

     

     

    Thanks to Maggie and Sally and Jeannine and everyone at Interweave/Create for presenting fabulous event. Thanks to the students who joined me, friends who popped in to say hello, and all the shoppers who stopped by at the Vendor Faire.  Hope we'll see you all again next year!

  • It's such a privilege to spend time with artists both in the classroom and at an event.  What a terrific group of ladies that came from near and far to join me and the other instructors for some creative time together.  Of course we hope to learn something, and leave with enthusiasm to keep at it, and even pick up the pace, but to me the greatest take-away is the connections we make with other makers.  Outside of the venue, like in real life, it's likely we have a handful of creative friends….but here, for five days, we are in a hub of creative energy.  What happens in the classroom fulfills me in such a unique way and I can hardly wait to do it again.  

    I didn't stop to take many photos along the way but I did manage to pause for group photos.  I have to say that the Roll With It class picture has to be the best group shot ever.  I've taught this class a number of times in the last twelve years, and we try to get a composite of all the rolls prior to journal assembly – not always easy to get 25 feet x 25 students in one photo….so thankful for a hotel balcony this year.  The collest, right?  It was a fast-paced with lots of techniques and they did an amazing job keeping up, and cranked out some stellar pages.  Well done ladies!

     

    MW Roll With It NJ 2014

    MW Roll With It NJ 2014 b

     

    Next was Color Collision where we mixed paints, then applied them using stencils.  Beautiful paintings!  I wish I had taken close-up photos to show you how fabulous they all were.  Here are the artists:

     

    MW Color Collision NJ 2014

    Last was Compose Yourself – we went through a series of exercises to practice collage in black and white. We all learned so much from the simple assignments, and from each other during the review sessions.  I did get a photo of the Notan collages.  Super cool.  Awesome job ladies!

     

    MW Compose Yourself NJ 2014

     

    I also got to be a student!  I had a really wonderful time making a mini clay crown with the amazing Laurie Mika.  We've known each other a long time, we even collaborated on a project for an article years ago, but this was only our second real life meeting.  I learned so much and had a blast!!!  

    MW Crowns with Laurie 1

    MW Crowns with Laurie 2

    MW Crowns with Laurie 3

    MW Crowns with Laurie 4

     

     

    Thanks to Maggie and Sally and Jeannine and everyone at Interweave/Create for presenting fabulous event. Thanks to the students who joined me, friends who popped in to say hello, and all the shoppers who stopped by at the Vendor Faire.  Hope we'll see you all again next year!

  • It's been six years since we began planting roses in remembrance of Shannon.  While today's anniversary brings a tear, I am also filled with joy to have been blessed with such a sweet sister.  I will never forget your arms wrapping around me when I needed it most, thank you.  Here are two of the four walls of roses, and evidence of their rampant growth.  I never imagined they'd grow taller than the fence!  Reaching toward heaven…..xo

    MW SisterGarden2014

  • It's been six years since we began planting roses in remembrance of Shannon.  While today's anniversary brings a tear, I am also filled with joy to have been blessed with such a sweet sister.  I will never forget your arms wrapping around me when I needed it most, thank you.  Here are two of the four walls of roses, and evidence of their rampant growth.  I never imagined they'd grow taller than the fence!  Reaching toward heaven…..xo

    MW SisterGarden2014

  • It's a busy time, packing and prepping for workshops.  I'm also excited that I will be accepting delivery on a batch of new stencils that will debut at the event on Friday.  These are designs that I cut by hand and have been using for a while, some samples below.  Gothic Collection Additions will be available online July 14. There will be coordinating stamps to follow in August.

     

    GPP Gothic2 MW sample stencils

     

    GPP MW GOTHIC COLLECTION ADDITIONS

  • It's a busy time, packing and prepping for workshops.  I'm also excited that I will be accepting delivery on a batch of new stencils that will debut at the event on Friday.  These are designs that I cut by hand and have been using for a while, some samples below.  Gothic Collection Additions will be available online July 14. There will be coordinating stamps to follow in August.

     

    GPP Gothic2 MW sample stencils

     

    GPP MW GOTHIC COLLECTION ADDITIONS

  • Have a super fun day and a wonderful weekend – be safe, be well, and behave 🙂

    MW JULY4TH2014

     

  • Have a super fun day and a wonderful weekend – be safe, be well, and behave 🙂

    MW JULY4TH2014

     

  • Still defaulting to cardboard……I've been collecting anything and everything with brown paper packing.  These little craft boxes are a terrific addition to my cardboard sculptures, and they were the perfect fit inside an assemblage frame.  See the July/August Somerset Studio for the complete article. 

    Michelle Ward Serendipity Boxes Somerset Studio July August 2014

  • Still defaulting to cardboard……I've been collecting anything and everything with brown paper packing.  These little craft boxes are a terrific addition to my cardboard sculptures, and they were the perfect fit inside an assemblage frame.  See the July/August Somerset Studio for the complete article. 

    Michelle Ward Serendipity Boxes Somerset Studio July August 2014