Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

today

May 17, 2014

Fifty. Seems like a significant number doesn't it? Half a century. How did that happen? I have to say I loved my forties more than my thirties so I look forward to my fifties. Today I will enjoy being with my family, talking to loved ones, and we will all be remembering Shannon, and the special day we shared for forty years. She was born on my fourth birthday – a most precious gift to all of us. I'm a lucky girl. There are many roses on my table today from the florist – for Mother's Day, and for my birthday….red of course, but also pink. Perhaps the recent rain will prompt my the first rose bush blossom to open in celebration of Shannon, for they were all planted in her memory.

Here is a favorite from the collection of nearly-annual-dock photos. I love that her shoulders are raised in a fit of giggles. I can hear it when I listen really hard. Makes me smile. Happy Birthday to Us. Love you sweet sister.
today

May 17, 2014

Fifty. Seems like a significant number doesn't it? Half a century. How did that happen? I have to say I loved my forties more than my thirties so I look forward to my fifties. Today I will enjoy being with my family, talking to loved ones, and we will all be remembering Shannon, and the special day we shared for forty years. She was born on my fourth birthday – a most precious gift to all of us. I'm a lucky girl. There are many roses on my table today from the florist – for Mother's Day, and for my birthday….red of course, but also pink. Perhaps the recent rain will prompt my the first rose bush blossom to open in celebration of Shannon, for they were all planted in her memory.

Here is a favorite from the collection of nearly-annual-dock photos. I love that her shoulders are raised in a fit of giggles. I can hear it when I listen really hard. Makes me smile. Happy Birthday to Us. Love you sweet sister.
more Crowning Glories

May 12, 2014

Last weekend was the second edition of our Crowning Glories workshop. It was another spectacular event. I can't wait to show you the evidence of creativity, for now here is the fabulous group of women who joined us in Connecticut. Lynne and I are already conjuring up plans for next year, with the same weekends booked at the Inn. Can't wait! Thanks to all the artists who attended and immersed themselves in art-making for three full days (and some even played long into the evening) in the most wonderful studio. We hope to see you again!
more Crowning Glories

May 12, 2014

Last weekend was the second edition of our Crowning Glories workshop. It was another spectacular event. I can't wait to show you the evidence of creativity, for now here is the fabulous group of women who joined us in Connecticut. Lynne and I are already conjuring up plans for next year, with the same weekends booked at the Inn. Can't wait! Thanks to all the artists who attended and immersed themselves in art-making for three full days (and some even played long into the evening) in the most wonderful studio. We hope to see you again!
celebrating the women we hold dear

May 11, 2014
celebrating the women we hold dear

May 11, 2014
firsts….for 2014

May 5, 2014

It's May! One of my favorite months. In addition to all the special dates that mark up the calendar, it is when things really start to bloom in the yard. Today the lilacs opened up, and I found my first batch of four leaf clovers! Next week I may see a rose!

May also means the start of Workshop Season, beginning with the second annual event with my friend and teaching partner Lynne Perrella. Last weekend we hosted Crowning Glories and it was an outstanding class, with remarkable women. We met with lots of familiar faces and made a handful of new friends. I love the ripple effect that occurs, and the positive energy that grows, as we march forward on a project, picking up new tricks and techniques along the way because we are invested in learning, sharing, and elevating our process of creating. The enthusiasm was apparent, with each final outcome so personal and unique, as we set up an impromptu photoshoot to celebrate both the artist and their work. I will share at a later date as we want to keep it a surprise until we've completed the encore class next weekend. Thank you ladies for a memorable three days. Looking forward to more Crowning Glories on Friday.
firsts….for 2014

May 5, 2014

It's May! One of my favorite months. In addition to all the special dates that mark up the calendar, it is when things really start to bloom in the yard. Today the lilacs opened up, and I found my first batch of four leaf clovers! Next week I may see a rose!

May also means the start of Workshop Season, beginning with the second annual event with my friend and teaching partner Lynne Perrella. Last weekend we hosted Crowning Glories and it was an outstanding class, with remarkable women. We met with lots of familiar faces and made a handful of new friends. I love the ripple effect that occurs, and the positive energy that grows, as we march forward on a project, picking up new tricks and techniques along the way because we are invested in learning, sharing, and elevating our process of creating. The enthusiasm was apparent, with each final outcome so personal and unique, as we set up an impromptu photoshoot to celebrate both the artist and their work. I will share at a later date as we want to keep it a surprise until we've completed the encore class next weekend. Thank you ladies for a memorable three days. Looking forward to more Crowning Glories on Friday.
new article – old favorite

April 25, 2014

As you know, I've been playing with cardboard for quite a while. If you're a regular here you've seen my cardboard journals (right sidebar photo album has some archived pages). I think it's such a fabulous material to work with and I continually find new ways to push it's usefulness. My May/June Somerset Studio column is about the journals, in particular a new Black & Kraft one. Scroll down for previous sneak peeks, or if you're reading through a feed, click HERE. Magazine on shelves May 1st.

I will be teaching two cardboard classes in NYC in October. Visit www.TheInkPadNYC.com for details. All my upcoming classes are posted in the left sidebar or you can click on WORKSHOPS at the navigation bar on top. I will be teaching three classes in NJ in July, and I'm coming to San Diego for the first time in September, for San Diego Book Arts.

My apologies to visitors who got frustrated during the week as Typepad had issues on and off for several days. I wasn't able to connect either! Hopefully all is fixed and we won't experience outages again. Happy to see things back up!

EDIT: In late May, I was a guest blogger on Stampington's site. I offered a tutorial on making your own cardboard journal. In case you missed it I'm posting here, as well as in my Cardboard Journal album in the right sidebar.
new article – old favorite

April 25, 2014

As you know, I've been playing with cardboard for quite a while. If you're a regular here you've seen my cardboard journals (right sidebar photo album has some archived pages). I think it's such a fabulous material to work with and I continually find new ways to push it's usefulness. My May/June Somerset Studio column is about the journals, in particular a new Black & Kraft one. Scroll down for previous sneak peeks, or if you're reading through a feed, click HERE. Magazine on shelves May 1st.

I will be teaching two cardboard classes in NYC in October. Visit www.TheInkPadNYC.com for details. All my upcoming classes are posted in the left sidebar or you can click on WORKSHOPS at the navigation bar on top. I will be teaching three classes in NJ in July, and I'm coming to San Diego for the first time in September, for San Diego Book Arts.

My apologies to visitors who got frustrated during the week as Typepad had issues on and off for several days. I wasn't able to connect either! Hopefully all is fixed and we won't experience outages again. Happy to see things back up!

EDIT: In late May, I was a guest blogger on Stampington's site. I offered a tutorial on making your own cardboard journal. In case you missed it I'm posting here, as well as in my Cardboard Journal album in the right sidebar.