greenpepperpressblog

Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

finding luck

July 1, 2013

Lots of heat and rain means the clovers are reaching up from earth, wanting to find the sun. The lucky ones always manage to get noticed, at least by me. Evidence:

Something else that wants to get noticed….she always has to see what's going on, and is very much at home with us now. We took down the gate so Lucky has the full run of the house but she's never too far from any of us and we track her with the sound of her little green bell. I didn't think I could open my heart so swiftly and easily after Winston, but she's a charmer and has brought us so much joy.
finding luck

July 1, 2013

Lots of heat and rain means the clovers are reaching up from earth, wanting to find the sun. The lucky ones always manage to get noticed, at least by me. Evidence:

Something else that wants to get noticed….she always has to see what's going on, and is very much at home with us now. We took down the gate so Lucky has the full run of the house but she's never too far from any of us and we track her with the sound of her little green bell. I didn't think I could open my heart so swiftly and easily after Winston, but she's a charmer and has brought us so much joy.
done!

June 28, 2013

The final report card came in. Fallon's highest marks ever. Pretty good considering some seniors tend to slack off as the year winds down. At college orientation we learned that parents aren't given access to grades. ??? You'd think that signing your name on tuition checks might give you some privileges but it's time to let them fly, and trust that they'll continue to do well and communicate with you. I'll be filing away this last report, with some of the other remarkable items I've saved over the years. Onward we go!

We are so proud of you Fallon – bravo!

Had a great time with family last weekend. Mom and Dad, John and Renee, and my nieces Morgan, Mackenzie, and Meg joined us to celebrate Fallon's graduation. We spent a day at the shore, rode some terrifying rides, got in the ocean, and enjoyed walking the refurbished boardwalk. As the slogan on the airwaves keeps reminding and reassuring us: We are stronger than the storm. There's still alot of work to be done following superstorm Sandy but it was wonderful to see the crowds filling up the beach.

Summer is here! Be well and behave ;)
done!

June 28, 2013

The final report card came in. Fallon's highest marks ever. Pretty good considering some seniors tend to slack off as the year winds down. At college orientation we learned that parents aren't given access to grades. ??? You'd think that signing your name on tuition checks might give you some privileges but it's time to let them fly, and trust that they'll continue to do well and communicate with you. I'll be filing away this last report, with some of the other remarkable items I've saved over the years. Onward we go!

We are so proud of you Fallon – bravo!

Had a great time with family last weekend. Mom and Dad, John and Renee, and my nieces Morgan, Mackenzie, and Meg joined us to celebrate Fallon's graduation. We spent a day at the shore, rode some terrifying rides, got in the ocean, and enjoyed walking the refurbished boardwalk. As the slogan on the airwaves keeps reminding and reassuring us: We are stronger than the storm. There's still alot of work to be done following superstorm Sandy but it was wonderful to see the crowds filling up the beach.

Summer is here! Be well and behave ;)
cut and peel

June 20, 2013

I'm pre-programming this post because this week we have family visiting and tonight is Fallon's graduation. I will be back with photographic evidence of that in a few days, but for now here is more cardboard manipulation. If you are in Jersey, or nearby, you might be interested to come take my Debris Journal workshop at CREATE – NJ either Thursday, July 18th or Saturday, July 20th. That's one month away – can't wait!! I will be teaching four days plus vending on the Friday night. Hope you'll join us.
cut and peel

June 20, 2013

I'm pre-programming this post because this week we have family visiting and tonight is Fallon's graduation. I will be back with photographic evidence of that in a few days, but for now here is more cardboard manipulation. If you are in Jersey, or nearby, you might be interested to come take my Debris Journal workshop at CREATE – NJ either Thursday, July 18th or Saturday, July 20th. That's one month away – can't wait!! I will be teaching four days plus vending on the Friday night. Hope you'll join us.
some stuff from my table

June 17, 2013

I'm still playing with cardboard. Here's something I tried this weekend. I traced the stencil onto the cardboard panel, then cut and lifted out the negative. I was so excited by the concept that I wasn't so careful about the cuts and used a chunky blade. I may have done better with a finer knife but who has time to look for one when you're ready to try something? Don't forget that stencils aren't just for paint and spackle – they are cool with pencils and knives too.

As I've mentioned, when I'm behaving, I store my stencils in page protectors in 3-ring binders. When I'm not behaving I toss them all into a large clear rubber bin. But as John Shaw once said, some of my stencil designs do not play well with others (lots of parts that can get tangled) so I do try to separate. At Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago I found this presentation portfolio. Couldn't be more perfect for my new Gothic Collections stencils and masks! Come on, HCIT?

Speaking of the new collection, I've had new customers who are asking what to do with unmounted rubber sheets. There are lots of ways to use them – temporarily mount on acrylic blocks, or if you are a grab-and-go girl, then you might like my method. I use thick foam as a mount as it provides the cushion necessary for a good impression, and it is grab-able, similar to a wood mount. Just pay attention when you are cutting the foam so you have a nice straight line where the rubber ends for aligning on your stamped surface. Here's a quick tutorial:

Gothic Collection stencils, masks, stencil/mask sets, and rubber stamps available at GreenPepperPress.com
some stuff from my table

June 17, 2013

I'm still playing with cardboard. Here's something I tried this weekend. I traced the stencil onto the cardboard panel, then cut and lifted out the negative. I was so excited by the concept that I wasn't so careful about the cuts and used a chunky blade. I may have done better with a finer knife but who has time to look for one when you're ready to try something? Don't forget that stencils aren't just for paint and spackle – they are cool with pencils and knives too.

As I've mentioned, when I'm behaving, I store my stencils in page protectors in 3-ring binders. When I'm not behaving I toss them all into a large clear rubber bin. But as John Shaw once said, some of my stencil designs do not play well with others (lots of parts that can get tangled) so I do try to separate. At Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago I found this presentation portfolio. Couldn't be more perfect for my new Gothic Collections stencils and masks! Come on, HCIT?

Speaking of the new collection, I've had new customers who are asking what to do with unmounted rubber sheets. There are lots of ways to use them – temporarily mount on acrylic blocks, or if you are a grab-and-go girl, then you might like my method. I use thick foam as a mount as it provides the cushion necessary for a good impression, and it is grab-able, similar to a wood mount. Just pay attention when you are cutting the foam so you have a nice straight line where the rubber ends for aligning on your stamped surface. Here's a quick tutorial:

Gothic Collection stencils, masks, stencil/mask sets, and rubber stamps available at GreenPepperPress.com
cool tools

June 12, 2013

I've been enjoying the slow collection of vintage tools. So many of our devices are plastic, that it's really nice to come across an old once-loved and well-used tool for my studio. The tracing wheels are terrific for rolling in paint and then frolic up a page, or better yet, poking through a corrugated cardboard surface. The newer ones aren't as pokey, with much smoother edges on the wheel. The old ones may not be safe but they can assist you to do cool stuff. The awls are so nice to hold, and they force nice holes. I am so happy to have a toolbox that is filling up with these treasures.

Inspired by Louise Nevelson's monochromatic assemblages with emphasis on shadows, I have been manipulating surfaces in cardboard as part of demo sample for the Debris Journal workshop in July. Similar to working in altered books, where I believe it is much more interesting to alter the text and minimally modify the page with subtle markings versus full-on coverage with paint and collage material, I think that starting a cardboard journal should be all about how to respect the material and then determine methods of achieving interest with clever cuts, folds, and punctures. Below you can see some examples I'm preparing – the die-cut circles and the bull-nose corners were part of a cardboard package. I can never resist unusual findings when it comes to cardboard as they make for great pages in the journal.

Below is another vintage tool – a man-made protractor for determining angles. Some person scored in these lines with precision. Amazing, don't you think? Found on ebay about ten years ago!

I love that these tools belonged to someone. I love that there must be stories about how they were used. I really wish I could rub the wood and learn the history. Since I can't do that I will just carry the artisan in my heart when I'm working with their tools.
cool tools

June 12, 2013

I've been enjoying the slow collection of vintage tools. So many of our devices are plastic, that it's really nice to come across an old once-loved and well-used tool for my studio. The tracing wheels are terrific for rolling in paint and then frolic up a page, or better yet, poking through a corrugated cardboard surface. The newer ones aren't as pokey, with much smoother edges on the wheel. The old ones may not be safe but they can assist you to do cool stuff. The awls are so nice to hold, and they force nice holes. I am so happy to have a toolbox that is filling up with these treasures.

Inspired by Louise Nevelson's monochromatic assemblages with emphasis on shadows, I have been manipulating surfaces in cardboard as part of demo sample for the Debris Journal workshop in July. Similar to working in altered books, where I believe it is much more interesting to alter the text and minimally modify the page with subtle markings versus full-on coverage with paint and collage material, I think that starting a cardboard journal should be all about how to respect the material and then determine methods of achieving interest with clever cuts, folds, and punctures. Below you can see some examples I'm preparing – the die-cut circles and the bull-nose corners were part of a cardboard package. I can never resist unusual findings when it comes to cardboard as they make for great pages in the journal.

Below is another vintage tool – a man-made protractor for determining angles. Some person scored in these lines with precision. Amazing, don't you think? Found on ebay about ten years ago!

I love that these tools belonged to someone. I love that there must be stories about how they were used. I really wish I could rub the wood and learn the history. Since I can't do that I will just carry the artisan in my heart when I'm working with their tools.