Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

  • MW OurBirthday2012

    Whether you say Always Remembering You or Remembering You Always, it simply means you never stop thinking about someone.  Especially when your heart is so filled with love.  And sweet memories.  And sister secrets.  Especially because you are missing her.  The day she left for heaven is significant, but the day she was born is the one to celebrate, especially if your share that same birthdate. 

     

     MWsisterjournal2012

    MWsisterjournalbox

     

    Roses fill the gardens.  Roses fill the vases.  Piles of cards and packages.  Lots of joy here.  I'm a lucky girl.

     

    MWrosereport12

    MWSMKG51712

     

    *blows kisses*  xoxo

  • MW OurBirthday2012

    Whether you say Always Remembering You or Remembering You Always, it simply means you never stop thinking about someone.  Especially when your heart is so filled with love.  And sweet memories.  And sister secrets.  Especially because you are missing her.  The day she left for heaven is significant, but the day she was born is the one to celebrate, especially if your share that same birthdate. 

     

     MWsisterjournal2012

    MWsisterjournalbox

     

    Roses fill the gardens.  Roses fill the vases.  Piles of cards and packages.  Lots of joy here.  I'm a lucky girl.

     

    MWrosereport12

    MWSMKG51712

     

    *blows kisses*  xoxo

  • Mwmothersday2011

    I didn't have time to make a new graphic for today….down and out with a stomach bug.  Eww.  So the above is a repeat from last year.  Hope this day brings you sunshine, maybe some flowers, and a handmade card.  Oh, and good health!  And to my mother (and grandmother, Graham and our kids, when and if you ever see this…), I love you!

    Happy Mother's Day!

  • Mwmothersday2011

    I didn't have time to make a new graphic for today….down and out with a stomach bug.  Eww.  So the above is a repeat from last year.  Hope this day brings you sunshine, maybe some flowers, and a handmade card.  Oh, and good health!  And to my mother (and grandmother, Graham and our kids, when and if you ever see this…), I love you!

    Happy Mother's Day!

  • I'm attempting one more spread with orange.  Thanks for the feedback on the last pages.  I'm observing how little orange has showed up in my life.  Not complaining.  I'll stick with red.  Photos to follow. 

    Let's take a walk through my garden.  Here are a few views from the yard.  I've lost count of how many roses have had the courage to open up, even in the rain.  19 bushes.  I think I need one more.  Let's make it an even 20.  Hmmmm, what color?  I have mostly red.  Well, not red like long-stem-rose red, more like rosey-pinkish-red.  I like the color….it's a little Shannon, and a little Michelle.  I have two real pinks.  One yellow.  One pinkish yellow.  Two yellowish pink.  One 'hot cocoa', which is rusty with brown edges and smells delicious…almost cinnamon.  I could use more pink. 

     

    MWroses2012Peace

    MWroses2012wall1

    MWroses2012wall2

    MWroses2012fence1

    MWroses2012fence2

    MWroses2012red

    EDIT:  for Maryanne, Hot Cocoa Rose from 2009….

    MWroses2009hotcocoa

     

    Yes, I think pink.  Pink is the reason I started growing roses.  But you knew that.

  • I'm attempting one more spread with orange.  Thanks for the feedback on the last pages.  I'm observing how little orange has showed up in my life.  Not complaining.  I'll stick with red.  Photos to follow. 

    Let's take a walk through my garden.  Here are a few views from the yard.  I've lost count of how many roses have had the courage to open up, even in the rain.  19 bushes.  I think I need one more.  Let's make it an even 20.  Hmmmm, what color?  I have mostly red.  Well, not red like long-stem-rose red, more like rosey-pinkish-red.  I like the color….it's a little Shannon, and a little Michelle.  I have two real pinks.  One yellow.  One pinkish yellow.  Two yellowish pink.  One 'hot cocoa', which is rusty with brown edges and smells delicious…almost cinnamon.  I could use more pink. 

     

    MWroses2012Peace

    MWroses2012wall1

    MWroses2012wall2

    MWroses2012fence1

    MWroses2012fence2

    MWroses2012red

    EDIT:  for Maryanne, Hot Cocoa Rose from 2009….

    MWroses2009hotcocoa

     

    Yes, I think pink.  Pink is the reason I started growing roses.  But you knew that.

  • I don't do orange.  I don't have orange paint.  But I had to make a page about my new crush:  Cara Cara from Sunkist.  I usually wake up with a glass of orange juice but lately I'm substituting with these.  So juicy, seedless, nearly red interior…they got a celebration in my journal.  No orange?  Red + Yellow does the trick.

    MWoranges

     

    MWoranges3

     

     

    MWoranges2

     

    Have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately?  I'm feeling a little better about orange today.

  • I don't do orange.  I don't have orange paint.  But I had to make a page about my new crush:  Cara Cara from Sunkist.  I usually wake up with a glass of orange juice but lately I'm substituting with these.  So juicy, seedless, nearly red interior…they got a celebration in my journal.  No orange?  Red + Yellow does the trick.

    MWoranges

     

    MWoranges3

     

     

    MWoranges2

     

    Have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately?  I'm feeling a little better about orange today.

  • Yesterday I was reminiscing with Mom about May Day activities in our old neighborhood.  We would make (and receive) handmade paper baskets and cones filled with flowers cut from the garden – usually nearly-expired tulips or daffodils, wrapped with a wet paper towel and tin foil, or a handful of leftover Easter candy.  Ding Dong.  We'd drop our offerings on the front step and run for cover.  Did you do that too?

    My doorbell did ring yesterday, but it was the mailman with an armful of deliveries too big for the mailbox.  Included was the latest issue of Somerset Studio.  It remains a thrill to be included in my favorite publication.  My Make it Your Own column has me standing on soapbox to encourage you to carve some rubber. 

    MWcarvingarticle

    Here is a better view on the first piece – metallic doesn't show up very well in print.  Made for Shannon.  We all think of her when we see pink roses, but sunflowers were one of her favorites. 

    MWsunflowersshannon

    MWcarvingsamples

    I included my journal pages but I always find it interesting to see the thought process of an artist at work.  Here are what my process pages typically look like while I'm working on other surfaces.

    MWcarvingpage1

    MWcarvingpage2

    And as I said earlier, and in the article, I've assembled previous posts about carving onto a tutorial page – not meant to be a comprehensive how-to, but you might find it useful, or motivating.  See HERE.

    MWtutbannerCARVINGSTAMPS

  • Yesterday I was reminiscing with Mom about May Day activities in our old neighborhood.  We would make (and receive) handmade paper baskets and cones filled with flowers cut from the garden – usually nearly-expired tulips or daffodils, wrapped with a wet paper towel and tin foil, or a handful of leftover Easter candy.  Ding Dong.  We'd drop our offerings on the front step and run for cover.  Did you do that too?

    My doorbell did ring yesterday, but it was the mailman with an armful of deliveries too big for the mailbox.  Included was the latest issue of Somerset Studio.  It remains a thrill to be included in my favorite publication.  My Make it Your Own column has me standing on soapbox to encourage you to carve some rubber. 

    MWcarvingarticle

    Here is a better view on the first piece – metallic doesn't show up very well in print.  Made for Shannon.  We all think of her when we see pink roses, but sunflowers were one of her favorites. 

    MWsunflowersshannon

    MWcarvingsamples

    I included my journal pages but I always find it interesting to see the thought process of an artist at work.  Here are what my process pages typically look like while I'm working on other surfaces.

    MWcarvingpage1

    MWcarvingpage2

    And as I said earlier, and in the article, I've assembled previous posts about carving onto a tutorial page – not meant to be a comprehensive how-to, but you might find it useful, or motivating.  See HERE.

    MWtutbannerCARVINGSTAMPS