greenpepperpressblog

Tag: cool stuff

  • stencils + stencils!

    So how cool is this?  A few months ago Lorna from Martha Stewart Living inquired about my Frond Collection stencils.  I've been waiting to hear about the results of the upcoming feature and found a copy of the magazine this week. (July/August issue).  It was such a thrill to see my own stencil line (GreenPepperPress.com) along with Mary Beth's (StencilGirlProducts.com) in the article.  The spread is also featured on the Martha Stewart website under DIY, see HERE.  It's so nice that on the site, and in the magazine, all sources are listed WITH the project – unlike the old days where you had to read the fine print in the back pages to find contact info.  

    Thanks Lorna + Martha!  Cool projects!

     

    MarthaStewartGPP

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    And in more stencil news – it's Mary Beth Shaw's birthday and she's throwing a party where you get to enjoy 14% off your stencil purchases today through Sunday (July 6, 7 8).  

    SGPsale2018

    All designs are on sale – you can find my designs HERE.

    Receive 14% OFF all StencilGirl stencil designs - Use code:  MBS14

    $100+ orders** CHOOSE 1 FREE Large STENCIL***
    ***You MUST put the L### in the comment box at checkout. Sorry, no exceptions.

    **6 of the same size 10% discount is applied first! $100+ orders post-discount.
    *Sale does not apply to wholesale accounts or StencilClub membership.

    The stencil sale begins July 6th and ends July 8th at 11:59 p.m. CST 

  • Summer catch-up

    MichelleWardsun

    I can't believe it's officially summer!  I guess I've been on a little blog vacation.  I meant to chime in on my birthday, to show you the first blossom, definitely a sign from Shannon who would have been 50 on our special day.  By the following week in May the garden was in full bloom.  I also meant to post photos of our Fallon, who graduated from Rutgers.  So I will do that now.

    MW may 17 2018

    Here are two of the four walls of roses.  The last photo shows how tall they've become – wanting to show off to the neighborhood.

    MW RosesMay2018a

    MW RosesMay2018b

    MW RosesMay2018c

    And here's our girl graduating on Mother's Day from Rutgers University with honors.  As we looked back at photos of my college graduation we noticed that both Fallon and I wore a black dress with white polka dots.  Love that one of her baby photos has her dressed in red scarlet.

    MWFWSK

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    Here's a wonderful story of Synchronicity.  Ten years ago I posted this story: HERE. If you don't click through to read I'll summarize.  I was in a Self-Portrait round robin journal project and I was working on a page where I had typed up tiny strips of repeated words that described me.  Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend, Artist….you get it.  So I had Fallon read them and tell me if I was missing anything.  She said: Believer.  So Believer became significant between us.  Every year since then I have gotten her a gift with Believer as an engraving or marking.  I have a wood sign in my studio that says Believe, so I found an R to add to it.  For some reason I painted it red.  See photo.  That was 2008.  Then a few years ago, when Fallon was deciding where to finish college, we were having a family discussion at the dinner table, reviewing the options.  She happens to look up from her placet at the table, and saw I had moved the Believer sign + R to a spot in the studio within view….and it was a "sign".  Literally.  Rutgers logo is a red R.  So she accepted Rutgers, and has graduated as a Scarlet Knight.

    MW FW Believer

     

    I've had a fun time working on a project for the last two weeks – something totally new for me.  There was a bit of a learning curve but that is what happens when you try to educate yourself on the properties of a material.  You'll see more about it in September. Meanwhile, here's some of my worktable:

    MWGOLD

     

    So that's a quick catch-up from May….had some issues uploading photos but it appears to be working now so I will have another post going up later today.

  • MindFULLness OR MindLESSness?

    Happy Monday.  I'm the guest over at StencilGirlTalk – the blog for StencilGirlProducts.  I think one of the hidden secrets of stencils is to use them as templates to help you draw.  We all LOVE using stencils with paint, but how about relying on them to use with pen only?

    MW SGP teaser

     

    Go see my tutorial!  Disclaimer:  once you start, it's hard to stop!  Visit HERE.

    MW SGP teaser2

     

  • new article: shadow play

    The latest Somerset Studio has arrived – March/April 2018.  My column features recent experiments with paper cutting to create shadows.  The first photo is a close-up I took of one piece – derived from my Rose Window stencil.  I've always been intrigued by illuminated dimensional art, and while I didn't take mine that far, it was a fun self-imposed assignment to create pattern and depth with paper and just a few tools.  As I was turning the pages of the new issue, it was a nice surprise to land on Mary Beth Shaw's interesting article on pigments – there's a full page of my Maltese Mix stencil.  Very cool.

     

    Michelle Ward Somerset Studio March April 2018 Shadow Play

  • Happy Valentine’s Day!

    MWVD2018

    It's been a fun two weeks of February so far.  First, the Eagles win the Super Bowl – my husband's favorite team!!!  It was a great game and I'm so excited my favorite Eagles fan got to experience the big win.  It was a sight to behold, and so fun to share as a family (with lots of delicious food!)  

    Then the Olympics!  Love the figure skating….but watching snowboarding is the best!!!  Shaun White taking the gold last night was so thrilling.  Big congrats to him.

    I've been slowly working through a "frozen shoulder" with physical therapy appointments twice a week (thanks Jaime) and at-home exercises.  I can tell my movement is improving but it's a long process.  Makes you grateful that all your other parts are working fine. Luckily it hasn't hindered my time in the studio.  So many silver linings.

    Wishing you a Valentine's day filled with many good things – whether flowers, chocolate, cards and calls, or just a simple text that warms your heart.  Don't forget to GIVE more than you get <3

     

  • Epiphany

    I've always wanted to make my own set of three kings – something I've done digitally for years, but haven't made in 3-D yet.  After I worked on my castle earlier this year I thought maybe I would create a set from the wooden pegs like I used HERE.  Then I came across this Nativity from Target and I had to have it.  If you can believe it I'm actually starting on ideas for next Christmas….maybe I will get those kings made by summer…wouldn't that be great?

    MWepiphany2018

     

    MWnativity2018

    Happy Epiphany.  Now we can officially start putting away all the decorations.  Gosh it goes by fast.

  • Article: Chromabridge Revisited

    One of my favorite classes from college was Color Theory.  Not only did we learn a lot about hue perception and color relationships in conceptual form, but we also had to mix paint on swatches (hundreds of them), then cut and manipulate into compositions. There were many projects that had to adhere to strict format of presentation. Even with all the rules there was enough room for personal choices, thereby yielding unique expressions of creativity amongst my fellow students.   The lessons learned from that course still resonate with me today and it was so much fun to revisit – this time with less rules and no grading rubric.  The article appears in the January/February issue of Somerset Studio.

     

    Michelle Ward Somerset Studio Jan Feb Chromabridge 2018

     

    Below are pieces from 1984 – I still have the zippered leather three-ring binder filled with the assignments that gave me great angst at the time.  It was a pleasure to take artistic liberty as I reinvented using the Chromabridge to build new work.

    Michelle Ward ChromaBridge 1984

     

    As I was preparing for this article I reached out to the current instructor of the same class at the University of Minnesota.  Turns out she was also a student of Lee Fargo, and we may have passed one another in the halls.  I was disappointed to learn that students are no longer required to mix paints, and instead prepare all their assignments digitally, as most of the class is online.  While I think there is merit in learning how to build similar compositions with the aid of a computer, I also think the students are missing out on a huge element of discovery – using their hands to mix paint and apply to paper, using their eyes to discern equal steps of a gradation, and then carefully measure, cut and assemble a collage with tangible moving parts.  However, I got the sense that she is enthusiastic about the subject and the students are in good hands, regardless of the format.

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    Don't forget!!!  Creative JumpStart starts January 1st!!  Have you signed up? Early registration discount ends 12/31 ($45) so get in on this deal!!! You will be treated to 31 days of inspiration to start the year with motivation to stay creative.

    I'm excited to be playing along. Come join us!! More details here:
    http://nathaliesstudio.com/learn/online-workshops/creative-jumpstart-2018/?wpam_id=15

    MWCJS18ad

     

     

  • Merry Christmas!

    Wishing you a blessed holiday, whatever you celebrate.  Here's our annual photo card, and evidence of the family at a HIM concert. Theme this year honors our favorite band as we followed them on their farewell tour.  Toasting many fun years seeing them live (x22).  We will always have the music, and the memories.

     

    MWxmas2017HIM

     

     

  • Colors

    Do you follow the annual Pantone Color of the Year?  This year is Ultra Violet.  You can read more about it HERE.  It's very close to the color they announced earlier this year in collaboration with Prince's estate.  Read about that HERE.

    While waiting for the unveiling of 2018, we were speculating which direction it might go.  I was hoping for something in the yellow family – like a handsome rich mustard. Below is a chart of selections from 2000 to 2018.  Out of curiosity I created an approximate color wheel placement of past colors and confirmed that there have been several similar shades, and yellow is under-represented.

     

    MWpantone2018

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    If you had to pick a color for the upcoming year, what would you choose?

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  • Special Announcement – Creative JumpStart 2018

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    I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating as an artist in Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2018, run for the 7th time by Nathalie Kalbach. If you're not familiar with CJS, it's a one-of-a-kind online event to kick your creativity into high gear in January 2018. 

    Learn techniques, discover new materials, and connect with other artists and crafters. 

    Throughout January participants get access to 31 downloadable videos from 31 featured artists. I'm proud to be one of those artists, called “JumpStarters.” See for yourself:

    Announcing Creative JumpStart 2018 – CJS18 from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

     

    Head on over to Nathalie's site to sign up and for more details: HERE

    You get 31 Downloadable videos – over 6 hours of unique content –  for just $40 (USD) if you sign up by November 29 11:59 pm EST, 2017. Afterwards it will be $45 (USD) until December 31st, 2017 before it goes to its normal sale price of $50 (USD). 

    So what are you waiting for? Sign up here at CJS: HERE