greenpepperpressblog

Tag: cool stuff

  • and wider and wider and wider….

    MWrippleeffect

     

    When I was twelve or so my friend Peggy and I, and a handful of neighborhood friends, staged a backyard carnival to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.  Remember those kits you could send away for back in the 70s?  The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry Lewis enlisted children to help make a difference.  We borrowed one of those kits and put our own spin on it and made it happen.  I clearly remember riding our bikes to the local businesses soliciting for freebies to offer as prizes.  We got keychains and pens from the bank, a ball and bat and glove from Ben Franklin, some bags of penny candy from the grocery store….I believe we raised something like $27 from the nickel and dime donations we collected for the games and fortune telling and face paintings.  We mailed all the loose change in an envelope to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  A few weeks later we were sent a thank you letter and a dozen CF collar pins.  I WAS SURE THEY WOULD SOON FIND A CURE AFTER RECEIVING OUR ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION.

    MWactlocal

    Looking back now I think that event gave each participant a different perspective of HOPE.  My parents must have been touched that we thought about taking on the disease with the belief we could help.  My sister must have known we really loved her.  We carnival-throwing-kids were confident that our $$$ could be used for research for a cure.  But imagine what it must have been like at the CF Foundation office that morning when the mail arrived with a letter written by a 12 year old offering $27 in coins to present to the lab in hopes that a cure would be identified.   Imagine that.  There HAD to be a ripple effect don't you think?  And while a cure wasn't discovered in Shannon's lifetime there were alot of breakthroughs including the invention of the "vest" which not only allowed a CF patient to be independent in their daily bronchial drainage therapies, but it was developed by my sister's doctor, and she was a recipient of a prototype model.

    Mwpinkwink

    All I can say is I never expected this.  I never anticipated that the sock request would get such an incredible response and I never saw it coming that there would be spin-off things occuring – like the sharing of stories.  Stories of loss, stories of health, stories of inspiration, motivation, encouragement.  The ripple effect is amazing.  The people I have heard from are amazing.  This whole thing is utterly amazing.  There are some things I will share with you but some things will just have to stay in my head and my heart. 

    THANK YOU for winking at me.  THANK YOU for sharing your stories.  To begin…in my home mailbox were these, from a neighbor friend who I didn't know read my blog…. 

    PinkWink1

    And then these from the post office box………..

    PinkWink2

    PinkWink3

    PinkWink4

    Pinkwink5

    Pinkwink6

    And I'm off to pick up the mail at the post office today….then tune in on the Street Team blog where I'll be posting the next challenge later today.  It's only been two days of mail at my post office and we have already passed the 65 pairs goal.  And I can already feel the goodness that is being spread through the ripple effect that started last week.  There are still ten more days to go.  Wow!!!

    xoxo

  • positive spin

    I've adored the maltese cross for years.  I wear one every day.  I play with the image often in my work, and you've seen it show up in my own carvings and my rubber line.  Because I tend to be linear, and literal, I never considered the 45 degree variation of the "+" to make it a "x".   You'll see I went nuts experimenting with my new perspective.  Anytime I discover a form or shape I invest a little time making new tools….

    MWpositivespin1  

    MWpositivespin2

    MWpositivespin10

    MWpositivespin12

    MWpositivespin9

     MWpositivespin8

    MWpositivespin6

    MWpositivespin11  

    MWpositivespin7

    And more unfinished pages….sometimes it just feels good to get something started on the page.  It's a process to make additions to a painted background….it can take days to complete, or it may always stay as an experimental background. 

    MWpositivespin3

    MWpositivespin4

    MWpositivespin13

    I'm taking an a quick trip home to see my sister.  Squeeze your eyes tight and spin those positive vibes and prayers our way.  Take a deep breath and appreciate what your healthy lungs can do.  Shout and sing on the 4th of July….because you can.  And never forget to wink and whisper sweet somethings to your loved ones.  xoxo 

  • positive spin

    I've adored the maltese cross for years.  I wear one every day.  I play with the image often in my work, and you've seen it show up in my own carvings and my rubber line.  Because I tend to be linear, and literal, I never considered the 45 degree variation of the "+" to make it a "x".   You'll see I went nuts experimenting with my new perspective.  Anytime I discover a form or shape I invest a little time making new tools….

    MWpositivespin1  

    MWpositivespin2

    MWpositivespin10

    MWpositivespin12

    MWpositivespin9

     MWpositivespin8

    MWpositivespin6

    MWpositivespin11  

    MWpositivespin7

    And more unfinished pages….sometimes it just feels good to get something started on the page.  It's a process to make additions to a painted background….it can take days to complete, or it may always stay as an experimental background. 

    MWpositivespin3

    MWpositivespin4

    MWpositivespin13

    I'm taking an a quick trip home to see my sister.  Squeeze your eyes tight and spin those positive vibes and prayers our way.  Take a deep breath and appreciate what your healthy lungs can do.  Shout and sing on the 4th of July….because you can.  And never forget to wink and whisper sweet somethings to your loved ones.  xoxo 

  • shapin’ up

    MWshapeofthings

    Another cool shape.  The center box is mine….the others are for a friend who commented she liked the shape.  Definitely alterable.  Love the pyramid tea thingies too.  Love the out-of-the-box thinking that led to this packaging.

    Mwquotefortoday1

    I have a morning-in-the-studio playlist filled with tunes that energize me.  I was never a fan of this band, but this track gets me moving!  Hit *play* and see if it gets you grooving in your world today.  *turn it up*

    And for Jenny….you can show Andrew my daily-wear shoes….see how much I've loved my black and white Vans?  They are love-worn and paint-splattered.  Had to get a second pair.  And in red too.

    MW boogieshoes

    MW boogiequote

  • shapin’ up

    MWshapeofthings

    Another cool shape.  The center box is mine….the others are for a friend who commented she liked the shape.  Definitely alterable.  Love the pyramid tea thingies too.  Love the out-of-the-box thinking that led to this packaging.

    Mwquotefortoday1

    I have a morning-in-the-studio playlist filled with tunes that energize me.  I was never a fan of this band, but this track gets me moving!  Hit *play* and see if it gets you grooving in your world today.  *turn it up*

    And for Jenny….you can show Andrew my daily-wear shoes….see how much I've loved my black and white Vans?  They are love-worn and paint-splattered.  Had to get a second pair.  And in red too.

    MW boogieshoes

    MW boogiequote

  • the shape of things

    I obsess about several shapes.  A close relative to one of my faves, the maltese cross, is the quatrefoil.  I also obsess about punches.  I'm always on the prowl for new images.  You know I swooned when I saw this one:  HERE.  

    MW quatrefoil

    The black and red pattern you see in the upper left is a photo of a wood box at our front door (for shoes!)  Here are the close-ups of the punch-outs from rubbings done over textured wallpaper on colored paper, for GPP Street Team Crusade No. 21:

    MW rubbing6

    Mcgill punch

    MWshannonupdate

    Many of you have written kind notes asking how my sister Shannon is doing.  I was going to refrain from giving an update here to respect her privacy…but then I decided we could use your continued prayer and good vibes.  As you may know she left the hospital in time for her 40th birthday {yay!} but after a week home she's back in.   It still warms my heart to think of all the responses we got when I asked for your words of cheer.  I know you will join me in sending positive energy her way again.  xoxo

  • the shape of things

    I obsess about several shapes.  A close relative to one of my faves, the maltese cross, is the quatrefoil.  I also obsess about punches.  I'm always on the prowl for new images.  You know I swooned when I saw this one:  HERE.  

    MW quatrefoil

    The black and red pattern you see in the upper left is a photo of a wood box at our front door (for shoes!)  Here are the close-ups of the punch-outs from rubbings done over textured wallpaper on colored paper, for GPP Street Team Crusade No. 21:

    MW rubbing6

    Mcgill punch

    MWshannonupdate

    Many of you have written kind notes asking how my sister Shannon is doing.  I was going to refrain from giving an update here to respect her privacy…but then I decided we could use your continued prayer and good vibes.  As you may know she left the hospital in time for her 40th birthday {yay!} but after a week home she's back in.   It still warms my heart to think of all the responses we got when I asked for your words of cheer.  I know you will join me in sending positive energy her way again.  xoxo

  • she’s a winker

    Come on, isn't this the coolest?  So clever!  I never think of this kind of thing….which is why I'm sharing it with you – to inspire you.  It's that time of year when you may need to get a graduation gift. Sure, many of us think of a personalized something, an engraved item to mark a momentous occasion.  Forget the pen set - go for a metallic red iPod shuffle.  That rocks!  

    MW customshuffle

    No, I'm not graduating from anything…..I just have a friend who GETS me.  Thanks Buzz *wink*

    MW customshuffle2

  • she’s a winker

    Come on, isn't this the coolest?  So clever!  I never think of this kind of thing….which is why I'm sharing it with you – to inspire you.  It's that time of year when you may need to get a graduation gift. Sure, many of us think of a personalized something, an engraved item to mark a momentous occasion.  Forget the pen set - go for a metallic red iPod shuffle.  That rocks!  

    MW customshuffle

    No, I'm not graduating from anything…..I just have a friend who GETS me.  Thanks Buzz *wink*

    MW customshuffle2

  • findings

    In case you hadn't heard….Jenny Doh has a new blog.  Hop over and say hello, then bookmark for regular visits with your morning coffee.

    Mw jennyblog

    Yesterday I got to spend a-perfect-weather-day in NYC with my friend Edie.  Time flies when I'm with this girl – had a blast, beginning with a tour of her way-cool apartment.  Then off to Tinsel Trading for another visit with Wendy Addison.  And THEN, I finally got to Metalliferous – a place Beryl Taylor told me about last year.  What a find!  I kinda knew what to expect so I had a wishlist of things to look for which really helped since there is so much to see.  Here's some of my loot.  Those hearts are made of copper mesh! 

    MWmetalliferous  

    And now for the reveal on the tree root I showed you earlier….loved all the responses.  It was fun to read what your perspectives were.  I saw England in view No. 2.  I plan on putting it in a box, positioned over a map, with a heart placed over Birmingham (where I met my husband!)

    MW perspective4

    Have a wonderful long weekend!