How’s this for scary clever? Mom made us this ceramic pumpkin in a class a few years ago.
EDIT: finally took a few more photos…they are up on the Street Team blog. Are you gothing out for Halloween? Making cool cards or costumes or are you a master carver? Show us!
Susanna and I have been taking a silkscreen printing class. It’s been fun to be making stencils of a different variety. It took a few tries so come up with a graphic that jived with film processor’s capabilities. My first two images were too intricate and the pixilation of them really bugged me. Tonight I went for big and bold….here’s the one shirt I was able to print!
There is only one station in the classroom where we print so we have to take turns. I’ll get to print a few more next week. My kids were so impressed with this shirt – Fallon wants to wear it to school tomorrow, and Peter said "You always say that". Is it bad to admit I TOTALLY love this and wish I could print dozens and give them away?
Susanna and I have been taking a silkscreen printing class. It’s been fun to be making stencils of a different variety. It took a few tries so come up with a graphic that jived with film processor’s capabilities. My first two images were too intricate and the pixilation of them really bugged me. Tonight I went for big and bold….here’s the one shirt I was able to print!
There is only one station in the classroom where we print so we have to take turns. I’ll get to print a few more next week. My kids were so impressed with this shirt – Fallon wants to wear it to school tomorrow, and Peter said "You always say that". Is it bad to admit I TOTALLY love this and wish I could print dozens and give them away?
Saturday, I was a lucky girl – had a lovely day in the city with my friend Lynne. We had planned to catch Wendy Addison’s Trunk Show at Tinsel Trading but serendipity was at play and we got to squeeze in a Klimt show too! The Neue Gallery is hosting a show on Gustav Klimt, with a handful of his paintings, many drawings, and some other treats. The biggest thrill for me was seeing this beauty….a familiar piece to many of us but you just gotta see it for real. The textures and metallics are stunning!
After a terrific lunch and visit to the gallery Lynne and I dashed down to Tinsel Trading Co. We stood and awwwwed in the window before heading in. I can’t believe this is the only photo I have of us together from yesterday…..you can just see us in the reflection of the Pierrot costume that stopped me in my tracks:
I can’t remember when I first discovered Wendy – maybe in a magazine? (Like Victoria or M.E.) Might have been when I saw some of her wonderful pieces done in black and white. Then the book Where Women Create hit the shelves and I buckled at the knees when I saw her studio/shoppe. You KNOW what I’m talking about if you have that book. It was indeed a privilege to meet her and to see her journal filled with deliciously juicy sketches. And to stand and watch her theater in motion as she stood with a wink and pulled the tassle-ended string. She’s a girl after my own heart – embedding secrets in her work.
We had a wonderful time seeing all her products too. The halloween items are clever – I especially love the skeleton in the coffin. After Lynne left one of the things I asked Wendy about was the costume we had spied earlier. Since I have a thing for Pierrots I asked her stand next to it for a photo. Look how cute she is with her hand through the sleeve. Like a fangirl I ran out onto the sidewalk for a quick snap.
I will print out that photo and place it on my Wendy Addison (signed!) frame. Doesn’t it almost look like an "M"? Had to have it….as well as some other goodies from Tinsel Trading.
You might remember seeing on Pam Garrison’s blog that she and Jenny Doh were sprinkled with the lucky dust as they got to visit Wendy’s studio some months back (which led to an Artist Portfolio in Somerset Studio, Jul/Aug 07).
I’ve been such a lucky girl – to take a train to the city for a warm October day with a friend, to catch up on conversation, and to feast on inspiring visuals…..the hour ride home was not enough time to scribble down all my thoughts and fresh ideas. Thanks Lynne, thanks Gustav, thanks Wendy!
Lots of incoming goodies to show you…some will wait until later this week when I post my Halloween stuff. How about this from Marylinn Kelly? She delivers sunshine with her hand-colored-with-love envelopes. Do you love her skullies? The pin was a gift earlier this year – don’t you think she needs to be selling these on her site? New rubber designs by Marylinn are at Rubber Moon.
Here are some cards…..the first from my ghoulfriend Lisa, I think she needs a tattoo of these guys:
And Michelle was so sweet to send this….she entered it for the Crush Crusade as she was crushing on the ink blot article on Somerset. She dedicated it to me since I crush on red, and then surprised me by mailing it here! I had to get that skull stamp for myself…she was an enabler – oh, and the Top Hat pick for the crusade!! (Skull by Inkadinkado)
Paint the town Red? Judi knew I’d love it. And just a few days ago Lynne sent this….might have to try a few verses of my own.
Two more things I have to share. While at Valley Ridge I was giving Andrew a hard time about his Frank Lloyd Wright stencils he had just scored at Taliesin East. I was teasing him that he should have gotten me some….and I even had the nerve to continue after we got home by threatening to spray paint his picnic table in exchange for the stencils. Such a sweet man, he was actually going to send me two but I refused because I can get my own with a few clicks on the keyboard. It was a touching offer wasn’t it? So I never got around to ordering them and this week a fantastically painted box arrived on my doorstep. You guessed it FLW stencils! FROM BONNIE BENSON, another student at Valley Ridge. She witnessed the fuss I made over them and as she passed by Taliesin on her way back home she got them for me. How cool is that? Thanks Bonnie!
And the last story to wind up a really good week is a gift I got from my sweet friend Linda Warlyn. I’m late in sharing this one as it was two weeks ago that she gave me this thoughtful present. If you read the comments on this blog you have no doubt read Linda’s warm and generous words…..and wished she had a blog because you just know you’d like her. So in the bag were these two boxes…not any ordinary boxes. Black licorice! I don’t even remember telling you here that I like black licorice but I blather on about everything I crush on so I’m not surprised it slipped out. (Easter: black jelly bean mention according to Linda) BUT HERE’S WHY THESE BOXES ARE SO SPECIAL: THEY ARE FROM FINLAND. And you thought I might get through an entire long post without a single mention of ……well, you know. But SHE knows, and so when she pointed it out I fell over in amazement at her cleverness. AND because she knows I crush on scents, and four leaf clovers too, THIS sachet was another PERFECT thing. Thanks Linda! (and start a blog would ya?)
NEXT: my halloween pictures! We are having a party Saturday…..and I’m not even done!
Saturday, I was a lucky girl – had a lovely day in the city with my friend Lynne. We had planned to catch Wendy Addison’s Trunk Show at Tinsel Trading but serendipity was at play and we got to squeeze in a Klimt show too! The Neue Gallery is hosting a show on Gustav Klimt, with a handful of his paintings, many drawings, and some other treats. The biggest thrill for me was seeing this beauty….a familiar piece to many of us but you just gotta see it for real. The textures and metallics are stunning!
After a terrific lunch and visit to the gallery Lynne and I dashed down to Tinsel Trading Co. We stood and awwwwed in the window before heading in. I can’t believe this is the only photo I have of us together from yesterday…..you can just see us in the reflection of the Pierrot costume that stopped me in my tracks:
I can’t remember when I first discovered Wendy – maybe in a magazine? (Like Victoria or M.E.) Might have been when I saw some of her wonderful pieces done in black and white. Then the book Where Women Create hit the shelves and I buckled at the knees when I saw her studio/shoppe. You KNOW what I’m talking about if you have that book. It was indeed a privilege to meet her and to see her journal filled with deliciously juicy sketches. And to stand and watch her theater in motion as she stood with a wink and pulled the tassle-ended string. She’s a girl after my own heart – embedding secrets in her work.
We had a wonderful time seeing all her products too. The halloween items are clever – I especially love the skeleton in the coffin. After Lynne left one of the things I asked Wendy about was the costume we had spied earlier. Since I have a thing for Pierrots I asked her stand next to it for a photo. Look how cute she is with her hand through the sleeve. Like a fangirl I ran out onto the sidewalk for a quick snap.
I will print out that photo and place it on my Wendy Addison (signed!) frame. Doesn’t it almost look like an "M"? Had to have it….as well as some other goodies from Tinsel Trading.
You might remember seeing on Pam Garrison’s blog that she and Jenny Doh were sprinkled with the lucky dust as they got to visit Wendy’s studio some months back (which led to an Artist Portfolio in Somerset Studio, Jul/Aug 07).
I’ve been such a lucky girl – to take a train to the city for a warm October day with a friend, to catch up on conversation, and to feast on inspiring visuals…..the hour ride home was not enough time to scribble down all my thoughts and fresh ideas. Thanks Lynne, thanks Gustav, thanks Wendy!
Lots of incoming goodies to show you…some will wait until later this week when I post my Halloween stuff. How about this from Marylinn Kelly? She delivers sunshine with her hand-colored-with-love envelopes. Do you love her skullies? The pin was a gift earlier this year – don’t you think she needs to be selling these on her site? New rubber designs by Marylinn are at Rubber Moon.
Here are some cards…..the first from my ghoulfriend Lisa, I think she needs a tattoo of these guys:
And Michelle was so sweet to send this….she entered it for the Crush Crusade as she was crushing on the ink blot article on Somerset. She dedicated it to me since I crush on red, and then surprised me by mailing it here! I had to get that skull stamp for myself…she was an enabler – oh, and the Top Hat pick for the crusade!! (Skull by Inkadinkado)
Paint the town Red? Judi knew I’d love it. And just a few days ago Lynne sent this….might have to try a few verses of my own.
Two more things I have to share. While at Valley Ridge I was giving Andrew a hard time about his Frank Lloyd Wright stencils he had just scored at Taliesin East. I was teasing him that he should have gotten me some….and I even had the nerve to continue after we got home by threatening to spray paint his picnic table in exchange for the stencils. Such a sweet man, he was actually going to send me two but I refused because I can get my own with a few clicks on the keyboard. It was a touching offer wasn’t it? So I never got around to ordering them and this week a fantastically painted box arrived on my doorstep. You guessed it FLW stencils! FROM BONNIE BENSON, another student at Valley Ridge. She witnessed the fuss I made over them and as she passed by Taliesin on her way back home she got them for me. How cool is that? Thanks Bonnie!
And the last story to wind up a really good week is a gift I got from my sweet friend Linda Warlyn. I’m late in sharing this one as it was two weeks ago that she gave me this thoughtful present. If you read the comments on this blog you have no doubt read Linda’s warm and generous words…..and wished she had a blog because you just know you’d like her. So in the bag were these two boxes…not any ordinary boxes. Black licorice! I don’t even remember telling you here that I like black licorice but I blather on about everything I crush on so I’m not surprised it slipped out. (Easter: black jelly bean mention according to Linda) BUT HERE’S WHY THESE BOXES ARE SO SPECIAL: THEY ARE FROM FINLAND. And you thought I might get through an entire long post without a single mention of ……well, you know. But SHE knows, and so when she pointed it out I fell over in amazement at her cleverness. AND because she knows I crush on scents, and four leaf clovers too, THIS sachet was another PERFECT thing. Thanks Linda! (and start a blog would ya?)
NEXT: my halloween pictures! We are having a party Saturday…..and I’m not even done!
Report from Thursday: Terrific show! We passed off our precious cargo to the band’s manager. It was a success! Thanks for all your heartfelt and enthusiastic well wishes. We are so thrilled! Details below.
The box – found at Marshalls. (Bought myself the matching smaller version, of course!) I was first attractecd to it by the colors and handsome brass details. There were a few like this one that were slightly different in pattern – but I liked how this one had a cross-like emblem…but the clincher: do you see "V"s? Me too.
Here’s how the bottles looked in the box. I made a journal to chronicle the tales, past and present, of the gathering and gifting of the dirt. It was a rush job….wish I had 24 more hours. I typed out a quick summary of how the grave dirt gift evolved and all who were involved with as many pictures and extra details I could pull together in one day. (Chris you’ll see yourself in the journal….I wrote about how you gathered the California dirt for me!! And Maj, you’re in there too!)
So here’s how it went down: After the opening band played Fallon and I were standing near the other Street Teamers….and it didn’t look like there was going to be any kind of meet and greet….when all of a sudden I see the band’s manager, Seppo. He was just walking right past us in the club. (He’s a recognizable dude…come on, you know we’re fangirls and we should know these things!) So I grab his arm and pull him over. I explained that I had this gift and he was aware that something like this was coming as our leader had emailed him to try to arrange a hand-off. I pass off a black messenger bag for Ville, filled with some books and The Box. He says he’ll go deliver right away and said they would be leaving directly after the show as they were really tired. Fair enough, and mission accomplished! If I wasn’t able to give the bag of goodies to Ville, Seppo was the man! He was kind enough to hang for another minute so I could get a snapshot of Fallon with him. It was a Rock Star Moment for Fallon to stand with Seppo.
So maybe like less than thirty minuted later HE COMES BACK. He was all glowing and smiling and purposely came to tell us that the gift was well received. Ville loved the gifts and was impressed with additions to the collection. I could tell by the way Seppo was talking to us that he was sincere. How cool was that to have him come back out into the crowd to share that news? We were giddy. Of course we had hoped to present the gifts ourselves but this was a terrific experience too! Because he returned I was able to get an additional photo of myself with him.
The concert was fantastic! Great to her some of new Venus Doom tracks live for the first time. Starland Ballroom is a great place to see your favorite band. It’s general admission but there isn’t a bad place to stand….feels like you’re up close anywhere in the venue. Ville was very animated and laughing and you could tell it was a perfect nght kicking off the new tour. Looking forward to seeing them again in December when they wind it up in New York City. We did stalk the bus after the show but security made us leave before we spied anyone from the band coming out. (Did you notice I forgot to lean forward and my chin got caught on film?)
EDIT: these just in from another teamer……Suukko4 (aka Sue from the PA Street Team)
One more EDIT: Gossip from London:
MetalHammer announces: The people who sort out the James Bond music have apparently approached Ville Valo from HIM to record the theme for the next Bond film. Might this end the speculation that Amy Winehouse would be asked to record the next Bond theme?
Reportedly, the Bond soundtrack writers David Arnold and Don Black approached Valo at the BMI Awards last Tuesday here in London sounding him out about working on the title song for the next film. One of those sources told the tab: "David Arnold and Don Black were in deep conversation with Ville on the night. They love the song that won him an award (Wings of a Butterfly). They think he has just the right ear to write a classic Bond hit with them". {Swooooooooon – the right voice too.}
Report from Thursday: Terrific show! We passed off our precious cargo to the band’s manager. It was a success! Thanks for all your heartfelt and enthusiastic well wishes. We are so thrilled! Details below.
The box – found at Marshalls. (Bought myself the matching smaller version, of course!) I was first attractecd to it by the colors and handsome brass details. There were a few like this one that were slightly different in pattern – but I liked how this one had a cross-like emblem…but the clincher: do you see "V"s? Me too.
Here’s how the bottles looked in the box. I made a journal to chronicle the tales, past and present, of the gathering and gifting of the dirt. It was a rush job….wish I had 24 more hours. I typed out a quick summary of how the grave dirt gift evolved and all who were involved with as many pictures and extra details I could pull together in one day. (Chris you’ll see yourself in the journal….I wrote about how you gathered the California dirt for me!! And Maj, you’re in there too!)
So here’s how it went down: After the opening band played Fallon and I were standing near the other Street Teamers….and it didn’t look like there was going to be any kind of meet and greet….when all of a sudden I see the band’s manager, Seppo. He was just walking right past us in the club. (He’s a recognizable dude…come on, you know we’re fangirls and we should know these things!) So I grab his arm and pull him over. I explained that I had this gift and he was aware that something like this was coming as our leader had emailed him to try to arrange a hand-off. I pass off a black messenger bag for Ville, filled with some books and The Box. He says he’ll go deliver right away and said they would be leaving directly after the show as they were really tired. Fair enough, and mission accomplished! If I wasn’t able to give the bag of goodies to Ville, Seppo was the man! He was kind enough to hang for another minute so I could get a snapshot of Fallon with him. It was a Rock Star Moment for Fallon to stand with Seppo.
So maybe like less than thirty minuted later HE COMES BACK. He was all glowing and smiling and purposely came to tell us that the gift was well received. Ville loved the gifts and was impressed with additions to the collection. I could tell by the way Seppo was talking to us that he was sincere. How cool was that to have him come back out into the crowd to share that news? We were giddy. Of course we had hoped to present the gifts ourselves but this was a terrific experience too! Because he returned I was able to get an additional photo of myself with him.
The concert was fantastic! Great to her some of new Venus Doom tracks live for the first time. Starland Ballroom is a great place to see your favorite band. It’s general admission but there isn’t a bad place to stand….feels like you’re up close anywhere in the venue. Ville was very animated and laughing and you could tell it was a perfect nght kicking off the new tour. Looking forward to seeing them again in December when they wind it up in New York City. We did stalk the bus after the show but security made us leave before we spied anyone from the band coming out. (Did you notice I forgot to lean forward and my chin got caught on film?)
EDIT: these just in from another teamer……Suukko4 (aka Sue from the PA Street Team)
One more EDIT: Gossip from London:
MetalHammer announces: The people who sort out the James Bond music have apparently approached Ville Valo from HIM to record the theme for the next Bond film. Might this end the speculation that Amy Winehouse would be asked to record the next Bond theme?
Reportedly, the Bond soundtrack writers David Arnold and Don Black approached Valo at the BMI Awards last Tuesday here in London sounding him out about working on the title song for the next film. One of those sources told the tab: "David Arnold and Don Black were in deep conversation with Ville on the night. They love the song that won him an award (Wings of a Butterfly). They think he has just the right ear to write a classic Bond hit with them". {Swooooooooon – the right voice too.}
Halloween party invites sent out: CHECK. Channel positive vibes for good mail day: CHECK.
Assault mailman: CHECK (the poor guy is a sub and doesn’t know this is typical behavior for me). Screech when stash of mail arrives: CHECK. First spaz: Victoria! Second spaz: Somerset Studio. THIRD SPAZ: DIRT IS HERE!!!! Didn’t even see at first glance that there was a priority envelope in the stash! Wrote to Chris to assure her it arrived…..then talked to her so we could have a group spaz. Now I’m furiously working on the packing and journal that will accompany the box of bottles. (Journal will chronicle the tales of the collection process). It’s HERE!!! Thanks for all your good vibes!!
THEN – I stopped by my P.O. box and there was an anonymous envelope from NJ…..with Walt Whitman dirt. COME ON!!!!!! This is awesome….more than awesome! I am using quotes from Dead Poet’s Society in my little gift book so W.W. is perfect. BUT WHO SENT IT????? UNmarked envelope….but postmarked Camden, NJ which is where Whitman is buried. (Of course I looked it up….wouldn’t you?) AND THEN, a sweet reader wrote and offered to get me Lizzie Borden dirt when she heads to Massachusetts this month. I’m telling ya….this has been an amazing adventure!
In 24 hours we’ll be standing in line….breathless for the OPENING NIGHT of the new tour. Swoooon.
Halloween party invites sent out: CHECK. Channel positive vibes for good mail day: CHECK.
Assault mailman: CHECK (the poor guy is a sub and doesn’t know this is typical behavior for me). Screech when stash of mail arrives: CHECK. First spaz: Victoria! Second spaz: Somerset Studio. THIRD SPAZ: DIRT IS HERE!!!! Didn’t even see at first glance that there was a priority envelope in the stash! Wrote to Chris to assure her it arrived…..then talked to her so we could have a group spaz. Now I’m furiously working on the packing and journal that will accompany the box of bottles. (Journal will chronicle the tales of the collection process). It’s HERE!!! Thanks for all your good vibes!!
THEN – I stopped by my P.O. box and there was an anonymous envelope from NJ…..with Walt Whitman dirt. COME ON!!!!!! This is awesome….more than awesome! I am using quotes from Dead Poet’s Society in my little gift book so W.W. is perfect. BUT WHO SENT IT????? UNmarked envelope….but postmarked Camden, NJ which is where Whitman is buried. (Of course I looked it up….wouldn’t you?) AND THEN, a sweet reader wrote and offered to get me Lizzie Borden dirt when she heads to Massachusetts this month. I’m telling ya….this has been an amazing adventure!
In 24 hours we’ll be standing in line….breathless for the OPENING NIGHT of the new tour. Swoooon.
I should type this in all upper case letters so you know I’M SCREECHING WITH EXCITEMENT! Just this afternoon I spoke with Chris who confirmed she had indeed gone and collected the grave dirt I had requested from the two cemeteries in California. CAN YOU STAND IT? And the girl is so dang clever, she took photos for evidence. (Because I’m certain there are many of you out there reading my posts on this topic with great skepticism….is that a word?) Before I start preparing the bottles that will embrace the dirt, I will share the photos Chris sent. DOESN’T SHE ROCK? Notice the dates on the photos – from TODAY!!!
Come on! Can you believe how cool this is? I met Chris on 9/27 when she wrote me an email. Her wit got my attention and I have enjoyed conversation with her both on the phone and via email. (Example: when she wrote me about possibly getting some dirt her post was called Digging Around, followed by Cloak and Digger. Who wouldn’t be amused by that?) I swear this mission was her own idea, which makes it even more special. I’m truly touched that a new friend would take on such an extraordinary crusade. I’m not sure she even realized that my next HIM concert is only days away. Please join me in sending positive vibes to the postal paths that will get her dirt to me before Thursday night. CA to NJ. Hey, it can happen. IT WILL HAPPEN. The only uncertainty is HOW to get it to Ville. There is no planned Meet&Greet for this tour. I think stalking the tourbus will be on the agenda. I will flash my credentials, Street Team member, and Grave Dirt Crew…..and with more positive vibes from you I will get to deliver all FIVE BOTTLES of grave dirt. (Back-up plan: we also will be attending another HIM show 12/1, BUT I CAN’T WAIT THAT LONG!!!)
So a 1000 thank yous to Chris for these two California dudes, to Ann who directed me to where I could get the dirt from France, and Maj who sent dirt from Denmark. I’ll be back later this week to show you the preparations of the gifts.
P.S. About the coins on the headstone: apparently it’s good manners to leave coins in exchange for collecting dirt (something I read on a witchcraft site….I’m NOT into THAT, but wanted to read more about those that collect dirt.) Not to be confused with the the throwing of pennies onto Benjamin Franklin’s grave. Don’t you think it’s funny that he coined the phrase "A penny saved is a penny earned" and yet people toss pennies his way? I have read about many gravestones that have been left with coins or pebbles. Leaving pebbles is a jewish tradition….maybe the coins are a version of that? And in another place I read about coins being a symbol of having been there, or helping to pay passage into the next world. If you know anything about this tradition leave a comment and enlighten us all!
EDIT: See Chris’s account HERE.
