greenpepperpressblog

Tag: street team

l.u.c.k.y.





Lots of rain today. The clouds rolled on and I noticed the clover patches. It's my first harvest for 2009.  Proof of a lucky girl. And more….this arrived recently from Kathleen, who has XXOOs on her license plate. If you see her give a toot and a wink.

And how about this from Rita? So cool to know the *pink wink* lives on in our thoughts.

I have posted Crusade No. 30 ~ Cat Got Your Tongue? Come play! Thirty months of crusading for creativity, can't believe it. Congrats to Lay Hoon for being the Top Hat Pick for No. 29.

And finally, this isn't lucky, this is good hearts in action….more than 100 of us.

April 3, 2009
the shape of things

So I looked at last year's post of Epiphany and saw I had used chess pieces. Chess imagery remained a focus for me during '08. In this October post I reviewed how the images have shown up in recent work, as well as past stuff. I recognize that I have a portfolio of favorite shapes that turn up in my art - like this new fave which I don't have a name for yet. (I think of it as a Byzantine tower, but need a catchier title.) I think being obsessed with certain shapes is a good thing. There is alot to learn by studying a shape, and reinventing how to use it.

I just posted the new Crusade – Shape Up! where I challenge you to take on a new shape this month. Investigate it in both positive and negative, and in several sizes. Make your own tools with the shape – like cutting stamps and stencils. It's a great excuse to get some pages done in your journal. And I promise you, you will learn something. AND you'll have fun seeing how others interpret the challenge. It's a new year, why not Shape Up? Come play along on the team.

Congrats to recent winners Julie Thornton (Crusade No. 26 – Scent of the Season) and Kim Mailhot (Crusade No. 25 – Properties of Gesso). It's really fun to take on a creativity prompt with a community of artists who are all working on the same thing. We learn so much from each other, and widen the circle of friends.

January 6, 2009
the shape of things

So I looked at last year's post of Epiphany and saw I had used chess pieces. Chess imagery remained a focus for me during '08. In this October post I reviewed how the images have shown up in recent work, as well as past stuff. I recognize that I have a portfolio of favorite shapes that turn up in my art - like this new fave which I don't have a name for yet. (I think of it as a Byzantine tower, but need a catchier title.) I think being obsessed with certain shapes is a good thing. There is alot to learn by studying a shape, and reinventing how to use it.

I just posted the new Crusade – Shape Up! where I challenge you to take on a new shape this month. Investigate it in both positive and negative, and in several sizes. Make your own tools with the shape – like cutting stamps and stencils. It's a great excuse to get some pages done in your journal. And I promise you, you will learn something. AND you'll have fun seeing how others interpret the challenge. It's a new year, why not Shape Up? Come play along on the team.

Congrats to recent winners Julie Thornton (Crusade No. 26 – Scent of the Season) and Kim Mailhot (Crusade No. 25 – Properties of Gesso). It's really fun to take on a creativity prompt with a community of artists who are all working on the same thing. We learn so much from each other, and widen the circle of friends.

January 6, 2009
moving forward

I thought our new rose bushes may have reached their peak a few days ago. I trimmed off all the old blooms and thought they looked a little sad, missing their pinkness. Then I took a closer look and spied all the buds.

This doesn't begin to capture the new flowers I have today. It's a full wall of roses – standing at attention to salut the new day, the new season.  Did they arrive because I was willing to cut off the expired flowers? Probably not. But I like to think that tending to the rose bushes and cutting them back led to the growth.



I bum out a little when the kids go back to school but it's a good time to establish new routines. I've said this before, but it's amazing that the year can be 3/4 of the way through and you still have a chance to start again. A new school year. A new season. A new rose.  And this month, a new Crusade:

Congratulations to Julie Prichard for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 22. You can read more about Crusade No. 23 HERE. I have so many loose ends to work on to make room on my table and in my mind for new ideas, new projects, new directions. One thing that helps me GET STARTED on FINISHING is being organized.



Then there is Gathering. Isn't that part of the process for beginning but also for ending? I love the Gathering ritual – whether finding new stuff or re-discovering my own stuff, pulling it all toghether in one supply box is a thrill for me and makes the creative phase so much more enjoyable.



And I love Gathering at the end too: usually at the end of a project I clip paper scraps and remnants into my process journal then begin the task of putting away all the supplies (ok I'm really bad at THAT). For this recent project I have enjoyed putting all the Evidence together as I embark on writing Thanks Yous for 700 socks, gather all my thoughts and remembrances, and clippings of ribbons and tissues, painted envelopes, and all the lovely cards and notes, to chronicle in a scrapbook.



New season = housecleaning of the blog variety.  You may notice on the left side I created new buttons which will take you to my link lists. They were getting long so this was my solution.

On the right I added a new *pink wink* button which will open a new page and you can read about the project in chronological order. I know there are visitors who are still arriving to read about it and this was a *duh* for making it easier.



The last of the socks came in this week. I will send them on to 7B soon.



And to wrap up this post…I'll share with you a recent diversion.  I made one of these for Fallon and myself. You know I swooned when I found the asterisk bead. *faints* I wear this daily with a full heart.

September 18, 2008
moving forward

I thought our new rose bushes may have reached their peak a few days ago. I trimmed off all the old blooms and thought they looked a little sad, missing their pinkness. Then I took a closer look and spied all the buds.

This doesn't begin to capture the new flowers I have today. It's a full wall of roses – standing at attention to salut the new day, the new season.  Did they arrive because I was willing to cut off the expired flowers? Probably not. But I like to think that tending to the rose bushes and cutting them back led to the growth.



I bum out a little when the kids go back to school but it's a good time to establish new routines. I've said this before, but it's amazing that the year can be 3/4 of the way through and you still have a chance to start again. A new school year. A new season. A new rose.  And this month, a new Crusade:

Congratulations to Julie Prichard for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 22. You can read more about Crusade No. 23 HERE. I have so many loose ends to work on to make room on my table and in my mind for new ideas, new projects, new directions. One thing that helps me GET STARTED on FINISHING is being organized.



Then there is Gathering. Isn't that part of the process for beginning but also for ending? I love the Gathering ritual – whether finding new stuff or re-discovering my own stuff, pulling it all toghether in one supply box is a thrill for me and makes the creative phase so much more enjoyable.



And I love Gathering at the end too: usually at the end of a project I clip paper scraps and remnants into my process journal then begin the task of putting away all the supplies (ok I'm really bad at THAT). For this recent project I have enjoyed putting all the Evidence together as I embark on writing Thanks Yous for 700 socks, gather all my thoughts and remembrances, and clippings of ribbons and tissues, painted envelopes, and all the lovely cards and notes, to chronicle in a scrapbook.



New season = housecleaning of the blog variety.  You may notice on the left side I created new buttons which will take you to my link lists. They were getting long so this was my solution.

On the right I added a new *pink wink* button which will open a new page and you can read about the project in chronological order. I know there are visitors who are still arriving to read about it and this was a *duh* for making it easier.



The last of the socks came in this week. I will send them on to 7B soon.



And to wrap up this post…I'll share with you a recent diversion.  I made one of these for Fallon and myself. You know I swooned when I found the asterisk bead. *faints* I wear this daily with a full heart.

September 18, 2008
crusading, cutting

We wrapped up the month of March with a record number of participants who shared links to their custom cut rubber stamps. We took a vote and bumped cutting stencils to April. Congrats to Susan Warder for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 18. I made a little tutorial on stencil cutting over on the Street Team blog, and will continue adding to it as I did last month with the carving tips. I’m still obsessing over roses…had to make stamps and stencils yesterday. WARNING: It’s Addictive.

The only way to know if you have cut a good and useful image is to put it to work. These are the beginnings of journal pages using both acrylic paint and spray paint with my new stamps, stencils, and masks. Give them a test run before cutting more because you’ll learn what you might have done differently, or what additions you’d like to have: for instance, a solid image of your stencil to create a foundation to make it *pop*.

I don’t often use people or faces in my work so I’ve stayed away from attempting a portrait stencil. But I’ve been wanting to do a Valo, and a Poe, and finally starting working on them. I had an a-ha moment when I decided to take this design which wasn’t quite working, and turn it into a half-face. I got so excited with it I had to make a PS brush and take it for a test ride digitally. I think I’m ready to cut HIM out now. *grins*

Wanna join a fun community of artists? Come see what we’re doing on the Street Team. We have new players every month, so don’t be shy. We have artists who share their time and talent, but most of all, their enthusiasm for making cool stuff. Seriously, *we rock*.

April 4, 2008
crusading, cutting

We wrapped up the month of March with a record number of participants who shared links to their custom cut rubber stamps. We took a vote and bumped cutting stencils to April. Congrats to Susan Warder for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 18. I made a little tutorial on stencil cutting over on the Street Team blog, and will continue adding to it as I did last month with the carving tips. I’m still obsessing over roses…had to make stamps and stencils yesterday. WARNING: It’s Addictive.

The only way to know if you have cut a good and useful image is to put it to work. These are the beginnings of journal pages using both acrylic paint and spray paint with my new stamps, stencils, and masks. Give them a test run before cutting more because you’ll learn what you might have done differently, or what additions you’d like to have: for instance, a solid image of your stencil to create a foundation to make it *pop*.

I don’t often use people or faces in my work so I’ve stayed away from attempting a portrait stencil. But I’ve been wanting to do a Valo, and a Poe, and finally starting working on them. I had an a-ha moment when I decided to take this design which wasn’t quite working, and turn it into a half-face. I got so excited with it I had to make a PS brush and take it for a test ride digitally. I think I’m ready to cut HIM out now. *grins*

Wanna join a fun community of artists? Come see what we’re doing on the Street Team. We have new players every month, so don’t be shy. We have artists who share their time and talent, but most of all, their enthusiasm for making cool stuff. Seriously, *we rock*.

April 4, 2008
blank page

I am often asked where I turn for inspiration, or how I learned to do what I do. I think the most important thing for any person wanting to create is to just get started. You can read all the books and magazines on a subject and it won’t mean anything until you start experimenting on your own. Pick up the brush, or the pencil, or the whatever, and begin. Having the impulse to create is a gift. The way in which you do it will work itself out once you get started.

I saw this young man on the Today show. I am still thinking about him. We know art is a channel that lets us express something within ourselves. His story proves that. See a video clip HERE. And visit Seth Chwast at his site HERE. Thanks Seth, for reminding me how powerful creativity is.

Related news: This weekend I saw the new Public Service Announcement by VH1’s Rock Autism. I was really moved to see Gene Simmons, Tommy Lee, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler and other rockers supporting Autism. See HERE, click on 2). Then I found their True Life series following three young men with diverse manifestations of Autism. It’s compelling and enlightening….and takes about an hour to get through the whole series. See HERE.

It’s a new year, a blank page. Put something on it TODAY.

Congratulations to Monica Magness for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 15. I’ll be posting the next Crusade later today. Need a jumpstart for creativity? Come play with us on the Street Team!

January 2, 2008
blank page

I am often asked where I turn for inspiration, or how I learned to do what I do. I think the most important thing for any person wanting to create is to just get started. You can read all the books and magazines on a subject and it won’t mean anything until you start experimenting on your own. Pick up the brush, or the pencil, or the whatever, and begin. Having the impulse to create is a gift. The way in which you do it will work itself out once you get started.

I saw this young man on the Today show. I am still thinking about him. We know art is a channel that lets us express something within ourselves. His story proves that. See a video clip HERE. And visit Seth Chwast at his site HERE. Thanks Seth, for reminding me how powerful creativity is.

Related news: This weekend I saw the new Public Service Announcement by VH1’s Rock Autism. I was really moved to see Gene Simmons, Tommy Lee, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler and other rockers supporting Autism. See HERE, click on 2). Then I found their True Life series following three young men with diverse manifestations of Autism. It’s compelling and enlightening….and takes about an hour to get through the whole series. See HERE.

It’s a new year, a blank page. Put something on it TODAY.

Congratulations to Monica Magness for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 15. I’ll be posting the next Crusade later today. Need a jumpstart for creativity? Come play with us on the Street Team!

January 2, 2008
the view from here

It’s already October! You’d never guess from the temps here. Mid to upper 80s for the next week. Lots going on this month. I’m leaving for a weekend workshop tomorrow, then we have a few concerts, and we’ll end the month with a Halloween party! As soon as I get back from Wisconsin I’ll start ghouling out the house. Speaking of that, we’ve started a new crusade! Congrats to Michelle Infantino for being the Top Hat Pick for No. 12. We have hit the one year mark for the Street Team. Hundreds of teamers have joined in the fun. Come see what we’re up to!

Someday I’ll share a few photos of my studio. You don’t even wanna see it right now! I’m just about packed for Valley Ridge Art Studios. Getting ready for class reminds me of why I stopped traveling to teach. I love doing it but there is so much preparation. If you have been to Valley Ridge you know why we like to go back which is the only reason I’m not cursing right now. An added bonus for me is my Mom comes to visit at VR. Last time we made her take the class and she did great. Looking forward to seeing familiar faces – students who have become friends, and new students who are friends I haven’t met yet.

Tuesday Susanna and I continued with our silk screen printing class. Above the graphic I’m working on for a tshirt. We are working on Macs, yikes! I’m not going to get into a debate about which is better, PC or Mac, because we know what we know, and love what we love. It’s just hard to be Mac-ing because I’m not familiar with it. During a lull in class we visited our blogs….and yikes again! My blog looks so different on a Mac through Safari. Like, it is all scrunched and you can’t see the full pictures. So heads up as you are doing your blog thing, especially on typepad: make sure you set your photos to be clickable so they pop-up, otherwise your visuals might not be seen as intended. The view from here, as I design the layouts on my blog, is that I can see the whole thing. My blog fills the screen edge-to-edge and there is even white space between the photos and the sidebars.

Lisa is an endless sender of "check this out" and "don’t miss this" kind of bulletins. She’s an "I got your back" kind of friend. Recently she called on a Sunday to demand I go get the New York Times. In the magazine they featured Scott Campbell – a dude I wrote about back HERE. There was a one page update on all the cool things he’s working on. A tattoo artist who is widening his canvas. Here are a few peeks from his website. Check out that book!!! And the ostrich egg, and the furniture……these would be the perfect things for Crusade No. 13.

Poe dirt is no longer needed for the GIFT. I must have missed the post from my friends on the Massachusetts/Rhode Island HIM Street Team. They already gifted Ville with cemetery dirt from Poe’s grave while at the Projekt Revolution tour in August. Here are Lani and Deb, and Ville! (you’d think they might look a little happier, wouldn’t you?) Deb reminded Ville about giving him the dirt last year and he said he had it with him on the bus!!

Here’s a link to youtube where there is no video but it’s part 3 of a phone interview from September 2007, where he mentions the grave dirt AGAIN! (3rd time!). Forward to about 4:40 HERE. He says the "grave dirt in the little glass bottles with name tags and labels is great for inspiration".

I still would like Poe dirt for myself so those of you have offered, stay on task!

Thanks to Ann who shared a link to a gal on ETSY who sells cemetery dirt. (You’ll remember I posted about Ann’s cool tags, also on ETSY). So I have purchased graveyard dirt from the two cemeteries in France that I needed. I couldn’t pass it up….it was so serendipitous that Ann found the listing just after my post. And the seller, ALDETHA‘s real name is Michelle. It was a sign. (And they have arrived so I can check two off the list!)

There have been a few generous souls who have offered to get the dirt I need from California. As soon as I know it’s a definite thing I will post here and the crusade will be complete (for now).

Some of you have asked about Edward Gorey and why don’t I have him on my list. First, let’s acknowledge the recent project headed up by Sylvia Luna. Many of my friends participated in it – you’ve seen excerpts in the recent Somerset Studio, and may have been fortunate enough to see the display in Arizona (soon to be revealed in Colorado!) Mr. Gorey’s ashes were scattered off the coast of Massachusetts – no dirt to be had.

I got so much feedback about this post privately. Thanks to all of you who wrote to share your interest in beautiful graveyards and the idea of the grave dirt gift. Many of you ‘get’ how thrilling it’s been for me to be part of The Grave Dirt Crew.

And since I’m talking about my band AGAIN I will just mention that I have photographic evidence that Ville has worn the shirt I gave him. (Remember the one with the top hatted crow? He wore it during an interview in Finland!)

See ya naxt week!

October 4, 2007