"I wish grace and healing were more abracadabra kind of things. Also, that delicate silver bells would ring to announce grace’s arrival. But no, it’s clog and slog and scootch, on the floor, in the silence, in the dark."  - Anne Lamott

One of my absolutely favoritest authors is Anne Lamott.  There isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about something she's written which just occupies my mind and lets me go on autopilot for at least a few minutes.    

This week my brain has been turning over and around the above gem. Not like a Rubiks cube, that's too sharp and clacky. More like one of those little kid squishy toys that lights up. 

The studio construction mentioned in my last post is complete!  Is the studio set up for me to work in yet - not quite.  I had ankle surgery which hinders me from going up and down the steps - not that I don't try much to the discomfort of some of the people around me.  Perhaps that gives you understanding of why I am thinking of the quote above?  With only one foot allowed on the ground, I clog around on my knee scooter, slog across the carpet and scootch down the steps in order to at least try to show up in the studio.   Slowly, I'm gaining grace and healing.   
Learn more about Ms. Lamott here.  

In the meantime, I've been working on this website, catching up on emails, reading, making cookies - all of which I can do sitting down.  I recently made some preserved lemons and I'm looking forward to cracking those open in the depths of winter when a fresh scent and taste will be welcome.  

Speaking of life giving you lemons, check out this sweet painting :) 

Have a fruitful week.  XO, Melissa

Hello and hello again.  I've missed you.  It has been far too long since I've posted! 
Since my last post in 2021, big changes have happened in my life.  
We decided to move to Colorado in September, 2021 and we all know that when moving, "STUFF" has to be packed away, thrown away, put in storage, etc.  Packing away my studio was a very difficult labor of love as I didn't know when I'd see it again.  We sold our house and left Ohio in January, 2022 on the coldest day of the year and headed to Colorado with only a vague plan of where we'd be living but nothing secured.   Within three weeks of arrival, we found our new home in Colorado Springs, and started moving in!  It wasn't until June that I was able to unpack my studio treasures in our unfinished basement.  And only a few weeks later to pack everything up again as we decided to actually finish the basement.   Work has begun and thanks to our contractor, framing, plumbing and HVAC are complete; and electrical starts today.  If all goes well, in about six weeks, my studio treasures will find themselves back out in the air and the fresh space will start blooming again with creativity.   

Speaking of "blooming", check out the florals I was able to create while waiting for construction to begin.  This is my first attempt at hand drawing and I'm quite pleased with the results.  The colors look so beautiful against the white matting and they are ready to pop right into a frame and hang immediately on your wall. 

I'll be adding some larger format pictures to the gallery as well - some were painted in 2021 before I had to pack everything away and I wasn't able to give them appropriate attention prior to packing for our move.  

I hope all of you are well.  I look forward to connecting with you again.  XO - Melissa  

My commission piece for friends/neighbors is almost complete!  My client came to visit last night and approved the work :)  Just a few finishing touches to add and then I can release this out to the world.   

Finishing touches include deckling the edges, a few highlights made with ink and gel pen, my signature (of course), and then varnish.  I'm so excited to see how this will look framed!  Current thoughts are to put it in a black floating frame which will really make the spring colors pop.  I agree and you can see the story behind this commissioned piece here.   

Now the three little birds previously mentioned a post are bathing in their second coat of varnish and should be ready to mount/mat in a couple of days.  And then those as well can be released into the world.  

I continue tweaking my website here and there, which is a never ending job that I love. 
I organized all of my notes from several scraps/slips of paper and post-it notes onto other pieces of paper but now(!) they are categorized so I can pick a few to work on as time allows.  GO ME!   It may not seem an exciting task for most, but for me it's a like a breath of fresh air, and gives me some much needed space on my desk.  whew.  Until later, stay fresh.  XO - Melissa
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I've been loving the fragrances floating through the neighborhood with all the spring blooms finally bravely peeking out, and in some cases already peaking and disappearing.  Soon we'll be on hell's front porch when it comes to Ohio weather, so let's all just breathe deeply, wipe the pollen from our eyes and get out the allergy medicine and appreciate it because in about two minutes we'll be in summer (aka as  Hell's Front Porch) in Ohio. 

The priority item for me to tackle at this point is the newsletter and emails from my site.  I'm so thrilled to welcome people in, and this piece of the business is a challenge for me to navigate because there are so many options.    It's okay.  Progress is slow and steady and I remind myself this daily.  

I'm nine weeks into my twelve week course with Emily Jeffords about Making Art Work - love it.  And ironically enough this week's module is about "emails".  When the student is ready, the teacher appears.  

MAY you see many rainbows in the upcoming days!  XO - Melissa

I'm so stoked friends!  My varnish order arrives today.  It's funny I used to feel the same way when I was a Stitch Fix subscriber, but no more!  My ways have changed, and I have seen the light ... 
And you will too, actually.  The varnish that goes on top of my paintings (after two coats of wax) will also bring some luminosity and shine to your beautiful artwork of choice.  It just gives it that extra "oomph" and provides additional protection for the art itself.  

I know it can be hard to wait for your new addition to arrive, but believe me the wait is worth it.
​Until next time .... XO