Hopping (& Hoping) on the Hope Train

I saw this post over at the Queen of Arts (Kim). I left a comment. Then I received this comment from Liz, the coordinator of the project at Helpmate,

"I saw your comment response on the Queen of Arts blog post about Hope Notes, which is my project that I've created. I want to say that I absolutely LOVE your art here and would love to see more of it... I encourage you to participate in the hope notes project if you would like! :)"

That sealed the deal....I can't resist someone as sweet as that! Woo-Woo, I was definitely on board.

I drew a new girl over an old card. As she developed, I was gifted with her wisdom.

even when it's still a little blurry.

We are sacred creatures who have the ability to hope & hope & hope,
even when it seems there is none.

The stars are very, very, very far away.
We will never be able to embrace them.
Yet their light reaches into our hearts.

When things seem dark....

We can look again with a different eye.

Our lips can say, "Don't give up. I believe in you."
Sometimes we need to say that to the person we see in the mirror.

We can wear hope on our mind like a Queen's crown.

Inside I've written this message to us all.

You have many more sisters in the world than you will ever know.
We stand behind you when you need a push.
We are beside you when you want to skip.
We go before you to light your way.
We are all around you and we encircle you in our love.

Never give up on you, even when its seems everyone else has.
If you do, let it only be for a moment so you can remember, in comparison, how it feels to not give up on you.

You matter. YOU ABSOLUTELY MATTER!

I send you love and belief and deep cleansing breaths.
Your destiny opens before you. Leap into it Sister!

I have hope that this action will make a difference in someone's life because the fact is that no matter who we are or what kind of life we have, we all experience hope-less-ness. If I can ease that in someone else, I feel more hope~full that our world can change............if we change it.

You won't be sitting on a shelf much longer

Right now is an awesome time in my life. It's amazing how this past year has really filled out and filled in.

First of all, I know the best people. I have the most fantastic friend Sandy and Michelle. Yesterday, they both said the most wonderful things about me and what I'm doing without me asking. They just said it. How fabulous is that? The best part is that I know what they are saying is true, I've been thinking it about myself already, but confirmation from your Sisters is like loads of gorgeous texture on a pretty painting. They really made me smile and warmed my heart. My job is to keep their words in my mind, so when I do hit a snag (and I will) - BAM, I can pull out their opinions to help me battle those demons. BACK!! Back I say!!

I was listening to Sade the other day while working. It reminded me of another time and place.....way back 6, 7, 8 years ago and West Palm Beach FL vacations. I had the very strong feeling of:

wanting to be creative so badly, but not being satisfied with my creativity
being wrapped up in bad relationships and bad friendships
working in hell
being around crazy people and in the dramatic life
playing the part I was cast in
knowing there was peace to be had, but not having a clue as to how to get it
living in crappy apartment after crappy apartment with no space around me, jammed in there
having to share space with living and the little creating I was doing

Then, I realized,

I am here right now, being creative, doing what I've been wanting to do for so long that I never thought I'd be here. Living it. Being it. In a place I love, with lots of space and trees and animals and bugs (some of the bugs I don't like, but they're part of it, so I gotta take them too). Here I am, right now, doing exactly what I've always wanted to.

I was an amazing feeling. There were a lot of things that made the difference, but one huge one was my dedication to the work and the time I put in almost daily.

An Artist arts.

I am an Artist.

~magick~
Melissa

Herb garden poetry

Four white moths with four black spots worshiped the parsley

& I stood in the warmth of the sun

& fuzzy slippers watching their ritual.

Somewhere in the hidden space of the trees, a chipmunk chirped.

One, two, three, and then I lost count.

Buddha meditated amongst the ferns.

The breeze rustled the greens.

Many birds sang their happy tunes,

while one complained loudly at some unknown angst.

The hum of the world in the distance and overhead.

At the end of this moment in the herb garden, I knew,

while they worshiped that parsley and went about their lives,

I worshiped them all.

~magick~
Melissa

Goodwill -n- Melissa 4-ever

Can I just say, I LOVE Goodwill. We're lucky enough to have 3 of them around us. A few weekends back the Hubby and I visited all three. I found this awesome cabinet at the last one for $25.00! Mine!

I feel like I have so much more space. I can breathe. Well, except when I start working and then spreading art stuff all over and cram myself into a little box on the floor. But I have been a pretty good girl at cleaning it all up.





I also bought this bookshelf for $4.97! Now my books don't have to sit in a pile in the corner. I have them divided: books for reference and books for cutting up.



My TV is on the opposite wall.



I also got a ton of other stuff. Old books of all sorts. A hymnal, which I was just talking about before I found it. Some shelves to hang on the wall (which are sitting in the garage). Lots of stuff to paint on and alter.

I really do have to work on what's hanging (or not) on the walls of my studio (and my house for that matter). I need a professional picture hanger to help me.

Here's some new art I've been working on.

I have no idea yet what this lady is saying. She hasn't told me yet. But I hope it's as interesting as her house. Maybe she has some ideas about balance??


We are connected, not by wires, but by the heart.



There are many worlds out there
of which we have no idea
worlds of strangely beautiful bird-woman queens
with one magickal wing.



Do you think it's possible?



Know the beauty of thy~self



A journal girl. She is also being quiet. She's got something going on behind those intense eyes.



Hey Sandy, here's a preview just for you, love!



Well, I'm off. Enjoy your day and your weekend. And whatever you choose to do,


~magick~
Melissa