I am a workaholic. I LOOOOVE what I do.  (at the bottom of the post I am going to show you some of the stuff I’ve been working on) I also LOVE to have fun…..one of the cool things I’ve learned about life is that it’s really just a bunch of little choices that make your life, your dreams, your days, your accomplishments…..your fun. THAT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT. One thing I am not always good at is balance….especially balancing work with play…..when your work feels like play, it’s hard to remember that sometimes you really have to MAKE A BIG AND BRAVE CHOICE to walk away completely from your work for a bit and have a real, complete and total rest….from everything….because no one else is going to do that for you…..so….the first thing I am excited to tell you is that I am going to go to a few retreats this year JUST TO REST and PLAY….not to teach, not to work…not to do anything but chill and be a participant….one of those retreats is in November on the Oregon Coast (which is a very very very special place for me…so nurturing to my soul)….and it is called ART CAMP…I am so excited!!

….AND I have some super exciting news about that!!!…Terri Brush, the amazing artist and host of the retreat, has a few more spots to fill and she is going to give 1 Brave Girl tuition at 1/2 price…can you believe how generous that is??? Sooooo…if you want to come chill and be still and make art with me and 30ish other women on the Oregon Coast in November….email Terri at and tell her why you want to come……and then on April 1, she and I will draw a “winner”….I really hope you can. I would love to hang out with you there! Email her at terribrushdesigns@gmail.com and check out the details of the retreat by CLICKING HERE

Ok….the next thing I am super excited about is MAKING ART. I decided about a month ago that I was going to buckle down and finish 100 new pieces of art by the end of March. Some of it I had started, lots of it I had sketched, some if it came during the hours and hours that I spent doing it. I really think I will have made my goal by the end of the month!!!

I don’t know how many of you know that I design products for a few companies. I have paper and fabric and rubber stamps and home decor and stationery and gift products…..I don’t talk about it much because I don’t always know exactly where it can be found to buy…and I know how frustrating that is when you hear about something and can’t find it….well……we have some very exciting news coming up about that……soon, you will be able to find it…that is all I will say for now….so that means that I get to start sharing my art a lot more, too!! So many of you have asked for prints and products…..and we have been working like crazy for year on something so wonderful…………it’s coming soon for Brave Girls everywhere!!! There are soooo many beautiful home decor and gift products, even little pieces of furniture…one of my favorite things is the beautiful shadow boxes like this one:

ANOTHER THING I am soooooooooo SOOOOOO excited about is my growing relationship with Demdaco…the most wonderful gift company…a company that I am so honored and thrilled to design products for.

I just spent the week in Kansas City at their beautiful corporate headquarters working with them on a new product line that is KNOCKING MY SOCKS OFF…..I can NOT wait to tell you about it….a dream come true of fashion accessories and art of all kinds….hundreds of products that are so so so Brave Girl-ish!!!! The first release will be in January of 2013….think tooled leather, heavy embroidered textiles, bright funky colors, tons of texture, brave words and phrases….this stuff ROCKS!

 

This big beautiful canvas below, (and a lot more of them too!),  is actually coming out THIS SUMMER (in just a few months!)….I LOVE IT SO MUCH…and it is biiiiig!!!!

I LOOOOOVE working with my product developer, Kirsten…and loved the time I spent working with Anne before she moved on to another great gift company. These are the most wonderful human beings…and we have a complete blast working together. I LOVE THIS COMPANY.

Here’s one more piece of the many many many that are being made into products…..can’t wait to share the whole story with all of you…will be very soon!!!

Ok…..off to do yard work on the grounds of summer brave girl camp!!!!! We are making magic over here in the turquoise barn and the beautiful forest ranch………lots of work to do…planting flowers and garden and we are even getting chickens and cows……

Like I said………by the time the Spring and Summer are over….so much work will have been done and it will be a great time to go to the ocean and unwind…..if you wanna come along, just send Terri an email and maybe you will be able to get in for half price! WAHOOO!!!

Sending you all so much love…and be sure to stay tuned, so much exciting news that is ALMOST ready to tell.

we love you all fiercely and with our whole hearts. Keep being brave…we are rooting for you.

xoxo

melody

OH…P.S.

I am also super excited that Hilarie and I got invited to be a part of Jeanne Oliver’s “GET THE LOOK” month….here’s one of the photos from our shoot (against the turquoise barn!!!) check out the rest of it here……and make sure you check out Jeanne’s whole site!!!