Melody's Sofa

Take it or Leave it....THIS is my life....(I'll take it!)

I have a few weeks to catch up on! I will start by showing you these…my new favorite thing…my hand-painted boots…and then the necklace that goes with them…

While I totally love these boots…I love the colors and I love the shape and the way they fit…they are super comfortable…I love them most because of what they signify for THIS, My Life…

Because I have been thinking about painting some boots, and I just did it. These boots are two or three years old…and maybe they were ready to be ‘done’…but then they got a new life…because I wrote it on my list of things I wanted to do and Cynthia called me and said…

“I don’t care what you say, you are getting on the plane tomorrow and coming to hang out with us in Las Vegas…it’s already arranged….”

And I had a few hours to throw some things in a suitcase, and I thought about how long it has been since I went shopping….and how I wished I could go pick up a few new things to wear….but then I decided to FINALLY paint those boots (I had just gotten done telling Cynthia how much I wanted to do that)…and some jewelry to go with them…and that would be my NEW THING to wear…..

….and I remembered when I picked up that paintbrush and started painting those boots that THIS IS WHO I AM….

….and then I got to Las Vegas, where Memory Trends was going on, and here I am with my friend and ‘big sister’, Cynthia, who has been my friend for 10 years now…and who has put together and held together the friendships of a dozen or so artist women in our industry (our creative heart society)…and we have all loved each other and been a huge support to each other through all of the ups and downs and changes in all of our careers….

…like my beautiful and very special and wonderful friend, Jeanne and I….we have been through it all together over the last 10 years,…and we laughed and cried about all that’s happened since we both started our businesses WAY back then……and how very very much we love each other….and how very very many cities and countries we have shopped together in (always a shopping trip with Jeanne, no matter what)

….and I spent 2 incredible days with Cynthia, and Jeanne and Sandy….Sandy is our sage…one of the most tremendous women you will ever meet…and so wise and calm and beautiful and funny….these friendships are such a HUGE part of my life and I love how bossy Cynthia is to make us all keep them alive and hop on airplanes even in the craziest of times…I love you girls, I wouldn’t want to ever go through life without you!!!

I came home to my family…and to a new obsession with my little boys…rubber band balls….and…..I spent at least 3 straight days helping them to make them bigger and bigger and bigger….and there were rubber bands everywhere and it was making me crazy…but then they were so so happy over this very crazy phenomenon…that I couldn’t resist helping them….and a whole weekend was spent making them….

…and as we were still spending time moving, and going through all sorts of boxes in the garage and the barn, I found a kajillion decorations that I made in my ‘old life’…before I got wrapped up in international business and put so many things in boxes for ‘later’…a later that I thought would be months but turned into many years…and I realized how many Halloween decorations I had made for my children….and how long it had been since they were up…and Malary asked if we could decorate this year…and I said…’let’s just do it now!’….and we did…..and I forgot how very much fun I had making these little ballerina witches so many years ago…

…and Max lost another tooth and it broke my heart that it seems like last week he just GOT his first tooth…and how these two ‘surprise’ babies have made my life sunny and bright and beautiful every single day…and how I can’t believe that we almost stopped at 3 kids….

…and I looked out the window at Marq and Brock and our neighbors showing up with the tractor and helping us with a project in our yard and realized how beautiful this new life in this tiny little town has become for my husband and for my children….and that while I miss eating sushi and going to the gym and so many other things that were so close by before we moved out into the boondocks…that this is the place where God held our very best life, and my family has moved into it in a way that is tear-jerkingly beautiful…and that having no television has taught my children to do projects together and look out for each other and have fun and be creative…..

…and how much more they use the costume boxes now….and how my little boys are forever thinking of ways that they don’t have to get their hair fixed…like Mitchy saying “can I wear this spikey hat instead of combing my hair?”

…and that my daughters are now invading my closet and wearing my clothes…and that they almost fit them….and whoa….when did that happen?

…and how Marq put counters all the way around my studio the day after I told him that's what I wanted…and every day after work he helps me get a little further and a little further…and how we are almost done and I will post the photos of this beautiful creative space that I have longed for all of my life, in color as soon as we are in the land of Oz….which will be very soon….it is blowing my mind how cool my studio is turning out….

…..and life is alive. And I am so thankful….and I know you will find that yours is very very alive, too…..This is my life, and I am going to live it…no one else will ever do that for me….or for you….the world needs you!!! BE ALIVE!!

Lots of Love
Melody

P.S.
Please participate in the THIS IS MY LIFE project by posting your blog address in the comments below…make sure you put the words “This is My Life” on each photo that you post to your blog! Can’t wait to see!!!

Hear All Good with Melody Ross - Episode 3

In this fabulous episode, Casey and Melody have an intriguing and thought-provoking discussion about personal mission and the undeniable ability & responsibility that every human being has to put their mark on the world through personal acts of creative expression. Melody reads more exerpts from her blog and also from the book of thoughts that she is writing for her children.

Studio Progress!

Hello Beautiful Everybody's....

I got a special treat over the weekend...a surprise from my long time industry artist friends...and got to go hang out with them in Las Vegas...checked out Memory Trends a bit and got to see so many people that I love...and also see what's happening in the Scrapbook Industry...Chatterbox did not attend this show, but it made me really excited for my product launch at CHA Winter in February...

ANYWAY!!!! I have some photos of the progress of my studio. I am doing pretty good sticking to my $100 budget...because I am reusing so many things that I used to have in the old farmhouse...so far, I have only purchased cans of black spray paint! I am actually further along than this, but need to take some more recent photos.....a lot of stuff has been painted black now and my work stations have been installed around 2 1/2 of the walls...totally wrapped with counter space...so cool....and we put my old kitchen table by the window so I can have a big space to lay things out, trim things, etc...and so the kids can join me to make things, too....when we were moving stuff out of the farmhouse and the old garage where Chatterbox used to be, we found some of the old desks and Marq cut them down and installed them as the countertops....I have a ton of workspace now...and lots of other things...over the next few days I'll be posting more photos...

But, I decided to go with all black and cream and maybe a few splashes of color....I found a huge hunk of Black and Cream Toile that I bought probably 10 years ago....found it when we were moving...I am not sure whether I am going to use it for curtains or to cover some chairs in there, but I am going to use it somewhere and it totally inspired me to go with a french-ish black and cream theme....

So...here's the photos...I'll be back soon.....Love to you all!

My Favorite Words to Live By

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

A few words for today....

Lots of Love
Melody

OOOHhhh...one more thing...

I posted a link to my dear friend and fellow-artist's new blog...wanted you to see what she's up to because we are working on several of our heart's projects together....(her husband Casey is the host of our podcast show too!)

here, I'll try to post a link again, but if it doesn't work below, it is simply darlinbird.blogspot.com

enjoy...and make sure you say hi to her if you stop by her blog!
love to you all,
Melody

A little report...

Oh Woo Hoo!!! Not BOO HOO....WOOOOO HOOOOO!!

just wanted to tell you that it worked....

In addition to putting a full day of work in both yesterday and today...I recorded the podcast, which is now being edited...got my studio almost all set up (thank you to my incredibly talented husband who has been helping me salvage all sorts of things and turn them into tables, desks, shelves....) I have spray painted a whole bunch of stuff black....4 cans worth of spray paint now (doing my studio in black and cream....french looking...I am loving it)........and I woke up from out of a dead sleep this morning at 3am and just HAD to get up and paint a canvas....and I did.....I STARTED PAINTING AGAIN......anyway....

....just had to report. Mostly this is due to prayer. OK, it all is...I prayed hard that I could overcome the distractions keeping me from doing what I really needed to do....and it really worked....well, prayer always does, right....

My card reader broke or I would post a bunch of photos...I am going to borrow one tomorrow and I'll show you what I'm up to....I think you'll love this trash to treasure thing I got goin' on here....

I love that quote:
ALMOST EVERYTHING COMES FROM ALMOST NOTHING....

...the best stuff anyway. I have always risen highest when I have been forced to be very resourceful....I bet it's the same for you.

Be back tomorrow with photos and a brand new podcast...WOOO HOOO!!!

have a great night.
Melody

Distractions....

This is me and my sweet baby Mitchy...he just started Kindergarten and it leaves me with all of my children in school....a day I thought we would never come to....but that leaves me with no more excuses.....
...Let nothing distract us from who we are and what we are and what we are to become... ...when all of the big priorities are taken care of...and there are quiet times and quiet moments....no one will take each and every moment by the hand for you, for me...it is up to each of us to grab the hand of Heaven and shake the rest of it off...for there is too much in life grabbing for our attention, trying to divert us or annoy us or busy us.....and the work to be done is too important to let the distractions go on....

TODAY I AM PROCLAIMING A WAR WITH DISTRACTIONS...I AM GOING TO TAKE THEM ON.....but...i am in search of suggestions....for how to really do this.....

dis·trac·tion n
1. something that interferes with concentration or takes attention away from something else
2. something providing entertainment or amusement, especially something that takes the mind off work or worries and helps relaxation
3. a state of great mental or emotional upset

so is that the opposite of:
????
trac·tion n
1. application of a pulling force for surgical purposes, for example, to reduce a fracture, maintain bone alignment, relieve pain, or prevent spinal injury
2. the adhesive friction between a moving object and the surface on which it is moving, for example, between a tire and the ground, without which the object cannot move
3. the act or process of pulling something, especially by means of a motor, or the fact or state of being pulled along
4. a means of moving vehicles
5. a means by which, or the degree to which, progress can be made

I love life. For sure I have loved it more during certain times and less during certain times, but there's no doubt that I love life. I am highly frustrated by distractions, however....and wondering if anyone knows great ideas for ignoring, ridding, rising above, eliminating them? I HAVE STUFF TO DO!!! ....and I bet you do too!

....and I know sometimes you think...DOES IT REALLY EVEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT I DO??? YES YES YES IT DOES!! What if the writers stopped writing and the painters stopped painting and the singers stopped singing and the gardeners stopped gardening and the decorators stopped decorating and the designers stopped designing and the DREAMERS STOPPED DREAMING!?? Can you think of a bigger tragedy?

You know, I think I do really great while I am at work, I am making the best art of my career right now....but then in those moments that I have....to do the stuff that IS REALLY HUGE...that I am SENT HERE TO DO...I get totally distracted....Yes, I am moving all of my belongings across the valley, and moving is no small task, and yes things have happened that I can not control but need my absolute attention, and yes, life is crazy....but, mostly it is just little distractions that do not care about me or my future....

What is distracting to me at this moment:
-fear
-what if's
-old habits
-boxes to be unpacked
-watching friends and peers get attacked when they are putting their hearts out there
-fear
-percieved obligations, guilt, dust on my entry table
-laundry
-my growing addiction to Etsy.com
-pretzels, trail mix, brownie batter
-fear, fear, fear....

Here's what I'm working on:
::::Finishing my book (still) it is words away from completion...though I've thought it was finished so many times, and then it just isn't...and I always know why God is holding it for a few more words, and I know what they are, and I know I need to write them....then I get distracted....mostly distracted by fear. My editor keeps telling me it is sensational, I have a zillion requests for it, I know it's going to sell like crazy, I KNOW it's goign to help people....and I have a very patient editor....but still, I keep telling her that I am afraid.

::::and the PODCASTS....with the hundreds of letters that I get about the podcasts...still I am distracted. But, one is coming very soon....and it is a good one. THIS IS THE FIRST BATTLE I'LL WIN THIS WEEK IN THE WAR ON DISTRACTIONS....

::::My studio---and the $100 budget I have given myself to complete it. I have to have a garage sale (the world's largest, I am thinking....if you are in town you should come, it will be at my old farm which is being demolished soon and will then be a subdivision) anyway, I am distracted by the millions of other things I need to do and I know for SURE that getting my studio done ranks very very high in importance. I CAN'T WAIT to show you what I have gathered from my barn, from my life to put it together.....and the $100 I make from my garage sale will go towards paint....maybe a bit of fabric...because I really think I can do it with everything else I have....it is going to be a super fun journey....you all helped so much with your links and suggestions....

::::Huge Opportunities---as the old saying goes, WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES....yes, yes...how true it is...the opportunities that have come my way are incredible and enormous...but then, I am distracted by the sheer amount of them...and again, by fear....

...........and I know why. I have been burned, and it still stings. I have been watching as a few of my wonderful generous friends who put their hearts out there get attacked, and I ache for them as I put myself in their shoes and wonder if it is all worth it (and it is)....I have had disappointments and hardships and hurts and many of those things have even hurt others, which I probably hate the most...and it's been very very hard and blah blah blah....it is nothing unique, I wish I could always remember that....it's just like everyone else who has ever gone out on a limb.......and now I'm gun-shy. So there, I said it...now it has lost it's power...because fear works in darkness, and meanness works in darkness and when you bring it out in the light...you see how ridiculous and mean it is...and how small it is really, and how much power it really DOESN'T HAVE.

So, really fear is the biggest distraction of all.........the rest of it can be managed quite easily.....it's very important to help others who need help...friends who are mourning and kids who are running for student council or who need help with their homework and husbands who are launching new projects....those are not distractions, those are priorities...but the BIG DREAMS INSIDE can not let anything distract them. IT WOULD BE TRAGIC.

So, today, I am committing to polish off the next podcast, and to meet with my CREATIVE BIRD group...which I keep getting too distracted to do....but with all of the meetings that I've had with my little group, my buddies are just moving through the distractions...check out Jodi...she is totally going for it with our mission www.darlinbird.blogspot.com

....and I just found this photo...
This is when I wanted to do something very badly...jump off of a huge train bridge, and I was mortified...so scared....so so so scared...and Marq helped me climb up there, coached me through it, stood with me for more than 20 minutes as I was near tears SO ANGRY AT MY FEARS....that's the only reason I wanted to do it...not because I love the thrill of the fall, but because I don't want fear to have power over me....and I finally jumped in the water.....

....and that's what I'm gonna do again. Because I am standing on the bridge of a million wonderful opportunities that God has put into my hands...and has ASKED me to take....and I am going to move past these distractions.

I HOPE YOU WILL TOO......do not let fear have power over you. Do not let anything keep you from who you are and what you are and what you are to become.

::::::: Hear All Good, See All Good, Say All Good, and Do All Good :::::::

Lots of Love
Melody

Something Beautiful

Do something beautiful today....
See something beautiful.....
Say something beautiful....
Hear something beautiful....
Be something beautiful.....

I will be back very soon. It's been a week beyond description....another friend lost a child in another tragic accident....helping with the funeral and once again putting all things in their proper perspective. With all that is difficult and even cruel in life, can anything compare to burying your child? My prayers are with them today as they take on this challenge for which there are no words. It is knocking the wind out of me that this could happen to two of my friends in one year. But, both mothers of these children, my friends, have amazed me and made me want to be a better mother every day. They have given their children the most beautiful lives, as short as they were.

Many things coming....but today, hug your children tighter....make sure they know everything you want them to know about the few most important things.

Lots of Love
Melody

My Oh My....

....good stuff coming, I promise.....

hope you are doing GREAT!

check back later today.....
Lots of Love
Melody