What Are You Doing this Weekend?

Visit Chick's Picks at the

Old Lucketts Store

Spring Market & Antique Fair

this Saturday & Sunday, May 17-18

10am-5pm

Join thousands for flea-marketing & antiquing in the VA countryside!

Over 100 vendors with amazing deals on furniture, home & garden decor. Live music & food! $5/entry

Chicks Picks Tshirt hanging out w/cool vintage stuff!

WHERE:
the historic Lucketts Community Center,
7 miles north of Leesburg on Rt 15, across from the Old Lucketts Store...
(you know ... it's where you always want to stop on your way out of town, but your husband & kids groan if you toss out the idea of swinging by, just for a second) www.luckettstore.com

INSIDE:
Chick's Picks is THE Featured Vendor inside the
Community Center Gym!
It's a Chicks Picks road show ... 40 vendors, almost all treasures under $50!
Plus new vendors: throw pillows, new seaglass jewelry, Dara's vintage jewelry, TONS of Earrings & silk bird ornaments from India, more SCOUT Bags and

a FLEA MARKET!

Chicks Picks is the baby of my friend, Hillary, who has an amazing eye and a love of scouting out artists to be featured in her monthly sales. The sales are held in her gorgeous home and feature fabulous jewelry, art, you just never know what you might find! Hillary emailed and asked if I'd like to send some Little Melfie creations which I was thrilled to work on - until my second hospital stay. Well, her enthusiasm is so contagious that I put together three boxes of art and they are in the mail to be part of this exciting event! If you're in the area, it's sure to be a great time - and you're not far from The Cottage! It's definitely a great day - I'm so sad I can't go!

I have pictures to download and share with you - sweet gifts from some sweet friends. Heather has posted really great pictures of my basket of love on her blog. I am trying to email thank you notes to everyone - please be patient with me. I can't get too many done at once. xo-Melfie

Happy Mother's Day!

Honor thy mother for her arms secured thee from a thousand harms.

For my beautiful Mom who has always shown me unconditional love-even during the moments where I wasn't very lovable- and taught me by example how to be strong and that family is the absolute most important thing, for my beautiful Nana's who I miss so very much but carry in my heart every day-their loving hands helped me to become who I am today, for the hope that my boys will one day know that every decision we make for them is made with the absolute deepest love-even when we have to say NO. They asked me once if I'd ever seen a miracle-I told them I was lucky enough to see two of the greatest on earth! I wish love and beauty on this day to all of you! xo-Melfie

It happened so fast, my head is still spinning...

Last night around 6 my surgeon stopped in to see me. He popped in following the same agenda he and his doctors always use-looking for signs of movement in my face. Close your eyes, wrinkle your nose, smile... Then he said the magic words - do you want to go home? Well, yes. Oh god, no. He smiled and said being here won't stop a future leak so I suggested he come home with me. He politely declined and just told me to be careful. As tempting as bubble wrapping my head is I'm just sticking with the bedrest I was prescribed-although I am allowed showers - thank goodness. That IKEA commercial did not lie-home really is the most important place on earth! And it's so, so good to be home! Thank you for all of your friendship and encouragement. My heart is all melty and gushy for all of you! xo-Melfie

One step forward...

Well, my sweet, sweet friends I don't even know what to say. My wonderful friend Stephanie brought me a package of love that was organized by one of the first people I "met" when I started to make collage art-Heather Rowley of Speckled Egg. Heather is amazing and I was so thrilled to meet her at Silver Bella and find out that she is even more amazing in person. I received a beautiful basket filled with tags made by so many of you that I am humbled. I am going to link to Stephanie's blog to share her pictures and account of the event. She tells it so eloquently... I'll post my own party photos soon! I don't even know how to say thank you... Beth Quinn sent me one of her gorgeous necklaces that read "she added so much beauty to being human" but really - that necklace belongs to each of you. All of you who created pieces of art that I will always treasure-and all of you who said a prayer for my family. I don't know at all how to let you know what everything means to me...

Right now, I have taken my "two steps back". One of the complications of my surgery is a leak of the cerebral spinal fluid-a 10-20% chance post surgery. Well, last Wednesday I discovered a leak. I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and am still here. My new home away from home. I had a lumbar drain installed on Thursday and the super patient nurses have been draining small amounts of spinal fluid from me once an hour. Last night, my drain developed a leak and my surgeon decided that it posed an unnecessary infection risk so it was removed early today. I am now counting down the hours (19 left) until the biggest risk of another leak is past and I get to go home. It's been frustrating, but save for a few major headaches, not painful. But, still... My hands are shaking and I'm trying to trust that what is meant to happen will but the next step will be another surgery. I have been assured that it will be "nothing compared to what I've already had" but really-I'm done. I want to go home! My mom has been incredible - even finding time to strip the wallpaper in my kitchen and Stephanie and Janine have painted the kitchen and family room-but I haven't been home to see it! I keep seeing the IKEA commercial that states at the end "home is the most important place on earth" and it's never felt more true to me-although so far away.

xo-Melfie

I don't even know how to start this post. I've been thinking about it-here and there-as early as last Friday, lying in my hospital bed. What to share, what to keep. How to process it to myself in order to share it. I've followed an inmate escorted by police officers for an mri appointment. I've joked with the resident who shaved my hair off, in chunks, to place little life saver shaped adhesives all over the right side of my head to allow my surgeons to track different brain functions as they operated. If he is reading this-seriously, you're right-keep your day job! I'm sure I'm going to have to have your handiwork corrected-much sooner than later! There was not a bed available in the ward I was supposed to move to after recovery so I spent three very humbling days in the trauma recovery unit. I was touched by the most gentle of hands-and heard those in such worse situations spoken to with such caring it was both heartbreaking and breathtaking. I awoke from my surgery realizing that-for now-my face isn't quite as I remember it. I could feel it when I talked. I watched with amazement as my boys-who aren't quite skilled actors told me "Mom, you look the same" and were almost as happy to see me as I was them. The basic details are that my surgery lasted about 12 1/2 hours. The surgeons left behind what they think will be about 10-15% of the tumor that will be looked at again in about 4-6 weeks and we'll decide whether or not to proceed with radiation. I have a five inch scar that runs behind my right ear - and the sutures will be removed on Tuesday. I may spend five days after, in the shower, shampooing... Or maybe I could be the one woman solution to the oil crisis! For an emotional girl, having to constantly put a drop called artificial tears into my eyes is such irony... Because there have been so many tears of joy, of thanks, of being truly blessed-and tears for those I've seen who weren't... xo-Melfie

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

Thank you to all of you, my friends, for your thoughts and prayers! Saying good night to my boys was so painful but I know it will soon be so much better. There is so much to say and not enough time. Take care of yourself. I'll miss you but I'll be back soon! xo-Melfie

I'm surrounded...

by the most generous, talented, inspiring women... Imagine my surprise when I received an unexpected package from a gal who has a heart bigger than the state of Texas! My friend Mendy is amazing - I had contacted her earlier this year because I had to have one of her vintage paper charms-we arranged a swap but that girl sent me not one, but two of her charms! Whenever I wear them people comment. People who have seen them comment again and again. Her work is beautiful! Well, back to the last package I received-that sweet gal sent me a get well present-one of the sweet cards she talks about and a double sided charm that is so - well - charming! I love it so much and think it's too much but THANK YOU MENDY!

Another gal that I met through my friend Hope is a shop owner in a day trip kind of town-Saint Michaels, Maryland. Regina's shop is called Take Me Home and I can only imagine all of the treasures inside! Just look at the window!!! Well, she asked me to make one of my banners to grace that incredible mannequin for this months window! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she likes it! She is doing a cowboy theme and I can't wait to get a picture!!! And I really can't wait to take that day trip! Well, the photo of the banner is on my draft but not in the published post. I'm going to have to figure that out... Check out my flickr photo in the meantime...


My Sammy got his head buzzed yesterday morning! Such a big deal because he had the thickest long hair! Oh, it just makes his cheeks even more squeezable! It's funny that I just happened to find a disc of photos from about 5 years ago yesterday and the nostalgia that has gripped me is overwhelming! I want my boys to be little-oh, I miss the innocence and those great big smiles! I love who they are becoming but wish they could be just mine a little bit longer... It goes by way too fast! xo-Melfie