Starving Artist Ink.

inspired by the mighty girls.
their mighty spirits, their open hearts, the power they hold in their young bodies… bursting full of possibility, on the threshold.. our little women.

an excerpt from the ring leader of the Mighty Girl Art Camp-

Mission:

We live in a society where a girl’s self confidence is challenged daily by an assault of images which suggest that they are somehow not good enough the way they are. Mighty Girl Art™ Camp empowers young girls to feel good about themselves through a series of projects that fosters creativity and nurtures self-esteem.

find them on their new facebook page

don’t you wish that you had this when you were a young mighty girl?

fog. and the flame flickers…

questioning this source of doubt that lies uneasily in my belly
noticing how we view ourselves, our craft
and how flawlessly, and with so much grace we give others
but not ourselves.

comparisons be damned.
ebb and flow and accept this path i’m on
no greater, and no less.. than anyone else.
a constant echo
letting go of ego

i reach to my future self for guidance
for her gentle wisdom looking back at me in this moment
it’s funny, because even where i am standing now- i know already what she’s saying.. i know already where she is.
which just means
that this moves on
is a moment to perhaps listen to. honouring.
to question ‘why?’
‘what is it about this that stirs that emotion? what can i learn from this? from myself..’

i nod to self. grateful for this conversation, this conclusion.
and i keep on feeling it
but different, this time..
owning my silence. this stillness.
this awkwardness
feeling it

the flame keeps flickering, now dancing across the chilled window
romantic. poetic. i capture a still of it in my mind,
perfectly reflecting.

i imagine that every picture will be a blur. trying to catch up with her…
every picture from behind- because that’s all i can keep up with
watching her proudly march, stomping her feet loudly against the concrete.
laughing wildly in the wind.
and off she goes…

the other day i received a surprise brown box at my door… i had no idea who it was from, wasn’t expecting anything at all- and was so curious to find out what could possibly have been sent my way
oh oh my
was i spoiled
this bounty of earth medicine
my very own apothecary, hand crafted by the herb mother

i carefully unwrapped each precious jar and bottle… my fingers tracing over her scrawl. twisting the cap off and smelling these different potions. so earthy

this little treasure, these beautiful concoctions- some to heal, soothe, pamper or protect. some with medicine so rich.. oh my, i can’t believe that i have been gifted with such an offering

the herb mama, latisha is a wise medicine woman, guided by intuition from the plants around her in her desert dwelling… she recently sold some of her beautiful products in her herbmama shoppe on etsy  (which i am lucky to also have purchased a healing piece of) but is currently taking a break from listing on etsy, while the herbs dry hanging from her ceiling. she does, however- take custom requests for medicine that people need, and says that it is her most favourite way of creating.

i’ll run down the list of medicine i received from her- perhaps something that you might be looking for for your medicine cabinet as we approach the wet, cold winter months..

1. latisha’s limoncello. oh holy… this is a powerful little lemon liqueur concoction that’s popular in italy and spain. it’s breath taking…
2. tumeric tincture -  ‘taken 3 times a day just before meals to ensure good clean digestion. however turmeric is a wonder herb as a daily tonic. linked to decrease in alzheimer, heart attack, high blood pressure, liver failure and many more. you can take it in a bit of water if the alcohol is too strong. you can also use it topically for mild skin irritations, impetigo, bruising, eczema, but it will stain for a few days. you can also use it to stain fabric, permanently.’
3. gentle skin scrub -soft and gentle skin scrub is wonderful for the most tender of skin. fantastic on faces, pregnant mothers, and infants. the sweetness of healing calendula, oats, and powdered milk is complemented by an exfoliating almond meal leaving the skin soft and smooth
4. calendula in jojoba oil -a gentle oil wonderful for any dry patchy skin
5. gypsy rose vinegar -great for sunburns, and salads — yes it is edible
   ‘gentle skin scrub, gypsy rose vinegar, calendula in jojoba is my daily facial skin routine. in that order. though the skin scrub is wonderful on bodies and babies too or in a bath sock in the tub.’ -latisha, herb mother
6. cottonwood bud salve -amazing for healing all manners of aches and pains, mostly those associated with muscle tiredness and overuse.
7. gratitude offering for wildcrafting -an offering to the mother when receiving her gift, a way of giving thanks.
8. lemon dill spice rub – ‘dill from my garden and lemon peel from lemons we wildcrafted so it is all arizona grown.’
9. elderberry syrup -a remedy for colds and flu, boosts immune system and tastes good.
10. arnica salve -good for bruising, deep muscle pain
11. coconut rose super skin smoother mmm yum yum yum smells so delicious and leaves skin so silky smooth. universal healing salve
12. rosemary mint salve for happy feet. oh my, the smell of this though. mmm it is my go-to calming scent
13. loose herb incense no chemicals or synthetic oils are used, only whole herbs and a small amount of essential oil. (they smell heavenly…)
14. chamomile salve a superb and gentle skin healer that makes it perfect for children. it can be used on diaper rashes, skin irritations, bumps, scrapes, and scratches with great success. it also makes a lovely and calming after bath balm to massage the child. this salve can also be used to massage the abdomen in the case of upset stomach or constipation.

what do you keep in your medicine cabinet?

i wrapped her baby up to her, the same way that i carried her as a wee thing…
and off she goes, toddling around the living room, patting her baby’s back. kissing her face
little mama
makes me swoon