"Hummingbird shows us how to re-visit the past for the purpose of releasing it instead of being caught in a permanently backward flight pattern. It also helps us to see that if we step aside we may see our life differently. Hummingbird teaches us to transcend time, to recognize that what has happened in the past and what might happen in the future is not nearly as important as what we are experiencing now. It teaches us to hover in the moment, to appreciate its sweetness."



My mother adored her hummingbirds. Every spring she lined up feeders all around her patio, and the front door. She would stand and count the numerous little creatures as they fluttered in, all a "buzz", sipping the sweet nectar. A simple pleasure...something my mother always took notice of.

June 27, 2006, mom found her victory over Inflammatory Breast Cancer and went Home. Mom was a true lady, inside and out and she never gave in to her nasty perpetrator. When IBC tried to rip her confidence away, mom researched more and became more positive. When IBC attempted to tear away her dignity, she would smile, toss her wig on and march forward, head held high. When IBC mocked the endless chemo treatments her body ingested, she merely marked her next appointment in her calendar and looked forward to seeing new friends at the cancer center. When IBC forced Hospice to enter her life, tears fell, but she quietly said her goodbyes, the last one merely eye contact with her grandchildren, as the clock said goodnight to June 26...and she won her battle in the wee hours on the 27th.

Hummingbirds...It is not commonly known that the fluttering wings of the hummingbird move in the pattern of an infinity symbol - further solidifying their symbolism of eternity, continuity, and infinity. They are seemingly tireless and remind us to forever seek out the good in life and the beauty in each day, hence, a messenger of hope and jubilation.

This past Mother's Day, my Aunt Georgialee, mom's sister, sent me this Hummingbird Mother's Day card...she said it reminded her of mom...I completely agreed. I placed it on my refrigerator and immediately started thinking of designs I could get from it. This entire month of June I am donating 50% of my profits to Susan G Komen For the Cure. I thank each and every one of you who placed orders, made purchases, or just sent a donation in...every bit helps find the cure.

Back to my hummingbirds, I have also developed a new design....above seen, I call her "Hummingbird". This flowing, easy slip-on styled dress has a fluttery illusion...barely fitted at the bust, elastic around the shoulders, handkerchief hem, almost fairy like, but more like the movement of a dancing hummingbird. This one is made from Italian silk scarf panels....when I saw the fabric, it just reminded me of a mingling/swirling of the card my aunt had sent me...and I loved it! I am also making this same style in hand painted silk...my facebook fans have seen a couple previews still in the process! I am taking orders on these, just contact me...if you desire a hand painted one, just tell me your color choices...and if you wish it to be made of silk scarf panels, I will send you photos of my selections. Like all my designs, no two will be duplicated. I will also be placing this design as my signature piece to fight Inflammatory Breast Cancer...I will be donating 50% of my profit on this piece forever....my hope for eternity....


prices begin at $120

"A Father holds his child's hand as she learns to walk, then teaches her how strong her legs are as she lets go...."




I hope all my friends and family have had a wonderful Father's Day! Mine was a journey down memory lane...literally. I met my father at my aunt's home, a place I remember fondly, because I grew up right across the lake from her. As I approached the area I was flooded with old memories. Carpenter's Lake and Kingfisher Lake are beautiful, and today radiant with color. I cannot wait to get my paints out! Tomorrow I will have lots of new work to show!! Today, however, I honor my dad...my other inspirer of my soul.

Like all great family gatherings, our table was filled with stories and traditions. I kept slipping back in time thinking how my dad used to always take me to school...every morning, crawl up in his truck, listen to Paul Harvey and off I went. School was very important to him, and unless I was dying, which I never was, I was never allowed to stay home. Dad worked very hard and felt education was the foundation to future hard work and the defining point if you would be sentenced to hard labor, or if you would be the "warden"....so to speak.

I have wonderful memories of him quizzing me endlessly on States and Capitals, but I still know them, or how he never tired of asking me my multiplication tables! Geez! But, I still know them. Dad always enjoyed helping me on school projects too. I think somewhere in his attic is the old wood cut-out of Central America that he cut while I glued the dyed rice on it for borders, etc! Dad is a walking resource on leaves, trees, and plants in general, so never did a day go by when he wasn't showing the differences and the way to tell. His love for animals was absolutely drilled in to me...perhaps too much on that one! The number of pets, both adopted and rescued over the years is countless. Dad always knew how to care for them all, regardless if it were the fox pups, quail, baby squirrels, our old pony, and ohhh...so many dogs!

He was strict, I wasn't one of those girls at the skating rink on the weekends, instead I was tamping fence posts on the farm, or picking beans, but when an educational trip to Mexico was presented he never batted an eye, he stuck me on the plane and off I went! Yes, my dad certainly held my hand when I learned my way, but more importantly, Dad, you gave me my strength, determination, my pride. Thank you Daddy!

Happy Father's Day....especially to mine...he is a great one!

"God saw you were getting tired
and a cure was not to be.
So he put his arm around you
and whispered come with me
with tearful eyes
we watched you suffer
and saw you fade away.
Although we loved you deeply
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Hardworking hands to rest.
God broke our hearts
to prove to us
He only takes the best."

... Abigail Marie Marsch


....no more to be said.

"Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.” ~Edgar Cayce


"Dreams"....that is what I titled this piece. I began working on her shortly after Mother's Day. I was remembering my last Mother's Day with my mom and how ill she was at that time. I brought over pork chops to grill, her favorite, but she was barely able to chew them. Finding the perfect gift that year was easy...she was in need of comfortable "house dresses"...aka...cotton night gowns suitable for company to see you in. I found several, even managed to "re-do" a couple by opening the back and sewing in "ties" for easy dressing. Her favorite, a blue one in a soft knit, she put it on immediately. I have a feeling, even though she never complained, never had pity parties...her true desire, her true "dream" on that last Mother's Day was for a cure be found for Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer, IBC, is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. IBC requires immediate aggressive treatment with chemotherapy prior to surgery and is treated differently than more common types of breast cancer. Symptoms of IBC are similar to mastitis, a breast infection and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics. If you do not respond to antibiotics after a week, ask for a biopsy or a referral to a breast specialist!! Most doctors, even the best, have "learned" of IBC...but they have never seen an actual case. My mother was actually "older" than the normal victim of IBC, as this form of cancer attacks younger women, usually in the childbearing age. Unfortunately, a portion of young women with IBC had their first symptoms during pregnancy or lactation, yet again, due to the belief that these young women are at lower risk for breast cancer and the fact that IBC is the most aggressive form of breast cancer many went misdiagnosed, the result, death.

Today, my "dream" is to help spread the word on this silent killer...to help inform women, so that others do not go through the Hell my mother faced, or the helpless Hell I went through watching her suffer.

I am designing numerous new things this month...all in honor of mom. "Dreams" is a vivid blue chemise...the style is much like a camisole, but falls just above the knee. It has adjustable lingerie straps for a snug fit, subtle v-neck, and the 'ever-so-slight, flowing, body hug as it drapes over the breast and hips. The style is very versatile, I love it paired with skinny jeans or leggings, some love it as a dress, or, it truly is an amazing, sexy night gown!! This particular one is a Large...but as always, can be made small - x-large!

Remember, Marsch Inspiration is donating 50% of all profits this month to Susan G Komen Foundation. For more information on IBC, please go to:
http://www.ibcresearch.org/
www.eraseibc.com

http://www.komonews.com/ibc

http://www.komonews.com/ibc

"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts - it's what you do with what you have left." ~Hubert Humphrey




This month I will be 48....I have two strong, healthy daughters rapidly entering adulthood, womanhood. The more information I dig up on the DEADLY perpetrator that ravaged my mother's body, forcing her victory over "it" only by death...the more I am determined to place a major dent, a major blow in a cure for her perpetrator...Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Yes...it is rare...yes it is deadly. But this snake can attack a young teen....a young mother....even a 62 year old grandmother...my mother.

Yesterday I met through my blog a wonderful, committed mother who first-hand witnessed this perpetrator take the life of her daughter, a vibrant, beautiful 37 year old. She shared with me this news cast she did in her hometown. This piece is awesome and so very straight forward. I urge you to view it, listen to it...and pass it along. IBC kills...it is THE "silent killer". Most of us have never even heard of it...until you get that phone call, until it slaps you in the face. My beautiful new friend also has a website that is nothing but information...please take time out and look at her site:

Patti Bradfield, President
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
www.eraseibc.com


My mother was and IS my 'inspiration'...there is not a day that I do not think of her...miss her. Above you see my very first 'memory scarf'...a silk painting of mom engulfed in beautiful vintage kimono pieces. I wear this when I need a hug from her.
I am still painting, sewing, designing this month, and my promise of donating 50% of my profit to the Susan G Komen Foundation is still going. Education, proper effective treatment is needed to guarantee this "perpetrator" is forever locked away.

"If you're going through hell, keep going." ~Winston Churchill




Some periods of our life we never forget. February 2004 still echoes an eerie Hell for me. Spiraling downward in the most ridiculous, circus-style divorce trial Warren County could ever produce I thought my life could never get worse. God thought differently, and the phone call came. Mom had been checking in every evening to see progress of my circus style, 30 day divorce trial. This time her call held new information.

During the Holidays she had shown me a very irritated, red patch on her breast, and made plans to get it checked out. She had just been to the doctor for her yearly mammogram a couple months prior, so we made light of the strange discovery. Keeping her word, she did go to the doctor and the diagnosis was an infection, antibiotics were prescribed.

This particular night when the phone rang, she was up beat, making jokes, then casually said she wanted me to hear this from her....the antibiotics didn't work, instead she had learned it was a form of Breast Cancer.....INFLAMMATORY BEAST CANCER.

INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER is a very rare form, making up about 2% of all breast cancers...but less than 5% survival rate. After a grueling 28 months, my mother, barely a full rose herself, left behind four little buds, three granddaughters, one grandson, to grow up without her smile, her guidance, her touch.

Please help me find a cure...we have enough dangers everyday and CANCER should NOT be one of these dangers!! During the entire month of June, Marsch Inspiration is donating 50% of ALL profit to the Susan G. Komen Find the Cure. Please help stamp out Breast Cancer....

Happy Mother’s Day….

I give you flowers….

Azaleas …….to take care of yourself….because for all your strength, you are fragile….


Clematis…….always preserve the inner beauty you possess….keep your mental spirit strong…

Larkspur….always hold an open heart, an open soul….guiding and teaching ….

Violets…..forever may you watch over your flock, giving affection with love and faithfulness , a virtue to be held…

Peony…a river of compassion to never dry…

Day Lilies…. be carefree and forget worries….merely smiles abundant with sunshine….

Orchids…embrace your love and beauty achieved only through mature charm…

Roses….to never forget…to never lose the passion, the love….
My Beautiful Mother….I miss you so…will never forget you, thankful each day for all you gave me…you left too soon, but I see you reflected in my garden of flowers …still giving me my inspiration, my hopes, my strength, my dreams….

Happy Mother’s Day….to all moms…especially those who celebrate today with the Angels….because it is from their nurturing, love and devotion that inspired us to be all that we are….

“If there's something that you're dreaming of then may it all come true, because you deserve it all...HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”



Sometimes real life seems like a story...the kind you see on TV or read about in a silly novel.....

The date was November 28. He strutted into the quaint little shop, a mysteriously dark, well-groomed man, who had the demeanor that might lead one to believe he was a connoisseur of imported cigars and fine port. She was busy rearranging a display, eyed him with amusement and intrigue, said hello yet kept on working. He then confidently asked if "she" was working. With a cautious smile she said yes, she was the lady in question. He proceeded on by saying someone had said he should stop in and take a look around. She welcomed him and kept on working. He mingled about the little shop, but finally, rather frustrated, came back to her and pulled out a piece of paper. He confessed he was there because of this letter. She quickly read it. Shocked by the words....(general message was that "he" should stop in this shop and meet "her"), she quickly gained composure, laughed and said she supposed she should be flattered and moved away. He feeling just as silly, thanked her and left.

Like any good story, it did not end here. A few weeks passed and their paths cross again. After a few laughs of the first introduction, they begin to exchange e-mails for a bit then he returns to the shop to ask to meet for a glass of wine after she closes. She had found him to be quite intriguing and interesting by now. She a laid back, tolerant, bit dis-organized lady loving the art world and all it offers found herself captivated by this man's sense of self discipline and structure.

After she closed up her little shop, she went across the street to a romantic little restaurant, the place she had chosen to meet. After waiting around thirty minutes, he finally called her. He began sounding irritated and annoyed on the phone, then clarity came through...she laughed..."Mr. Has it all Together" was at the wrong restaurant!

The years have been slipping away, their friendship flowing like good lyrics to an old love song. His love for adventure is met with her desire for a tropical, remote beach. His desire for serious conversations is compromised by her silly teasing and funny wit. They equally share a love for the lazy citrus punch from the perfect Gin and Tonic, and Mary J Blige confessing her love in "Be Without You", and a beautiful, spiritual sunset as it magically dances down to kiss the ocean good night.

My story...it could be something one found in a bottle drifting along the beach...

Happy Birthday Terry...may all our sunsets bring you love and happiness....