Do you see it? 

Look carefully.

See an ear?  See a nose?  See some fur? 

This is the beginning stage of one of the Kelsey Rottiers original art peices advertised on the Kickstarter Page as a reward for pledging $100.  Of course, I didn't make the puzzle.  But I'm incorporating... somehow. 

This picture is an accurate depiction of how I feel today.  There are chunks of plans set, basic ideas in place.  But the details of how those plans occur often get shuffled around a bit before the finished product is...finished. 

It's really OK.  And I know this.  But I don't feel it.  And I won't feel it until scattered pieces find their place in the big picture.

The Kickstarter fund raiser is STILL GOING!  We are 91% funded, and only have a little bit of time to get the rest of the way!  Here's the link: http://kck.st/HACoeE.  Share it with friends, follow it to pledge, and try to come out to a show! 

love,
Kelsey

Written yesterday- 4/21/12

     Outside my office window, I've had the pleasure of watching this lilac bloom.  And as I get closer and closer to recording, I feel the same way it looks today. 
     I's raining today.  And lilac is drinking in so much that it's blossoms are bending the whole plant over in humble submission to the creators gift.  Sometimes gifts are difficult to receive.  Not like a sweater on your birthday or a new pair of shoes.  But, the gifts that last, the ones that change your character and shape your growth.  We wait for them, we fantasize about them, but upon the unveiling, we see that the gift given is not the same as the gift imagined.  Sometimes gifts bring pain.  Sometimes mercy, although necessary, is humiliating.  Healing takes work, intentionality, and yet it's nothing we can control or manifest within ourselves.  And the things we need can often be the scariest; like correction, direction, outside opinions.  
     Throughout the writing process for Bear Hope, I've been trying to expand my viewpoint.  It's unhealthy to view the world only from my eyes, so I've tried stepping into the shoes of the victims I've been writing about, and really hearing the comments and suggestions from trusted sources  After reviewing these songs with close friends (scary!), it was suggested that we add a song of hope to the mix.  I sifted through the archives of songs written and unheard, and remembered, "Mercy".  So here's a little snack to tide you over.  This song will be recorded, Lord willing, in May. 
May Hope fill you to the brim until you topple over with heavy, but rich Joy.

Love,
Kelsey

Mercy
© Kelsey Rottiers 2012

Today I found an elephant on my door step...

Yes.

Along with a note from my friend Mallory in The Rough & Tumble (you may have heard me mention them now and again) saying,


"Dear Kelsey,
Your herd awaits you in Nashville.  Counting down the days.  Love, Mallory"

There was also a tea bag tag that said, "Love what is ahead by loving what has come before."  I'm betting it's a from a Yogi tea bag.

See, someone once told me that when elephants get knocked over, their weight is often too heavy for them to lift on their own, so the herd must turn around to go back and help up the fallen elephant. 

Even if you haven't fallen down, it's nice to know that should the worst happen, your herd will turn back and work together to prop you back up on your feet.  And you'll continue on your path as before. 

Ironically, and seemingly without connection (trust me it's not), immediately after opening my box with the elephant inside, I found this project on kickstarter called POST HASTE!  And I loved it so I pledged $10.  Come July, I shall receive a limited edition artist designed postcard! AND I thought as a nice respite from my self-promotion, I'd post about someone else's project.  So, support this art exhibit by pledging, help save the U.S. Postal Service and maybe one day you too will receive an elephant on your door step and remember that you're not alone.  Enjoy.

Comic art work by Elizabeth Uitvlugt, EP artwork by James Pray

     It's DAY 5, and this morning we reached $1030 pledged!  That's 68% of our funding and we couldn't be happier!  As a way of showing our THANKS, we wanted to give you a little peek at the Bear Hope comic book!  My friend Elizabeth Uitvlugt has been working on this for months, and I am so pleased to see the fruits of her labor!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 

        Closing in on the end of DAY 3, and already we are nearly 50% funded!  Thanks to some very generous pledges we are so excited to see how this campaign and more importantly how this project fairs.  We have some BIG ideas.  Me and the team are super excited about the fun this project will be, working with my friends, The Rough & Tumble (you may have heard me talk about them, they're amazing- www.theroughandtumble.bandcamp.com), and to just have the opportunity to hang out with friends that I can trust my music with, and I know that they're just as excited about this project and all that it can do if successful! 
       You may not have had the chance to check out the kickstarter page, if not please do, but those that have saw one of the prizes is a Bear Hope black and white comic book!  YES!  I'm especially excited about this one!  My friend Elizabeth Uitvlugt has done all the artwork, and I've done all the writing (Bear Hope lyrics and a blurb about The Red Thread Movement and sex trafficking) and I think it's going to be such a neet item to have at our merch table!  If you make a pledge of just $20 you could be ONE OF THE FIRST people with a copy of Bear Hope EP AND the Bear Hope Comic Book!  Check out this reward and much more at our kickstarter page http://kck.st/HACoeE.  If you'd consider sharing this link on Facebook and Twitter that would be a monumental help to us! 

love,
Kelsey

       We have officially launched the Kickstarter page to help us fund our upcoming recording project: Bear Hope.  Within an hour of launching this afternoon we already had our first backer!  A great start to what we hope is a successful fundraiser.  Take a few minutes to watch the video, which will explain more about the project and if you would like to contribute to this project click on the green K in the bottom right hand corner and you'll be send directly to the Kickstarter page to make your pledge.  Or you can just follow this link: http://kck.st/HACoeE. 

     I will be posting regular updates throughout this fundraiser so keep checking back to see how much support we've raised!  

Love,
Kelsey

I was on the news this morning!  Fox hasn't posted the show on youtube yet, but here is a link to their website where they've posted the interview!

Jakes Music Fest (FREE!) This Saturday, April 14th, 2012 doors open from 4-11pm.  See You Then!

Kelsey

This link: http://ow.ly/ado6B to the preview for our Kickstarter page which has not been launched yet, but will be VERY SOON! I couldn't wait to tell you about it! If you could take a minute to check it out and maybe decide if you're able to make a pledge once the page is active. In a few days we will launch and you can go and pledge till your heart's content!
I will be headed to Nashville in just a few weeks to collaborate with my friends Scott and Mallory in The Rough & Tumble (www.theroughandtumble.bandcamp.com) to record this EP Bear Hope in order to raise awareness about sex trafficking AND donate a percentage from sales of the EP to WAR International (you can check them out at www.warinternational.org). Updates will continue to be posted on the website www.kelseyrottiers.com as we progress in raising funds and throughout recording!  I have also started a facebook page: http://ow.ly/adoB0 to help you tell your friends about it!  As an indie artist, I rely on WORD OF MOUTH, so, the more friends you tell about this project, the more successful it will be!  If you believe in this cause, share the facebook page, share the kickstarter page, make a pledge (there are lots of little treats for our backers in case you didn't know), and help stop sex trafficking!