When as young girl the desire was for a simple oatmeal raisin cookie, and her mother insisted on trying recipes from Gourmet magazine for Scottish tea cakes, Melissa taught herself to bake. What is primarily a meditative and enjoyable pastime has occasionally become a real job as a pastry chef for celebratory events and restaurants. (see portfolio at Flour,Sugar&Butter)

 

Mostly though, baking is one aspect of the need to constantly be creating in some form or another, be it artist trading cards for a Women & Creativity fundraiser, printmaking or painting a found piece of furniture for a child's bedroom, or exercising the inner mad scientist when creating body creams and scrubs. Creating and taking in the art of others is life's sustenance.