Fan Mail from Afar!

I would be fibbing if I told you I didn't love fan mail. This awesome picture and letter were sent to me from a lovely young lady from New Delhi (living in Saudi Arabia) named Samiya Kahn.  We had been tweeting together on Twitter for a little while and then Samiya was sweet enough to send me some good old fashioned snail mail. Thank you so much Samiya! However, I can't find you on Twitter anymore so I am hoping that you will stumble across this blog post someday soon.

And now, I'd like to answer your questions personally in this letter:

Q: When will your next album release?

A: I don't have an official date yet, but I have started writing!

Q: Do you like Justin Bieber?

A: I think Justin is a very talented young man, however, I don't have his music on my playlist :-)

And as for "Eyes," it looks like it has now surpassed 1 million views. You were right! Yay!  Thank you so much for your kind words and beautiful letter and picture. Sending you much love.

Mindy in Japan!

Today my album, Anchor, releases in Japan at Tower Records, HMV and Disques Dessinee!  

I'm so excited!

とってもうれしいです

In Japan, my album cover has this groovy metallic finish on the umbrella instead of the die cut that I use here in the U.S.  I dig it.

I love seeing the liner notes in Japanese characters.

Crossing my fingers that I'll get to go perform there!

Mother's Day and Marni Cakes

Meet my oldest sister, Marni K Winkel, 

or as our family likes to call her, "Marni Cakes."

Marni is the oldest sister in my family of nine and very much a mother figure in my life.  My two brothers, Ryan and Darin, were born first.  Dad thought that the basketball team he had always dreamed of was on it's way. But then seven daughters like pretty maids all in a row came in surprising succession.  (Oh, and by the way, most of us ended up playing basketball).  


When I was a baby and my mother was doing her best to manage her other seven children, Marni would often care for me, change me and rock me to sleep. But of course, whenever she laid me down in the crib, I would awaken and cry for her, so she would just remain holding me while I slumbered. As a toddler, I slept with her in her bed. Her warm, creamy voice would sing lullabies in my ear while we nestled under the covers.  No doubt, Marni's singing voice is the one I first learned to model mine after.  


I think I can speak for all of my siblings when I say that Marni was and still is a very maternal figure for all of us.  She is the magnet and we all gravitate toward her.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that all of the girls in my family have lived under her roof at one point.  Her generosity is her trademark. You have to be careful when complimenting Marni on anything from her clothes to her furniture because she will say, "Here! Take it home with you. I don't need it!"


Being the artist and nurturer that she is, it seems natural that Marni has gone into psychotherapy and the arts.  She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development from the University of Utah and attended the College of Notre Dame in California, earning a Master's degree in both Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy.  She has worked as a Kindergarten teacher, a pediatric Art Therapist, and as a Marriage and Family Therapist to teenagers and their families.  She is currently enrolled as a doctoral student at Pacifica Graduate Institute, studying Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Jungian and Archetypal Studies.  Her preliminary dissertation work focuses on the soulful lives of children as expressed through literature and the visual arts.  Marni is also one of two Art Therapists in the state of Utah who is both registered and board certified as an Art Therapist (ATR-BC).  


Marni has always been my best sounding board and one of the first people I go to for advice with all of my burning life questions. I'll be the first to recommend her if you're looking for a therapist for you, your marriage or your children! Click here to visit her web site: marnikwinkel.com.


Happy Mother's Day, Marni! I love you so much.


These beautiful photographs were taken by the ever-talented Justin Hackworth.  Many thanks to him.  There's only one thing amiss: Our humor.
 

Ah, there it is.

See You in Marrakesh

Allow me to introduce you to your tour guides for the trip you are taking to Morocco from October 6-13, 2012. Yours Truly (left) and my dear friend April Meeker (right).  We are adventurous spirits. We live our dreams out loud. We take risks and we are taking you with us for the ride of your life into a land of exotic color, texture, aroma, tastes, sites and sounds.

We'll stay at a visionary resort called Peacock Pavilions, owned by award-winning designer, Maryam Montague of "My Marrakesh."  What will we eat, you ask? Amazing, authentic Moroccan cuisine, of course.  In between couscous and curry, we'll also be feeding your artistic soul with workshops on jewelry making, book binding, collage, writing, marbleizing paper, and even a self-help session on clearing blocks and unleashing your creative power.  When we're not knee-deep in our art, we'll be riding camels, visiting the beach, treasure-hunting in the souks, getting henna tattoos and catching a belly dancing show. Really.

Let me tell it to you straight. This trip costs $3100. The price includes everything mentioned above except airfare. Yes. Even the belly dancing show.  

Email April Meeker at secondsisterjewlery@yahoo.com to claim your spot on the trip.  There are only 5 spots left! April may also be able to help you set up a plan to pay for the trip in a few installments. 

For more information, click this link (and scroll to the very bottom to see a cool brochure about the trip): http://suaviloquy.blogspot.com/p/morocco-creative-retreat.html 

I'll see you in Marrakesh.

Insta Weekend

I went a little Insta-crazy with the Instagrams over the weekend.  Are you following the adventures of @mindygledhill on Instagram? Because it just doesn't get more exciting than this:

"The Undie-Grad"

My little sister, Lindsey, graduates from the U of U with a degree in photography.

"Ryan Innes Rocks Out"

 Opening up for Peter Breinholt at our first concert for this season's 

Rooftop Concert Series.

"Me and Peter B."

"Pair O' Potties" 

(in the Green Room at the Rooftop Concert Series)

"Secret Treehouse Meeting" 

With Libbie Linton and Spencer Harrison. Their upcoming record is going to BLOW YOUR MIND.

"Visit with Gramps" 

Griffin nearly destroys the hospital in a single attempt to visit Grandpa Mike, who hasn't been feeling so good lately.

"Backstage Surprise!" 

I got an email from the little girl in the pink pants on the front row, inviting me to see her dance class perform in a recital to my song, "Whole Wide World." I surprised them all with a backstage visit after their performance (which made me cry, just for the record). Smiles all around.

"Nephew Mayhem"

Visited my sister Amy and her boys, Enzo (center) and Noah (right).

TONIGHT!

I am one of the founders of the Rooftop Concert Series: A rather large and amazing outdoor concert series (if I do say so myself) on the top of a parking structure in the historic district of my town.  Tonight we kick off the season with Peter Breinholt.  My husband and I fell in love to Peter's music.  We even sang his song, "What About" at our wedding dinner.  Don't be surprised if you see us smooching during the show.  Hope to see you there!

Vintage Spring Sorbet

Since the birth of my third son last August, I have been exhausted. Sleep deprivation has a way of stripping the life from you and leaving you to forget the capable person you once were.  Motivation has been a scarcity in these parts for quite some time.  Hence, I have morphed into quite the recluse, emerging only for groceries at the corner store in my pajamas.  The downward spiral of no sleep and isolation can only go on so long, however, before you realize that you MUST GET OUT.  

Luckily, I have had an event called the Vintage Spring Sorbet booked on my performing calendar for over a year.  It rolled around last weekend and turned out to be just what the doctor ordered: A weekend of sunshine, visual delights, culinary indulgences, conversations with women and all against the setting of California's serene Central Valley. Behold, a little Instagram Essay of my adventures:

Drove through miles of nut farms and vineyards to Catheys Valley (population 300).

Basked in the warm glow of Teresa Andersen, creative mastermind behind the Vintage Spring Sorbet. What a lovely, gracious woman she is.

Griffin Beau Gledhill also attended, naturally.

Spencer Harrison flew in from Washington DC to play guitar for me.  If ever there was a good sport, it would be Spencer.  He was a big hit with the ladies.

See what I mean?

The props, décor and vendors' wares were enchanting.

One word to describe my heart at the end of the day?
Complete.

A million thanks to all the beautiful women whom I had the pleasure of rubbing shoulders with.