I plant my gardens very carefully, and so have I grown communities for women for over 40 years. I knew when I started Patreon, grateful for the financial support it would bring me, it also needed to be a place where other women, my Patrons, would have a place to be nourished. I wanted to provide safe and sacred space for them, and I prayed that the community would grow beautifully as have the many gardens I have created and found beauty, a place to heal, to rest, for my soul to be fed. It has been an incredible journey, thus far, and June will be my 10th month on Patreon. Yesterday I made a number of changes to better serve my community and to offer the things that were in my heart. I came out fully with my dreams in doing so, and I am so happy, so at peace today seeing the changes resonate with others, and mostly for having been true to myself and trusted where my heart was leading me. Since much has changed I want to let you all know what I offer on Patreon for any women who might be interested.
First let me help you with something that most people unfamiliar with Patreon don’t understand, and I do understand this because neither did I in the past. You can click here to learn more about what Patreon is.
On Patreon a “Creator” creates “tiers” which are the different levels you can pledge at to support the creator you admire or want to help, each tier offers different rewards for the “Patron.” You can join Patreon and quit any time, there is no commitment. You can raise or lower your pledge or change tiers any time you would like. I now have 5 tiers and you can become a Patron to support my work anywhere from $5 a month and on up. Here then are what my 5 tiers are all about:
Tier 1: Welcome To Dragonfly Cottage! ($5 a month)
“I started with this one tier that holds so much and it grew and grew and kind of became what I call “The Everything Tier!” There are blog posts for patrons only (“Notes From Maitri”), photographs of life at Dragonfly Cottage, some pictures of Maisie’s art, notes, quotes, and flashing thoughts along the way, a free download of a Maisie mini-art piece once a month, as well as books I love and resources I use and where to find them. And you can ask me questions and I will answer to the best of my ability with Maisie at my side and Molly in my lap!
I talk about becoming an artist late in life — I started at 59 and am now 67 — when I never thought I could, and how you can too. Helping patrons recover and make their dreams a reality is an important part of Maisie’s work and art. And helping you to create a joyful life no matter what limitations you have. So much is possible and we are here to help you!
In these difficult and trying times so many women feel cut off from the world. I have created this community both as a support for my work and a place for women to gather. We are here for you. You are not alone. To that end and in a way to foster community I am adding the feature “Pass The Talking Stick” weekly for anyone who wants to share what they are doing, what they need help with, who just need us to hold the space for them to tell their truth, share their creative endeavors, or ask for help. We all need to be heard, and as women listening to, and supporting other women is one of our greatest strengths.”
Tier 2: Maisie’s World Art & A Monthly Download ($10 a month)
“At this tier you will receive everything from the first tier plus you will see/feel/experience the creation of Maisie’s World, the creation of the art, the stories and paintings of Maisie’s friends, both imaginary and real, and a monthly download of a piece of Maisie’s art that you can print out and use for your own personal use only. (It may not be shared or distributed in any way.)
Content will be special “Notes From Maitri” for this tier only about my art process, the materials I use and how I use them, there will be still photos of the art process as well as videos to show live creation of works in progress, and you will hear about how Maisie was imagined and created, all the steps along the way, from starting to draw, timidly, and very late in life (59) and all of the characters I drew and painted along the way, and how I finally found my way to Maisie. As well at this tier you will discover what is behind the secret, magical world of Maisie and her friends, and the stories behind each painting.
Also I will be discussing with you how you, too, can claim your artist self, she is already there and whole and waiting for you to begin. This is going to be a marvelous journey, and much will unfold along the way. Will you join me in this creative experience?”
Tier 3: A Live Community Gathering On Zoom! ($25 a month, limited to 15 members)
“At this Tier you will receive all the benefits of the first 3 tiers plus twice a month Zoom gatherings to build community to help and support one another with our lives and creative endeavors.
I am creating this tier for several reasons. Let me explain.
Since the beginning of Patreon I have wanted to use Zoom to have a live, face to face, way for those of us who would like to meet and really see each other and enrich our community to meet. Also it can function as a “Work Session” meaning that I will be drawing or painting or crocheting or whatever I am up to that night, and you can do whatever you like too, draw/paint/write/knit/crochet/cook/make things, or you can just hang out with us and chat, about anything and everything. Ask me questions, I can show you things live. You can even be in your jammies and have a cup of coffee or tea or glass of wine. This is meant to be cozy, comfy, and informal. I really want this to be a living breathing community where we really get to know each other, not just words on a page, and you can all share what you are up to, ask questions of the group for help, suggestions, or resources for whatever you are working on.
I am very excited about this and hope you can join us.”
Tier 4 (New Tier): A Private One-On-One Session With Maitri ($75 a month – Limited to 5 members)
At this tier you will receive everything from the first 4 tiers plus your monthly one-on-one session.
This tier is open to 5 people only. You can sign up for one month only or stay at a recurring status for monthly sessions. Sessions will be booked, first come, first served, at mutually beneficial times. All sessions will take place on Zoom. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not want to stay in a recurring status at this level you simply edit your membership to downgrade to a different tier.
In these last years I have continually come back to my self care practices and all of the things I have taught, relied on, used for private mentoring, and healing throughout the years. It came to me that sometimes it is a blessing, a necessity even, to have the healing balm of a gentle supportive private session. To that end I have decided to offer a few spots first come, first served.
I have taught journal keeping classes for over 40 years. I am a Reiki Master and a Shamballa Master Healer. I have been a mentor to women for decades using mindfulness and other creative practices to help them lead a full and centered life, to help them achieve their goals and find inner peace. I am an ordained Interfaith minister and as well have studied many other spiritual paths. There is so much more, and in past years when I have loved mentoring I have also found a deep calling to offer solace, gentle guidance, and to offer love, compassion, and gentle kindness to those who need an ear and a shoulder. A talk with a gentle guide, someone to listen to you with reverence, and to hold the space for you to share your feelings, so that you know that you are heard and that your feelings are important. One needn’t feel alone and lost, and as I have often felt that way myself I know what this kind of support can mean.
You can use these sessions to talk about anything you’d like to talk about, ask me questions, or we can brainstorm to help you work toward your own goals and dreams. It is your hour, I advise you to prepare ahead, write down your questions or concerns to get the most out of your session.”
Finally, to help you better understand why I started Patreon and what this means to me I will share with you the letter that women coming to my Patreon page can read to know more about me, my work, and why I created a Patreon community…
“Hello Dearhearts!
Welcome to Patreon! I have created this Patreon page to create much needed financial support to help create my Maisie’s World art, the Days at Dragonfly Cottage and Gardening and Nature zines, and to run life here at Dragonfly Cottage which is where all of Maisie’s and my work originates, including art supplies, life essentials to get the work done, and more, and to offer very special content only for my Patrons. As a disabled senior citizen who is agoraphobic and deals with ongoing mental health issues this help is a godsend to me and my experiences surviving and surmounting many obstacles while still creating a life I love is one I hope to share with others so they realize that they, too, can create a life they love that sustains them and brings them joy.
From the beginning the heart of Maisie’s World has been to spread the message of loving kindness and how we can all create worlds that bring us peace and happiness despite whatever limitations we might have. I will be writing short blog posts (“Notes From Maitri”) here for patrons only a few times a week, and periodic videos to share what is going on here, the process of creating the art, work in the sketchbook, life with the animals and in the garden, and more. I want, not only to create my own work, but to create a loving community for all of our dear patrons. Since Covid many women have been cut off from the world. I am creating safe and sacred space for women everywhere. We love you! And we appreciate you so much. You are not alone. We are right here with you.
With your support I will be able to both do this work and grow this community. I have changed the name of this community to “Days At Dragonfly Cottage” rather than just “Maisie’s World” because while my work with Maisie will be front and center still it is important to me to show a whole life being lived, a life that, despite being an older woman now, and disabled, I have created a life and work that I love and it is my deepest desire to encourage and help other women do the same in whatever way brings them happiness, peace, a sense of a more fulfilling life creating their dreams as they can today. So much more is possible than we realize and in sharing how I live my life here at Dragonfly Cottage, where all of my creative work originates, I hope to share a whole life being lived and celebrated, even in my 7th decade. I want so much to reach out to women around the world.
I am sending you so many blessings and so much love. You, my patrons, are in my heart and prayers, always.
The world can be a lonely place, especially in these times. It doesn’t need to be.”
This is a longer than usual post but I wanted those of you who have been wondering what Patreon is all about and why I am doing it and what I am offering in return to be able to fully understand what it is all about. My Patrons have changed my life, not only with much needed financial support but in the most beautiful way have given my life a whole new meaning and sense of purpose. I now get up in the morning with a greater sense of ease and joy because I know my Patrons are there, that they care about me and the work I am doing, and providing the content for them to enjoy makes me so happy. They have changed my life and I will be forever grateful.
My deepest love and blessings to one and all…
thank you for explaining what each Tier offers, an expansive, broad, deep bundle of possibilities! I love following your journey and progress as Patreon slowly moves towards its one year anniversary for you! Congratulations! May the community benefit from your caring and sharing, and be inspired to move toward their (our) own dreams! xo ka
Thank you so much my darling Ka. Patreon has changed my life and has helped me so so much and not just financially but as I said the sense of purpose it has given me has helped me in so many ways it’s hard to explain. So thank you for being my “oldest and dearest friend” (And NOT because you’re older than me, you know what I mean!) whom I cherish more than the moon and stars, and thank you for supporting me on Patreon which means more than you could possibly know. I love you dearly, always and always and forever and ever. AND I WANT PICTURES OF YOUR GARDEN! Ha ha ha, and you know I will share mine with you.
M. xoxox