I am very pleased to share another wonderful issue of Artfull Mother magazine with you, the first of 2017! This issue highlights some special local midwives, revered members of the Birthing Community. We have 2 brave models, Sara and Julie, and we got some great photos. These lovely photos with Sara are near frosty Boulder Creek on the morning after a nice snow. Julie came by my studio for some henna and we stepped out into my freshly snow covered Lafayette, CO backyard for this mama’s snowy photos. She reported back after her birth that her henna belly art, still visible a week later, was a great point of focus and empowerment during labor. Denver mama Jaya, came to my studio with her youngest daughter for some tea and henna. I adorned them both with flowers. Later I heard her amazing birth story where she went into into labor “on her own” after her other 3 births had been induced. There is an interesting interview with Diana Buckwalter, a midwife at a Denver Birth Center. Denver Artfull Mother, Deena Marcum Selko, followed her dreams to become a trapeze artist with the MOTH circus school (www.contemporarycircuscenter.com). Deena talks about being a pregnant athlete. Another Denver mama I’ve gotten to know through my art, Chelsea Avery, has a popular blog, www.thenewwifestyle.com, and in this issue she shares some of her birth affirmations with us. Gaze upon the gorgeous collaged artwork honoring pregnancy by an amazing Boulder Artfull Mother Jessica Goodson. And of course, our most talented regulars: Monet Nicole’s stunning work captures and shares a mama’s story. Miracle Kisses photographer - Samantha Jessup (Aurora), shares Karine’s challenging & inspiring nursing journey. In preparation for Baby #2, Denver doula Mclean Confer is arranging to create a better family bed.

My very best, SarahKate Butterworth