Hi, I'm Melanie
I am most often described by people who know me as C R E A T I V E. I love turning ideas into soul-filled products and processes designed to help people live with more curiosity, appreciation and joy.
Christchurch is my hometown. Growing up, family weekends in winter were spent in the mountains skiing on rope tows at the club fields, while summers were devoted to camping and exploring the wilds of the South Island.
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My 20s were spent at Cookie Time - it was hard work and so much fun. Christmas Cookies, All You Can Eat Factory Tours, and developing the Cookie Muncher - were some of my most memorable projects.
My 30s centred around the family and home-schooling my three young children. One of my favourite past-times was turning their adventures into books about themselves; this lead to a short series of edible education books.
In my 40s a book I was working on set me off in a whole new direction. The Goodbye book began as a small personal project. But before it was finished my marriage had ended, and every part of my life was in turmoil.
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The story continues in 'Why Death?'
About Creatrix Ltd
Creatrix Ltd is a small New Zealand company founded in 2011. It was set up as a boutique publishing business to print and distribute my own books, cards and photographic images. It includes the philanthropic Thankyou Project, which gives away thankyou cards and encourages gratitude.
Still small, the business now includes the Death Matters Conference and Art Exhibition, as well as numerous collaborations where I speak and run workshops about gratitude, creativity and death-acceptance in the community.
PROFESSIONAL BIOs – 3rd PERSON
LONG BIO
(194 words)
Melanie is an author, photographer, gratitude ambassador and Deathwalker. She regularly sees the world through the lens of her camera, and writes about creative approaches to living a more authentic and fulfilling life.
After emerging from the rubble of a big earthquake in Christchurch 2011, she founded the Thankyou Project and has been promoting the value of gratitude ever since with her thankyou cards. As well hosting the Christchurch Death Café, she runs an annual conference called Death Matters to make it easy and empowering for us to talk about death. ‘When we accept our own mortality we make more authentic choices and live more creative, connected and meaningful lives in the process.’
With a passion for creative expression, Melanie has published many inspirational editions under her pen name Melanie G Mason. These include the timeless ABC of Wishes, Hopes, & Dreams, Goodbye for Times of Sadness & Loss, Thankyou Living in Gratitude, and her Soul Survival oracle cards.
Despite earthquakes, fires, shootings and lockdowns, Melanie is still living in Christchurch, New Zealand where she balances the commitments of family life with her many community projects.
SHORT BIO
(115 words)
Photographer, author and Deathwalker, Melanie regularly sees the world through the lens of her camera. She writes about creative approaches to living a more authentic and fulfilling life. Host of the Christchurch Death Café since 2016, she also runs an annual conference called Death Matters, and a death-themed art exhibition to make the taboo subject more interesting and accessible for people.
Under her pen name Melanie G Mason, she has published many inspirational editions including the timeless ABC of Wishes, Goodbye, Thankyou, and recently Creative Illuminations oracle cards. Despite earthquakes, fires, shootings and lockdowns, Melanie is still living in Christchurch, New Zealand where she balances the commitments of family life with her many community projects.
MINI BIO
(67 words)
Melanie is an author, artist and Deathwalker. She regularly sees the world through the lens of her camera, and writes about creative approaches to living a more authentic and fulfilling life. She hosts the Christchurch Death café and runs a conference called Death Matters to create a more death-literate community. She has published many books; her latest offering is Creative Illuminations Oracle Cards.