Holy crap! In just two weeks we reached our initial goal of $5000, thanks to 65 backers made up of friends, family and strangers alike, and many more still who shared or posted the campaign online.  Thank you all for your support, good wishes and kind words, for spreading the word and believing in these songs. What an incredible feeling it is to know there is so much support out there. 

The Kickstarter campaign will remain open until October 8th, so please continue to donate, share the video or songs online. We still have about $9000 left to fundraise in order to meet our budget, and I know we can do it. 

THANK YOU!   Donate via Kickstarter by clicking here. 

For Jacquelyn Brioux and Bridget Conneely, two darlings who contributed to the Youtube reward level on my current Kickstarter campaign. This is a song by Jeff Buckley called "Lover You Should've Come Over". A hell of a song. We had a bit of sound imbalance with Thoms guitar and my keyboard, but I think the point gets across.... Jeff Buckley writes good songs.

Thanks to Bridget and Jacq, and thank you! I hope you enjoy this as much as we did..

New video release today. This is one of my favourite songs, "Moon River" , requested by the very first backer on Kickstarter, Bailey Burke. Thanks Bailey. And thank you to all of you who have got us this far in the Kickstarter campaign. I hope this song is a good pairing with the sunny and warm day we had today (finally!). xo Michelle

Kevin Wauchope just donated to the social media blast level. Wooo Kevin!!!! Thank you, lovely. Kevin is the son of my childhood piano teacher, the honourable Valerie Wauchope. Teacher of all music teachers, who withstood my never practicing and encouraged the skills I did have (discipline not being one of them), and pushed me to finish what I had started :) Thank you Kevin, Val, and your whole family. XO

We are one week in to our Kickstarter campaign and have already raised $3,968. It's an incredible thing. People from all over, some who I've never even met are contributing in their own way. Every penny counts. Thank you to all of you!! 

If you're in need of a laugh this afternoon, this little clip is for you. Here are a few bloopers from our Kickstarter out-takes, as well as some shout outs from my dear friends and incredible musicians Thom Gill, Michael League, and Hugh Marsh supporting this upcoming record.

It's happening. Yikes. About to click "GO" on the whole damn thing. Stay tuned.

Here it IS!!

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michellewillis/the-first-michelle-willis-album

I don't know what to say. The words thank you, having said them so many times last night, despite being filled with gratitude, I'm not sure they really weigh in the heavy love that I feel for everything that happened last night. Such beautiful music made by my friends, love and hard work by those who volunteered their time in organizing and serving, and to all of you who came and gave of your presence, support, and attentive ears. What a night. This album is most certainly on it's way to being created, both from your financial giving and from the BIG love and encouragement I felt on that stage and throughout the night. Thank you very much. I can't believe it.

We had some pretty amazing donations to our Silent Auction. I wanted to take a second to thank all of you for giving such generous items. And a huge thanks goes to Valerie Burke Dunne who coordinated the entire Silent Auction.

• Stuart Mclean - two tickets to the Vinyl Cafe Christmas Concert + additional Vinyl Cafe swag
• The McMichael Canadian Art Gallery - donated two family passes, two calendars, and two masterworks catalogues
• Lynn Heath Pottery - donated a beautiful blue pottery bowl
• Suzette's of Alcona - donated a selection of hair care products
• The Original Flag Store - donated a garden banner & pole
• Hawthorne House - donated a Wild Mint lamp and fragrance set
• Conrad Gayle - donated one piano lesson, CD, and memoir
• Mary Georgio - donated a one hour strategy session for business and marketing branding
• Mademoiselle Kisses and Makeup Design - donated a gift certificate for make up application
• Nancie Mcleod & "Rethink Your Real Estate"  - donated a 3 hour interior design consultation plus a personal donation of a hanging geared clock, vintage step stool, and patio lights
• Flagsource Canada - donated a custom printed backdrop for bands or businesses
• Barrie Music Pro - donated two "Jam Tuner"s 
• Techniques Hair Studio - donated a hair cut and style
• TOWN - donated a gift bag full of hand crafted soaps, cremes and musically themed presents
• Valerie Burke Dunne (also mom extraordinaire) - donated two bottles of "Michelle" sparkling wine
• True North Yarn Company - donated a gift certificate for their store
• Casual Affairs - donated a beautiful scarf
• Patricia Burke (God mom extraordinaire) - donated two cast aluminum pans
• Voyage Jewellery - donated a Lucet Mundi of London silver infiniti necklace
• Mercedes Benz - donated a Mercedes Benz/Hugo Boss golf shirt with a metal water bottle
• El Lugar Con Pottery - donated two hand painted Mexican Salamandar Wall Art pieces
• Cathy Emms & Ivy Vetrinary Services - donated a box full of everything you've ever wanted for your dog
• Artsmart Gallery - donate a frame image of "Faceoff!" hockey art
• Thornton Pharmacy & Health Food - donated an aromatherapy and essential oil kit
• Beth & Norm Lundquist - donated a brand new Black & Decker Toaster Oven
• Terracotta - donted a boutique gardening package with a $50 gift certificate
• Olivia Cox & The Living Wiccan - donated two Tarot Reading sessions
• Hugh Marsh - donated a signed Ted Williams Baseball in mint condition, on an official MLB Bobby Brown American League baseball
• Freedom Collective - donated three decorative posters

THANK YOU!!!!!!