Our greatest experiences are sometimes our quietest moments....

Today has been a quiet day as I said farewell to Amber who is leaving our visitor's center for greener pastures...her family. I have a very fond spot in my heart for this young woman as I got to see her frequently when the center was just across the street from the LCA gallery. Amber has a gentle spirit and a quick smile for everyone which is ideal when a new resident visits for a little extra help and guidance to the gifts Licking county has to offer. I wish you well dear friend and I know we will see each other once again.

I have gotten out a my stitch rhythm because we have been getting caught up on things here at home from our weekend away. My fingers are sore...that has not happened for a long time. I decided to practice on a small woolen beret to put my hands back into working order. As usual when I work on a small process like this I do get rejuvenated because I can see immediately the lost technique returning to my hands. Now I can wear my new beret to a dinner next Tuesday if I do get my long jacket completed by then. I am attempting to use up and organize my wardrobe in a newer more artsy style. To be honest I have not made items to wear for at least seven years and it is renewing to be able change my image up a wee bit. All of it ...the processes inspire my hand works and my visions can take on a new clarity for me. I am hoping to start more drawing and sketching just for the pleasure of seeing in depth the world of quiet around me. My photographs and the number 2 pencil touching a wonderful piece of paper...there is nothing like this visceral experience. I guess the healing is beginning and I have to recognize that good health and rest renews my circles of inspirations.I have searched for a word to explain or describe my process...visceral may not be the correct word but it is the best I can do in the last hours of my day.

Calm quiet movements and calm quiet moments ...the guardians of all artists. Yes, the calling from our partners and our families may require our energy momentarily but if we can maintain a sense of focus and give permission to take the necessary time needed for our work and ever evolving work as an artist. I still have dreaded moments where I miss the precious interaction with the gallery visitors and monthly deadlines to intake, arrange, hang and install monthly exhibits but now I am learning to breathe in the quiet moments. May your days be blessed by quiet moments for reflection and the knowledge that standing still is essential for our journeys. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

rereading my own words... Happy Veterans Day to all that serve our life

I have tears in my eyes as I put my fingertips to the keyboard...I ask for understanding when I hit the wrong keys and try to spell my words correctly. If I ever begin to complain about one gosh darn thing ...please kick me in the butt! Yes, we all have financial responsibilities but at times the news is filled with the money aspects of life and we forget to really see...to find and cherish the miracles we receive every morning we awake under the clarity of the blue skies on my hillside. I live in a family where we are accepted for the gifts we bring to one another. Mother Elizabeth is the gift to our world and the outcomes are ours to nourish. As I had a cuddle and a nuzzle with my little man Marshall Cole in the evening (we slept together in the hotel) I whispered that he would change the world for us all...but Grandma I am just small...and then I reassured him we would change the world together. Remember ...this is a small simple thought process but we can all change the world together! Have a great afternoon in your little corner of the world...we are all together!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

the long walk home to Marion...

Happy 89!
this woman of quiet integrity
wife for over 50 years to Marshall...her mountain of a man
mother of nine incredible children ...three distinguished men and six loving strong dynamic women.
Today...
I study your hands as you greet the members of your family and church congregation
Your steady strong hands ...blessed for so many moons as they caressed the babies and babies of the her child's children
the generations create circles of loving continuity that will ripple into the future
the ripples flow as if guided by the Mother River of Life... our Mother Elizabeth.
Elizabeth I want to know more...
the time we have is never enough...there are so many voices and questions in the room...
the wisdom you have earned over the decades ...
surviving the trials and tribulations of our life here in our beloved country ...
grieving the losses by issues of warring nations... when will we learn?
surviving the sins of racial injustice for almost nine decades.
Heroine in my heart
for creating the man I have grown to love dearly... Kenneth Allen Stewart
the guidance from day one in how we might face racial injustice ...even now...today
I study your eyes as you study the face of your newest great grandchildren
and celebrate their first steps into an ever changing future.
The things you have seen
the things you have experienced
the pain you have survived
as you learned to walk alone and erect with pride without Marshall.
I study your beautiful face graced with smile lines and furrows on your brow as you await news
news for a child in healing
news of a new life coming
news of a dear friend leaving.
Your heart is strong and brave
your spirit is joyful and filled with promise.
You have lived a full life...89 years and counting... a life filled with promise and faith in the higher powers of God's grace and strength.
Happy Birthday Elizabeth.
The time is never enough with you and your spirit.
Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

business resources for artists..... the Crafts Report

I have spent the day finishing mundane duties we all have when we are in a family and mentally working on lists of images to develop and getting ready for the bid trip tomorrow to celebrate Grandma's birthday. The weather promises to bring nothing but sunshine and fair weather. I am almost packed and we have everything we need and if we don't I can always hit Wally World. The laundry is caught up for today and that feels good, the snacks are packed for the road trip and I am only taking a minimal amount of things so we can just enjoy being together.

I have worked tonight on my continued journey in my cotton floss journey in mark making. I know I am close now in completion and oh so ready to begin the real beading and embellishments onto the the Kath Walker's horizon section. She is watching from another part of the universe and I honestly feel her presence as I create her portrait image. I have studied old photographs and remember the strong determined eyes when I met her on the warm afternoon in Brisbane in 1993. I hope when all is said and done the viewers will take away her presence of power and compassionate energy. I am mentally composing the green green rain forest piece to continue my narrative affirmation for saving the lush rain forest on the east coast. The fourth directional work will be in the azure blue skies and waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the miracle in the hands of God's creation. I do feel overwhelmed when I realize how much time I will commit to these four works and yet there is an excitement in knowing I am traveling down a path in renewal and celebrating the gift of travel to a land where the women embraced me with open arms.

I have had a discussion about some of the other projects I am researching...specifically my travels to Mexico and the abundance of joy the Aguilar sisters gave me each time I visited their studios. I see their stories on large canvas collages filled with the vibrancy of Mexico's colors and spicy cultural influences. By saying this dream out loud I am feeling the spirit come to me in a most unusual way...it is very difficult to describe but the more I process the images in both my mind and in small timid sketches I can begin to move to the next chapter of my women's work.

I have had to rely on myself for discovering how to market my works... but several networks and the kindness of strangers and synchronicity have generously guided my journey. We never succeed alone so we all need to recognize the power of mentoring and helping another one without compromising authenticity. The Crafts Report is a publication that comes out monthly to help guide artists in their professional growth. The writers are artists, patrons , professionals with experience much different than mine here in a rural part of Ohio. The business advice, technology, current themes and news, improving photography and sharing profiles in success are always covered in this publication. I hold onto my older issues for a constant reminder that making the art is important but learning new avenues, understanding language expressed in the art world and the various scenes and networks out there to help me. I am also a member of American Craft and that is another excellent resource and has helped me to feel confident enough to enter the Ohio Designer Craftsman Best of the year statewide competition. Information is powerful and the how-to-articles nourish both the artist and the retailers plus relevant news of current issues and trends as well as encouragement and recognition. If you have the time let me know how you educate yourself for your corner of the world in making your art. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

a day o celebrate a dear friend's accomplishments....

Today was a day to remember and celebrate my friend Lynn"s grand opening of her Fabulous Framing and Art Gallery here in Newark. Her husband was so proud and her mother was there to offer support and let her know what an incredible daughter she is. The Chamber of Commerce was there for an official ribbon cutting ceremony and several of the artists were there to show her how much we love her. Lynn is the only framer that I trust my fiber works to in the professional framing arena. She actually hand stitches my works onto the acid free board and materials and I never have to worry one moment about the fear of a glue being added to contaminate and yellow the fabric design elements. Ken put together this short video and you can share in the big excitement. No one deserves this dream come true more than Lynn and Perry.


I have worked most of the evening and I still must start packing for Momma Elizabeth's 89th birthday and we will be traveling with a two year old and nine month of great grandchildren to celebrate with her. I am hopeful we will all stay hydrated, healthy and make this a trip to remember. I am planning on carrying small design units that I can work on in the back seat while we make the five hour car trip. Have a great evening and I will touch base tomorrow. I am feeling tired once again so I will try to get to bed a little earlier to conserve energies for the next couple of days. I think the final jurying process for FAVA tomorrow so cross your fingers and heart that I can make it through until the exhibit opens next May. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

a morning of examinations, probes, tests and anxiety envelops my soul...

I can spare you the details and yes Miss Technician I do BRUISE very easily. I made a few small trips on the way home and immediately hit the bed with my warm and much loved quilt top. Both the dog ..Miss Rosemarie and my faithful companion of 18 years Miss Desdemona ... my black cat kept vigil over my bruised, tired body as I allowed myself to recuperate from the needed trauma from my morning's experiences. I had wanted to interview one of my ladies from the community who has given back many, many to our YMCA and the local campus of OSU here in Licking county. She understood I would have to reschedule and next week works better for her also.

The afternoon was what I needed and with the preparation of fresh wild salmon with long grain unprocessed wild rice and steamed fresh broccoli plus a fruit and spinach salad I visualized myself fighting back with proper rest and good nutrition. Now I am catching up on emails and with every tap of the keys on this keyboard I realize I can make a connection to another artist "out there" making their sacred marks. I look forward to working in a quiet meditative state without the interruptions from unsolicited phone calls for things I don't need and can't afford. I did get a call from an organization that is attempting to help me pay my every growing hospital bills...maybe there are fairy god-people out there who understand that even with some health insurance the money soon runs out for most middle class Americans... I am not complaining but stating the fact that we all are so aware of ...health care is not for the ill or weak. Please...government people listen with your hearts for our nation's future and the promise that every family needs and deserves adequate compassionate care. I have an artist friend whose father is fighting cancer and may face amputation of his arm...he is entering a clinical trial for the oncology research so I asked him to touch his father as often as he possibly can. Human touch is so powerful as is a good hearty laugh when you are with the ones you love and love you back without restrictions.

The sky was a soft flannel gray covering the hillside outside my bedroom window this afternoon. I cherish the whispers on the wind as the last falling leaves tapped on my windowsill as if to reassure me the new cold snow flurries will make the landscape sparkle in a clean, crystal sheath of pure heavenly light. The earth is fragrant with aroma of the solemn ground readying for a long quiet sleep and yet with the promise of rebirth in a matter of time. Patience the tapping repeats in a poetic rhythm that blends with the last of my sparrows songs The moon is still aglow on the treetops and touches the bending bows as they dance in the soft wind as evidence of a lullaby for us all to embrace. I am off the work now and I appreciate your kindest of words and support during these sometimes dark chapters we know as living a Life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

p.s. Feel free to click on the quilt to see my form of praying with my sacred marks.

more tests in the future...invasion elements ...scopes...and remembering to relax

I spent the day with Erin and the little ones today at the Works. My Dr. Chance is putting in 48 hours at a stretch this month in surgery/and on call so Erin brought the precious cargo out to Newark to explore the Works. It is a hands on science exploratorium...Is this a word? All I know is that the children are invited in to explore, play and discover possibilities. The curious Tuesday activity was about water and baking soda and the possible reactions...do any of you remember the little plastic submarines we got in our cereal box and played with in the bath tub? This activity was not that exciting but there is plenty of other activities to fill the rest of the morning. I had the opportunity to catch up on the latest activities with my friends there in the glass studios and see the Veterans Military exhibit in honor of World War II, the Korean wars, Vietnam etc. We took advantage of a beautiful day to walk down to Wendy's for lunch with the munchkins...always entertaining for ourselves and several other patrons in the restaurant. Nap time was upon us so the families divided, hugged and went home to catch up.

Ken and I did our civic duty and went to mail bills at the post office, stopped by the bank to cover the checks and now I have $14.79 for the rest of the month...yikes they say the recession is over. Then we went to find a new and distant voting location...are they trying to discourage people from voting??? The confusion was written on every one's face as they struggled to get their individual vote counted. When all is said and done I will call and email the Board of elections and outline the days confusing events...there were even two signs pointing in opposite directions "guiding the Voters???" to their locations. I am so sorry I did not have my camera with me...it would have documented the evidence of government interference/assistance.

We came home to reflect and rest while I enjoyed the movie "Australia" for the umpteenth time...I just love the colors and landscapes of the east coast of this unique island country in 1939 during WWII. Once again the half cast children were sent away to breed and educate according to the almighty white man, the aboriginal blood out of them in the name of God. The people in this movie have an open dialogue about the color of human skin and the hierarchy of a white race demanded by white men on an indigenous culture with their own equally valuable religious beliefs and visions. If you have not had a movie night for awhile this is a three hour movie that is perfect to view at home...in case you might need a snack or a bathroom break. The photography is spectacular but maybe it is because I have been there and witness the colors when the vibrant sky kisses the precious gifts in the land. The seasons of this climate are opposite from my own but over the years I have followed their issues including the great fires and droughts plus with the urban development the loss of natural habitat for the wild creatures found only on this island. Maybe because I am working on several personal narratives about my passion for Australia I have returned to some of my favorite movies to relive the colors and culture.

I need to get back to work and I am hoping your night is filled with sweet dreams. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

a frosty morning helps to keep your motor running...

I had a visit with a dear friend who happens to be one of my doctors and we both agreed healing is so much more than a science. The human touch of a hand upon a patients body when there is visible fear and pain and sometimes learning to just be there to listen with an open heart. The time we take to care is the time we employ to heal our heart's spirit as we age. The gift is that we are still here to walk in the clear sunshine and have others to share our dreams and visions with here on earth. I am learning so many things by being home with my family and my art...I will always do my best but never again will I give a job my all. I miss my artist friends who came in quietly to ask or share their uncertainties and possibilities in their art journey. I miss seeing the little ones who come in the gallery in a state of awe and would witness a process that many adults would walk right by and not notice. I miss Thursday concerts with "Frosty Morning" in the central gallery and their energy they generously gave to all who would walk through the door. I miss the Take Fives Fridays and working with the Works in maintaining a connection in our exhibits and family networks. I have learned so much with the other curators and their vision has widen my lenses and I appreciate being included in the gentle progression into the future. Today I am more centered and able to make different decisions for where I would like to have my work grow. I am volunteering in a different capacity and making my art in Licking County quietly preparing for a narrative story that is personal and holds some quiet secrets of women who have come before me. These women, some are anonymous and some you might recognize as you walk into the collection of heart songs. They are anointed with a prayerful attempt in making some sense of the lives we are struggling to live to the fullest. My works are a very slow progression of revelations of the gifts I have been so blessed to receive. One stitch at a time with the grace and fortitude to stay the course daily focusing being true to my heart's journey.

As I prepare for tomorrow's schedule of doctor's visit and election day and a trip downtown for Curious Tuesdays with my grandchildren and a quick bite to eat before they head home for nap time....then I will probably take a nap myself!

I am re-reading Kath Walker's "The Dawn is at Hand"...her book of poems first published in 1964 and I discovered while I was in Australia back in 1993. Kath communicates the frustrations of Aborigines living in a white world and she believes justice will prevail even as she admits an impatience with the slow progress. She has an incredible way of writing about the dispossessed and lost invisible aboriginal tribes attempting to regain their own grace and culture. In her return to Nature she discovers an authentic realization for self pride with hope for recognizing racism and the seeds of destruction racism spreads. "Time is running out" is a poem where we realize we are all one tribe on this planet earth with a religious fervent effort to seek and find balance. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Volunteering for the Coalition of Care...

Today was beautiful and the sun was never a purer source of energy. I went down to the Midland and volunteered for a special afternoon Gospel concert to raise awareness and funds for the Coalition. Forty three churches from all denominations unite to offer assistance to families struggling in a harsh economy and poor job forecast. The need is up over 60 % from last year and the newspapers say we are seeing an end to the recession. This group of individuals began their compassionate ministry in 2005 and I first learned from Bernice Seifert...another LCA artist who volunteered for the Coalition once a week and she is in her wonderful 80"s! Their goal is simple ...to put love into action by responding to spiritual and physical needs of people on the verge of crisis. The volunteers help their clients identify their immediate need, take steps to verify their request and help with transportation to medical/dental/prescription assistance. I was moved to tears as I witness love in action. The Newark High School Concert Choir opened the afternoon events with an acapella group called the "Southgate Acapella Singers" following closely behind. One of my favorite Bluegrass groups "Frosty Morning" with Oscar Ball, Kenny Siedle, Norman Gutridge, Sterling "Pinkie" Bartoe and Forrest Pierce brought the audience to their feet with a rousing bout of incredible Bluegrass. Shawna Corder is well recognized soloist throughout the state with her performance "Jesus Take the Wheel" and her Gospel songs to add to the spiritual energy. Then the Denison Gospel Choir under the direction of Dr. Milton Riffin rocked the house with audience participation...I felt chills in the back of the audience as these young musicians sang their devotion and faith. There was Joy rising as the afternoon came to an end with Christian Life Center Sanctuary Choir under the direction of David Kirk. David may be a small man in stature but I know of few men who sing and dance as well as his congregational choir. I drove home feeling both exhilarated and inspired by the community's out pouring of love .

I have had little time to put my needle and thread to my quilt but tomorrow I have an early doctor's appointment and I am dreading being weighed ...OMG! When I get home I have to catch up on political information for Tuesday's election day. I am not sure where the time flies away to but I can see myself in my dreams reaching up to the heavens to capture fragments to cherish. Imagine and Live in Peace, Happy Harvest Moon!!!