My companions and a hot cup of tea....

The studio was hopping today with new and old visitors....I received an invitation to come and speak to a fellowship group from a church and a presentation for their assisted living home next month. Gail brought in her work in progress...so peaceful and her stitches are improving with every new work. I would love to share some of your feed back with Gail so feel free to make a comment for her. Gail is working intuitively in her works and with each step forward she creates an authentic visual poem. She took a new visitor...a guy through the projects here in the studio while I wrote down and firmed up plans for my February luncheon talk. This gentleman is fairly new to The Works and their individual volunteer program and has plans to work as a wood worker in the Wood Shop with our own Wib Mock. Before I knew it the time had run out in my day here...I reapplied the final coat of gel medium as a glossy varnish on the bookmarks from last week's evening. I began to put the first layer of a simple collage to celebrate the last 12 Christmas celebrations of my friend's son Jared. I have the paper design elements cut and selected for the next couple of layers. I am not sure how I will finalize the framing process for this young man who helps us on Wednesday nights, I need to think in a manly way and not so delicate like my other works I have previously created this past December.

I am working on the Monkey Quilt by machine stitching the work. I think this is more durable and will with stand multiple washings and trips to the park with Mom and Dad! I just found out that my friend Angel is having a baby girl this summer! I have several ideas for her baby quilt...a colorful garden of pansies and maybe butterflies....lots and lots of pretty soft colors. Stay warm and enjoy your week in the studio. Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

A blue Monday...embrace the light breaking through the grays....

We have had a roller coaster day of colors in the sky around here today. Maybe my body was reacting to the loss of a friend but the grays in the sky were heavy like a woolen blanket on my heart. When I began my drive into the studio I looked up to see a white light breaking through the dense gray sky and shining down on my face. The warmth of the sunlight seemed to open my spirit and free me to embrace the day. When I arrived the sky was open to the possibility of clear blue skies.

When I carried my "stuff" into the studio my ears heard a sweet curious youthful voice call out my name ...Mary? I turned to see my two year old boyfriend Cooper as he ran and jumped into my arms. Am I lucky or what? I held him for quite awhile...I am not sure who held on the longest...the little one or me the big one. Cooper is a white beam of light radiating pure, soft energy and a joy just to be around. We shared lunch with Nana Julie and his mommy Amber...and I know I should have been working but there are moments in our lives when we need to stand still and breathe in the joys of being young.

After they left I sat down for a quiet afternoon of making more Valentines and listening to music from the 1980's. The solitude felt just right for me and before I knew it was 4:30 and ken was calling to tell me he was already home. I made an errand to pick up two more boxes of wedding invitations and then stopped by to see my grand daughters so they could finished their Thank Yous from Christmas. They were tired from a busy day of school and just waiting for the dinner to come out of the oven. Ken and I cleaned out the refrigerator and I put the roast in for the dinner tomorrow. Now it is time to close for my day and do my duty...my time on the elliptical machine...exercise calls my tired body! I have enjoyed checking the posts from today...so many creative minds united in making their sacred marks. I also ordered two new books from Amazon....The Illustrated life by Dan Gregory plus The Art of War by Stephen Pressfields. I think I must Amazon's best customer! Peace out! Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Monkeying around on Sunday.....

I have had a very quiet day and spent time with a young bride helping her order her wedding invitations from Michaels while they were on sale and I had a bonus 25% off coupon. I now have 120 invitations...two boxes are coming tomorrow from Columbus....two boxes are coming from the Easton store so we have a total of 280. The young couple needs 250 for sure so we have a few extra in case i make a mistake. I am using a computer lay out to print the invitations and then applying a classic black and white photo image of the couple on top of the printed dates, church, families uniting etc. She has 105 days until the wedding ...she is very excited and this makes one more step of preparations they can mark off their list of things to do in a timely manner. I then picked up a couple more design elements for the valentine's project as my outreach program this month. Ink pads in pink and little tiny Hello Kitty Stamps to play with ...me included!

Sadly I have lost two artist friends in the last week. Vivian was a member of the LCA for her whole lifetime and died from complications of heart issues and then a major stroke. I have been working with her great grand daughter on Wednesdays for months now and she is a totally delightful child. She is going to inherit all of her grandmother's art supplies....a thread of spiritual connection from one generation to the future artists in the next generation. I also learned the passing of Donna Stader, a member of the Art Quilt Network and one incredible artist and teacher. She lived in Greenwood, IN with her mother and had a short illness. Donna was always a mentor for those of us who were a tiny bit younger than her...a gentle, gracious contributor to the art of learning criticism...expressing what one sees in works...techniques... and she found many ways to be generous and gentle in her critics. I will miss both of these wonderful women who have been in my circle of artists and guiding mentors.

I completed the final baby quilt composition for baby Benjamin. Remembering Father Larry's encouragement to "embrace your inner monkey" inspired this simple sweet baby quilt. I will try to baste the quilt tomorrow and complete it as soon as possible. I need to complete some paperwork tonight and email information about a short demonstration and my lecture about "Art and Literacy". The second lecture is a playful presentation of "Recycling in Art Making". I have a list of items to collect and sort for a Days of Creation project . I also need to complete my donation to the Mardi Gras Art Auction ...this is absolutely the last donation ...I need to learn to say NO! Have a great week in your studios. Blessings. Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Hello and almost good night...

I came home from the studio a little early on Thursday with a feverish sweat and the beginning of temperature so I went straight to bed. To make a long story short I sleep through most of the day on Friday...we had snow, sleet and ice all day so staying home was an easy choice. Today I rested and worked on a few small projects like a baby quilt for my youngest brother's newest grandson Benjamin Charles. I also opened a couple envelopes that sent me through the roof with excitement. A month or so ago I had won a contest drawing and they will just make your mind go wild with ideas. They are works of art in themselves so I will take a moment to decide how I am going to employ these sacred gifts. Judith DeMilo Brown you have given me one of the greatest gifts...your beautiful sacred cloth. I am truly honored.

I am still under the weather a bit and I am going to exercise a short time before I take my shower...I am really trying to make this an important time in each of my days. I may move slowly but already I can feel the strength coming into my legs. I also opened a beautiful belated but just as beloved Christmas dove from my dear friend Gabriela....peace on earth to hold and cherish with each Christmas season. Then I had ordered an older book about altering books and the many avenues and variations one could experiment with. Well I apologize for missing a couple days ...but that is life. I am still here! Stay warm and I do not know about you but our weather is warming up tomorrow. Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

p.s. I found this Retro Sewing book at Goodwill for $2.25...what a deal! I think this will be fun to play with some of the oldies but goodies. The price was pretty great also! Imagine and live in Peace, Art Lady!

Playing with markers and glitter and wooden bookmarks...

I have to share some photos of the outreach Valentine cards for shut-ins ...mostly women in a nearby assisted living program. I still need to complete about 25 more but even as I know I will not meet these gentle souls I know how excited they will be receiving a handmade card just for them. Tonight we just relaxed and played with wooden bookmarks and a couple different types of markers. Tomorrow I am going to apply a glaze with a sprinkle of mica and glitter to add a sense of glamor and pizazz for years of reading enjoyment. Tomorrow I am attending the beginnings of the 2012 "Hats Off" celebration and fund raiser. This is the ground floor preparation meeting ...and I need as much inside information and the examine what the expectations will be for this community endeavor. I am keeping this post short and sweet but the photos can say it all much more effectively than searching for the correct words. Be warm and snuggle in to keep warm with someone you love. Blessings, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart