Tuesday is for Iced Teas today....we are hot hot hot...

I have been busy today and met with Denison Service Learning faculty as they had an informal lunch to discuss possibilities for their upcoming Fall semester and possibly working with me in my outreach program to help open doors for children who are falling through the cracks due to a tough economic environment. Seeing these youthful faces...well it is a shining light for assistance. I realize the need...see the situation and hopefully to collaborate in new directions.

The day seem to be full of ....pitfalls and stumbling blocks as I played with the resist inks to use tomorrow for Family night crafts. I am sure I can demonstrate the simple brushstrokes for the butterfly and dragonfly in Chinese calligraphy brushstrokes. I had wanted to have a resist stamped image for the younger children to try and then add a wash of watercolors for a dramatic effect. I have rice papers...delicate and so ethereal in itself.... but I have to admit the finished effect was not exactly what i was working for. I think I will try watercolor papers tomorrow and check if I can produce a more vivid finished image.

The glass studio manager brought over the fused glass pendants to deliver to the Midland Auction next week. I need to mount the three samples to their pendant and go out and purchase an appropriate 20 inch chain to display this Modern masterpiece. I kind of like them...but i have a bold wild taste for big, bright colors :o).

I need to finish and photograph my Inchie for "Home" but the pain from the shingles wears me out to say the least. Stay cool and embrace the arrival of Summer...the days begin and end in a blaze. Imagine and Live in peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart


Which fused dichroic glass pendant would you like???

Happy Memorial Day..I have been running since Friday

I last posted on Friday night and on Saturday I worked in the studio, went to Michael's art store and finally volunteered for 4 hours at the Midland for the 40Th anniversary of Patty's Dance Center Spring recital. Every year these young dancers continue to improve and amaze me. I ran into some very proud parents who were my friends from one of my part time jobs. It seems like these babies have grown up in a blink of an eye...and now are performing like young champions on stage. Sunday I went back to the Midland to help out with the early show...being a Holiday weekend it is a wee bit difficult to find volunteers to work for the kids and their parents. At 4 o clock I made it home and we had a cookout with four dear friends and artists...fresh hot dogs and brats with German potato salad, Cole slaw and Ken's homemade strawberry /blueberry pie with real whipped cream. The evening was peaceful and filled with true friendship ...discussions went from the delicious foods and lovely gardens, the family pets, the coming events for the Granville Arts and Wine Festival in June 11Th and 12Th at Bryn Du Manor. Time is the greatest of gifts we have to share with those we love...and being true friends they helped me to really reconsider letting go of a painful experience that hurt me and my family's situation. Lessons come in all types of packages...awful and painful in the beginning of an end...yet a renewal in moving forward. Thank you all for the gifts you have given me.

Today I had a rough start with the medications...a small outbreak of shingles has proven to rob me of my energies...pain is not a real friend. But we worked to prepare a meal to take over and see our grandchildren and their parents. The family have just returned from their first family vacation and the joy in their eyes has filled my heart with pure JOY! Ken barbecued chicken, and another strawberry pie ...this time with blue berries and raspberries added to the strawberries. I made ...well added to potato salad from Kroger's deli and we shared a wonderful dinner and sharing the Ipad images from the trip. I am so blessed....my words just fail to adequately express the JOYS I share with my family.

Thank you all who have served to protect and save our beloved country. Your dedication and perseverance is a gift to us all. Imagine and Live in peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

"As far as I am concerned I prefer a silent vice to an ostentatious virtue"

I apologize for being in and out of my usual correspondence...I lost my followers for awhile so now things appear to be working once again.


p.s. I have given you an opportunity to capture a glimpse of Kathy Anderson's newest paintings and Tony Reynold's new wooden jewel boxes and incredible wooden salad bowls for the Wine and Arts Festival at Bryn Du on 6/11 and 6/12.



WHOOPS ! I totally forgot my Inchie for Monday....this week "home" but as you can now see I do have plenty of inspiration.

Happy Birthday Holly.... dinner with new friends

Ken and I attended a dinner at Brew's in Granville to celebrate our friend Holly's birthday. Little did I know that there would be 7 other women in the group. Ken is a real pro and grew up with 6 sisters so he was fine with a big table of happy women. After we rushed downtown to attend Chris Lang's wonderful Felted landscapes of Ohio. Her brother had created a 4 minute video that I will try to share at a later date but the exhibit was stunningly beautiful. Then we had a few minutes left in the Art Walk and made an appearance at the Urban Art Gallery with their small exhibit of the Apocalypse Four Horsemen. Despite the smallness of the this exhibit the works pulled the viewer into the intimate works. I am very glad that we made it to all three activities ....these artists were all working to create a unique pieces to delight the viewers and hopefully future collectors. Unfortunately with it being a Holiday weekend ...the turnout was very small. I hope more members of the downtown community will be able to visit and see the works of these valiant creative people.

I began arranging the materials for tomorrow's lesson and hopefully the weather will continue to brighten and allow the sun to dry the farmer's fields so at least they might be able to plant their crops. I want to do some of my work and open my screen printing YUDU machine. I would like to learn as much as I can get started on some small practice exercises to maybe be able to work this experiment for our Summer Art week long workshops. Have a blessed weekend and be sure to thank the men and women who have defended our beautiful country. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart