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