I am home from the beautiful Tucson skies....

I have spent the last couple of days catching up on emails and openings for Aminah Robinson.  I had a glorious visit...my first trip to see my dear friend Cyd.  She has celebrated her 5th anniversary of her Tucson Tarns shop with balloons and cupcakes and spa water to cool the heat of the days.  i met the whole staff of incredible women who knit the greatest creations from simply delicious yarns in miraculous colors.  I even bought a couple...and I can barely knit...well until now because I am totally inspired!!!

How do you like my lime green cowgirl boots????  I think you can get a close up of the delightful colors in the stitches adorning the black top halves of the boots.  I was totally spoiled with delicious south western foods and spicy treats.  We went to the establishment known as Zenburgers and discovered their delicious salty caramel milkshake...their burgers were spectacular but the milkshake memory still makes me begin to drool.!

Ken is already in bed so tomorrow I will ask him which file holds the Aminah Robinson's opening at The Works Gallery on Friday night.  It was an an incredible opening and Aminah took time to sign and converse with her patrons and young artists.  We were there until after 9:00PM but the memory of this opening was still radiating in my heart's memory.  For those who live out of Ohio...just Google Aminah Lynn Robinson for a real treat for your eyes ....very inspirational storyteller.  Imagine and LIVE IN Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

I am leaving on a jet plane....

 Maya Rose now 13...is my perfect co pilot and a joy to be with...

 I was totally grateful to be able to pick up my Australian quilts...

 I think these are lovely but have no clue what this is...

 Maya discovered the old fashioned phone...way before the pink glitzy cell phones...

deep chocolate moose tracks..Maya is in heaven at Velvet Ice Cream's  headquarters....

 Sabrina is ready for the Pirate party... and the new student council rep for her homeroom!

 Aye matey!!!!  Take that...Hannah Marie trying to make Sabrina scream....











a treaty has been made...thank goodness!

 Deb's beautiful flower....

 Support The Works...make a bid to continue Howard's Dream....Art...Technology....History....










Every possibility
begins with the courage
to Imagine!
Imagine Daily!!!!!

I will be away for about a week...I am flying to Tucson tomorrow very early for a visit with a dear friend!!!  I am also looking forward to possibilities for an exhibition in Phoenix.  I have no expectations...I want to just soak up this different landscape and incredible white light.  I have worked very hard this past summer but one cannot rest on past accomplishments.  I went up to the beautiful Mansfield Art Center yesterday with my special co pilot Maya Rose!  We did get a bit off the road map but we made it in the end and hopefully captured a few memories.  When we came home Tina had a delicious dinner prepared for us so we could just reflect on the glorious day.  Today I made arrangements for my Wednesday kids...thank goodness Abby and Ruth will take over and my Tina Marie is going to help ...I did not want to leave Marco hanging because the kids really love this family night!  I am adding a few photos...remember I will catch you all up when I get home.  Have an awesome week and Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Thursday... and so many deadlines....

I jumped off a cliff tonight and Ken helped me to enter a major quilt exhibit.  I have a terrible time filling out computerized forms and directions much less spell words correctly.  Now I have to breathe deeply and just let go.  Rejection never feels good but it is part of the real world... a dear friend Anita Corum told me that rejection is easier to accept that my particular works were not what the juror was hoping for a cohesive and forward thinking exhibit.  May the force be with me and all who took the leap with me.

I worked on my donation assemblage ...imagine... for this 2012 Hats Off Fund raiser for The Works.  This will be the first time I have been out of town for volunteering for this wonderful organized fund raiser.  The committee was on TV with Gayle Hogan (and Channel 4) this afternoon and the members have worked very hard to create a fun, exciting event for the continuation of Howard's dream!

I am including yesterdays photos today...poor Roxie was one sick puppy yesterday and I reminded Ken that he was a lucky man that I came home first.  Oh what a mess...and she needed a bath and her crate needed an overhaul!  Today she seems to be feeling much better...I am sure it is something she ate.  Like a small baby ...she puts everything in her mouth!  I am so grateful she is on the mend right now. 

 I began my day with old favorites...and new inspirations...

 almost ready to finish ...I think...

 Kids night...inspirations...the power of small works with additional text...Susi Shie's Kitchen Tarot...

 colored pencils...watercolors....mystery photo bits...

 a beginning ...splashes of color...

 Nicholas has become quite accomplished in his drawing skills...

 Ari studies her possibilities...

 Collin got hurt catching a football in the courtyard...

 the girls from 32nd Street!!!!

 Connor and Oliver...hamming it up!!

 The Lorax movie for entertainment while they eat...

 my girls are ready to get going!

 Kya is running for student council...and Gabby is her biggest cheerleader...

 Connor already knows where he is going....

 Hannah is drawing her beloved dog Domino!

 Two heads are better than one....study their contemplation....

 Oliver receives a little help from his mommy....

 The soccer girl is growing so fast with her Dad...














Nicki with her beloved Mother....

 two babies discussing their day at The Works!!!! and then....

Mrs. Jefferies on the noon time news with Gayle Hogan describing the upcoming Hats Off Works fund raiser....

 The whole crew from The Works watching TV...about Hats OFF!

 If I only had more time ...there are some very wonderful ideas in this magazine...

 more design elements...oil pastels... and iridescent gold ink....yummy

 I think it is coming together...

 possibly family tree exercises....

 my young visitor Gregory with his Grandmother...he loves watercolors...

collage play...for further development...

Halloween is looming in the big box store in Heath!!!!!!

Tomorrow I will put the finishing the back of my canvas donation...I want to get this in tomorrow so I can begin packing for my trip to Tucson next week!!!!  Now I am beginning to get excited to see Cyd and well so many things.  Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

my whisper of a prayer...

 searching for a quiet distraction...color and inspirations...

 There is something very hopeful about the simple morning glory blooms... faces of the blooms rise up to the sweet morning sunshine...

 I hope I remember to sow the seeds for these sweet flowers next Spring...I have had them before but for some reason I stopped planting them outside my back door...

 the end of the zinnias for this summer...my deer ate mine...

 The beauty of this graceful sunflower....against a blue blue sky...

 a busy yellow jacket gathers her nectar....

 the serenity of this intimate garden drew me near...no it is not mine...but a garden I see every day when I drive to my studio...

 a place to watch the world go by and have your morning coffee...

 Jay is my steadfast friend who works at the deli across the way.....

 a beginning of my collage donation  piece...

 collage number two in process...










another layer of inks...a drizzle approach...before I add my text...I am still thinking how I want to add the words...and further images...quiet whisper work...

Eleven years ago I was taking a computer class for my wedding coordinator's position at our local Elder Beerman's store in Dayton.  (Just on of the many positions I took to support my life as an artist.)    When I was finally informed of the tragedy and now knew why the Blackhawk helicopters were flying overhead for the whole area....I just knew I wanted to come home to my family.  There is a blur of chaos and images from the news coverage that replay over and over in my mind's eye and the silence I needed as I sat on my front porch swing ... trying to understand what is so totally lost to my brain.  Three thousand souls lost....families still healing...courageous firefighters and protectors and medical fields who worked for days without seeing their own families...our country will never be the same.  Today I tried to avoid the news...the returning feelings of angst...and sought out quiet whispers of prayers.   I busied myself with my studio ...stopped to visit the grand daughters with after school sandwiches ... continued my quilting and gathered a few art supplies and beads to add to my piece.  In the coolness of the evening outside...I look up to the sky above and pray for the healing peace to continue to grow.  "There is beauty and power when we listen to a whisper."  Making my whispers in the trees was a healing endeavor to heal my community.  I wish you peace tonight.  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart