This is one of my Whisper panels that were exposed to the elements last year for about 8 months....I am going back and hand drawing with a fabric gel pen so I can use this fabric in a sleeveless jacket/vest to wear to Arizona in May!

 I am going to add SETA colors to the surface and create some more drama for this pieced vest piece....I am trying to get two front panels from this yardage...and use accent hand dyed fabrics for the lapel and the back pieces............this fabric was inspired by a control burn last Spring in the south fields at Dawes Arboretum.

 Gail stopped by to share her progress for the apricot embellishments for her Roman Shades in her bedroom.

 I share whatever buttons or embellishments Gail needs...she is a tried and true friend and what is mine is hers..........

 This beautiful grandma who lives in Rhode Island stopped by once again and left with the biggest smile on her face....her grandson creates large photographic images for wall displays.

 I need to go and find another gel pen....before I add a sheer shade of smokey blue smoke on the panels.

 I was given this beautiful poster at Dawes Arbor Day on Saturday....i fell in love with the bright beautiful  colors.

 This tiny 6 by 6 collage is on its side....but I am adding small details ...who knows where it will take me. 

 I stopped by to check in on Sabrina's new splint....she was on her way out the door to deliver special student counsel handouts for Saturday's Pancake Breakfast.  She has been so brave.

 Maya Rose was cleaning the house and offered me a cool glass of iced tea...it was a warm 80 degrees this afternoon.  Thank you dear Maya ...you have a way of lightening the burdens of the heart.

 My bleeding hearts are blooming and ever so graceful in my small garden.

I think I will have to learn how to make a glass bleeding heart ...the clear reflective light shining in soft green branches.  I hope you have had a wonderful day.  I wish you all peace.  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

PS.  The new count for Arbor Day was 4,500 visitors...it was a glorious day!

It's official....Arbor day at Dawes Arboretum attendance was 4,200 visitors...........YeeHaw!

 Candice brought the whole family to Arbor day celebrations!  Isaiah loves to make Art of any kind..........

 the cousin is amazed and anxious to begin her own butterfly....

 the spectators watched in amazement.....

 Erin held little Lyndon while Cole and Morgan waited patiently for a turn with the brush.....

 Morgan has grown into some wonderful skills...watching...listening...modeling ...and then making her own designs....

 this playground was created from some of the trees from last June's derecho 85 mph winds........

 time to climb...explore.... and well just be boys!

 Cole is never apprehensive when it comes to conquering a challenge...........

 Cole on top...hey Grandpa ....Morgan needs a leg up ....please.......

 I always wonder what they are thinking as they imagine a world unto their imaginations........

 yes ... Morgan is on her way!

 now we are off to Dr.  Insecta...the man with the bugs..............

 spiders...scorpions.... tarantella ......

 He was a very entertaining professor who loves his bugs..........

 Mary Skrenta's daughter came up on stage.............to see a scorpion......

 it was a real thrill to see this up close......

 yes he is putting it on Camilla's head.....

 she is my hero!

 I love to see her so excited about science...she is a great artist also!!!!!!!!

 Grandpa bought Cole a bug lab lime green tee shirt........

 Lyndon wanted me to come see the stinky skunk names Flower......

 her patience has paid off...her painting was beautiful........

 Camilla and Hendrix are my special young friends......they are growing too fast for me........

 a serious talk here as they get ready to pack up and leave....

Lyndon is not quite ready to go yet........hey Grandpa can you talk to her???











Now it is with a very heavy heart ...I had to say goodbye to a friend of 22 years.  My dear cat Desdemona had injured her back somehow and could only drag her back legs around...and she broke my heart with the cries of dismay.  I gathered her up and placed her in her box...with one hand on the wheel....and one hand on her tiny head I drove over to the vet's office.  She was purring as I touched for her for the last day.  She has been a great friend and her love and adoration have lasted longer than many marriages .... my eyes are totally swollen from crying as I stroked her as she went to sleep under my hand caressing her as she left this world.  I know when we love an animal...we are opening the heart to experience farewell in death....but she was like a beautiful shadow ...graceful...serene... and ever so loving.  Thank you for the love you have graced my life we shared together.  Rest in Peace my dear loving friend.

Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

We celebrated with a perfect day at Dawes Arboretum on Saturday.......

 It was a beautiful morning..........at Dawes and Art Lady was ready to play play play!!!!!!

 The Boy Scouts were ready and able to help me set up this year......they had camped the night before at Dawes and they all shared how COLD it had been.......

 I was wearing my Earth Day shirt that I hand painted to celebrate the moment by this beautiful red bud tree...  everything is so green and glorious here.......

 my new friends ...the Boy Scouts were building a special bridge for the day's activities ......

 right next to them....the tomahawk exhibition...I am grateful they changed the directions of their throwing the tomahawks......

 now it appears that the men and scouts have found the perfect place for their target.........

 of course there was a tee pee set up...the little ones were whooping all day and running in and out of the tee pee....  my Lyndon Allen was fascinated by this new structure ....

 yes the Boy Scouts were using real axes for their tomahawk throwing exhibition......

 this was our specialist this year........he kept the children very entertained ...had real scorpions and a tarantella for the brave ones to hold............My Cole was totally mesmerized for his presentation!

 Me and Suki and her little Rosie...and Jenny Haer and Kathy had a brief moment to catch up and a few hugs to get our hearts pumping.........

 tomahawk practice...........

 a hummingbird set up for inspiration..........

 Theresa from Going Green.....recycling store in Granville.......

 the playground is waiting for the little ones.........

 everything made from the remnants of trees..........for the children...and it was packed later in the day!!!

 these two wonderful characters ...my favorite tree climbing experts who hung my Whispers in the Trees fabric art high up into the trees...................that is 4 month old Chico  in PJ's arms....

 Kisses ....kisses...kisses........I love working with these guys!!!!

 then the watercolor washes ...beautiful butterflies......simple lessons and joys for all ......

 at times there was a line...........so i was so happy to have the Lorax book available for mothers to read while they waited for their turn........

 a spritz of magic water......to free the watercolors to flow on the watercolor papers........

 everyone succeeds with this playful exploration!

 The man of the hour...Luke Messinger made the rounds proudly to check on everyone and how things were going!  He is a man of dedication! 

 I said I was happy ......... and with my dear Messy Monkey Evan.............hugs and giggles are the BEST!

Happy Arbor Day!!!!!!!!!!   Thank you all for coming out and celebrating Nature...TREES... an our precious Earth!  I will share more images and visitors tomorrow!  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart