Friday with my artists....and my beloved Dawes Arboretum

It is difficult for me to believe that this is going to end next week.  We have a special treats and a cookout planned as well as a golf cart rally around the grounds.  We worked on the leaf printing exercise with Katie direction and the crew did a wonderful job!  Simple steps to select their leaves...paint the back with inks and acrylics... then gently press them onto the cut black foam core squares.  By adding the natural twine...poof! you have created a very special Fall hanging for 2013!

 Katie gently guides her artists through the process after their morning walk to collect leaves....

 add one color first....

 then select different leaf patterns.... add the construction paper prints too for a variety of prints....this is Jason's...

 Cliff enjoys working with prints...until it is time for lunch........

 This one is David's...so textural.... beautiful job.......

 Michael worked personally with Katie today.... I know he was very proud of his leaf compositions...........

 another selection....I do like the addition of the acrylic ink in orange...

 Miss NeHa is back...I worked with her last summer and I have missed her sweet smile...........

 Katie shares her final project....great process for everyone.........

 the deep orange inks pop on the black foam core..........

here is my auction collage/assemblage for the Fur Ball art auction fund raiser for the Licking county Humane Society....foxy Roxie inspired!

 I can not help but thank Miss Roxie ...for her personal inspiration...

 a fun...colorful  addition to anyone who loves animals might enjoy....

this may be an early Birthday present for our director!  Have a great weekend!  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Sorry...I am peddling as fast as I can..........

Please forgive me....
I have been absent from technology...........
I am grieving the loss of my dear brother Larry in May........
My beloved Ken has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer........
the search has been intense to find the right procedures ....
Ken has begun his chemo...and has 43 days of radiation ...8 weeks....daily during Monday > Friday...
He wanted to be closer to Columbus..we saw a small Grandma house 5 minutes from Erin......
Close to the hospital...doctors..and the grand kids..............
We saw a house on a Monday..put a bid in on Tuesday.....and closed on my birthday 9/6/13.........
We have been making decisions about colors.....moves.....adaptive plans...... and grand kids..........
This Saturday we are planning on our first night in the new location with the three small grand kids......
I have been able to continue my work with my artists at Dawes Arboretum but next week is my last session....
I have created a colorful assemblage for the Fur Ball fund raiser this Saturday night....it has been my salvation.... Art Saves Lives.
Thank you all for the generous prayers and loving support ..........I will have to stop in from time to time........
I miss you all......... your loving support is beyond my tired words my body is struggling to find....
I am including some photos of our new collaboration.........Imagine and Live in Peace.

my first attempt for the Fur Ball auction this Saturday

 Make ART...and a glass of iced green tea........

 Shine on...puppy............Fur Balls save our hearts....they love us with zero judgement

 Maya Rose is now 14 years old..........she is such a beauty..........inside and out......

Sabrina is video taping this for her parents.......

 Hannah Marie is a giggle box.......

a few more colorful design details...........

 now what???????????

 I have chosen a beautiful blue....morning glory blue that reminds me of Mexico...............

 I do believe Miss Morgan like her bedroom..........and Lyndon Allen is making the bottom bunk his own............

 Mister Cole loves his special room for over night visits...........very colorful for my young artists..........

 Grandpa and Chance are trying to move the dresser up from the storage area downstairs.............not an easy feat..........

 sweet moments on the back steps with root beer Popsicles

 Cole is carefully examining the found rocks ...granite with quartz..........

 Morgan is searching for a stone with pink colors..........

 but Morgan loves these smooth specimens..........Lyndon has the largest collection of his own rock specimens.......

 the new kitchen is very small........but we can make it work......

 Ken caught me off guard..........

 Cole has his own art and miracle book on the black dresser.....

 the desk is now under an art work Erin Elizabeth made while in high school............the Velvet Ice Cream destination.......

 the colors of this room are very inviting.............cuddle time for reading late in the evening........he has rediscovered the Froggy puppet.......

 small but it will work for right now...........

 this small work is made by a wonderful quilt artist Edith Mitchell who I have know since 1990............

 the rooms are almost ready for an over night..........

this is the special Sassy Violet color Miss Morgan requested........and the quilt is one I made back in 1986 for Erin's twin bed.........full circle ..........

I do not know when I shall return......please know we are peddling as fast as we can.
Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Happy Labor Day 2013....

 I was given this wicker chair ...that traveled down to Ohio from Connecticut ....I will try to wash the chair pads but I do believe I will be replacing them ...and then I will paint the wicker surface to renew its life and endurance... it will be so inviting on the front porch ...or in a guest room for one of my artists visiting the studio.

 I bought two extra long twin beds and linens and woven vintage cotton bed spreads...they will be perfect for summer nights...I already have quilts to share during the cooler months.  The side table will work here or there...I also bought a white chest of drawers ...I am planning on a transformation for the fronts of the 4 drawers.  Yes another project for the studio... I have plenty to do!

Guess who is "reading" to Grandpa???

I felt this would make a perfect Labor Day post...our artists working their garden....

making new bright sheets of handmade paper...

they also chose their favorite blooms to press petals into the flower press ...

I love the assortment and variety in the selections....

then they began with their selection of colors...and tore the paper into tiny tiny little pieces....this was a cool quiet assignment the gentlemen seemed to enjoy......

then our sweet Katie gave a demonstration of how to add water...and blend the paper into a beautiful slur of colors........

David is so confident...he is selecting the greens for our lunch salad....this garden has provided so many miracles.....

Nate is making sure each potted plant receives a fresh drink of water............

Mark is working his magic..........Nate is his assistant today......

Troy and Laura are making his sheet now...a bright vivid green....

Look at the beautiful papers.....

I wish you could smell this patchouli plant....I am going to dry some of the leaves to put into a sachet ....

Jenny and Suki are demonstrating how they want the petals to be chosen for the flower pressing activity........

here is the beautiful lunch salad of fresh greens...from seeds to the soil...the raised gardens have been a real success....

our baby fresh tomatoes....so darn delicious..........

The Learning Garden is a positive ray of Hope for all who labor here.  The sun is piercing the end of the summer's day cloud cover...may your works be rays of Hope for you and those you love!  Happy Labor Day!  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart