today is for celebration....

Tonight I was invited to a very special intimate open house for a young and exciting designer I have been privileged to witness her growth as a fiber artist. I met Anna Aschenbeck years ago when I was working in the LCA gallery. She began her road to discovery at my Alma mater ...Kent State. Anna was fortunate to work the last four years Elizabeth Rhodes who is the director of the Fashion School at Kent State University. Elizabeth inspires and models the appropriate work ethics and has created industry partnerships with fashion retailers in New York, Italy, and an exchange program in Hong Kong. Enrollment rose from 300 to over 1,000, raised millions for the fashion school and increased academics required of the school's students. Anna has studied abroad in Italy and created at least 12 maybe even 14 design books and her portfolio from her children;s wear line that enabled her to be chosen by Kolh's headquarters in Milwaukee starting next week. I was blown away by the professional quality of her craftsmanship and the attention to details Anna has developed including screen printing, machine textile knitting designs, and employing natural fabrics like bamboo cloth and fiber reactive dyes. I will include some photos of her finished garments but they do not her work Justice. Anna also works with Amy Butler during her summer breaks and has been published in Amy's child patterns in her latest publication. No one succeeds alone and Anna has a wonderful family where her Mother and Father supported her adventure from day one. I do love Kohl's for their quality and durability in their clothing lines for adults and children. Now we will just sit back and look for Anna's creations in the near Future. Congratulations Miss Anna...you are Wonder Woman and I am inspired to have known you!!!
I planted in my tiny garden today and believe me Summer has arrived in Newark. I worked in my p.j.s with my Jegs yellow baseball hat to guard against the sun's rays but I have to admit that I did not want Ken to take my photo. You all will all have to use your imaginations and Smile. I am working late tonight because I feel that I am behind in my scheduled deadline but I just have to keep one stitch after another. I bleached another zip-lock bag of buttons in the sun today and tomorrow I will rinse and dry in the sunshine. I am very excited by the rusty elements on some of the buttons and who knows where they will guide me. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

the ground has been turned and the seed's gifts await the warm rains coming....

I have dusted off my green porcelain seed box with the hope to bring a variety of color outside my back door. I can close my eyes over my morning cup of coffee to listen to the birds announce the new gift of the day. I am getting back to writing with my pen in hand into a book that can very well travel where my heart leads. The journals are in my car, on the dining room table, in my studio and by my bedside. They come in all sizes and seem to help me focus on the task at hand. I am reviewing the steps for different fiber reactive dyes in the next week or so. I need to begin the blues/ aquas and mystical greens for my Great Barrier Reef woman in the water. I have forgotten so much...use it or lose it. "Ripples of thoughts coming home to renew my colors.
I am suppose to be using my junk mail for the month of May to depict a narrative work...of some kind...I am still cooking ideas on the back burner. I also spent about two hours sorting, cleaning, separating the mother of pearl buttons that I received two weeks ago from two good supporters of the arts. I plan on using them on my works and for some reason I find this work meditative and soothing ...especially if I have some good music in the background.
I picked up the girls after school and Maya stayed for her drama club rehearsal for next week's play about standing up to Bullying. This after school program is a precious gift for the students who happen to love the theater and are sometimes very shy students. We will all be there to cheer her on next Tuesday as well as doing her make-up...she sports a black eye in this production. I am at Miller Elementary in the morning to share some of my works and hanging Jessica Phellp's photographs in the Central gallery on second street for the final Friday's Art walk in downtown Newark on Friday 29th.
I did quilt for a couple of hours tonight as I am finishing up the final third of the quilt surface woohoo! ...then I can add my mother of pearl embellishments and fine silk threads. The day ends up being a whole day of living in the Arts...thinking, making concepts, research, sorting materials and making preparations for the next unveiling of my mind's and heart's desires. Have a great evening and tomorrow get busy! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

the dust and the nerves are settling...

We spent yesterday celebrating Ken's 61 birthday the whole day long. We went out to breakfast at one of our favorite's...Dave and Flo's Bake and Brew...for some pretty good/OK food. This is a swinging place to meet and greet your neighbors and have plain good old food. The whole family works in this unique restaurant and if your spirits need lifting this a great place to have a meal with your friends. I had a Greek omelet and if I closed my eyes I could pretend I was back on Paros Island in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Athens, Greece. We met up with a couple of artists and caught up on the day's events and plans. I missed Jay Yung's opening on Friday in Granville and heard only glowing reports of his latest Ohio barns exhibit. I will try to get there this week to check this out because I have known this young man for 20 years and he has only grown in his skills and applications of color and textures.
In the afternoon we all made our way to Reynoldsburg to have a Pizza Party for Ken with all of the grandkids at Erin and Chance's new home. We do have a video made and lots of pictures. Erin made a delicious coconut creme cake and with ice cream, big bubbles and wands to play with and homemade "child created" pizza life does not get better. Happy Birthday Ken.
Today I began my review from my classes back in the 1980's with Dr. Lapitsky's fiber research books and Ann Johnston's three fiber reactive dye instruction books. It is that time of year and now I want to review the lesson plan before I just jump into this next production. Color by Accident is a low water immersion technique and if I remember correctly it is the one style where I can draw fine line images and design elements to later add brilliant colors. Ann will be teaching once again at QSDS Surface Design Symposium this summer so I am hopeful I will be able to get over and see her again. She is a wonderful teacher with an adventuresome spirit in fabric design and play. I have two other of her books but this one is kind of like a recipe cookbook for fabric lovers. Well It is time to study now. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

a magpie has to have a place to nest...

I am feeling violated at this present moment. Ken is upstairs organizing my stuff. How does he even know how I organize? My god-child is coming June 1st so I can address her wedding invites and I am sure I can get her guest room ready by then and the bath is a day away with fresh towels and such. I love to work with tons of stuff and yes others may not like it but my efforts have been steady to put supplies that are alike together in clear visible storage. I am the only one who has the power to know where I want my art to be made and stored. I feel like screaming so I think I will. Thank you for letting me vent....I am so frustrated because I do tire quickly and I do work slowly and I am easily side stepped by what I discover... does anyone out there understand my anxiety of someone else going through my art journals and supplies? I need to find Peace! RIGHT now. Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

calling all angels....

Tina called as I was on my way out the door to get a five dollar haircut...yes you can sometimes still find a bargain so we can put our best foot forward. Instead I went to pick up the girls after school...Fridays are special because we go to get our caramel sundaes to celebrate the end of the week. It was a hot and humid day and melting ice cream with those you love is better than just about everything. We then went to Joanne's Fabric store to search for remnants at 50% off the clearance price. We decided on our cotton jewels to make our upcoming projects when school gets out in three weeks. The last stop was Michael's special sale with 25% off everything including clearance. We rejoiced to find a small projector to assist us in some of my images for the canvas collages, already half price and now I got an extra 25% off this price. We went up and down each aisle and the girls want to make a bear to dress for this summer. We can only imagine what outfits and designs they have planned. They each picked out a wooden doll to paint with their gel pens and then adorn with sparkle fireflies, angels, stars and butterflies. Making these plans lifts me as well as the girls as we make small steps to our collaborations.
Maya and I made homemade sauce for tonight's dinner and I assured her that it turned out better than I had expected. Cooking with those you love is an art all by itself and the proof is in eating a good dinner with fine foods with those you love. Grandpa showed Maya how he creates his world famous hot fudge sauce to pour over Bryer's vanilla ice cream complete with bananas, walnuts and lots of whipped cream. Manga!
The rains will re arrive sometime tonight but hopefully I will get to plant my zinnias and morning glories with my precious four o'clock seeds so they can bloom forward in a cascade of colors. "Something" ate my clematis bud or maybe one of my angels picked it on an impulse. I need to find my fertilizers to sprinkle and feed as I sow my hopes and wishes for cut flowers for my dining table. They will be so happy if these wishes grow forth to bloom and we can pass out favors of happiness.
My dear friend in New York; my and the world's special artist Seth reached a monumental landmark yesterday with his 100,000 comments/visits to his blog. Ken is amazed how many different people from all over the world are celebrating with joyful sounds and affirmations. The power to connect with others in this internet format is so tricky and definitely not an easy maneuver to accomplish. Seth you are my gift and we have never met in person. Our words, poems, photos and collaborations have proven to be thought provoking affirmations and inspirations to continue making our art. Not for a juried exhibit, not for a commission, not to make a sale ...even though these processes are all critical in the world of art, but inspirations to make it, share it and often give it away. I have everything I need in this world. This is my heart's journey and thank you Seth for all your support. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

some days you are the windshield and others you are the BUG...

I found myself having a very quirky day where my electrical impulses were out of control and the gray rainy morning was no help at all. I have been researching Judith Scott and her works in the fiber world. She is an incredible inspiration to us all and knew almost instinctively how to gently integrate objects, ideas and prayers that do not seem to be related. A small quiet women who was imprisoned in a mental institution unjustly but still managed to nurture her inner white light of creativity. It appears that she did not need to have approval from others on her processes; but instead worked to honor her presence in this world and shared the gifts she gave so generously. I find inspiration from her steady dedication to the "what if" and I think of her often as I put one thread into my narrative. Without realizing it I am sharing a part of my soul for those who might want to see me...in my most vulnerable existence; a moment in time is documented stitch by stitch...bead by bead. If I stop to look at the whole quilt landscape I might not have the courage to continue on but if I work a little every day...in my moment of time...I can find the energy to journey on. I think this is one of the lessons I have learned and will continue to learn as I " renew and integrate" with other artists with an August; end of the summer processes shared globally.
I volunteered for Michelle today in the LCA gallery and then spent a couple of hours with Mary Thedos...just to visit and when I opened the apartment door to leave the sun was finally shining brilliantly. Simple gifts ...I so need to give and receive them.. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

poem flags.stimulus projects and continued conversations about disintegration

It was a moist rainy afternoon and we spent a couple of hours snuggled under a quilt and watched the movie"Doubt". Intriguing film for anyone who like me had a Catholic experience in my education. It is a thought provoking drama with several views of offenders and victims. It is not an easy story that is unveiled and yet it may ask more questions that the film answers. I think I need to see it again to take time for final analysis. I have too many personal memories and that might be complicating my understanding...who knows?
I spent the evening studying the other participant's disintegration projects and met another woman who lives in a log cabin in TN who also has had major brain issues and setbacks. Retracing what I thought I had already learned and yet I find myself stumbling in my thoughts and actions. I am affirming that I am held in the hands of a strong and gentle Supreme being...for me God will help me to let go of worry and anxiety. Maybe this is why I have had a very strong attraction to this whole concept of things that disintegrate. Now we all will work closely to renew and integrate these bits and pieces into a new project. Time will tell as we wait and play until the next reveal in August.
I was on a search and I found my beloved morning glory seeds that hopefully I will place in the soil tomorrow. For years, well since my childhood I have enjoyed witnessing these simple blooming jewels of pure color. Over the years I have been given a variety of seeds from friends and I like to think of them as blooming friends. I guess I better go to bed...I am rambling and will volunteer tomorrow in the gallery for Michelle. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

disintegration to integration...

I am like a little squirrel hustling around collecting soft, fiber design elements to integrate in the remnants from disintegration process with Seth. I have never before undertaken this journey in possibility and discovery. I have the same type of disintegration happening in my cabin studio and I realize how painful it is to hold onto too many bits and pieces. I see possibilities in small bits of evidence from my daily life but I have failed to follow through by taking the time; time due to me and my process, to actually complete the idea I had planned. NOW I am free being without a paying job (that I did truly love and my artists) but I find myself immobilized by the fear. Now with this next renewal project I am re-evaluating what I value to do with my time. I am slowly letting go...to find the time and space to make new marks; unknown marks for sure but I am allowing my intuition to guide me as a non-judgmental muse for my soul. If I stop to think about the unknown I will never achieve anything and with a little patience I will see with my mind's and heart's eye. I am organizing my 2009 notebooks of emails, poems, art criticisms and reviews plus personal family events and experiences.
This afternoon I sat on my backdoor step and studied the new ferns dancing and moving in an early Spring day. The sunshine seemed to provide the melodic movements of my beautiful perennial friends that grace my backdoor. Maybe tomorrow I will search the garage to find my morning glory seeds to add another concerto to my small secret garden. I may find seeds that I do not even know what they are but I will be living the ritual of integration. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Sundance documentary days on Monday...

On Mondays my medicines take over and do their own little jig inside of my body...soooo I rest until the rumble and tumble settles down and watch Sundance channel specials on their programing of documentary films. I go to Architectural School at Tulane where this semester the students are rebuilding in New Orleans. The struggle with keeping History and improving the communities with affordable and hurricane proof buildings causes distress between the "then" and the " Now". The selected students work closely with a fatherly figure who guides them through delays, weather frustrations and neighborhood squabbles between the young men vs. young women. This aspect alone offered a spicy repertoire in the different opinions when solutions were needed in a timely manner.
Marc Jacob allowed a film crew to follow both his progression of styles in preparation for the New York Fashion week and the Paris Louis Vutton Gallery week. Normally Jacobs has kept his process, studios, staff and private collaborations with others from his global play ground in a private circle of few. Now he shares the stress and sleepless nights with the film crew and very little was left to question. Surprisingly he admitted to be intimidated by Artists and began first collecting portraits but has since moved into an accomplished collection of contemporary abstract works. Jacobs does not own a home or a car at least for now but prefers to have a deluxe gypsy life with nomadic tendencies that inspire his designs. The frenetic atmosphere of these annual shows with ongoing seasonal changes and almost all of his designs and shoes are created in just about every color; even if we do not get to see them all. One artist, a painter Elizabeth Peyton was featured as now a new friend and confident as Jacobs travels through the contemporary art scene.
If you are free and home on Mondays I am genuinely pleased with the diversity of ideas and contents Sundance film channel offers the viewers instead of mundane junk on regular TV. There is always the Discovery, HGTV, History and a multiple of vintage movies selections.
Late in the afternoon I began to feel slightly better but then the computer froze up on me...something to do with the telephone line and Windstream systems. Now I am back to working on my piece and ready to needle the night away. Have a great evening! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart