The time is now...cast your vote or do not complain...

My snowmen did not arrive today so I tried to work on Thanksgiving cards but most people who came in wanted "Santa" Christmas gifts so I have to re-evaluate my focus. The place was hopping and Dee stopped by and I shared her statement and images on last night's blog...attempting to keep interest up for her. Next Monday she has found an assistant to assist her in the move to the city hall second floor gallery space. The mayor has been a kind friend to offer her another place to share her vision. Tomorrow she will meet with our visitors bureau director and hopefully Dee said they were interested in purchasing some of her works. I am saying a prayer and wishing her well.

I did have to wait to vote today but who knows where the final count will fall.... the races are so vehemently run this fall that I am just finding solace in the end being in sight. If someone does not vote ...they better not complain in front of me...we all have a privilege and responsibility to contribute to how the lines are drawn in the sand. I am praying for the best for our nation...we have to discover a new way to have a dialogue with each other without such hateful language and behaviors. Schools were closed today so we had many little artists visit the studio today with curious "itching" fingers to get in there and make something...everything on my table was of interest to their inquisitive minds :O)!

I have hurt my back ...or maybe the cold has gone down into my back. I am headed up to the heating pad and "lidocaine" spelling? patches for bed rest. Hopefully ...tomorrow will be an improvement and my snowmen will arrive so I can get started with the gesso and painting fun. I am having a hot cup of tea in a snowflake teacup...getting ready to face the white flakes the weather man has assured us that will arrive by Friday. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

where are my snowmen?

I went to the studio to deliver the necklace and birthday card and set up the station for painting my 7 snowmen for the courthouse square street signs in celebration of the lighting of our courthouse on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. I made the pattern and we will have them ready by next week if they can be delivered in a timely manner. I am working at a long table and have the gesso ready to apply so the paint will adhere throughout the weather of Ohio's windy cold winters. Hopefully they will be here tomorrow as I will be celebrating the 90th birthday celebration with my mother in law over the weekend. Larry brought the two pups to pick up Sarah's gift and I am so hoping she will love the symbolism I have chosen for her design.

My friend... surprised me... and she is willing to help me gather gift bags and supplies for my Holiday sales. We shared ideas and items that I was looking for ...and if I needed something she already had I could avoid some of the shipping costs until I have a better handle on what I will need for wrapping. We shared some ideas she had used in the past and she guided me to her experiences. Next week I will try to go out and check out her secret stash on her beautiful little farm.

We do have the Aids Task Force Art auction this Friday in the central gallery ...so I needed to have the hangers retrieved and hung for the intake before then. I am not sure who is in charge or when the intake is scheduled so I will try to be as prepared as possible. I do know the time...6 to 8 pm this Friday but that is about all I have been told. Lord help me ... I want to do this right for a very good cause.

I went to the craft stores and picked up a few small supplies for next Halloween and then came home...the days are getting shorter and the darkness seems to arrive a wee bit earlier each day. I found some fabric with reds and skeletons to line my reverseable apron and have it finished and ready for next Fall in the studio. The cards are packed away and I now have the right cellophane bags for a more attractive professional appearance. I am tired once again and wish I could have a ounce of my grand children 's energies. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

p.s. I added Delale's brief artist statement and a photo or two to share her visions.

I almost forgot...check this out...

If you love contests and give-aways please go the "Scrap with Stacy" blogpost to check out the Tim Holtz freebies ...everything you might want to play and explore with in your own works...I had never seen some of the new pieces and design elements. Our local craft stores are just beginning to bring in this new line of design elements for scrap booking and altered assemblages!!! Happy haunting! Good Luck! Imagine and Live in peace, Mary Helen

Happy Halloween and Gratitude to all those who have supported my Dream....

Three months ago I began living my dream...my own sacred art space to make my art journey visible every day. I am so grateful to everyone who has stopped by, offered some wise advice, shared the noon meal and a laugh with me and others, comforted me when fatigue reminds me to slow down a wee bit...and just for sending me positive energies to continue the journey. Yes, tomorrow the rent is due once again but I am learning every day. I have hosted two exhibits...Hayley Lavendar's first exhibit and Dalale Hall and Roy Oro King 's exhibit which will close on November sixth and then I am off to create Soul of the Season collection of gifts made here in Licking county by local artists and some new artist friends I am anxious to introduce to our community. I have always said no one succeeds alone and my affirmations are rippling in circles of gratitude for all the love I have received. I am amazed how quickly the time has flown by ...and look forward to "going home" to my space as often as I possibly can. Thank you all.

Today I went down to the studio...for a bit of peace and quiet to create my Thanksgiving collection of cards for the season. Ken went with me add a virus protection program on my new used computer. We hung a few paintings on the empty wall and I realize I have to finish emptying the rest of the garage so I will be able to park my car inside for the winter months that are quickly closing in on me. Ken did park his car inside tonight ...so I am motivated to be able to get my little Geo inside and safe and sound. I delivered Halloween candy bags to my grand daughters and then a quick run through at Kroger's for immediate needs for the week. When I came home I packed up the Halloween costume and spider lace for next year's festivities. Hopefully I will be able to pick up a couple specials from the clearance sales at the craft stores.

Now I am working to finish a special necklace for a birthday present for a dear friend's birthday tomorrow. I am hoping this design will make her as happy as it has been making the special gift. I am creating a card tomorrow to go with the necklace and will wrap it after I receive approval from her husband. I have chosen sterling silver necklace with a mother of pearl cross wrapped in silver with some possible design elements that may or may not work. I will photograph the finish product tomorrow...I even bought a velvet display element to showcase my latest pieces. I am relatively new to this process but honestly I do love the immediate "wow" factor I feel as the designs come to fruition. I hope you have had a blessed weekend with your special little ghosts and goblins...Happy Halloween! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Iconoclasts on Sundance and The Motorcycle Diaries

I think...well I know.... I did too much too fast this past week and ended up with the sniffles and a fever and the afternoon in my bed with my attentive Little Rosie and my lovely black cat Desdemona. Ken had an opportunity to make his grades and computer obligations and catch up on the college football scores. I was tired and slept most of the afternoon away but I woke up to one of my favorite movies The Motorcycle Diaries ...two passionate doctors explore the South Americas during the early 1950's...truly an inspirational movie. Then on Iconoclasts Ron Howard and Steven Nash shared an hour about focus. discipline, creativity and their diverse professional lives. The discussion about the narrow definition of creativity and the choices we make daily to live a fully authentic life with challenges that will progress through the decades of our lives. Ken made breakfast for dinner and it tasted soothing and hopefully tonight I will get a good night sleep.

I have included several of the photographs from last night's opening... I hope you will enjoy our celebration of making a an artist life here in Newark, Ohio. At the same time the Newark Catholic seniors had a special dinner with their mothers so we shared their excitement of the upcoming state finals this afternoon. They are a wonderful group of young men and just being with them reassures me that the future is bright! Today I was made aware that our gallery next door is hosting a Wine and Art Auction for our Aids Task Force here in Licking County next Friday so I am working on a contribution for the auction. May your weekend be relaxing and enjoy the ones you love. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Happy Halloween! and what a week of glorious activity

We had our power restored on Sunday and then on Tuesday we had over 60 mile an hour winds hit our county in the afternoon and guess what ? We lost several large trees and had live wires flying all around and no one was allowed in or out of our circle subdivision. By nine that night...we had our power restored but the crews worked the next day clearing up debris and the downed tree limbs. Tonight we headed over to Erin's house for dinner and trick or treating with my two favorite dinosaurs. Well Cole loved being a dinosaur but ... Miss Morgan had a totally different idea about wearing this particular outfit. She ended up wearing Dr. Cutie Patootie! On the way home a small young doe dashed out in front of my little Geo...luckily I had enough space around and in front of my car to avoid hitting her but just by the slightest of inches. I pulled over... I was shaken but oh so grateful not to have hit this creature of beauty.

Tomorrow I am setting up for the opening for my painter Dalale Hall and sculptor Oro Ray King 's opening from 6 to 8 pm. The weather turned colder tonight and I think we will have a clear night for a stroll around our beautiful courthouse. The Licking County Arts is hosting a "Beyond Realism" abstract theme and Liz Argyle is hosting a painter ...but for the life of me I cannot think of her name. The Gallery of Dreams with Kim Miles will exhibit her paintings and portraits between the 6 to 8 hours. Little by little our community of diverse artists are collaborating and celebrating the Arts created here in Licking County.

I will share some of the opening photos tomorrow. I am feeling so grateful for my narrow escape of a collision tonight, the dedication my Priscilla expressed in the whole Paper Moon Studio collaboration with The Works Harvest Festival, and my admiration for young, dedicated parents who live and love their families with every breath of their being. Happy Trick or Treating!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Monday and the light mist of sprinkling raindrops kiss my face....

We now have power once again...I have done my laundry and had our soup for dinner. and worked on a skeleton apron for the beggars night on Thursday. I think we are going over to Erin's to help pass out the candies to the cute little ghouls and dinosaurs running up to the doorway to collect as many sweets as they can possibly carry. Last night I thought I would start a few sample items to test the market for the upcoming holiday season. I watched one of those home shopping stations for a few moments to see what gifts they were providing but I am sure they are all mostly made and shipped from China. I am working on my window collection and was asked today to make a pattern for a three foot snowman with a cute hate and arms for mittens. They will need 7 for the courthouse square and this will be something to bring people in to watch the start to finish process.

We...the downtown association ... are working with the students upstairs for their design processes and this gives them a perfect opportunity to work and create in the real world. I am hoping this will be a fun project to create with a couple of my friends and use their design skills and playful child like attitudes. I have donated the gesso, paints and fabric for the scarves for embellishing each character for the top of street signs. I will make the pattern tomorrow and deliver it to the Works Wood Shop so they can make the cut outs and we can get started.

Yesterday while we ate our soup by candlelight and listened to a four truck team from the electric company make double time on a Sunday night and use a chain saw in the dark of night Ken and I tried to read a little of the newspapers. Scary thought when you stop to consider all that could have happened. I kept hearing things fall and today I can see how they had to remove more trees than I realized and there is actually a a 10 inch tree trunk hanging in the limbs of the remaining tree surrounding the final trim. Well thank goodness no one was injured and we now have power once again. Thank you AEP..I never looked better than in the candlelight but electricity is a wonderful convenience.

I am getting ready to hand out the Paper Moon photos tomorrow and make the final preparations for Friday's Art Walk. Table cloths, napkins, cups, wines and other drinks plus small finger foods. Hopefully we will be blessed with good weather for strolling down and around the courthouse square. I have to help Priscilla remove the materials and clean the floors and prepare the room for another celebration of the Arts here in Licking County. Have a quiet and safe day tomorrow...we have a strong winds arriving tomorrow afternoon...predictions of 60 miles an hour winds and possible storms... hey it is Ohio so we are used to this. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart