Friday is a whirlwind.... temperatures are dropping and winds are howling!!

Today the sky has been a muddle of blues, grays, peaking sunlight until this afternoon when the temperatures dropped and the combination of snow, sleet, rain and bitter winds rolled into Newark. Poor Roxie gets all jazzed at first when she gets outside and forgets to do her important thing outside...but soon just sits down and begs to be picked up and swaddled! We both bundled up and came straight home to cuddle down and rest until Ken arrives at home. I do remember the day when we would jump in the shower, change clothes and go right back out for the birth of the weekend! Now all we can look forward to is being home...together ...watching mindless movies on TV. I worked on some cards and mindless selections to put into storage until the next time I need hearts of all kinds. I had some visitors come in from a place where those recovering from different mental illness can get together for moral support and a little fun. Somehow they had been directed to me to buy some paint and glitter for their Mardi Gras masks. I explained that I was a working studio ...and the art supplies were here for children I work with who have little or no opportunity to make Art. I saw her face drop...and well I ended up getting some containers ....with lids that lock and gave Savannah gold paints and gold glitter to make their party masks. I do hope this will work for them and she left with a spirit that is hard to express or describe.... but she asked if she could give me a hug before she left. She did not have any access to a car ....so I know I will hit the art store soon...probably tomorrow. I need to pick up another bolt of my fabrics....so who knows art saves lives in real life!

Roxie is continuing to grow in our hearts and she and Rosie played for a solid two hours this morning. A small terrier and a smaller puppy Pom are made for each other .... Rosie is acting like a baby too! I am tired and need to get back to my design sketchbook. I will be cutting and washing fabrics tomorrow and hopefully find my Ann Johnston's dye reference books. Stay warm and enjoy the moment! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

The snow may return tomorrow as temperatures drop...

Thank you all for your warm reception of Miss Roxie! She has had a really great day today and now has a special collection of her own toys. she even went to the door to let me know...she needed to go out! Rosie is still my queen and the two of them are playing and getting along swimmingly! They chase...jump...hide and seek.. and now respect each others feeding areas and their sleeping quarters.

I had lunch with a great friend who shared my zeal for a prayer page that I am creating ... this couple is uniting two families...slowly and patiently allowing differences and strengths each family will bring in this union. I have been collecting vintage mother of pearl buttons and laces to add a sense of sacred reliquary quality. After she left I went in to the studio to put the ATC's scraps into some kind of order. I worked quietly completing a few more ATCs with the bits and this allowed my mind to wonder as I know I have another bolt of cotton to cut and wash. I will be meeting with Laura at Dawes on Monday to sign the finalized proposal and walk the course of the installation. In the winter I can actually evaluate the trees for their individual shapes and limb placement .... I am hoping the weather will sparkle and be light filled so I can get the energy from the specific locations. I also want to share some of the grommets and leather strapping I have researched for the installation. Jerry's Artarama in North Carolina has been very helpful with my somewhat unusual questions ...they have asked some pretty good questions that i might not have thought of before the multiple processes I hope to use in this enormous project. I have to remind myself ...one day at a time!

I delivered ken world famous homemade fudge to a dear friend Mary who is now 92 years young! We spent an hour just catching up while Roxie slept in my arms near my neck. Mary's cat Bennie came downstairs from his nap time to say hello and have a cat snack! I came home and did another load of laundry.... and prepared to add some of the newest cuts readied for their wash and soak cycle. I hope you have had a wondrous day...isn't wondrous a great word??? May all our days be filled with a child's or even a puppy's sense of wonder!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

p.s. No one succeeds alone and my dear supporter Doris Carlson brought in a wonderful box of art stuff...and there is a wonderful children's poetry book with incredible illustrations...the cover is missing so I have no idea how old it is but I fell in love with the illustrations! Doesn't little Roxie look like a baby wolf???

Welcome home Roxie...

Today I opened my heart to a small furry 2 1/2 pound Pomeranian named Roxie. She was delivered to my studio in the tiniest little pet taxi that I have ever seen. Kathleen provided me with some nourishment that comes in a small tube to give to Roxie during the day so her blood sugar would not drop. She is a real baby at nine weeks old ...she is the new assistant in my Whispers and Echoes studio. If the truth were to be told she is the real boss already...she has stolen our hearts. Ken is amazed that she is so tiny and yet very bright. Rosie is staying close by to check if there is any puppy food left in the tiny bowl. Yes this is another responsibility for me...but holding her makes me happy and I heard today on the talk shows we release oxytocin when we hug another living being. The sun was out and she loved exploring the soft grass when we took our housebreaking lessons.

The children loved watching her just sleep. I explained that she is much too fragile and small to pick up but if they would sit in a circle and were not too loud ...Roxie would come to them. Now we are all tired but Roxie and Rosie are asleep, Roxie is in her crate and seems to be at home in her new surroundings while little Rosie remains Queen of the big bed.

Thank you Vicki for the great white papers for the Artist Trading cards ...we are recycling what would have ended up int the landfills. With tiny bits of this and that we had a great time and a glue stick....life can be amazing. I hope you have had a moment to celebrate small miracles in your life today! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

A drug shortage...more aftigue...but a good doctor...listens

I spent this morning with my specialist for Lupus and other predicaments...I now have a diagnosis of Fybromyalia...Spelling??? I have been without my methotrexate infusions for about a month and yes I do feel a difference. The fatigue is my constant companion but the lab works may disclose how my body is processing these changes without a combination of medications. I am not going to complain...this is my life and I am still HERE!!!! I found myself being unable to really focus after the morning and the skies were gray so I came home and celebrated Tea for Tuesdays with a bright Lemon herb tea ...fresh...soothing ...and calming. Ken brought home a big Chipotle's Chicken Burrito...good old fashioned honest comfort foods!! I have been on line to research Jerry's Artarama...and they answered some of my questions in one days time!!! Bea asked me if I was dyeing cottons?? yes..but I am looking into adding a variety of fabrics fused on top to add interest and dimension with some textures. I am tired now so I am going to bed ...and pray for a good night's sleep. Thank you all for listening...tomorrow is a new day!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart


p.s. Lupus my wolf companion...

God speed John Glenn....God speed.

In 1961 I was just eleven years old but I remember watching the television in the living room with my family ...in black and white of course; this incredible journey into Space!!! His lovely wife of 69 years Annie joked that she called him her astro-nut. He spoke at Ohio State University this afternoon encouraging the youth of America to reach for the stars and continue his dream to explore the far regions of our Universe. God speed John Glenn...you are a real hero and a national treasure.

Ken and I worked from home today to celebrate President's Day. I spent six hours rereading all of my collection of books on the different processes to explore once more with the fiber reactive processes. The Dawes Arboretum broke ground last weekend on a new and large building being supported by the family members of the Dawes original founders. The sky was clear and beautiful ...a day for dreams to begin and reflect the History, the Nature and the Trees on this precious ground.

I also worked upstairs in my sewing studio to collect samples of dyed cotton colors and recipes for a vibrant color saturation and variety of backgrounds to develop further with the stencils and carved stamps. I still need to find an appropriate Burr Oak Leaf design so I can begin cutting my own stamp to be used on each panel ...in a sense of a series and signature. Hopefully I will complete the few stencils left to be cut so when the workshops begin I can have an assortment to be employed by my groups of volunteers. I still need to find my Ann Johnston dye process books. I studied with her years back and she was the most generous of teachers I have ever worked with. Joyful, generous and very patient in her presentations as well as encouraging us to experiment with our sacred marks and brushstrokes.

Tomorrow I am heading over to Ohio State to meet with my Lupus specialist Dr. Hackshaw. As many of you know methotrexate has been in the news because of a shortage in many cancer treatments. The news casters reported even at our children's hospital is feeling the shortage need but the drug companies really do not make a profit on this medication. Hopefully there will be another medicine I can try to maintain my life quality as an artist. No one enjoys spending the day with doctors and tests and blood work...but it is a trade off and I am grateful that I am still here. I have been so blessed! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Sunday night and where did the weekend fly to?

I am enjoying some air popped popcorn with the tiniest bit of butter and just finished my return to the elliptical machine for 6 minutes. I know I will not win any marathons but I am sticking to this new exercise and strength program. I watched the movie "The Bodyguard" with Whitney Houston. She was a young, talented, tormented woman who is gone too soon!! I stayed busy at the studio instead of watching the news coverage ... I think it would be too sad for me in the long run. I then went to pick out a checkerboard sheer fabric to be painted and layered for one of my panels "A night sky". My soda ash arrived by UPS and the 10 pounds cost around $10.00 but shipping was almost $8.00. I need to see if there is a source closer to home...I want the UPS people to have a job but I don't want it to be on my dime. Hopefully Dick Blick's will have these necessary resources that I will be needing to complete this project.

I am sharing the Artist Trading Cards process with my visitors to the studio. This can be as simple or complex as one wants...and a fun way to use up bits and pieces and have FUN!

Ken went home to Indiana to visit with his beautiful 92 year old mother and his baby sister Beautiful Vicki. He made them his delicious homemade French Onion soup and special breads. In the photos you can see one of our beloved new nephew from Michael and Allycin. Mr. Hunter is one happy baby and reminds Ken and i so much of our little Marshall Cole when he was about the same age. The family is deep in prayer in making the gentlest decisions for the best location for Mom Stewart's care in the near future. The cardiologist will make a more complete diagnosis after further testing and hopefully will come on board in selecting and checking availability of Mom's full time care. The siblings living in Indiana find this daily care mostly on their shoulders and God is guiding Vicki in her one on one care as of today. I am reminded of my mother's care when we as the grown children made some decisions she was not willing to make herself. Many of you have been where we are ...Mom has given her nine children her whole life as a dedicated full time Mother. I pray daily for the grace to help Ken as we make further inquiries and gather together the needed financial sources to give Mom Stewart a blessed home like environment. I hope you have had a great weekend! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart