Wednesday, March 13, 2013

20 year celebration

she's been doing it for 20 years?





it is hard to believe that in just a couple of months i will have been creating game boards for 20 years.  i picked up my first piece of wood and began creating game boards only for the reason that i thought they were really neat and i wanted a group of them on my wall... but as i began making them i just didn't want to stop for i began to dream of a day where i could make them for your homes.






when i began i had a tiny area on my porch where i had set everything up....i learned to not only paint, but to saw, hammer and sand. i learned so much about layout and design.  my only background was pretty much my belief in that if i wanted to do it then i could....(thanks mom and dad for self esteem and confidence, the two greatest gifts you gave us kids, much needed for cliff diving in life.)





when you have a small art business, so to speak, you are the wearer of many hats...not only do you design and create you also are the resident painter, mathematician and woodworker.  you are the task manager; accountant, web designer, blogger, research department, shipping department, purchasing department and cleaning service.  you are the doer of all, the dancer of building your own life...

many of you have been with me for all of these twenty years; you've been with me for my move from texas to these appalachian mountains, that i knew i would love and that is now finally called 'home', and from what was the back porch to a studio more than big enough to be somewhat organized....we have laughed with each others stories, and shared our fears and sadness....we've watched each others kids grow...and many of you are now enjoying your 'retirement years', which is so much fun for me to witness...


and sometimes we were lucky enough to have been able to meet face to face - already feeling like old friends...




i thank all of you for this....for wishes do come true...






to visit my site; which really you did help to create, here's the link:



below:  "big top, bullseye and gypsy"





8 comments:

Zoe Nelson said...

Congratulations! 20 years is a long time. We need to meet for coffee and celebrate.

diane allison-stroud said...

Yes, we must Zoe! Spring is here and we can come out of out hibernation now!

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane -
I just wanted you to know that I just received my Fed Ex package from you, and Gypsy is absolutely beautiful! You do wonderful work, and I appreciate it! Thanks!
Linda

Anonymous said...

Hi!

I returned home today from Ohio and found the absolutely gorgeous board waiting for me!!! It is fabulous and they are the colors found in my home. I LOVE it!!!

Many thanks,

Sallie

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane -
I received my "Circus" game board, and once again you have delivered a
beautiful piece of art! I love it! Thanks so much, and, as always, I
look forward to new creations all the time.
Linda

Anonymous said...

Thanks again for helping me with the game board – she loved it!
John

Anonymous said...

Diane!!!

Just opened the box and I absolutely LOVE it!!!! Thank you so much for doing this board for me, it's truly original and is so perfect!!! Thank you thank you!!!!

~ Andrea

Anonymous said...

Hi!

I returned home today from Ohio and found the absolutely gorgeous board waiting for me!!! It is fabulous and they are the colors found in my home. I LOVE it!!!

Many thanks,

Sallie