tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493396896209970872024-03-13T00:00:09.191-04:00a day in an artists life....a day of an artist in the appalachian mountains...
29th country living magazine guild memberdiane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.comBlogger447125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-53829310227540852672017-01-04T20:33:00.000-05:002017-01-04T20:33:09.690-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #336633;">in the Appalachians we get ready for the holidays in a big way....</span></h1>
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There's
much to do before the holidays even begin in the mountains - for we
like to be prepared for the upcoming winter so that when the snow and
the holidays come we can lean back and enjoy the quiet beauty and the
laughter of friends and family....<br />
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being that I live amongst the Christmas tree farms I have been
witnessing the trucks loaded, trees wrapped, heading down the mountain.
It is a very festive feeling to live in Boone this time of year.</div>
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This year I am offering you the opportunity to let your loved ones
choose that personal piece of artwork for their home....it's one of
those special gifts that will be loved and treasured for many years and
passed down to future generations....they can settle in and enjoy
looking at all the designs that are available for their home....whether
it's Christmas at your home or Hanukkah....</div>
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"the reader"<br />
limited edition of 10<br />
$265.00</div>
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we all know that one person who lives amongst a stack of books....
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">"emma gatewood"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
she hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1955, all 2,168 miles at that time - at the age of 67.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">If you decide this year that you would like to give your loved one a
gift certificate for a special piece made for their home (or
yourself)....just give me a call and i'm happy to make one for you to
give or I am happy to mail to them as a special surprise....a treasure
from the Appalachian mountains....<br />
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<span style="font-size: 24px;"><a href="http://squarespace.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24c16003265eee375a152404f&id=38ff18835f&e=cb177b4f74" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: brown;">dallison.squarespace.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;">828-265-0977</span></span></div>
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diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-19907486682198394462016-08-24T10:53:00.001-04:002016-08-24T10:53:05.819-04:00<h2>
<span style="color: #3399cc;">summer....the perfect time to enjoy lazy days and late nights....</span> </h2>
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Summer is one of my favorite seasons....no schedule, little order, cookouts and lightning bugs in the deep woods, friends visiting and Georgia peaches, what more could one want?</div>
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I think summer is a regrouping of the spirit, a time to do less and enjoy the small things that life is really all about to you....for me it's kids, fresh food from the farmers market, games of chess with Eli, outdoor music downtown, good books and coffee in the morning with hubby. </div>
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<![endif]--> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<strong><em>"simon says"</em></strong><br /> do you remember?<br /> simon says put your hands on your head.<br /> simon says turn in a circle.<br /> jump up and down.</div>
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<strong><em>"simon says"</em></strong><br /> limited edition piece of 10<br /><br /> I loved the soft sweetness of this pattern. It is based on a design from the early 1900's from Pennsylvania.<br /><br /> When this piece went to auction it was declared that the value was $400-$700. I can't imagine what they thought when the end price was $19,680.</div>
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wonderful colors...shades of blue, straw, greens, sienna and gold just to name a few....<br /><br />19"x19"<br /> limited edition of 10 then retired<br /> $245.00<br /><br /> (my mind sees this as really a soft colored piece to the eye...the photos seem pretty vibrant, so if you like I can send you more photos to view....just let me know)</div>
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"the reader"<br /> $265.00</div>
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<br /> If you would like to browse other designs, here is a link to my site:<br /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
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<br /> to order, just email me at:</div>
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<a href="mailto:dianeallison@charter.net">dianeallison@charter.net</a></div>
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or call my studio....828-265-0977</div>
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or here is a direct link from my site:</div>
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<a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/buy-game-boards/">http://dallison.squarespace.com/buy-game-boards/</a></div>
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diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-76116552203175260992016-06-22T12:45:00.001-04:002016-06-22T12:45:39.631-04:00The Reader....<br />
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I love this board....I loved it the first time that I saw this pattern that was well over 100 years old....<br />
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it reminded me of a library, stacked with books and books and even more books....with comfortable places around the edges of the building to sit and read and ponder....and in the center is where you can go for help....how lucky one must be to work in a library surrounded with time travelers....<br />
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things have changed in these last years, yes. but many people will never let you pry that hardback book out of their hand or their paperback, which they have folded this way and that to take everywhere with them, just in case they have a chance at some point to slip in some sweet words and do some traveling....<br />
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<em><strong>the reader....</strong></em></div>
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is a new limited edition piece of 10</div>
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19" x 19"</div>
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$265.00</div>
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colors of: georgia clay, spice tan, sienna, sandstone, eggplant, blue sea, midnight blues and rose to list some....</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5TidTuhRaI/V2q_WRyMB9I/AAAAAAAAEaU/69Z8l761VzQ-Z7WBbeEQpmtJj7_e-Sx3QCLcB/s1600/the%2Breader%2Bclose%2Bup%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5TidTuhRaI/V2q_WRyMB9I/AAAAAAAAEaU/69Z8l761VzQ-Z7WBbeEQpmtJj7_e-Sx3QCLcB/s320/the%2Breader%2Bclose%2Bup%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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this Parcheesi piece is based on a game board pattern from the late 1800's. the original piece was auctioned for $15,990.<br />
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my colors were very similar to the original but I wanted to create a piece that was forever timeless by adding a story on how this piece became....my friend recently posted on facebook a study of the main colors used in specific movies....I ran with that idea, thinking it would give me the creative ability to cross a design into different centuries....<br />
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maybe this is why I love this piece so much, the combining of centuries as books often do. so that is where the name 'the reader' came from....a reader is a time traveler searching out destinations.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSuJgHHRnQ0/V2rABeBuIAI/AAAAAAAAEag/uJSU3rvvZRIJGovkswk2H1q0lXMduskwgCLcB/s1600/boone%2Bshulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSuJgHHRnQ0/V2rABeBuIAI/AAAAAAAAEag/uJSU3rvvZRIJGovkswk2H1q0lXMduskwgCLcB/s320/boone%2Bshulls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Uwlzjt5qqw/V2rAFcIS4II/AAAAAAAAEao/419n6dhvu2sfLjG-pHjG-g5hO9HHtWGhACLcB/s1600/girl%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bblue%2Bhair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Uwlzjt5qqw/V2rAFcIS4II/AAAAAAAAEao/419n6dhvu2sfLjG-pHjG-g5hO9HHtWGhACLcB/s1600/girl%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bblue%2Bhair.jpg" /></a></div>
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then and now.....the first photo was taken in our area many many years ago.....the second photo is commonplace in our college town today....<br />
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blending the past with the current is something that I love to create.....<br />
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diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-17574013163611591172014-10-11T13:01:00.000-04:002014-10-12T22:50:11.607-04:00i have changed things up a bit....instead of blogging i have turned to using a newsletter style that i send out with any news or photos of new limited edition game boards...
please just drop me a note to sign-up and i'm happy to add you to my mailing...
dianeallison@charter.net
Or to contact me directly you can use this link from my website:
<a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/sign-up-for-updates/">http://dallison.squarespace.com/sign-up-for-updates/</a>
so this is what i'm doing now, but as things change, you never know i might just be blogging again...
enjoy past posts if you would like - especially stories of those winter months in these appalachian mountains...<strike></strike>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1jTu2Clsbg/VDliErwpNbI/AAAAAAAAEYE/h7uoQ9bThAo/s1600/!cid__5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1jTu2Clsbg/VDliErwpNbI/AAAAAAAAEYE/h7uoQ9bThAo/s320/!cid__5.jpg" /></a></div>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-76991383517681093342013-03-13T11:00:00.000-04:002013-03-16T15:46:40.726-04:0020 year celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBQTFsGB8Gw/UT87R5elwlI/AAAAAAAAEQA/6Aj4dvarNX8/s1600/paint+brushes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBQTFsGB8Gw/UT87R5elwlI/AAAAAAAAEQA/6Aj4dvarNX8/s320/paint+brushes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUdmoPOs-28/UT87lfocCsI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/dG_BN0zJ1V8/s1600/display+of+boards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUdmoPOs-28/UT87lfocCsI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/dG_BN0zJ1V8/s320/display+of+boards.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VKWHe6cSiqc/UT83WRmzKII/AAAAAAAAEPI/43j7gu8uyLk/s1600/dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VKWHe6cSiqc/UT83WRmzKII/AAAAAAAAEPI/43j7gu8uyLk/s320/dancing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mathematician</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 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...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">many of you have been with me for all of these twenty years;</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you've</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 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...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6VKg5viYpE/UT9D0AKQncI/AAAAAAAAEQg/j45pcnsek8k/s1600/eli+at+christmas+tree+farm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6VKg5viYpE/UT9D0AKQncI/AAAAAAAAEQg/j45pcnsek8k/s320/eli+at+christmas+tree+farm.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and sometimes we were lucky enough to have been able to meet face to face - already feeling like old friends...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktDB1dZUJ5c/UT9D6D1gswI/AAAAAAAAEQs/iOCz6lVyDPw/s1600/fred+and+elle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktDB1dZUJ5c/UT9D6D1gswI/AAAAAAAAEQs/iOCz6lVyDPw/s320/fred+and+elle.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i thank all of you for this....for wishes do come true...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9YJBxQz5IM/UT83kfcjcTI/AAAAAAAAEPo/SRY0HDQVBEE/s1600/ruby+slippers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9YJBxQz5IM/UT83kfcjcTI/AAAAAAAAEPo/SRY0HDQVBEE/s1600/ruby+slippers.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to visit my site; which really you did help to create, here's the link:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dallison.squarespace.com/">www.dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">below: "big top, bullseye and gypsy"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/round-game-boards/">http://dallison.squarespace.com/round-game-boards/</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6aMgb5QAlA/UT9JrET-X1I/AAAAAAAAERA/y0Gaev9Mlxs/s1600/study+of+circles+display.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6aMgb5QAlA/UT9JrET-X1I/AAAAAAAAERA/y0Gaev9Mlxs/s320/study+of+circles+display.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-45272298509819873462013-03-08T13:40:00.000-05:002013-03-08T20:54:02.920-05:00take me to the circus....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2bcPPTs6X4/UTol4BxY-5I/AAAAAAAAEMg/mD1PG8i4Wvk/s1600/circus+ticket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2bcPPTs6X4/UTol4BxY-5I/AAAAAAAAEMg/mD1PG8i4Wvk/s1600/circus+ticket.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i have begun a new series that is very sentimental to me... "take me to the circus"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when i was a very little girl living in iowa my parents gathered all of us little girls into our car and took us to the ringling brothers and barnum and bailey circus....45 years later i still can remember the day...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4P8HRqbSMv8/UTomLkPfedI/AAAAAAAAEMs/cw7vrOFH_G4/s1600/small+circus+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4P8HRqbSMv8/UTomLkPfedI/AAAAAAAAEMs/cw7vrOFH_G4/s320/small+circus+tent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0EvvoAWjOQ/UTopL_hpz6I/AAAAAAAAEOI/LbXvXEb7NLE/s1600/IMG_1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0EvvoAWjOQ/UTopL_hpz6I/AAAAAAAAEOI/LbXvXEb7NLE/s320/IMG_1230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as we began to pull our car up into the open field my eyes danced with my very first view of the 'big top' standing high; calling us to walk into a different life. this life of mystery; smells of sawdust, wild animals and food. colors; of tents, wild lions in their cages and the sparkling costumes worn by what i thought had to be the most beautiful people in the world pulled me in many directions...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vG7ZbC1XXh0/UTonLg_GCAI/AAAAAAAAEM0/LEcLQnAcX7M/s1600/showmen's+prayer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vG7ZbC1XXh0/UTonLg_GCAI/AAAAAAAAEM0/LEcLQnAcX7M/s1600/showmen's+prayer.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a rapid heartbeat caused by the fear of watching the high wire acts, and the awe of seeing lions, tigers and elephants for the first time in my young life is instilled in my memory... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i was hooked; mystery and color, the perfect combination for my little girl eyes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">years later we moved to sarasota florida....home of the ringling brothers circus...imagine my curiosity, for still a young child, we drove through areas that the performers were known to live during the winter time. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjAKAtZzr5M/UTon-Uz56pI/AAAAAAAAEM8/INoNJarbXjo/s1600/older+circus+train.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjAKAtZzr5M/UTon-Uz56pI/AAAAAAAAEM8/INoNJarbXjo/s320/older+circus+train.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as i became a young teen i found that my geography teacher was from the famous flying wallenda family, i was surrounded by circus and a much simpler time in sarasota...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ju8MDQYCRbI/UToojgno0II/AAAAAAAAENM/__u1XV-kh8Y/s1600/flying+wallendas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ju8MDQYCRbI/UToojgno0II/AAAAAAAAENM/__u1XV-kh8Y/s320/flying+wallendas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my parents still took us to 'the biggest show on earth', and as i became older i watched and pondered my escape to run off with the circus, for i knew, i always knew, that i should be in the circus...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFE0Fqe1pak/UTopEiK6oBI/AAAAAAAAEN4/W-aXdXCLmbA/s1600/IMG_1234+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFE0Fqe1pak/UTopEiK6oBI/AAAAAAAAEN4/W-aXdXCLmbA/s320/IMG_1234+%25282%2529.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this first piece in the series is entitled 'the big top', for after all this was my first view, and inside that tent comes all the mastery of all your emotions...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzTccgViYK0/UToo7TDDOLI/AAAAAAAAENg/D36r74ZZ4KQ/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzTccgViYK0/UToo7TDDOLI/AAAAAAAAENg/D36r74ZZ4KQ/s320/IMG_1238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this piece is, as you can imagine, color with the underlying hint of all the organized chaos that one might find under 'the big top'..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it is 'loosely' based on an american antique game wheel dated 1930 that originally had a spinner attached. the original piece was priced at $1,800.00. i state 'loosely' primarily for the reason that my piece does not have a spinner attached</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeImISOG_z0/UTorY-wdEQI/AAAAAAAAEOc/74fzMYDwyFY/s1600/looking+under+the+big+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeImISOG_z0/UTorY-wdEQI/AAAAAAAAEOc/74fzMYDwyFY/s320/looking+under+the+big+tent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">limited edition of 10 pieces, then retired (9 available at this time)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19" x 19"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">baltic birch from russia and poplar from the appalachians</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$245.00</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i hope you will like the journey that we are taking....if you would like to order this piece, just drop me an email at: dianeallison@charter.net or give me a call at 828-265-0977...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can also browse my website if you had another piece in mind:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dallison.squarespace.com/">www.dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
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<br />diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-45892173763991107932012-09-17T08:59:00.000-04:002012-09-17T08:59:04.746-04:00happy birthday, happy birthday and more happy birthdays...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">september is<b><i> the</i></b> month of birthdays in my family, a delicious celebration just about every week is scattered throughout the month..a mountain full of cakes and cupcakes and a heart full of love...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">happy birthday to all of you...my life could never be as wonderful if it weren't for each of you....i love you all so much...</span><br />
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<br />diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-8233788213120760702012-08-29T12:37:00.004-04:002012-08-29T12:37:45.851-04:00"linda quilts"....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i have this friend in texas.....i met her in our quilting group....and her name is linda.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">over the many many years we quilted together i noticed something that i was reminded of when i saw this antique game board, that linda never wore out when she got to making her borders...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">her borders were grand, they were intricate, they were breathtaking.....a beautiful frame to her art....not like my quilts, barely a border was to be found, and certainly nothing that was as beautiful as the inner quilt itself. it's almost like her borders danced and celebrated, the grand finale if you will...we are 'over the top borders' they sang out....and that they were....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so when i saw this game board, i thought of her immediately and there came the name whispered out loud....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is a Christmas piece, however i'm sure you will find a place for it all year round too....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the original piece was dated 1934 and signed on the back 'Happy Birthday 1934'....there is a story to this piece with that information and i designed many scenarios in my own mind while i was painting the checker board....who's to say one of them isn't close to the truth? it's a sentimental piece to me for that reason...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the price of the original is $2,100 and is painted on an early laminated board.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrw-aVDBbrM/UD5D8z3hG3I/AAAAAAAAELA/QEkYBDDfyxA/s1600/linda+quilts+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrw-aVDBbrM/UD5D8z3hG3I/AAAAAAAAELA/QEkYBDDfyxA/s320/linda+quilts+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">limited edition of 10 pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19" x 19"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$220.00 (shipping included for this piece)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the colors are a soft yellow, red, black and forest green</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you would like to look at other pieces available, here's my link: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/">dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-62003621227477874372012-08-24T12:51:00.002-04:002012-08-24T12:51:19.780-04:00in the process...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">every year when i see my mom it seems she always say's, 'you should make a Christmas board', and every year i ponder and ponder... but i had never come across an antique piece, until now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as you know from my last post, i have so much more studio time on my hands, which is clearly filling up with new pieces and i don't know how i'm ever going to get all the boards i've researched done before i'm dead! but then i'm sure you are saying that about using all your fabrics too....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but lo and behold, i found an antique checker board that dates back to 1930-1940 to study....the original piece was actually painted on laminated board, and you can see from the picture that certainly it was created by a quilter, no doubt in my mind. the back of the board says 'Happy Birthday 1934'. I sit and think did a mother make this for her daughter, did she make it for her son, or a fellow quilter? or did he make it for his wife from one of his or her favorite quilts? there is such a story here, that we will never know the answer to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so this is the first Christmas piece i am introducing into my line of reproductions - for i know that time of year i just love to pull out my Christmas quilt to lay over my couch, hang my advent calendar that my mom made for me, and will now have a board to finish off the room....i love the warmth of the season, the scents of the pine, the baking of the apples and the unexpected turn in a room where my eyes can see artists celebration of the season...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here's a sneak peek of the original piece which i will introduce over the next week or two....- and yes, it's august, but the leaves are changing already (very very early), the air is crisp and i'm already thinking of november since i work many months in advance...and i wanted to make the pieces in early fall so that you can set them out in november....for i know so many of my friends decorate before the thanksgiving holiday....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this will be a limited piece - number unknown at this time, but her name is 'linda'....and of course she doesn't have to be put away after the holidays either, you will probably find the perfect spot for her for the rest of the year too...later i will tell you why i chose the name that i did for the piece too....(yes, having to do with a quilter that i know)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the colors are green, bright red and soft yellow....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you would like to see other designs, here's my link:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/">dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
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<br />diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-48693559738463266952012-08-21T13:34:00.004-04:002012-08-21T13:37:42.705-04:00blogging.....again....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">finally....and i say finally for the reason that i haven't been able to blog 'comfortably' for some time. apparently the issue seems to be that my computer is very very 'old', and has not been able to adapt 'comfortably' to the new google system...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">well....some days i feel very very old and have a hard time adapting, so you won't find me running out to purchase a new computer with more memory and zippity zap speed....no, i will hang on until it just decides that it's time here is done....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i do, simply put, become quite attached to 'material things' in my life, and will actually have human emotions for inanimate objects.... i'm sure there is some sort of 'mental' description of this most abnormal behavior, left over from childhood i'm sure, for i remember crying when my teeny snow man melted when i was just five....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so what is one to do? well time seems to take care of things in many instances....so i gave my computer a good long rest, some updating that it was fighting me on and here we are, back to blogging....the issue was that i couldn't click photos, type style, etc. on my blog for the windows wouldn't allow it...but here we are, after a much needed 'mechanical' rest she is simply going along with my agenda today....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as far as what is going on in the rest of my life? school is in full swing and so is eli's football....i will have to admit that i'm going through the same feelings of 'displacement' as i did when my oldest was hardly around, but i've adapted to his very lengthy days at practice and feel sure that in no time i will say to myself it's already 6:00?! (bold faced lie)....how can that be, i still have so much more to do before dinner....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so since his schedule changes, mine does too.....i will be in the studio for almost twice the amount of time now, throwing myself into work as i adjust to 'his lack of need of me'......so far so good....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i'm currently finishing up all of your orders of the 'wheel of fortune', and hopefully this will bring us all an extra amount of good luck....i will also be creating new designs over the next couple of months and am rolling around in my mind another web sale in the fall....that was fun last spring, so i'm keeping that in mind....i have events to attend and pieces to make for gallery showings off the mountain this winter, and as you know that is stepping out of the box for me, since I NEVER GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN! but hey, why not, it's for the arts, and after all the arts have been pretty darn good to me...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i will keep busy, do what it takes to begin this new chapter in my life.....of not being needed....boo hoooo</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VT-1_z-CTyM/UDPFA6Ma7uI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/BvtCBPUxENI/s1600/disappointed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VT-1_z-CTyM/UDPFA6Ma7uI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/BvtCBPUxENI/s320/disappointed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you are in need of some fall color, christmas ideas or color for your home, please browse my site, it will help me feel 'needed', here's my link:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://dallisongameboards.com/">dallisongameboards.com</a></b></span></div>
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diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-91394576137758721952012-07-11T14:28:00.001-04:002012-07-11T14:28:42.644-04:00new board update....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just wanted to give you an update of the new piece i introduced....i had an idea that this piece would go very quickly because of the bold graphic design...there are only 10 still available before i introduce wheel of fortune to my website...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of my clients asked how it would look with her chinese checker board so i thought i'd post another picture of 'clarence chinese checker, wheel of fortune and the arrow parcheesi' for you to view...i know so many of you have many pieces in your homes to mix this piece with....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of the things i really like about this piece is it calms a very busy area....if you have a 'messy' or busy area (books) this piece draws the eye away from the chaos and makes you focus on something that is simply graphic.....which pretty much is anywhere in my own home....(should do something about that), but until then i will just hang art....</span><br />
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scroll down to the next post for information on the new piece....diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-22658743235755813862012-07-10T11:39:00.001-04:002012-07-10T11:39:39.154-04:00a new design...come with me to the fair...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2K9R529V-6U/T_w8T6YvAHI/AAAAAAAAEIM/T5pHTECUKPc/s1600/wheel+of+fortune+prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="640px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2K9R529V-6U/T_w8T6YvAHI/AAAAAAAAEIM/T5pHTECUKPc/s640/wheel+of+fortune+prep.jpg" width="478px" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of the best times it seems for me to start thinking of new designs is often while i'm painting another design....i start lulling around in my mind the colors that i'm using, or colors that i haven't pulled out for some time....sometimes i will pull out bottles and bottles of shades and move them around on my paint table to discover all new combinations that thrill me and jot them in my notepad for later use...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">last week i had a day where i blocked on my calendar 'create'....well sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't....sometimes i'm in a totally different mind frame, accounting, cleaning or busy paperwork....so if that's the case i switch it to another day for i know from experience you either have the creative spirit that day or you don't....and those 'don't' days always mean something will not come to fruition....and i won't like the finished piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i decided on making a gee's bend piece (the final piece in the collection)....in blues and creams and began researching the original quilt maker on the internet...it is a heartfelt piece because of her life, the story of her life, her spirit. it was moving....and i felt i wanted to hang on to it a bit longer in my head, swirling colors with patterns and her spirit...i wasn't ready to create it and then come to its end....i wanted to savor each piece awhile longer....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so....i decided to research antique game boards....and when i found this piece i was tickled...an entire different feeling of creating - a 'i must have one because it's fun' feeling, and i know exactly where i will hang it when i'm done...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">most of my reproduction pieces are from the 1800's but every now and then i will find one from the 1900's that i must attempt to figure out, to blend those colors just so and see if i'm anywhere near what is before my eyes and in my mind...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVIp8K-J7_s/T_xKsRViXrI/AAAAAAAAEJA/duTCZTK17Vc/s1600/wheel+of+fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="315px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVIp8K-J7_s/T_xKsRViXrI/AAAAAAAAEJA/duTCZTK17Vc/s320/wheel+of+fortune.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my newest piece is titled "wheel of fortune" for my heart is that of a child of the fair and the circus....if i could rewrite my life i would've been in the traveling circus; raised by performing parents and therefore learning how to walk the trapeze at a young age or swing from up high....i love the tents, the colors, the sparkly gowns along with the scents of food and animals - i love the little girl thoughts of an exciting traveling life...as an adult i know otherwise as we all do now; but sometimes i can escape back to the innocence of a child and her dreams before i knew the realities...now i was telling my sister about my new design and how i love the fair and the circus (which she doesn't) and she said she loved the game show 'wheel of fortune' and it reminded her of that; so i guess that's another way to look at it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the piece was dated 1937 and signed by G. Yeager....that is all that i know about the piece other than the lines through the center were to "look like wires", the appraiser thought....and it was sold for $4,500.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is a limited edition of 15 pieces and then it will be retired permanently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19"x19"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$220.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gold, off white, red and black</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you would like to browse other game board designs just click on the link to my site:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.dallison.squarespace.com</span></a></div>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-37019462936010975742012-05-15T10:24:00.000-04:002012-05-15T12:41:05.595-04:00my child will need therapy...<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a day in the life, to put it simply...</span><br />
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but first, some proper background music from the movie, "little miss sunshine"...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">last week was the 'next to the last week' of school for eli....i myself begin to get that pumped up feeling of it's almost over, goodbye sixth grade, goodbye carpool, goodbye alarm clock...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so as always, i began the week off with; next to the last monday proceeding to announce the 'next to the last' each and every day...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">testing was what all last week was about at school, stress levels are up, school stresses good nights rest and nourishing breakfast....so as it goes we were asked to provide breakfast for 88 children on one of the days...well this isn't a big deal in a way because hubby has a restaurant where he works and he's the boss, so you know what that means....chef will lovingly make a wonderful breakfast for 88 kids and hubby will deliver it...easy street!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the night before hubby realized that chef was out of town....he said o.k., no problem, he would grab the mixes that we needed from the restaurant and we could make the egg casseroles...now i do not have a full size oven; yes, i hadn't heard of it before....but i figured this out when i tried to shove a turkey in the oven years ago. i pointed this out to him and asked him to measure the pans....he gasped, oh my....but being that this was just going to work out one way or the other, i asked my dear neighbor if she would mind if i cooked these in her oven since she was out of town...and she being the best neighbor in the whole world, said of course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so hubby called me on the way home and said he was in over his head, the restaurant was out of their egg mix....we figured out what he would need to buy at the store, beginning with 9 dozen eggs...as he arrived home and i began to see what it takes to feed 88 people, i whipped out my 'no problem' hat and began mixing eggs, egg whites, egg beaters and cream. fried up the sausage and pre-measured amounts per pan...then we hauled soup pots full of yummy stuff over to the neighbors house late that night; for at 5:30 a.m. i am to head over to preheat the oven...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ok, as the teenager goes; 'what, chef isn't doing it?, what YOU are doing it?, oh it's going to be horrible', i just love this age don't you? well it all turned out just fine, the only mistake i made was not to allow extra time since it wasn't a commercial oven, so we were late on our end, but perfectly timed to arrive at school for breakfast...and the kids loved it, however ours didn't....and of course he was horrified that his dad was serving...oh well, signs of normal</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">then on friday, you know, 'next to the last friday', i was assigned to bring in 300 paper plates for an after school party...eli and i found the greatest colorful plates at big lots, they screamed PARTY...honestly, i felt like i should get the mother of the week award; breakfast and now PARTY plates....my arm was sore from patting myself on the back...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when i picked up eli friday after the party, i said last friday!!! one more week to go!!!! yippeeee!!!! he looked at me stone faced and said, 'no mom, we have two more weeks of school, it's on the calendar in the hall, not one week mom, but two weeks of school; and by the way it cost $3 to get into the party and one canned good, i borrowed the money from mary's mom....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">poor child...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will need therapy....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so today when i dropped him off at school i said 'next to the last tuesday, this is the next to the last tuesday', he looked over at me trying not to grin and got out of the car....and i'm glad i can't read his thoughts...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">poor child...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will need therapy....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">happy mothers day....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for game board therapy, here's my link: </span><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dallison.squarespace.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-67319592404214744502012-04-18T13:25:00.006-04:002012-04-18T13:39:13.866-04:00almost sold out....<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7C4ufnmApM/T477IRYjlPI/AAAAAAAAEHw/V9BE1WYHOGc/s1600/thumbnail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732795495213143282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7C4ufnmApM/T477IRYjlPI/AAAAAAAAEHw/V9BE1WYHOGc/s400/thumbnail.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">if you are signed up for my email updates then you already know that the baseball dart board is celebrating the season with a $25.00 discount....</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732795479346611778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmFYBkTwn54/T477HWRrhkI/AAAAAAAAEHY/g3_4oEyrXvo/s400/DSC_1122.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">for any of you who do not get my updates with special prices or the introduction of new limited pieces; you may want to go ahead and sign up....just drop me an email and i will do the rest!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="mailto:dianeallison@charter.net"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;">dianeallison@charter.net</span></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">there are only a few pieces of 'the game' left to be made before it is retired....so if it is a piece that you love, please let me know and i'm happy to make one for you....</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732795490419402210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mvXosCb9WM4/T477H_ho5eI/AAAAAAAAEHg/RGnbtIsIYf4/s400/the%2Bgame.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">and feel free to browse if you'd like:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;">http://dallison.squarespace.com/</span></a></div></div>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-66391109965665302052012-04-03T12:29:00.009-04:002012-04-03T13:41:23.741-04:00a day with God...<span style="font-family:arial;">it was just about a year ago when eli, then 11, said that he wanted to get baptised and confirmed at the boone united methodist church, for classes were just about to start...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">hubby and i looked at each other and inwardly sighed....for if you knew what we have gone through trying to "pick" a religion or a church, so to speak, you yourself would sigh right along with us...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">this is a family of many religions meshed together, this family of ours are steadfast in their beliefs, this family is always thinking that we do need to be at church every week, but which one, which faith....it's been a merry go round involving religion and which church we felt worked for the both of us and our different beliefs...and of course we've taught eli along the way, all these different cases that we plead for 'our' religion, but he wanted more, he wanted the whole enchildada, he wanted to belong somewhere...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">well as kids sometimes do, eli tired of the back and forth of his confused parents, and he went on ahead of us...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727215530978592834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrZoK_kwHhM/T3soLmwUSEI/AAAAAAAAEG0/31OcN_vnvOo/s400/IMG_0342a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">parents out there all know that it takes a village to raise a child, and part of that village is a church too....</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727215538265097154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPfJC1BwFPo/T3soMB5jg8I/AAAAAAAAEG8/rKPwN8wryDw/s400/IMG_0343.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">eli chose his church....eli chose his path....and we followed him....(click photo below for baptism)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a href="http://s1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj514/cedwards3685/Eli%20%20Baptism%203%2031%202012/?action=view&current=IMG_0346.mp4" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 160px" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj514/cedwards3685/Eli%20%20Baptism%203%2031%202012/th_IMG_0346.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">after nearly a year of studies and words that can't even begin to describe his journey, his leaders, his friends, his work, play and questions; he was finally baptised this past weekend....</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727215544215146082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCh5YerGoFg/T3soMYEKDmI/AAAAAAAAEHI/ctr8C7McJhY/s400/IMG_0347.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">we are very proud parents of this young man; a young man who is strong enough to break away from his very confused parents, find his own road and lead us for awhile...</span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-69713938030910998922012-03-20T10:20:00.014-04:002012-03-20T11:46:20.393-04:00studio shuffle....<span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNE6-TsxO9c/T2iXu7oEx7I/AAAAAAAAEFg/F3Yx1X2W32A/s1600/universe.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721990159109769138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNE6-TsxO9c/T2iXu7oEx7I/AAAAAAAAEFg/F3Yx1X2W32A/s400/universe.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">sometimes you just wonder, you really wonder, what the universe has in store for you... for after all, my life in or out of the studio has been a constant shuffle... it seems to me that the universe must have a different plan for me, or it's just messing with me. either way i'm standing firm and saying enough is enough... </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721991415982950434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YBasrajk-4/T2iY4F1_iCI/AAAAAAAAEFs/F63f5ewRDT0/s400/game.bmp" border="0" /><br /><br />it all began january 1st, now this was a very good day. and i figured whatever we did on the first day of the year would certainly be a prediction of the days to follow...so we headed down the mountain for the day to gather with friends and go to an NCU basketball game. well i will admit that i've never been a fan of basketball, really any sports at all except good old baseball, but i'm really trying since eli is such a jock. mom's have to do what they have to do right? so we had the best of times, well then...the next day it all began...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721989681154900834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KjDqRSJupR8/T2iXTHGwQ2I/AAAAAAAAEFI/2Llhe-LQyag/s400/IMG_1002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />hubby went to hospital, and yes he's fine, but a scare nonetheless...<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">the same week my sweet little belle the beagle died...i don't think i've ever been so unhappy or sad, my best friend, my shadow gone from my home and studio... heartbroken is understated<br />i was sick<br />eli was sick<br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">eli at hospital for x-rays<br />i was sick again<br />eli was sick again<br />we battled just about every illness that we've ever heard of...and just days ago my oldest son, davey, called saying he had the flu...<br /><br />so that's what this year has brought....scares, illnesses and sadness </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721989690969069794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JG98eS8tg7c/T2iXTrqomOI/AAAAAAAAEFU/2K1EL6DomI4/s400/2329908512_666118b905_o.jpg" border="0" /><br />well as i think back to the basketball game, all the running, jumping, bodies hitting the floor, leaps of faith, jumps of triumph, cheers against wrong doings and celebrations and disappointments all mixed into one hour...i see i am receiving just that....every facet of life pumping into a short amount of time...<br /><br />what have i learned? well of course the obvious, be careful what you do on January 1st, but also to accept, and accept some more and then some more...that whatever i'm given, do it all with love, feel every moment, don't rush through life, everyday is really a gift to do what you can for those you love, to stand strong, to sit and be moved by the birds coming back to their home...to wake up with the window open and to a symphony of birdsong...yes, life is good.<br /><br />i can't tell you how happy i am to see spring has arrived...for there is that bit of hope in me that thinks maybe this was just a winter thing? no, i know better, it's life in all its greatness... </span></span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">painting away in the studio and pondering new designs in my head....doors are open to the soft breeze...it can't be better than this...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">if you need some color, here's my link: <span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/">dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722005263477090866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z6mL6TOR2o/T2ileHx3qjI/AAAAAAAAEF4/SmXYV3r3EnA/s400/the%2Bgame.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><br /></span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-87637332501583722582012-03-10T10:25:00.001-05:002013-03-16T15:22:16.917-04:00the luck of the ole' irish....<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: arial;">(this is my dad at one of his favorite places to play golf, st. andrews golf course in scotland, of course, on his way to ireland!), one good looking irishmen...and as the story goes....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">but first, 'proper' irish music for you to enjoy while you read....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">from the time i opened my wee little eyes, my father announced to me that i am irish, and he has never stopped. this 'fact' has been bred into me for half a century now, i'm sure to the dismay of my mother. after all, she is a fine mix of scottish, german and other bloodlines. but we don't include this, oh no, i'm 100% irish, and what a fine thing to be.</span><br /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584646760116211970" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5w6hXLAY3DM/TYCmo7zDUQI/AAAAAAAADp0/9aIfv50W_xQ/s400/Dunluce_Castle_County_Antrim_Ireland_1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">and as the folklore continues on, i too, have convinced my children that they are irish, and apparently that leaves no room for anything else. and that's just the way it always has been, and always will be until i am gone myself. i have told them that there is an entire county named after them in ireland, that they once had a castle in their family and great great great (something or other) was beheaded (boys love this part), and the castle stolen from our family....the stories go on and on and on..</span> <span style="font-family: arial;">and that someday they should reclaim their family castle (they love this part too).</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584645947068306258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AmZKXMnn6I/TYCl5m9U01I/AAAAAAAADpk/alYCeNSI_ZM/s400/thp-irish-csa.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 340px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I have taught them that 'their' </span><span style="font-family: arial;">people had to leave their own beloved country due to hunger, slavery and religion, and how they were mistreated by others when they arrived to america...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584645954994683842" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuG_kF1XlAc/TYCl6EfHv8I/AAAAAAAADps/6e7VR2kibsw/s400/2156571983_2d2d151726.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">for them to be proud of their heritage and honor the irish' past....their blood is green, they are irish...and that's that...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584652997735184450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9XoXHorJziY/TYCsUAvTeEI/AAAAAAAADqE/UpxTlMZDAfw/s400/boone.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">and today i live in a mountainous area that the irish came and settled, the view reminding them of their own country....i guess it is a blood 'thing', after all i was drawn here, for no reason, just drawn...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">so today i honour the bloodline that i have been blessed with, the fight of the irish fight that i now live; to be treated equal and fairly and to live the religion of my choosing...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584645939021273778" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJzQALlmfks/TYCl5I-w2rI/AAAAAAAADpU/Pp6keARP_kU/s400/irish1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><br /><span style="color: #006600; font-family: arial;">just a footnote: it's that time of year when one of my kids announce that they <em>HAVE</em> to wear green so they don't get pinched....i give them my best serious mom look and state clearly - "you are irish, your blood is green." and i know my eyebrows are raised, indicating that there is so much more that i want to say, as i'm biting my tongue....for what i want to say is: <em>You are Irish, Act Like It, If Anyone, and i Mean ANYONE pinches you, take them down...you are a fighter, don't forget it</em>....</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #006600;">support your local irish artists:</span> </span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718286731274824866" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6bugARO2iY/T1tvfD13LKI/AAAAAAAAEEY/it0GJ0AqZeA/s400/irish%2Beyes.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 279px;" /> <br />
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<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="color: #006600; font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">www.dallison.squarespace.com/</span></a> </div>
diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-60219851040878194212012-02-02T10:19:00.002-05:002012-02-02T10:22:57.524-05:00my valentines gift to you...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4aOOtSI4JI/TyqpuWo5PHI/AAAAAAAAEEM/WbFeGRXus6Q/s1600/valentine.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704558491834334322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4aOOtSI4JI/TyqpuWo5PHI/AAAAAAAAEEM/WbFeGRXus6Q/s400/valentine.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">i just love valentines....i'm truly an old fashioned type of girl....love the candy, flowers and valentines....the tradition of sending a valentine to those you love i find so sweet...<br /><br />celebrate valentines with me; my valentine to you is a $25.00 savings on a hand painted game board....i pour lots of love into each and every piece that i craft, thinking of you and your home every step of the way. you are loved and treasured...<br /><br /><br />happy valentines! (special expires wednesday, february 15th)...... </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">to browse game boards, here's my link: <span style="font-size:180%;"></span><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">diane allison-stroud</span></a></p><br /><br /></span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-2544949053200912602012-01-12T10:29:00.005-05:002012-01-12T10:51:33.047-05:00but i don't want to....<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4xJbeuudnI/Tw7_528dzVI/AAAAAAAAED0/NIP8zLzLGHs/s1600/glitter%2Bsunglasses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696771948137008466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4xJbeuudnI/Tw7_528dzVI/AAAAAAAAED0/NIP8zLzLGHs/s400/glitter%2Bsunglasses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fa509FxpAQ/Tw7_5FMAwKI/AAAAAAAAEDs/DylTZPnu_yQ/s1600/IMG_1018.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">as 2012 approached us, i just didn't want to change to a new year....i pretty much was trying to stick my feet in the sand and resist the pull of another year. i don't recall doing this in the past, i remember feeling anticipation to see what the new year would bring to our lives...but i liked 2011 and wanted to stay there...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i didn't pull out a 2012 calendar until just days ago thinking that days may go ahead and slip away, but i wasn't going to acknowledge it...so i stayed a bit longer...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">but now i'm carefully and cautiously getting in a groove of beginning a new year....fighting it, yes, but taking a step forward in my own stubborn way....</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i've been cleaning the studio and have much reorganizing to do before i welcome 2012, for i like to have a clean slate that i can fill with creative thoughts of color, music and ideas....so i'm giving myself the next couple of days, for i will begin 2012 on monday, january 16th, because i can if i want too...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696771950907218258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_2HnHg7OPU/Tw7_6BQ72VI/AAAAAAAAEEA/1u88pYryJsk/s400/happy%2Bface.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family:arial;">here's my link in case you want me to dive in: <a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;">dallison.squarespace.com/<br /></span></a></span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-69865391597655466632011-12-24T11:40:00.002-05:002011-12-24T11:48:58.854-05:00O Holy Night<span style="font-family:arial;">my hopes for you and your families are that each of you feel the joy in your hearts this season...that a child shares a moment that was long put away in your own heart, that you are surrounded by family and friends that love you and when you look into the sky you think of the journey long before you...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_DbZWRSDdIw?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" height="344" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-52948654385605875522011-11-02T11:57:00.008-04:002011-11-02T14:07:24.788-04:00she's here! a new piece<span style="font-family:arial;">finally i can formerly introduce the new gee's bend piece that you've been hearing about....</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670435293249836082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0zBMqqJ4mc8/TrFu2x_-lDI/AAAAAAAAECE/wS5vCUlRmTQ/s400/qunnie%2Bpettway%2B-%2Bhousetop.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">i think this must be one of my favorite pieces, for there is nothing more striking than red and white together...i love red and white quilts so i'm not surprised that this piece is one of my favorites...</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670430329180396450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3KCdA__yGbo/TrFqV1ZmG6I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/bF-Dh8ol_Q8/s400/qunnie%2B%25232.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"qunnie" - is her name, dedicated to Qunnie Pettway, wife, mother and quilter....</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">bright red (but not to bright, and antique white for warmth)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">$210.00 + shipping....</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">small edition of 15 pieces, then retired (only 12 left at this time)<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670430332431342018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt1b5kYQ0vs/TrFqWBgrmcI/AAAAAAAAEBc/SwhMF7cJ2ZY/s400/qunnie%2Bclose-up.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670430354767627186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDuSEgW07-4/TrFqXUuEQ7I/AAAAAAAAEB0/19Dlh4pW0XQ/s400/qunnie%2Bgrouping.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">if you would like to order "qunnie", just let me know and i'm more than happy to make it for you to enjoy for the december holidays...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670430344936856834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9GDKUjWFZs/TrFqWwGOnQI/AAAAAAAAEBo/cWp01RAMXbs/s400/IMG_1123.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">if you would like to read more about this pieces inspiration, read the earlier blog below.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">or to browse other pieces, here's my link: <span style="color:#660000;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/">dallison.squarespace.com/</a></span><span style="color:#660000;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span></p>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-37306139421090757872011-10-26T19:07:00.011-04:002011-10-26T19:49:23.898-04:00a new gee's bend...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuC1UdvkvFA/TqiZpUiCjGI/AAAAAAAAEBE/YMbKUzFyzjI/s1600/map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667949066210937954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuC1UdvkvFA/TqiZpUiCjGI/AAAAAAAAEBE/YMbKUzFyzjI/s400/map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i thought, well the holidays are coming, i should do something special in the studio....a new piece of some sort...then it struck me a new gee's bend piece would be not only a creative challenge but so special this time of year...so as my fingers went page to page, talking to my mom all the way in florida over the phone saying, 'what do you think of this one, what about this one (for she too has her own book)', i finally decided...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">the new piece is named: Qunnie after the quilter Qunnie Pettway who was born in 1943. the piece that inspired me was her 'housetop' quilt, circa 1975.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667944838824905234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OCYg8Dp9WTI/TqiVzQSqyhI/AAAAAAAAEAs/57YixwQ3J9U/s400/qunnie%2Bpettway%2B-%2Bhousetop.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">here's a small glimpse of the area of gee's bend where she lives; taken from 'the quilts of gee's bend'...(2002 Tinwood Books). Qunnie is on the right in this photo.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">"The neighborhood has been home to many of the area's most important quiltmakers. On one of its streets, a little dogleg land of no more than 600 feet, in Roosevelt-era 'project' houses, live Leola Pettway, Lucy T. "Lunky" Pettway, Annie Bell Pettway, Arlonzia Pettway, and Lizzie Major. There will be no ongoing legacy here: the youngest quiltmakers in Sodom, and the only two even moderately active ones, are Rita Mae Pettway and Qunnie Pettway, ages sixty and fifty-nine.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">tonight as i was reading through the book gathering information and searching the internet for more history on Qunnie, I sadly came to her recent obituary. i was truly saddened for this life that is now gone, but her work and inspirations will live on. my new game board takes on an even more special tone to me, for i hope i did her proud...</span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667944844183547362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxpvqXoQeTc/TqiVzkQRLeI/AAAAAAAAEA0/tmunw8j004Y/s400/qunnie%2Bpettway.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Qunnie Pettway:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>"The great-granddaughter of Dinah Miller who is said to have arrived in the United States aboard a slave ship from Africa - the Clotilde which docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama prior to the Civil War. Qunnie learned to quilt House Tops under the tutelage of her mother, Candis Pettway. In 1960 after she married, she found her unique artistic voice and began making patterned quilts including Wedding Ring - which she learned from her sister - Chestnut Bud, Bear Paw and Crazy Z. Qunniea’s daughter, Loretta P. Bennett is one of the youngest quilters actively creating extraordinary quilts today."</div><br /><br /><br /><div>the painted piece is on the drying racks...it will be a week or so before i can post my 'inspired gee's bend' game board...</div><br /><br /><br /><div>to see other game boards, here's my link: <span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"><a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/">dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-27664080620399574872011-10-20T07:12:00.010-04:002011-10-20T08:03:28.716-04:00and after hours and hours of waiting....<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcY5qWBP8Ho/TqAKx6ivm0I/AAAAAAAAEAU/ooi5Wbbp0NY/s1600/baret_boisson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665540183876934466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcY5qWBP8Ho/TqAKx6ivm0I/AAAAAAAAEAU/ooi5Wbbp0NY/s400/baret_boisson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://baretboisson.com/"><span style="color:#336666;">(painting by: baret boisson, american artist)<br /></span></a></span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">the President of the United States of America, the Commander in Chief, the 44th American President - in other words, the top dog...came through our little town, made a quick stop and headed down the mountain...</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665538101456891922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-esoked-uKWU/TqAI4s7HcBI/AAAAAAAAD_c/GG6zt_cpoS8/s400/IMG950084.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">i cannot tell you how exciting this happening was for all of us, for nothing like this ever, and i mean ever happens up here. schools were let out early, children were gathered, fed and hauled back out to line the streets.</span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">helicopters, state troopers, sheriff and police cars, hummed by with lights and sirens blaring....(and i pretty much can say, that our local departments had sirens on for just the thrill of it, for they were running up and down the streets an hour before the motorcade arrived). boys will be boys at any age...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">so i packed up eli, and my friends 3 boys and headed to an empty building at the beginning of town...knowing if he took any turn at all, we wouldn't miss him....the police stopped by and blocked it off and therefore us in, but said that we could stay there, i guess he probably thought 4 boys, and took mercy...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665538121492391090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0O12hq37Sk/TqAI53j85LI/AAAAAAAAEAI/hwFBtnAr8ZA/s400/IMG_1098.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">an hour went by, then more, then more cars with sirens....and finally the bus turned the curve....we jumped (well not me), up and down, waved madly (yep, that was me), and in all of 4 minutes it was over...</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665538116193170402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21HAY9Q9wXY/TqAI5j0hM-I/AAAAAAAAD_4/N_fAksvh48I/s400/IMG_1101.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">a moment of history captured in these young boys hearts....forever</span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665538094935496018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evtJwHch6iE/TqAI4UoS1VI/AAAAAAAAD_U/9y534cBLpv0/s400/road%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bfall.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i doubt there will ever be another President to come through, but you never know...we did show him our southern mountain hospitality at the candy barrel though, and eli did hold up the painting that <a href="http://baretboisson.com/"><span style="color:#cc6600;">baret boisson</span></a> did for him that hangs in his room....so maybe he will pass the word on....</span></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665543022144217794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uI0h0-l26gE/TqANXH6ZYsI/AAAAAAAAEAg/YgdG_Lsfk14/s400/bullsye.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">if you need some fall or winter color for your home, here's my link: <a href="http://dallison.squarespace.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">diane allison-stroud</span></a></span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div></div><br /></div>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-77053339279191774372011-10-02T08:25:00.007-04:002011-10-02T10:53:15.261-04:00and as i opened the box...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658873074199632722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bkeen_MnXF0/TohbFDixG1I/AAAAAAAAD-8/LTiluaNoL7U/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i know exactly how each and every one of you feel when you open your door and find to your glee a box of carefully packed game boards for your home....the excitement of cutting the tapes, pulling out the stuffing until finally you reach the piece that you had envisioned...holding it up before you, looking at every detail....and oh my you must think, color!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">i too....excitedly opened my box, with a smile from ear to ear....my heart pounding in glee, for i had no idea, not really, what mylette had painted for me....and as i pulled, tugged and it finally gave in to me, my eyes danced with happiness, as i giggled with my new love....</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658873070746275842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTGp6xfjl2g/TohbE2rbEAI/AAAAAAAAD-0/-D_wmHaRk48/s400/IMG_1075.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">belle ~ in all her splendor...! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#663366;"><em><strong>mylette welch</strong></em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">hit the target of our belle....from lying on my favorite pillows on the couch, to the bling heart necklace eli bought her for valentines day....and please note that slight curve of her mouth, for she is smiling; you may beg to differ saying, dogs don't smile, but i have watched her do this a thousand times and she really is using extra muscles to pull her mouth into a smile for me....the colors are simply stated; amazing, the technique of mylette's work is full of depth and our hearts combined, how else could she see it so clearly?....i couldn't have been more surprised nor elated with her vision of our belle...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658875019683753106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq2QCTnphmw/Tohc2TCU7JI/AAAAAAAAD_E/0qAlVNQlh9A/s400/IMG_1077.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">when eli asked me to tell mylette that belle 'needed' a jeweled crown, mylette explained to me that she has found that it is better not to 'dress' our 'loved ones' for she said she has found that people tire of that overtime....and she didn't want us to tire of belle's portrait....eli understood this - an artist is an artist and they hold on to their beliefs...so he was ok with it...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">so you can imagine eli's surprise when he helped unwrap belle's portrait and found to his delight a jeweled crown of hearts....fitting in so many ways...</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">there is nothing like a boy and his dog....</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658875027099639554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCZGekWuBEQ/Tohc2uqaXwI/AAAAAAAAD_M/xgZwPEuRMnw/s400/IMG_1002.JPG" border="0" /></p></span><span style="font-family:arial;">thank you so very very much mylette - you have captured belle's heart intermingled with ours....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">please check out mylette's studio/website, i bet you will begin to smile...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.mylettewelch.com/">Mylette Welch </a></span></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></p><br /><div align="center"><br /></div></span></span>diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949339689620997087.post-76411817800819971692011-08-16T12:32:00.011-04:002011-08-16T13:09:04.030-04:00goodbye sweet sweet summer...
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<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPFdDRVpGaI/TkqgRiawGRI/AAAAAAAAD-c/tr8vo5GNGu8/s1600/campfire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641497706392197394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPFdDRVpGaI/TkqgRiawGRI/AAAAAAAAD-c/tr8vo5GNGu8/s400/campfire.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">yes, i do have to say goodbye to the sweetest of summers...as much as i want to fight the next season from coming, just a bit longer...i must say goodbye.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">life has changed drastically in just a week for school has started and football season has started...need i s-p-e-l-l it all out....you know <em>exactly</em> what i mean. schedules, papers and more schedules...organization, rules and no more running amuck.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">humfff....i do get a bit of rebel going on in me still at my age, for our leisurely evenings have changed to watching the clock and repeating myself to 'you know who', shower, read, bed, homework and on and on.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but i'm optimistic this year ~ i think all will be well and everyone will enjoy the upcoming fall season...and i will be snuggling myself in the studio painting at a nice and easy pace...and in the back of my mind i am thinking of winter...and preparing for it...as i sit here and stretch like a cat, i am thinking of what's to come...and trying not to...</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">the great news in the studio today is that finally the round game boards AND the chinese checkers are now available. these are really my favorite pieces to make and i think it's for the sheer reason that they are so difficult to finish, but when they are done, WOW, i just love them. i love the chinese checker pieces because they have texture and they take me back to when i was a little girl playing on the floor with my grandpa...i guess no matter how old we are we can go back and be 5 again, even if it's just for a little while...</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">if you are in need of some color for your home or a gift, here's my link:</span>
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<br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><a href="http://www.dallison.squarespace.com/">www.dallison.squarespace.com</a></span></div>
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<br />diane allison-stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781679617424590143noreply@blogger.com4