early american life magazine...

A HUMONGOUS THANK YOU to Early American Life Magazine, it's writer, Gregory LeFever and their photographers and models for the December issue!

I thought it was just a little walk to the mailbox to pick up whatever was there, i wasn't really expecting anything exciting....but there was the envelope, with copies and copies and more copies of the upcoming December issue of the magazine...

I knew the upcoming article on game boards and artists would be coming out, but i had no idea that it was going to be such an in depth story of game boards, their origins, and inside funny stories of their life here on this planet, i learned so much in this 10 page article, and saw antique boards that made my eyes dance! The writer, Gregory LeFeber was so much fun to talk with - i try really hard to sound 'somewhat' intelligent during an interview, and not to be tooo nervous...for i don't prepare - for i have found, with me, it's better to just wing it so that my stress level does stay low....and Gregory wrote such a nice piece on me, my beliefs and my own history that it sounds like we were just chatting away...

The photographs are fun - full of history and color, children dressed in period clothing in the 1798 cabin is just so neat...

So be sure to go out and find your copy if you don't subscribe to it....Early American Life Magazine is truly the place to search out those pieces that you would want to invest in and pass on as heirlooms within your own family, for if EAL supports you, it truly does make the statement that you are one of the top crafters in our country....a treasure...

Come celebrate with me as i craft a piece for your family to treasure:

www.dallison.squarespace.com/

two new pieces to introduce...

i have two newly completed pieces to share with you - the first one is 'happy birthday' - as you know i gave a small preview in september to show you what i was working on for eli's upcoming november birthday....here is the final finished piece....

the original game board that i based this on is from the midwest circa 1920's....the original piece held a tin drawer and was decorated with not only paint but with paper...

my version below i plan to change up just a small bit - i will make the dabs of paint in the inner square and outer circle to be a bit larger to seem more like confetti - for this was the feeling that i had when i painted it - a confetti party on a board....

this will be a limited edition of 25 only - $210.00 + shipping and is 19" x 19"

the colors are a nice blue, my traditional barn red, off white with a touch of a warm tan.

if you feel that you would like one - let me know, for i think they will go fast with being a 'birthday' board.

the 2nd piece to introduce is a checker board - it too is 19" x 19"

my original design

and titled "grace"

$190.00

using my traditional barn red, tan, gold and a nice green which i call wedgwood green....it really is a pretty piece....

this will be an open edition - for i think adding a checker to collections give such a nice graphic look in a grouping or it can hold it's own displayed all on it's own...

if you would like to place an order - just email me or give me a call - 828-265-0977....thanks again for all of your support!

I will be showing you a recently published article from the "early american life" magazine that will be coming out very soon....they had some great photos of my work and a nice interview too! so a big THANKS to early american life....more on that next week though...

here's my link to my site if you would like to browse:

www.dallison.squarespace.com/

i don't know what i love more...

i don't know if i love teenage boys or college boys more....i find both 'species' highly amusing....eli being 10 now, 'going on 14', isn't hugging me anymore...instead he chooses to kind of bump smack dab into me until i reach around and hug him....the prelude to a teenager.... and being lucky enough to live just one block from our local small university - i am always entertained with the goings on that i see when i drive by, whether it's sidewalk performances, gatherings of music or seeing a boy early morning in only pajama bottoms trying to get back to his dorm - the age is just wonderful to watch...







an update on today's blog: hubby called after dropping eli at school this morning laughing and laughing...he said when he dropped him off a group of junior high school girls turned around and yelled 'it's eli!'....eli's back immediately stiffened and he had the half smirk that he is known for (his internal embarrassment sign)...all 3 girls came up and wrapped their arms around this smirking stiff boy....he quickly got away from them and headed into class...the principal viewed all of this with a smirk on her own face....ahhhh....boys are just so fun to watch! (and annoy)...

it's a toss-up, don't you think?

my september...

hubby's birthday...

yes, that's eli at football...

mom, dad and i searched for barn quilts for an afternoon...

mom's birthday....

dad's birthday...

eli's cotillion (and yep, i am just that mean of a mom)



davey's birthday...

davey practicing the cello for eli....



eli 'finally' practicing....

as i said in my last post, september is full of fun, family and travels...i thought i'd share with you my month in photos...hope you enjoyed being part of my family!

http://dallison.squarespace.com/

so my site name has changed...

as you know, my old site: dallisongameboards - is gone....and there is a reason why....

a long long time ago i had a web designer - i eventually created my own site later using the 'squarespace' company for the reason that i can update my site on my own....i have that annoying personality trait of wanting everything done NOW - so it just has worked better for me...

so after my new site was built i attached a link from my old site to my new site - (it's one of those mysterious things that can be done without the viewer even knowing it)...and that link would automatically take you over to my newer site with just a click...

my 'old' site expired....(previously i would buy the name for 3 years and then renew it when it came time)....because the original information was in the hands of my old web designer, i was not able to renew it on my own...i spoke to the company explaining this to them and they said they were not able to help me, that when it expired then i could buy it...i told them it had expired, they informed me 'when it really expires'....huh???


so here's what happens then....









there are companies out there that sit and wait until your site expires "really expires" i guess....then they jump in and buy it for somewhere around $5 and hold it hostage....yep, it is true, very sad, but true...

so i was offered the chance to buy my old name back at the ransom of $300....


of course it is an 'integrity' thing, which i'm very fond of hanging my hat on....friends gave me their input - you've spent years building up that site name, pay the $ and be done with it, you will loose your customers, people will think you've gone out of business!!









- can't can't do that...can't pay off these name-nappers....so that's just the way it will be...i realize it is only $300 for the many years of hard work and promotions with country living magazine - but i just can't give in to even this small injustice...


funny (or really not) - i talked to a writer who has worked for major companies in the past - he said the same thing has happened to fortune 500 companies - even to the point that the name-nappers have threatened to put 'undesirable' sites on their old site....he said they spoke to their attorneys and agreed not to give in to the name-nappers -


so in the end you name-nappers - whether you are trying to con a billion dollar company or a teeny tiny one - you just lost $5.00!


and that's all i have to say....



so here is the new and always available site:


dallisonsquarespace.com

or you can always type in diane allison + game boards and you will see my site...

my....how time speeds on by...

i cannot believe it is october - my favorite month of the year, but really, how can this be? i saw my last post was about a month ago....september for us is full of birthdays, family visits, football games, festivals and running around with friends...i guess that's why it has already come and gone...

i love the colors of fall; yellows orange and reds...everyday when i peek out the window there is something new to admire. this is when i just can't stop decorating around the house, orange is MY color if i ever had one, add some black to that and WOW! i also start nesting, pulling out the throws and pillows of the season. i think what i love the most is that i can enjoy 2 full months of pumpkins, mums and ORANGE!

i'm soooo busy in the studio - whether i'm decorating your homes, making christmas gifts, or new clients that have tripped across my site in the vast world of google - (which always amazes me!) there is never a lull...

i will be introducing 2 new boards next week for your eyes to dance about on....so check back then to take a peek...

if you were thinking you might like a piece to tuck under your tree or a friends, let me know for i'm coming close to not being able to insure a december delivery...

breathe in the changed air, cook some wonderful warm fall foods and enjoy this most beautiful time of the year with me....(ohhhh, that just made me think of pumpkin pie!, i must make one of those tonight!)

happy birthday my sunshine...

happy 27th my sunshine....you are just more than words can say....

a sneak peek at a new design

happy birthday!

i sat down to paint a reproduction game board this morning....and as i was staring at the original design i glanced to another piece...i was wooed right away, for it reminded me of confetti, of parties and birthdays...

i decided to paint this piece instead - for it was a fun design...

here is a peek of a bit of it after one sanding and one staining....it will change as you know after i do more finishing on it - but until then - think 'happy birthday' for that is the name that grabbed me while i was painting this piece...





i do believe i will change up the dots a bit - my first piece is always a play with color and design and then i fine tune it as i go...but i thought the dots needed more impact to be more of a happy birthday piece - so i will change that some on the next one...



the original design is from the 1920's - and it is thought to be midwestern...and if you are lucky enough to have 'the game' honoring american baseball - this goes just perfect with it and i will hang them both together in eli's room....(keep it a secret, for it's for his birthday!)



this too will be a limited edition of just 25 pieces....
19" x 19"
$200.00
colors are an antique white, red and blue






if you would like to browse other pieces - here's my link....

http://dallison.squarespace.com/

so when have i ever listened?

ok - so i'm talking to this "man from within", you know the man who knows whats really going on out there in the art world? the one who can tell you if you are good or not, if you are on the right track or give you snip its of good advice?

his take on my work, the woods that i use, my designs and my 'bio' as far as being a country living guild artist, selected into the early american life directory of traditional artists, magazine spreads and working with sundance catalog - he clearly stated: your prices are to low - you need to raise them...

hmmmmm....i told him i disagreed with him (so shocked aren't you?) - he said he is out there, and my prices are to low, especially for limited editions...

so as always, i confer with my parents, and my husband, they agree with him, since he 'knows'....hmmmm....

well, me being me - it takes me some time to agree with others most of the time. i will go over their advice over and over again, until maybe at some point i agree. but until then - i wanted to give all of you a special thank you gift just to show you that i'm well aware, that each and every one of you has played such a role in my being able to do what i love, art and family...

so here's a $25.00 coupon (no expiration date, just mention it to me) - for your next 'i must have a game board' mood...(this sale is on any piece that you desire that isn't already sold out...and that is $25.00 off of each piece you order, so order more if you need an arrangement for your home!)

i am now limiting myself to only 9 pieces a month beginning in september - still trying to keep my work down to less than 100 a year...the less i do, the more your pieces will raise in value - and that's a good thing for you!

if you would like a piece...please let me know....and here's my link to browse:

http://www.dallisonsquarespace.com/

GHS BAND.avi

Greeneville, TN high school marching band needs new uniforms but the cost has doubled in the last 12 years and they can't afford the $40,000 price tag. They've put up a video to help raise funds on youtube and a sponsor has promised to pay .25 cents for each viewing. So please view this video and pass this on to your friends to help these kids out. They really did a great job on the video which is based on Summer Love from Grease....lots of fun to watch.

i'm not sure if they receive monies for watching the large link - so click on the smaller one above in purple just in case.

have you ever just had one of those days?

ok....it all began around 6:30 this morning...early to rise, early bird catches the worm, sunrises and good thoughts, right?

well i have a long long list of things to do before 7:15 when eli heads off to school - take the dog out, feed the dog, make eli breakfast and lunch, get him dressed and ready for school and remind him of a million things...

this morning belle just wouldn't have going down through the studio to go out....oh noooo....this is not the system that she likes - she much prefers to use the front door 'thank you very much' and not head out to the backyard in the early morning...

i ran down the steps of the studio calling and calling her....and saw that there she was just sitting up at the top of the stairs staring at me...that 'you've got to be kidding me' look that she does to me....i encouraged, begged and pleaded, going back and forth between the door and back to the stairs promising her a joyful time out back...and all i got back was her preceding to lay down in the hall...

little did i know - she had left me a bit of her 'middle of the night' bad behavior to walk through in the dark studio....normally, belle can be very very sneaky....she will head down to my studio in the wee hours of the night if she feels like it....being naughty on the only carpet we have in the house...but we always hear her creep down the stairs and hubby and i fly up and out of bed to take her out...but we had the air on last night, and didn't hear a darn thing...

so to my dismay - 20 minutes later - i noticed that i had walked up and down the stairs, through the studio, into eli's room back down the hall and into the kitchen (in my very favorite sandals)...leaving little footprints behind...

that was the beginning...

on the way to school today, eli told me he is studying south america and signed up for my cooking south american food for his class....this, the mother who burns anything i touch, even my fingers...

ok....so far it 7:45 a.m.

by 10:00 my printer was having a breakdown....i spent an hour on line trying to fix it with all 'their' tricks and promises....but finally found i just needed to add some more ink...honestly, i'm just trying to do my shipping today....and it's not looking good...i head out to staples, my favorite friendly people place, pick out my ink color and head off to pay....well, you know today, that just isn't going to be really successful for me, don't you....my debit card was declined...i assured the young man (12 i think)...that i really really do have money, he assured me that he knew just that, but i would have to pay another way...i wanted to give him a check, but thought that might just be a flat out "NO" from him....so off i go....

i got home and pulled up my account - as shocking as it was - i didn't have a dime in my account after all - but hey, i do believe i asked the bank to hook my checking acct. to my savings acct. a year ago in case i ever make a mistake - so i called them and told them just that...well she was soooo nice, and sorry, and gave me my charges back - and then asked me did i want to sign up for this new really neat savings account while i'm on the phone - well it sounded like a fun way to save money, so i said 'you bet'....she said just a second, let me transfer you....well, it just went beep beep beep in my ear....nobody was there...typical of today....

went to do my shipping and pick up eli from school - i neglected to take the boxes with me....we ran back home asap so we wouldn't miss the fedex hero in our life...and phewwwww - that actually worked out...

on the way home - eli had told a friend that he would type up a paper for him since his friend had soccer practice tonight....as he hit the keyboard, nothing happened....keyboard died....changed the batteries, called my computer friend...nothing happened....changed the batteries again, and wallaaaaaa...here we are...

so i had better sign off so he can do his typing, and later i will be surfing for south american food to cook - oh yes, "it's due on friday mom" he said....

if you would like to browse some art, here's my link: www.dallisonsquarespace.com

i'm baaack...

after a much needed spoiling session by my parents, i'm back in the mountains working in the studio again....i still am feeling disorganized but little by little things will settle in... but while i was gone i talked to my oldest son, davey....he said he was on youtube - now let me tell you a little about davey - he has a giving kind heart and is an amazing musician....he is that musician that plays by 'ear', that writes his own music, that lays down bed after bed of music and then puts it altogether...he can't read a note of music, for he never had to learn, so has created his own 'code' that he writes with...

and shy shy shy about it - i push and push for him to go out and play around town, to put his work on youtube; to take a chance.....'ahhhhhh' is always his answer...so when a friend of his was over, his friend taped him playing and put it on youtube....phew, i say, finally....

here's a bit:

a proud mama i am!

and if you have noticed that my site isn't up and running (expired) - that is something that i'm trying to accomplish this week (renewal) - so until then here is a direct link to my site that you can use:

http://dallison.squarespace.com/

the salt breeze is calling me....

i'm off for a quick trip down to see my mom and dad....will do wonders for this confused state of mind....

i promise i will be right back

new game board

the game

it's finally here - after some difficulty getting myself into the game, the new piece is here and ready to show to you...come celebrate the all american sport with me - baseball - springs and summers filled with baseball, swimming and fireflies - this piece brings back memories of my own summer nights as a kid and the late games with my own children, and hopefully one day, with my own grandchildren.... i think this is my favorite piece for it is wrapped in thoughts of my past, present and future...


"the game"

original piece - circa 1930 baseball diamond decoration - dart board

19" x 19"

Russian Birch - North Carolina Poplar

Limited Edition of 30 Pieces

$200.00 + shipping

only 12 are still available

if you would like to order - please send me an email - or give me a call - 828-265-0977 - and i will be happy to make one for you...

to view other designs, here's my link: http://www.dallisongameboards.com/

i've been singing around the house....

this week i find myself singing around the house - (to the dismay of others)....sadly i do not believe that any note that i hit is actually on key, but it still makes ME happy to sing as i'm going along doing this and that....if i had one wish, just one - it would be to have a beautiful voice that uplifts others....

until then....

i find myself singing hallelujah over and over again, off key, for summer is here, and school is finally out....

to keep me busy in the studio, here is my link: www.dallisongameboards.com

it's a good world we live in...

sometimes it feels like we get bogged down in our daily lives, my list is so so long....and i notice that i don't notice some things; the buds on a plant, how blue the sky is and on and on; for some weeks my life is a whirlwind and i have to remind myself constantly, take time to smell the roses....




and sometimes we stumble upon someone who lifts us, who inspires us, who brings energy right into our bodies as we listen to them....this is what happened when i was watching the oprah show....and she introduced will i. am from the black eyed peas....well i think we ALL know who the black eyed peas are - and can sing right along with them...

now i don't know will. i. am - but my take was he was a pretty shy guy - seemed down to earth - seemed kind, there really was a sweetness about him...and then he announced what he's been doing 'off camera' to help others...he began the "i.am home" fund. listening to him say that he really had enough money (and he was so humble about this) - along with his belief of people having a home being so important to him - he started the "i.am home" fund with his own money....

here's a blip on it:

will.i.am created the i.am home fund to help those in jeopardy of losing their homes due to the economic crisis in the U.S.
"Growing up I dreamt that one day I'd be able to buy my mom a house and take care of my family. I realized that dream and experienced the positive effect giving back had on my family. Now I am compelled to help others who are in jeopardy of losing their homes and inspire others to join the movement. The collapse of the housing market and the economic crisis has left millions in jeopardy of losing their homes. The crisis awakened a personal mission to create the i.am home fund to save people facing the very real problem of foreclosure and homelessness."
- will.i.am

imagine that - imagine what this one man has caused....it's pretty amazing...

here's eli's favorite song by the way - (version done for oprah) - it seems to be the chant of the 4th graders at his school - how appropriate that this one man and band touches all ages in a positive manner...








here's a link to his site: i.amhome fund

his intentions are just to do this with his own money - his hopes and dreams are that others will be stirred by this opportunity and give too - giving shelter to all americans....imagine starting there and sheltering the world one day...

creating is a messy business...

as you know - sometimes you have to make a really big mess to get to where you want to go... and that is what happened in the studio yesterday - the storm before the calm, so to speak...

here is a sneak peek at the new 'baseball' dart board, titled "the game"....

after drawing, erasing and drawing again - experimenting to find the perfect mix of color, not to dark or to light - i was happy with the way this piece turned out...

some of my work screams drama, for i tend to be pulled in by the deeper shades....this piece is a good mix of deep colors, as well as fun colors to make it just pop enough - and after i add the stains and waxes it will be toned down to a warm piece.

i think a good mix of summer days and nights...

it will be about a week or more before the woodwork is completed and i can show the final piece to you....but i will add a photo of the piece when i'm done - and if you would like a piece for your own collection, to commemorate the american past time, or to honor your children in their own times of playing ball - just let me know...this too will be a limited piece, as sadly this time in their lives is limited...

enjoy this most wonderful time of year...

www.dallisongameboards.com