folk art by....jessie lavon

funny thing....i met jessie here on my blog...she left comments and gave me her site info. to look at her work....that is one of the nice things about blogging...you meet many new people which is always fun....and you also see new artwork from artists that you never had the chance to talk to yet...

as you can see jessie's work is purely folk art...she's from alabama, and her inspiration is from her many years growing up on a farm...her art takes her in many directions....

i chose this piece to share with you because of the blog from before....how one person views a piece...and what about the name? the name jessie chose for this is crossroads....her interpretation isn't really that far from my crossroads piece...i do not include religion in my piece though, however, they both are about the humanness of having to make a choice with ones life...

jessie said this to be the southern story of the crossroads...."The conjure arts is the study of using herbs and roots to heal the sick,WAS PASSED DOWN FROM MY GREAT GRAND MOTHER ON DOWN TO ME.I was told that folks used to go down to the crossroads with a black cat bone and sell their sold to the devil for a gift like playing music or singing. look on my web page where all my art is and you will see a painting of the crossroads."....which i've included above...

if memory serves me correctly one of the first recorded delta blues musicians, robert johnson, i believe it to be sometime in the 30's....hit the road with his guitar....and as folklore has it....he sold his soul to the devil for the mastery of his guitar...

funny how history goes way back....and is also connected to yet an uncreated idea in the future....

i put a link to jessie's page to the left which goes to her blog....you can reach her artwork site from her blog....you will really enjoy looking at her work, in the purest form of folk art.

thanks jessie for all the fun mail!! have a great day everybody! diane

did you ever wonder....

have you ever wondered how i come up with the names for each design? there are several ways but they all lead back to my childhood or what i've learned along the way...


before me....is dedicated to the woman before me who have so painstakingly cleared the path for me to have the choice to do what i love...


i have attached a poem expressing that on the piece with an old photo of my great grandmother, jessie. when i saw the original picture of this board dated to the 1880's, i felt that the center symbolized the garden, and the different paths each one took, the upper gold corner represents the light that they are searching for, while the lower eggplant corner symbolized the growth that has not yet come to fruition....

i was discussing with another artist the other day over coffee and bananas (i know, rather strange), and jenni is preparing for her opening of a piece that will be shown in a matter of weeks...

she has traveled to europe and to her old roots in the north, tracking down unknown relatives, filming, editing and recording their lives to include in this historical piece that she has created, which also includes history of her family through fabric art....


so how do you let the person who is viewing your work understand the whole meaning of the piece? do you leave it abstract, tell a little, tell nothing. i myself like to know something that gives the piece meaning if it isn't obvious, that links me emotionally to the piece....i don't want to be left standing thinking, what is that?, hmmmm....if an artist tells me instead that they created this piece to show the excitement and diverse colors of their childhood, then i smile instead of just walking away....and i'm involved then....and i will remember....


how do you feel, would you like to know as much as possible, a little, or is it not important to you if you just love it? let me know... diane

jennifer lanne......congratulations!!!

a BIG congratulations to my friend jennifer lanne...
she is now an earth angel, (which i have always known), but she is now working with jen, the leader of the angels and showing her work with earth angels!

you know i have gone on and on about jennifers wonderful work....her landscapes fill me with peace at the end of a hectic day...while her wonderful florals feel my heart with joy and hope....i've surrounded myself with her work throughout my home...it makes me happy...and i believe that's what art is all about...how it makes you feel, and how it becomes part of you by evoking certain feelings.

so i invite each and every one of you to look at her wonderful pieces, whether it's floral, fauna, landscapes or the priceless cherries in the bowl...at earth angels (link to the left....be sure to click on the paintings at earth angels to see jennifers work) i've already talked to jen this morning, and she said jennifer's pieces are flying out the door!! show your support for jennifer on her first day of angels...and always for earth angels, where jen brings american artists and their work to you!

have a great day! I'm so happy!!! good going jennifer!!

crossroads.....

i trashed it....again

you know i really am a messy person...but even i sometimes have to stop and clean up so that my mind and ideas can float free....when i left the studio last night, i took a look back...and i just thought....it's trashed.

my home and other life...as i like to call it...is always in chaos...but i have found over the past year (only took 12) to realize that if my studio is spick and span then i walk in with a joyful heart instead of a heavy heart...and as a reminder i have the glittery words, joyful hanging from my paint table...which is nothing fancy, just an antique door with paint peeling off...sitting on top of two old cupboards that a friend gave me...but i'm quite attached to it.

so the day of the artist today is to get my studio back in order...if your mind is always spinning with ideas, then i've found it best to have order outside of the brain! and i was also thinking of painting some walls in the studio....half is a perriwinkle and half is a light yellow color....so i'm thinking of painting some orange, or brownish yellow....and trim in a green or purple...now of course, i have a ton of other things to be doing...and in some ways more important...but i know me....and i have to love my studio to be creative...

so i'm off to the paint store....of course knowing this is not being done in the proper order...which is me all the time...and i'm going to browse to see what they have...and it looks like rain today, not a good day to paint, but sometimes you just have to be a rule breaker!

think of adding some color to your home this spring! diane

it's uncle sam!

oh what fun this is...to show off my friend mary myers and her work! i have just ordered uncle sam....what a wonderfully carved nutcracker from mary's collection, and i just can't wait to get him, i just love the eagle he is holding, and yes, his mouth really does open, isn't that amazing? he will look just wonderful on my mantle in the studio with my penny pitch board behind him...and i knew i needed to order him now to have him in time for summer.

i just love summer, and i love the 4th of july...it's a time where schedules don't have to be followed anymore, barefooted children chasing the fireflies, it just makes me feel good thinking about it...check out mary's site and look at her wonderful nutcracker carvings....and be sure to read her 'bio', she's a big deal out their in the land of artists! (she's listed to the left!) and if you are thinking YOU must have uncle sam too, you better order now....to make sure you have by july!

breathe in some spring today and listen to those birds.....diane

texas star....

what fun meeting new people...

as you can see by now, this blog is about all of us! how dull it would be for me to constantly be talking about me....so i feel the more 'characters' that are interwoven into my blog, the closer we will all be....it's like everyone having new faraway friends!

i was at the grocery store the other day and as i was loading the back of my car this 'older' woman pulled in beside me and got out and said, 'i'll take that in for you', (because thats just the way we are in this small town)....and i said, 'well thanks so much'....'it makes it easier for me to walk', she said...then she went on....but first i must describe her...she was dressed nicely, naturally pretty, but did have on some light makeup...and i would guess to be around 70....

she said, 'you know i'm 92...and i've had the most blessed life...i thank God everyday for giving me one more day...i have had the most blessed life....you have a great life...and then she went on...

well my mouth had about dropped....how did she do it i wondered.....and then as i was driving home, i thought....oh no, i didn't ask her what her secret was....thinking it must be a shot of whiskey, a cigar or something else that i'm not doing, and should start right away!....and as i drove i thought, she did tell me...it was her attitude, her being thankful for everything, and showing her thanks everyday....

i probably won't see her again....even in this small town....i wish i would've gotten her name so that i could've called her and asked her all about her life....and maybe some of her glow would rub off on me.

well i better get to work, lots of shipping to do, but first i'm going to put on a little make-up just in case....

count your blessings....diane

country living...

i just got off the phone with anne marie who called to interview me for the upcoming july issue of the magazine where i am featured as the 29th guild member. what an honor that is and what a wonderful commitment of country living to feature american craftsmen who are keeping traditional craft alive. so a big thank you to country living ...i know it will be beautiful with all of your talents blended together.

the interview made me sooo nervous though....but after awhile it was like talking to a new friend...it doesn't take long for two women on a phone to start acting like girls again! but i hope to meet her one day, we both left each other with open invitations...

i'm off and going down to the studio, have lots of dirty work to do today! adding molding and fill and some sanding! take care, diane

i just had to share this with you, i just LOVE it! nancy thomas has a new series, home and heart! and i know many of you collect her pieces, so if you haven't heard, this is what is next....i just love all that red!! you will have to check out her site, click her name to the left, under artists that i love....

what i myself especially love, is nancy's monthly series...and i like that she gives me a choice as to what the subject of the month is..., whether its children, natural beauty or animals....if you haven't seen nancy's work, i know you'll love it, it makes a room cheerful....so congrats to nancy, i can't wait to get mine!

well believe it or not, they are calling for snow again in the mountains....oh well, a touch of spring weather is how it always seems to go, before it truely sets in....i noticed today that the robins are back, and as happy as i am to see them return, i know that we will have at least one more good snow to make me worry about how they are doing! so today instead of opening the door in the studio, i built a fire to keep off the chill....and it probably will be the last one i'll have for a long time...

take care of yourself and yours...and have a great weekend! diane

just a note...

just wanted to add a note as to what has been going on in the studio...things are starting a life of their own it seems....opportunites coming from all directions...which is such a nice thing for me. it's been so much fun meeting some of you, via phone, i always feel like i've just made a new friend when i hang up. and it also makes it extra special for me to paint your pieces, because then i feel like i know you and that this piece is for a friend.

country living magazine finished up their shoot for the guild article...what fun that was....they work so hard....i was worn out from being over stimulated!, and they were still going 100 miles an hour! the magazine will have a feature showing my studio in the july issue.... there are so many beautiful pictures, it's hard to believe it's MY studio....so a big thanks to tisha, ryan and summer, we all had so much fun with you...and it was fun to see the process of your magazine.

i talked to jen of earth angels this morning....i don't know how she keeps up with it all! but i was ordering a piece that she had featured on her blog, (i saw it and just had to have it!) she said she is adding more artists work daily, so keep clicking on her site for shopping...(to the left)! the link will also take you to her blog....be sure to read 'have you ever had a day like this'....it's so funny...

i also talked to mary myers.....she was painting faces on her nutcrackers....what fun! i can't wait to get the uncle sam piece that i ordered....it will make the perfect touch in the studio this summer.

i'm working hard and long hours in the studio so many thanks to all of you who have found pieces that "you just have to have"! i just love being in my studio in the spring....i can leave the door open and get a wonderful breeze, and just outside i have a wonderful garden so i can take a walk and see what is starting to come up....today i noticed the bleeding hearts are making their way up.....i think they are my favorite...lifes not at all bad from my view...

oh, be sure to check out the april issue of country living that is just out....you will see many of my game boards in one of the featured homes! thanks so much country living, you are the best!

enjoy today....diane

blue ribbon quilt made by mom

mom...

i was asked in one of the previous comments if i am from a creative family....and if so, has that been a influence in my life as an artist...

my mom has been a huge influence for me from the very beginning.....

she made the most beautiful clothes every year for me to wear to school....and would surprise me with presents of her sewing throughout the years.

from basket weaving, sewing on a treadle machine, and spinning her own yarns on her beautiful spinning wheel....she showed me that there are so many things that one can love to make, along with that came that natural lesson of appreciation of handcrafted pieces, the time that was taken to create and the respect that should be given.

but quilting is her love, from the beautiful traditional to the awesome historical crazy quilts, with her collections in twined throughout....and the awesome embroidery stitching that she continues to amaze me with....yes, my mom has always been a major influence to me, she's my hero, and my best friend, whether she wants to be...

i was so happy and proud that once again, she received a first place ribbon for yet another of her beautiful crazy quilts at the quilt show....i am not surprised...i don't think you can win for the time and design alone, but for the love and the history that is stitched into her work.... so a big congrats. to my mom, i'm so proud of you! i will later attach a picture of the winning piece, so that you can all nod your head in agreement, that she is a wonderful artist.

good going mom!!!

what a treat!

what a treat i received from my talented artist friend jennifer lanne! what fun to unwrap something that you just know you are going to love forever, it's right up there with christmas morning....

i am on jennifer's email update list so i see immediately what new paintings she has just finished creating....and i know to let no time go between her updates and my letting her know 'i just have to have it'!

i love to surround myself in the evening with her paintings, they are so calming....and i honestly don't believe anybody can make clouds so beautifully.

so i wanted to share her wonderful talents with you, you can click on her site to the left and read all about her, and see the wonderful world that she has created for her and hers in the country living article, check out her pieces and sign-up for her emails too. thanks jennifer, i just love it!

i finally received my copy of the april country living magazine! i was so happy to see that game boards were everywhere! thanks so much tisha, you are the best! and thanks to all of you that have called and mailed....i wouldn't be able to live this artists life if it weren't for all of you!

also, thanks to jen o'connor for the beautiful FULL PAGE add you so beautifully designed in the april/may issue of home companion....you did a wonderful design to show off your little earth angels, which thankfully includes me! check earth angels site often, she is always getting new goodies in. her site is listed on the left....

today was a fun day of painting in the studio, along with making some molding to get ready to attach in a couple of days...there are so many steps to the process from beginning to the end of making a piece that i'm always in and out of the studio fooling around!

i guess i have that undeniable spring fever, head is spinning with new ideas to create and invite spring into my home.....i dance to just the thought of spring!

joy to you and yours....diane

what a beautiful spring day....

spring is officially here as far as i'm concerned.....the birds are back, so instead of waking to the still morning.....i am waking up smiling, happy to have the symphony outside my window... and the huge old poplar is beginning to bud....

i'm busy fixing up the studio "springy", moving game boards around the walls so that my immediate vision is full of bright colors, some colorful garlands here and there and some fresh tulips....it's a happy place to create. today i will be painting the gypsy game board, its so bright and colorful....this board isn't up on my site yet, but you can see it on my previous blog, the second one.

a big thank you to dawn....my web site creator.....dawn is fiddling here and there making some updates......poor dawn....is teaching at a university in france for 2 semesters, and then staying longer to travel around europe....lets all feel sorry for dawn....when she says "i'm tired of paris, i'd like to go out to the countryside"... but we web cammed each other, and it was so funny and wonderful to see my friend after all these months....

budding poplar tree

places for you to shop....

3/4 ..... sunday morning

today i woke to a dusting of snow. march is known for the heaviest snowfall. but as always i'm so hopeful that it will be different this year! the tulips and lilies are starting to push up. spring is such a hopeful season to me and i'm always amazed that it happens over and over!

i've been getting lots of e-mail from friends and fellow artists that i thought i'd share with you....wonderful new things from these artists....so check them out!

jen o'connor of earth angels, you may have seen her featured in the march country living, if not, be sure to read the article...she is busy getting lots of new art from her group of angel artists! many of the names i'm sure you are familiar with!

jennifer lanne....oh, such a talented painter! you may have read about her farm life in a recent country living feature....she has just updated her beautiful site with new paintings that are now available....i have many of her pieces.... beautiful flowers and moving landscapes throughout my home....once you're hooked....you're hooked!

mary myers...my nutcracker artist friend, has just completed her new hand carved line, with a focus on wonderful children's stories....3 little pigs and the big bad wolf you will die for! she is also updating her site so you will be able to get on her email update list! nutcrackers are not only for the holidays!

and a BIG thanks to nancy gerber, for helping me with figuring out the computer this week! nancy creates wonderful folky/primitive dolls and other fun things....you can find her on various artist sites! and another BIG thanks to lori ann baker, for her computer knowledge...lori creates wonderful handmade bears and hares, be sure to check her site out too!

and as for me...this week i will become a member of the traditional folk art online site...! and i'm very happy about that...what a wonderful group of artists to be walking with....

before i forget, i also heard from my friend, mary cates...of mary cates & co., dallas, (my old home place, and an awesome store)....the april issue of country living is in her hands with pictures of my game boards in a featured home! i'm anxious to see it myself, and don't you forget to take a peek!

i have a lot of fun things going on in the studio, and many of your boards will be coming to make their home with you soon! i hope you have a great week loving your family, friends and a joyful heart.

p.s. - mom you are SO funny!

3/2/07

well i've finally made it to the much talked about blogland....who would've thought...my thought process is veryyyyy long.....first i heard of 'blog', and didn't know what they were talking about.....then, i found out and thought, well that won't last....and then to my.....oh i'll never figure it out....to my most loved thought, oh that sounds like so much fun...i'll figure it out! and it is fun!!!

i hope to entertain you with my learning along the way, but i felt it was a much more fun way to stay in touch with all of you and send you pictures of my surroundings...

what will make this really fun, is hearing back from you, love those happy comments, and send photos of those game boards that are hanging in your homes too!! it's a beautiful sunny day, until the snow hits tomorrow.....so i'm off! diane