what a wonderful world...

song by louis armstrong....

the death of an american artist...

the wild dance of the american artist....

it's all around us...job after job is being cut from companies...people are scrambling right now to make ends meet...a shortage of food at the food banks...people loosing their homes, children having to drop out of college...groceries going up higher and higher....yes, it is everyday now...but honestly artists saw it and felt it more than a year ago...

artists have always been a vision of our society...the ones that would jump off a cliff to see how it will come out...a brave and unusual sort of person...perhaps a person that can't understand why you wouldn't jump with them...but as prices began to go up more than a year ago, artists were having to pay so much more for their supplies for their craft that they were forced to shut down...add suppliers closing too, just makes for added problems...costs of renting booths to sell your work is unaffordable in these times, stores that carry your work are closing...magazines that promote your work are closing....the promotions of 'the arts' in many states is falling rapidly...

yet you are trying to swim in circles at the least and stay out of the quicksand...

yes, it is happening to the american artists....slowly and surely artists are closing...thinking that this is the time that they must fall into line and be a little practical with the future, maybe do what their parents had always told them to do long long ago when they announced that they were going to be an artist...go back to school, and add to the already huge market of people applying for jobs...

over the summer i saw a new site in my own area....a potter had set up a table in a parking lot selling her wares...this was the first time i had seen anything like this before, anywhere. a sign of what is coming i'm afraid...many artists have gone back to school for a future 'career', some have taken on 'regular' jobs of any kind...both being forced to end their craft altogether...many spouses of artists have lost their jobs and the art is all that is supporting their family today...

i would dare say that an artist lives month to month...or at best season to season...for they are not in the "creating" for the money, they are called starving artists for a reason...they go against the grain of what is considered 'practical, good common sense", they are doing it because they can - making a living on what their imagination feeds them...what has been done for 100's of years before them...what today is called an entrepreneur...

and as 'flighty' as an artist may seem, within that mind is not only an inventor but a researcher, an accountant, a web designer, a shipping company, a marketing person, a photographer, a writer, an office manager, secretary, chairman of the board, housekeeper and goodwill ambassador to all....a person who wears many many hats, no wonder it seems like they are confused...

so when you are out there shopping for this and that...take to mind the american crafts person...pick up that card to send to a friend that is handmade...buy that jar of honey on the side of the road instead of from the store....think in advance of upcoming birthdays and holidays and order a piece from an artist....good chance you are paying their electric bill...

and what about me? well i'm hanging in there like i always have and will...for i am a knowing dreamer with a strong mind of determination, things will always work out...but i do know, one day there will be less of 'us' and we will be harder to find...but we will never disappear altogether...

another for your 'i gotta have it' list...

mary myers, folk artist

if you come over and walk room to room in my house and studio, you will notice something over and over again....mary myers folk pieces...scattered here and there, adding a nice surprise to your eye...for your eyes will first notice the color, then the subject and as you look closely you will notice the actual indentations of where her knife carved on the legs....mary has been carving for so many years now it is actually hard to believe a time that she didn't, for there are thousands of these treasures proudly standing in collections throughout america...i wanted to share mary's story with all of you...i've copied this right off of her site, so that it can be in her own words....for that is part of her charm, a small studio that mary and her husband have worked in for so many years....

"I have always loved wood. Growing up in Virginia where my father built houses, I would often accompany him to the lumberyards where I would invariably bring home blocks of wood. In 1989, I wanted a nutcracker but could not find one I liked so I sketched a design and then had my husband turn the basic shape on his lathe. I carved the nutcracker and painted it with muted colors to install an antique finish. I showed it to a buyer from New York City’s American Folk Art Museum. Before I knew it, I had an order for two dozen soldier nutcrackers. My career as an artist began!"

"A day in the life of Mary Myers in would be "crazy to most." I like to wear all of the hats in my thriving business because getting help would change my look. I do the carving, painting, bookkeeping, catalog mailing, nutcracker packing, supply buying, and still manage the normal household duties."

"The American Folk Art Museum has licensed me in the past several years to produce nutcrackers, ornaments, and table toppers from images of antiques for their collection. I also created a tree topper nutcracker for the White House in 1996. Many magazines have featured my art such as Country Home, Country Living, Home, and Coastal Living to name a few. I have been named Best American Craftsman several times by Early American Life magazine. I have been invited several times by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to demonstrate my craft at their store, where many of my products are sold."

"I hope that my work will make people smile and find their child-like feelings from days gone by. My artistic philosophy is to be yourself . Do not let anyone say that you cannot do something. If you think you can, you will!

In my opinion, making a living from designing and carving nutcrackers from my imagination is my greatest accomplishment. After all, you do not have to grow up or should I say give up your childhood dreams."

mary's pieces span events in the history of the world to the stories we heard as children...they are truly charming...formed from just a thought to a vision to an artist...

here is a link that will take you to her site to view more of her pieces that are now available:

mary myers nutcrackers

just blowing in the wind...

when things start to fly....there is just no stopping them... this week has been full of all the small things that shake it all up...family, friends, weather and woodwork...and by weeks end i have to laugh at it all. the commotion that life brings us, and the fragments that will be remembered forever... the kindest emails from clients that really bring me a boost or a much needed comfort in that moment, and as always a laugh... friends who think of me and stop by in the 9 degree weather to just bring me flowers, grab a cup of coffee, reminding me that spring will be here soon. children; grown and small, adding their unique sparkle to my life...learning to negotiate a planned schedule to just letting things land where they will because of the weather, or a phone call ...and being reminded again that life interrupted seems to turn out just fine anyway...even better...

a great time was had by all to celebrate my nephew's 26th birthday....

comments you might have heard....

"i can't believe he chose brussel sprouts, i already had pork chops for lunch, i cannot believe she won't give me any bacon, when the zombies take over..., i'm the best thing that ever happened to you, my foot really hurts, you're around way to many old people, back when i did survival training, i'd walk down the middle of the road, since i know i'd be a goner i'd sky dive, i'd carry a hatchet in both hands, you'd be better off with a gun, do you think zombies will be able to climb walls, you'd eat me first, i'm so annoying, i do complain all the time, he really complained all the time, what a rip off, what a rip off, he could beat you up, you make more than me, not fair, i knew you'd be an hour late cooking, is this all the coke!!!!, how come he always isn't getting told how to eat, you would never know if he turned into a zombie, he's so quiet and just sits there..."

and bobby - there are NO zombies, i don't care what you say....

a grouping to share...

i wanted to share these photos with you of my client in new york...rene and her husband, shay, wanted to add to their current collection of game boards....she had many pieces to mix in ....i think they look just wonderful...!

it is funny how we can become friends long distance....a kinship is formed, by our chats, laughs and photographs...rene sent me photos of her home....my hubby and i looked at them and noticed that we had many antique pieces that were similar...spoiled black labs and a cat too...i loved the fabrics, quilts and the paint colors they had chosen...it was a nice peek into their lives...and to see that we loved the same things... thanks you guys! i know we will meet one day!

i know i promised you...

as promised.....i wanted to feature earth angels, (the on-line shopping source) and jen o'connor's band of angels over the next several week...we are all thinking 'spring'.... and the troupe of earth angel artists can help you spruce up your palace....add to your collections or inspire you with their ideas and colors...

debbie hartwick

jill kenny

jennifer lanne

marjan jorritsma




leslie mccabe

bill & marcia finks

deidre friebely

maree massey

f.g. @ company

dara dimagno

jill schwartz



if you would like to view more work by the above artists...or by other artists that she carries - be sure to click on this link to be taken to her site...

earth angels

the best time was had by all...

what an event....what glamour...what talent...and note that red carpet...and to think i was there standing right between my two heroes!

yes, we had such a wonderful time, my bff diane and i... for i have always said, if i were ever to give an interview (which i would NEVER do, for i'm far to shy)...it would only be to her..., and that's just the fact of it...i am an admirer of the voice of creme brulee...

the feeling of getting all glamed up and wearing a beautiful gown...is like a cinderella story...for all of you know my real life, and the real me... p.j.'s until carpool time arrives...chaos at every turn...boys and dogs...an ordinary life...

i was a little bit unnerved though when christiane approached me...for if you remember i at one time offered to be her bff too...but my offer went unnoticed, and diane snatched me up... when christiane approached me, she was well aware that i had made this offer to her and told me that she wasn't able to get back to me, for she was in the middle east...she said she checked my blog later, and to her sadness diane had already replied...i felt just horrible...it was a heart wrenching moment for me....for i just love her. what a story she has lived. what a brave woman she is...

ok...ok...ok...

so i am a stalker...i guess i have to admit it...this is the force of photo shop and my admiring little mind.... yes, that's my head...thinned out a bit...stuck on top of nicole kidman's beautifully gowned body...and look i am so tall, and that is the most fun of all! yes dad, i will get back to work now....and no mom, i am not embarrassed...think of david letterman and oprah, ellen and tom cruise....just add me to the list...

but on a more serious note:

diane sawyer has a special feature on tomorrow night about children of the appalachia's...which is so close to my own heart...

"Hidden America - Children of the Mountains -

20/20 - ABC at 10:00

this has been a 2 year project for this ABC crew following 4 children from 4 different families in the appalachias of kentucky... if you are not already aware, many of the areas in the appalachia's are the poorest in the nation... this is an in depth look at the lives of these children, the limited opportunities and lack thereof...

several years ago ms. sawyer won an emmy for her work on the feature "Waiting On The World To Change," - a firsthand account of poverty among children in america...congrats. for that...and through this feature many children were extended the help that they were in need of...

children are our future...and i do believe the more exposure that is given to areas that need the country's help, the more chances these children will be given... when something touches our heart, as i'm sure this documentary will, it is our responsibility as not only a nation but as an individual, to rise to help with the needs of others, strangers, children - ensuring that they are given the opportunities that many of us take for granted...

this link is provided by ABC to help you research ways that you can help the children of the appalachias...sometimes the help that is needed is a strong back...so you don't have to rich or famous to do something tremendous...

ABC - help children in the appalachias

a big thanks to you!

only 8 minnie boards are still available... thank you all so much for your support of my artwork...!

she's here....minnie

limited edition - minnie

as i promised, the new gee's bend board has been created, painted and finished...it was difficult for me to get a good picture of the piece...my camera just didn't want to focus...could it be that it wanted to just dance, which is how i feel when i see this piece?

this piece is titled "minnie", for the original artist, minnie sue coleman was the creator of the original quilt...it is not a quilt that is featured in the wonderful book, 'quilts of gees bend', but actually was a design that had been turned into a postage stamp and post cards... so sadly, i don't have very much information on the original quilter...

minnie sue coleman, born 1926. design of the quilt was 'pig in a pen' medallion. circa 1970. polyester knit and double knit. 61 x 82".

and the finished piece? well it is a 'mill' game - #5 in the series of gee's bend inspired board games...and the colors?, oh my! eggplant, black cherry, barn red, bright reds, roses, oranges, latte dark green, gold and terracotta to name just a few...this is truly a fun piece and measures 19" x 19" this is a limited edition so only 20 are available, $220.00 each plus shipping...

only 11 are still available...

if you would like to reserve the above piece...just give me a call at 828-265-0977, or send me an email: dianeallison@charter.net... i'm happy to hold your place in my books and will contact you before i begin...payment isn't due until i begin your piece...

before i could shut my mouth...

have you ever had those moments....you know the moments when you mouth is going on and your brain is saying what are you doing...stop yourself...stop yourself now before it's toooo late? well honestly, i have that all of the time...for instance just this morning when hubby opened the cupboard door - smashing (have to add the drama)...the side of my head... i assured him that he did it on purpose, that he was out to get me this morning...he chuckled, as always...

recently i was talking to my girlfriend, who is having a problem with her schedule for the next semester...well i told her it was no problem at all..., for i am happy to take her 3 boys after school for 5 weeks...gee whiz...it was a no brain er, love her motley crew... i assured her that 5 weeks was nothing! no problem...the more the merrier...

we were in the grocery store at the time and she was herding and re herding her boys, age 5-8, for they were most inspired by the bin of dried butter beans...(actually the entire fresh vegetable section), she assured me that an 'hour' can really seem like a long long time....later in the conversation she told me that the youngest had faked sick that day...so she stayed home and fell asleep for the entire day sitting up in a chair...and that i would probably do the same within 15 minutes of their arrival...

no not me...no sirree - for i have a love of boys...all the boyness, you know? i do find however that i am constantly repeating to myself, boys will be boys, ala the game board that i created...i thought back to when i did create this game board, titled boys will be boys...and as i recall it was when i was at the jumping point...looking for the cliff to jump from...pulling out my hair by the roots...sobbing insanely....and then just plain giving up and telling myself boys will be boys...oh my

i'm thinking spring...

there may be ice, snow and slush on the footpath...but i'm still thinking spring...i thought this was a pretty grouping that i just finished painting... merry go round parcheesi, gypsy penny pitch, spring checker board and arrow parcheesi...

a new site to inspire you...

( and yes, those ARE old hangers...the functions for those are limitless...)

i'm always get lost somewhere out in internet land...for i'll be on one site and click on another...and on and on and on. somehow i stumbled upon this wonderful site, design*sponge, which some of you may already be aware of...for evidently they have been around for years in blogland and have been featured on t.v....but i'm slow at catching the boat so to speak... so here is their site, and i think you will find many ideas of things that you can do yourself at home...my favorite section is the do-it-yourself and the before and after shots...being a painter, visual is always best for me, and i'm reminded how you can change things up to being 'amazing', with a coat of paint...

design*sponge

here are some photos from their site....if you would like to read the 'how-to's, click on the above link for more information and to surf their site...

i discovered the magnetic chalk paint a couple of years ago and used it in my youngest son's room...i found that the magnetic in the chalk paint itself just wasn't working...it wasn't strong enough...and i was really disappointed...in the above photo design*sponge noted the same problem so they added a cut-out of steel and added the frame, and then painted the actual steel...you can check out their instructions and see other framed chalk boards on their site...