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!)