Tag-Archive for » Karen Dinino «

What a Year

February 11, 2010 marks one year since I start selling my journals on Etsy.  Since then I have added my canvases, notepads and blank note cards.   It has been quite a ride.  I’ve made so many fantastic contacts and such incredible friends too.  Life’s path is never known and sometimes when we come to a cross roads we sit and wonder what the hell is up next for me.  Had you asked me 5 years ago where I would be I likely wouldn’t even have come close to what my reality is.  You can choose to sit and wallow in what you think things should be like or you can put your big girl panties on and take a leap of faith – or, in my case a what the hell let’s give it a go.  All the art work I create and list are created with music in the background, me disappearing into my head and letting the music dance with my paint brush or glue stick.  The finished product is always surprising to me.  I’ve been asked what motivates me and inspires me to create everything one of a kind, “like don’t you run out of ideas?”  I never do.  There are days I just don’t have it in me to create and then there are other days where there just isn’t enough time to get it all out of me.  When I run the ideas flow, words and flashes of finished images come together.  It’s the most calming, cheapest form of therapy available.  Me, paper, paint and glue.  I’ve walked through more places with torn paper stuck to my ass than I care to remember this past year but I have enjoyed the process.

It’s been a year I’ll never forget.  I met a bunch of fabulous women through Erica Ehm and Erica herself!  Thanks to Michelle Blau and Dusti Ohland I met Jann Arden which still causes me to grin ear to ear and I made a paper dress and am wearing it in this amazing book Meeting in the Ladies Room written by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino with Pamela Detlor.

My wish list for this year….continued creativity and lots of it.  I hope to finally meet Pamela Detlor, Linda Woods, Karen Dinino and many others from Meeting in the Ladies Room.  I have a new relationship with Zutter which will allow me to continue making my journals on well constructed chipboard and introduce new types of books as well which I’m super excited about.  I am also selling prints of my original sold artwork, the first is now listed in my Etsy shop.

Also…as my thank you for all your support I’m offering FREE SHIPPING on everything in my shop until February 12th!  Take advantage as it’s a great time to buy a one of a kind gift for that special someone – even if you have to hide it for a while.

A Few Things on the Go…

Blank canvasesI’ve had a busy week.  My friend Karen got me involved in doing some submissions for a couple art shows as well as submitting my journals for a Christmas Boutique that is running in our community from November 12-December 18, 2009.   These mini canvases stared at me for a long time and I wondered how in the hell I was going to create anything worthy of submitting on them.  The smallest I’d ever created on was 4×6 and these were 3×3.  Once I got the concept the ideas rolled ~ that is, until 7 & 8.  I needed to take a wee break to find the creativity to make those two.  In the end, I looked at them and was pleased with how they turned out.  I will be submitting them on Wednesday and, if accepted, they will be shown at the Positively Petite Miniature Exhibition.  If they aren’t accepted they will be for sale at my Open House on November 14th.  One always needs a back up plan!  8 minis

Along with the minis I will be submitting five of my journals, to be juried, and if accepted, sold at the Christmas Boutique.  This deadline isn’t for another week so I have this week to create another journal to add to the four I’ve already completed.  I may take one from my existing selection so if you have your eye on a journal in my shop, especially one of the travel journals, you’d best get it now in case it disappears. Just a reminder, once sold, I never remake covers to make them truly one of a kind.

sketch book

sketch book

It’s Thanksgiving today and as I write this I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for this past year and all the amazing opportunities that have come my way.  I had the opportunity recently to be interviewed by the lovely and so talented Pamela Detlor.  Click her name and you can read the interview if you haven’t already.  I am thankful for all my new friends, most of who I have never met in person but have shared much laughter and chats on line.  Most of you know I’m thankful for my two favorite books by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino because without them, I’d be sooo last year.  I’m thankful too that because of these books and my friendship with Glamma I not only look at Linda as a mentor, but a great friend.

Grandma's Guest Book I’m also thankful that my Grandma made it to her 90th birthday and received a corneal transplant on that day.  I’m happy to report she’s recovering well and gearing up for her party.  Her guest book has been completed and can be viewed here.  I showed it to her last night and she was very pleased with how it turned out.  She even shed a tear or two!

Mostly I’m thankful for my health and that I have a family who supports me especially when I hibernate in my room and don’t want anyone to talk to me.  I am thankful for Leah who can sit in my little room downstairs and not say a word and who seems to know when I need a certain little guy out of my way for a day (like today).

Sue sister's book Thanks to all my friends and family who have supported me up until now.  Your friendship means more to me that you’ll ever hear me admit!  ha ha

Should you wish a custom book you can email me at kstennant@shaw.ca.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!