DiDa

INATS continued

2008-07-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

More stories from the New Age International Trade Show......I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of vendors and products available at INATS. I found out "new age" covers alot of territory. For instance the booth next door to me had a mug with skulls and grim reapers on it and then it's all the way to the Buddha. Honestly. I met some great people there. The first day I met Tom And Alisha from Unity Village. She called it divine right timing - I guess so!!.. And then I had been carrying around a book with me for weeks by Susan Schumsky called Miracle Prayer. I knew she would be at the show signing books and so I was hoping I could get away from my booth to meet her. But then she walked right into my booth and signed my book for me. No standing in lines! How great was that? The other wonderful thing about the show was I got to stay with my cousin Kathy who I had not seen in 18 years. She totally rearranged her schedule to help me set up and tear down. I was not expecting that. What a blessing. And even though I have not seen her for 18 years or even been in much contact with her it was like not a day had passed. Just that wonderful deep family connection forged in childhood that cannot be broken. And I met her daughter AD who is two weeks younger than my son Bret. It was a treat to meet her as she is lovely inside and out in very way. I met many wonderful vendors and just folks walking around the show. Everyone seemed to appreciate my work and that felt good. All in all a great experience. The other miracle was I was able to drive around Denver without getting too lost. If you knew me you'd understand the depth of that miracle!

Resistance and INATS

2008-07-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about resistance and non-resistance alot this past month. The week before I left the New Age International Trade Show in Denver I was moaning and groaning to myself - why did I say I would do this, it's going to be so much work, God, I'll be on my feet for 9 hours a day......you get the picture. Resistance! So someone told be to just let go and let God. In other words drop the resistance and let the Universe do its thing. So that's just what I did. I went online to look at the departure time for my flight - delayed by 1 1/2 hours. So I go to the airport later. Oops - the flight is on time. They can get me on, maybe, but not my bags. And you know what? I just flowed with that and said to myself all will be well and this is just the way it's supposed to work out for whatever reason. So I got on my flight and arrived in Denver on time. Every step of the way on this trip if I could stay in the flow miracles happened. Here's a funny one. Of course in a large hall the lighting is horrendous. I was thinking to myself if only that one bulb above me could be turned off I would be a happy camper. My booth would look better and my eyes wouldn't be burning right now - and you know what, the next morning I go in and there is one bulb out in the entire room and it's right over my booth. There are more stories to tell about the show and some funny things that happened so stay tuned. Stay with the Love.

Didi

INAT

2008-06-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know I will be at the New Age International Trade Show in Denver this week, Thurs-Tues. I have no idea what this show will be like, so it's a total adventure for me. It was the Fremont Fair last weekend. There were tons of people on the streets for the parade, the highlight of which is always the nude bicylists. That's right, nude people riding bikes. That is quite a site. They paint their bodies and even glitter various and sundry parts they'd like to highlight. Thank God the Center of the Universe (Fremont) still has that goofy, crazy gig going on....gives me hope. On another completely different note Edith Blakefield died last week. You may never have heard of her, but she's a folk hero in Ballard. She lived in a tiny, tidy house all her life. One by one the houses were torn down for commercial development until she stood alone. Along comes the "big" guns and offer her 1 million dollars for her property to build a giant Trader Joes. She said no, I will stay in my house until I die. Which is just what she did. I drove by her house last night and her fence is covered with flowers and notes. You can still see her little ceramic dog collection in the window. In this day and age it's a phenomena I guess when the almighty dollar does not rule. You go Edith. God bless you.

I will have lots of fun stories I'm sure from the upcoming trade show. Whoopee. Let the fun begin. Argh.

Stay with the Love. Diane

fruitcake

2008-06-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

Hey, did you ever have one of those days when you felt nuttier than a fruitcake? You know what I mean. Untethered, a bare string holding you in place. And then there's a part of you watching all that and going, uh huh, that feels kinda bad and weird and yet at the same time, like what's the big deal drama all about? Yep, it's one of those days. To top it all off it's my birthday. So that feels kind of great and awful at the same time too. whoopee!!!!!!!!! Having fun now. What's this got to do with lamps and lighting? Not a damn thing. Here's what someone said to me today......Life goes on...........and it does - so let the light shine, let your light shine, let my light shine. Shine, shine, shine. Stay with the Love. Didi

People are so surprising

2008-06-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

The other day I wandered over to Blue Moon Burgers where I get my occasional, ok, every day diet coke. Nick, one of the owners, is a great guy and I have met lots of his staff and they are all really nice. So I'd met Joe a few times. He works behind the counter. Nice looking young guy. So the other day Joe was sitting outside and we started to talk. The weather, what did you do last night sort of stuff. Then he tells me he writing a book and going to publish it. So I ask what it's about and Joe starts to tell me all about it. It's a book on a sort of meditation he's created to link up with the power of the universe. I call it God, but it goes by as many names as there are people. And he's telling me the origins of his process and about the oracle Delphi, "Know Thyself". And suddenly we're talking transformation and surrender and rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Who knew? I can't say I understood all he was telling me, but I like to read that book. You sure never know by looking at someone what stories they have, what talents they have, or really any darn thing about them. I guess we all just need to talk to each other more.
Stay with the Love. Diane

Woman

2008-06-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a quote for the day........

"A woman is the full circle, within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform. A woman knows that nothing can come to fruition without light. Let us call upon woman's voice and woman's heart to guide us in this age of planetary transformation."

Diane Mariechild

I have been blessed with so many wonderful women friends in my life. I am still friends with Jennifer from the 5th grade. She is a rock for me. I have a troupe of girlfriends from high school that I still go on trips with. My friend Dorothy is not only my darling friend, but has been a spiritual teacher of the highest order for me. June 3rd was the birthday of my dear Deb who died in July of 2000. I still miss her invaluable advice and amazing spirit and her love. Linda has been a true friend for me these last two years of transformation and change for me. She is my touchstone on a daily basis. My neighbor Mary is always there for me and just to know you can call on someone and they will be right over...she's a lifeline. A woman's voice and a woman's heart is a deep and miraculous song. Keep on singing girls. I love you.

The charming Francoise

2008-06-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I had the blessing of meeting Francoise von Dwingelo. As you may recall from the previous blog I saw a show of her paintings on Vashon Island at Kronos. They are Paris cityscapes, absolutely charming in every way. They are what she calls naif, with that beautiful folkart quality, colorful and joyful. We spent a wonderful hour together drinking tea and talking. Francoise was born in Paris and lived there until she was 30 years old. She has lived in the U.S. since then, Long Island, Vermont and now Vashon. We talked about Paris and art and her children and our husbands. I felt like I was with an old friend. What a privilege to meet such a wonderful artist. Unfortunately she does not have a website, so you will have to go to Vashon to see her work. Don't miss it if you are there!

On a completely different note the studio is now open Wednesday - Saturday from 11-4. Other times by appointment of course. I have a ton of new work there, new lamps, the wonderful Yes earrings, lots of new ornaments and bobeche too (the candle rings). Please come see me as I can get quite lonely there in the basement all by myself!

A Trip to Vashon

2008-05-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

I was invited out to Vashon Island to do a show at Lost and Found, in the village of Burton. Bonnie who owns the store is a fan of my work and has bought quite a few things from me so when she asked me I said sure, that would be fun. Off I go to Vashon on a Friday morning. It's just a short ferry ride from Seattle and boom I'm in a whole other world. I get to Lost and Found and set up the show with Bonnie. Bonnie is a trip. She knows everyone on the island or so it seems. But then again, it seems like everyone on Vashon knows everyone on the island. I met some great people there. Bonnie and her husband, Dan and Corrie and Tom, he's an industrial oven designer. Wow. That's a new one on me. I had a few hours to kill before the show so I wandered into town to go to the bookstore. I bought 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson about his journey to build schools in remote parts of Pakistan. Fabulous book. Then I go into Kronos which is a great shop, artist goods etc. There is a woman in the back of the store hanging pictures and talking to herself. Couldn't resist..I ask her if she is the artist. Turns out she owns the store and is hanging pictures by a 77 year old French woman named Francoise von Dwingelo. I start looking at the paintings and just go crazy over them. Colorful landscapes and cityscapes, sort of naive, outsider looking, but there is something deeply spiritual about them too. I leave a note for Francoise, a fan letter, and leave her a pair of my Yes earrings as a prize. What a treat to see these beautiful paintings. Back to my show, fun evening, lots of good people and wine and we're by the water and it's all groovy. About a week later I find a postcard in my mailbox from Francoise. She painted a picture on the card of a woman riding a colorful bird. My own little Francoise von Dwingelo painting in the mail. She's invited me out to tea on the island next week. More island adventures to follow apparently.

Studio party and show

2007-11-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I'm having a party and a show of my new work on Friday, December 7th during art walk in Fremont. The hours are 6-9. I'll have copper ornaments for sale too. All my new paper lamps that I have been doing are my best work to date I think. So stop by for a glass of wine or a beer. Directions to the studio are on the website or call me at 799-1347. The studio will be open on Saturdays in December from 11-4 or call me if you want to come by at another time. Stay with the Love. Diane

Some ideas about lighting

2007-05-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here's some thoughts about lighting -I think most rooms are underlit. I don't have a particularly large living room, but I have about 18 sources of light in it. On one table I have four lamps, all different sizes. Most the the lighting in the room is ambient. I think the biggest mistake people make when choosing lighting is they want their ambient lighting to also be their task lighting. So by your favorite chair where you love to read get a dedicated reading light. Ambient lighting in a room will make all the difference in how you feel in that room. It will create a warm and friendly feeling. Another thing is to have different levels of lighting. Torchieres are really important to wash light up high on walls and ceilings. You can also create lifts and levels to raise up a table lamp. Just look around the room and see if the lighting is all on one level. If it is start playing around with ways to create different heights.

Also, dimmers, dimmers, dimmers.

Love,

Diane

The river and the sea

2007-05-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

My dear friends David and Zane are in Italy. (See the David Farnsworth series on the site). I got a postcard from them yesterday describing being at a spot where the river and the sea meet. David said he had an overwhelming moment of surrender to a larger place. Inside each of us is that spot of surrender where the river and the sea meet I think.

Love,

Diane

Stay with the Love

2007-05-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hi,

When you are looking at my site you will notice the saying Stay with the Love in several places, I thought I would tell you where that came from. Not too long after 9/11 I had a very intense dream and in the dream there was a beautiful mandala, very ornate and colorful. The mandala was all about if we were going to stay with the love or stay in the fear. Just two very distinct choices. I was so struck with this I actually had buttons made that said Stay with the Love and gave them to all my friends and handed them out at my shows. I thought at the time the dream was all about 9/11 and where we as a country were headed. Now it's 2007 and I've just realized in the last year that that dream had a much more personal message to me. It was all about if I would stay in the love or stay in the fear. I've been working on this for a number of years now. Call it what you will, light vs. dark, ego vs. spirit, love vs. fear. So the dream was a call to me and I think many of you out there can feel the same call. I don't always get there, but every day I try to Stay with the Love.

So love to all who read this.

Diane

Gratitude

2007-03-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to my new web site,

I am so grateful today to launch this website. Thanks to Pam and Lynn for creating such a beautiful site. And thank you David for sharing your fabulous heartfelt talent with me and all who will see this site.

I'm grateful it's spring and the flowering plums are in bloom and my forsythia. Yellow and pink. What a blessing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love,

Diane