guest post - diane cook

I could never have predicted how important this torn cabinet card would become

in the years to come in my artistic journey.

A picture of two sisters, who actually are distant cousins.

Found in a dresser drawer of my grandparent's home, both long gone,

the most precious treasure, worth more to me than silver and gold.

Stacks of family cabinet cards, given to my grandparents,

that seam to reveal a close knit family full of sharing.

I was blessed to inherit the 1920 farmhouse from my bachelor uncle,

an older brother of my father,

who before that had inherited it from his parents and my grandparents.

I shared this story some time ago in the fall 2009 issue of Somerset Memories,

called Cabinet Card Sisters.

I had made a couple of soldered jewelry pendants, one using this very same

picture.

They eventually made their way into my marketing, as one day sitting

at my computer,

I pulled up this very picture in one of my editing programs.

I hit crop and when I did...the idea was born.

I first began using a black and white version of this picture on the front

of my class handouts.

But later that year, I had a designer, Susie Hibdon,

use it to design my business cards, postcards and as a banner at

shows.

Next, I placed them in resin filled bezels.

"art sistas"

With many more bezels in the waiting...

I've used the sisters together. I've used them one at a time.

Obviously I've used only their hands.

But, I have found that I love to use only their feet!

"dance with heart"

Window to my Heart Class

(I will be teaching at Spring Beads on May 12, 2012, in Spring, Texas)

And, just their faces too!

I've used them in larger soldered pendants.

Believe Soldered Pendant Necklace Class

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

And covered them with mica.

These necklaces were just featured in the winter 2011 issue of

Belle Armoire Jewelry.

"sisters"

Framed

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

Recently I used one of the little girls as my blog favicon.

And last, but certainly not least,

I put together a group of images for a group of Moo stickers,

which I have been using as the closure on my class kit bags.

The message, one I had written,

rings strong and true as I travel this artistic road I have chosen.

It has proven to be never dull, ever winding, and worth every minute.

.................................................................................................................................

more about diane here:

blog

etsy

artful gathering