Diana Cook
dingles by diana
Clayton, GA
I am a self-taught artist working in stained glass, fabric & fibers, and, most recently, jewelry. With a reverence for nature and a solid dose of whimsy, my designs have been capturing attention up and down the Appalachians. My work has been featured in the Laurel Magazine and is currently showcased at Savvy Gallery in State College, Pa.
My daughter, jokingly, said that she has heard of the Horse Whisperer, and the Dog Whisperer but her mom is the Bead , Charm & Junk Whisperer! I do scour flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales and my friends’ and relatives’ junk drawers searching for “treasure.” I never know what I’m going to create until I find a charm or bead that speaks to me. I call my work ‘dingles.’ A dingle might be a piece of jewelry: a beautiful necklace, a fun & funky charm bracelet or a unique stone choker. Or it could be a wind- chime, a hanging tapestry or a copper wire -wrapped piece of stained glass.
I am 55 yrs. old and have 2 grown children. Joshua is 21 and attends college in W.V. and my daughter, Trina, is 35, married and lives in Ohio. And I have a beautiful, wonderful grandson, Bryce, 2 and a half!! I live in the mountains of North East Georgia. I moved here in 2002, after an accident with a chemical cleaner burned the lining of my lungs. My sister, Pat Cunningham lives here, close, and she helps me manage my disability. These beautiful mountains give me such a sense of peace and strength. Living here, even with the unfortunate circumstances of my compromised breathing, renews my spirit, each and every day.
