If you have a question about chapter-related activities you would like me to consider for this column, please e-mail it to me at
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The Chapters Committee would like to encourage members of every chapter to contact your state representatives to request that your state governor declare October Decorative Painting Month. This is a lengthy process, so start making your calls and sending your letters right away. A sample letter will be included in the next issue of Chapter Happenings.
• Chapters Code of Ethics
The Chapters Code of Ethics has been revised. Click
HERE to download the latest version. Officers, you may wish to print out a copy to be retained with your chapter records.
Molly Purvis, of Gold Country Decorative Artists, has found a unique way to ensure that all chapter members are aware of the Chapters Code of Ethics. All GCDA members who a) read the article about the Code of Ethics Contest in their chapter newsletter and b) read the revised Code of Ethics, are entered in a drawing for a free chapter membership for the following year. Way to go, Molly!
• A Message from Mary
By Mary Cobble, Chapter Services Coordinator
Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers from Florida chapters who presided over the Painted Hat Beach House at SDP’s 33rd Annual Conference in Tampa. It was quite a job to keep track of all of the individuals who received hats, and you are all most appreciated. In addition to keeping track of the paperwork, chapter members provided an iron for pressing hats and darling embellishments. Hats off to you!
At banquet, our talented hat designers showed off their colorful creations while strutting in the Pink Hat parade. What a creative display!
And speaking of pink hats … a beautifully painted pink hat was left in the Beach House with a note attached stating: “Ana will come back Wednesday and finish her hat.” Ana, we have your hat at headquarters. Please contact me at
mary@decorativepainters.org or call (316) 269-9300 ext. 107. I would love to return your gorgeous pink hat to you.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting so many chapter presidents and officers at the Chapters Gathering. It is so wonderful to be able to put a face with the names when I am speaking with you on the phone or corresponding with you. Thank you all for the enthusiasm for decorative painting you share with your chapter members. The room was absolutely buzzing with all of your energy and goodwill, and we’ve all brought back new ideas to share with our chapters.
Please continue to share your ideas and enthusiasm with your fellow chapter members through the Chapter Happenings newsletter.
If you learned something new at the Chapters Gathering which you have applied in your chapter, please let me know!
• A Clever Reminder
Printed materials are a handy way to spread the word about gatherings and remind chapter members about upcoming workshops and classes. Mailing fliers, however, can be costly, especially if your chapter has a lot of events on its calendar. Deb Kreiger of Penn’s Woods Painters has hit upon a clever way to share information and save money, too. She creates postcards that list upcoming events with a check box to remind members to sign up. She carries several with her to hand out. The card is small enough to stash in a tote bag or purse, but large enough to contain plenty of information. And when she needs to do a mailing, the cost of sending postcards is less than postage for fliers. Click
HERE to see a sample of Deb’s handy postcard.
• What’s the Buzz About?
By Sandra Wagner, BEE Class Chairman
BEE, of course!
This fun event – Donna Dewberry Presents: BEE Painting and Crafting Expo – is scheduled for Aug. 19-21 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
The centerpiece of the third annual painting and crafting Expo is the free exhibit and trade floor with 60+ vendors, offering free demonstrations each hour. Many vendors will entice attendees with “make it, take it” projects. The exhibit and trade floor will be open 6-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Expo also offers the opportunity to take classes taught by nationally recognized artists and One Stroke instructors. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Please visit http://www.onestroke.com/BEE2005/ to see what classes are available and for registration information.
Donna Dewberry has delighted many folks all over the world with her creative and easy One Stroke technique. This popular artist shares her talents with anyone who is willing to pick up a brush. She shares her technique by training teachers – One Stroke Certified Instructors (OSCIs) – who in turn go out and share their talents by teaching others.
Here is an aspect of BEE with which you may not be familiar. Out of respect for Donna Dewberry, the OSCIs founded the Maria Dewberry Children's Foundation in memory of Donna's beloved daughter, Maria, who lost her life, suddenly, at the tender age of 22. Maria loved children and planned to dedicate her life to helping children in need. The foundation serves disadvantaged children through many projects. The Dewberrys have donated land for a camp for these children. The OSCIs, through their foundation, are currently raising funds to accomplish their goal of establishing the children's camp. BEE is one of the ways the OSCIs volunteer their time to further this objective. All profits from the BEE will be donated to the Maria Dewberry Children's Foundation. Read more about the Maria Dewberry Children's Foundation at www.mdchildrensfoundation.org.
Come join us to enjoy all the artists and teachers, innovative art products and technique lessons. But most importantly, help the OSCIs and the Dewberrys fulfill their goal of building the Maria Dewberry Children's Camp for Kids.
If you have ever wanted to give painting a try … if you already dabble and want to see your talents soar … if you have ever desired to learn an entirely new technique … this is an event you won't want to miss!
• Increasing Membership: a Quick Idea
By Noreen Engelland, Emerald Coast Painters
As Mary Cobble suggested, I requested a zip code list of SDP members in our area to help our chapter build membership. Here is another thing that has helped us reach new members. I placed a small, free listing for our chapter in the Week's Happening's column of our local newspaper. An SDP member came to one of our meetings and joined last week! She is a member in another state but lives here during the winter. We were happy she came, and we will place a listing regularly from now on.
• Healing Cranes
By Jan Willingham, North Valley Rose Brushes
Members of the North Valley Rose Brushes folded 238
origami cranes to include in a cancer awareness display.
Photos provided by Jan Willingham
Our regular February meeting was a little different than the usual gathering to paint. Instead, we folded origami cranes. We were taught how to fold these cranes by 16-year-old Robert Willingham. We ended up with 238 cranes in all, folded by three chapter members and three guests.
The reason for folding all these cranes was that Enloe Hospital in Chico, Calif., asked the public for assistance in folding origami cranes for their cancer awareness event in April. The origami crane symbolizes hope and healing. The cancer center put on a Cancer Awareness Fair at our local mall on April 30th. This is where all the cranes were displayed. The center’s goal was to collect at least 10,000 cranes. They said there were 25,000 cranes displayed.
• Lost and Found
Did you lose an item at this year’s Conference? We may have it here at SDP Headquarters! Call Lori at (316) 269-9300, Ext. 0 or e-mail her at
lori@decorativepainters.org about your lost item.
• Salute to a Survivor
By Denise McKaughan, Patchwork Painters
Merry Zakrzewski in her studio among her memory boxes.
Photo provided by Denise McKaughan
When someone says “survivor,” most people think of a certain top-rated, evening, reality TV show. You know, the kind where someone is stuck on an island with only one item? Do you have what it takes to be a survivor?
Well, I know one person who does have what it takes. This survivor, however, wasn't awarded money at the end of the TV season. The person I am talking about is Merry Zakrzewski, ovarian cancer survivor.
Instead of being rewarded with fame and money, she has been given much greater gifts: life, friendship, love and memories. Merry Z.'s “one item” through her battle with cancer is her memory box. It was designed to hold all the precious gifts she cherishes from others. I guess you could say Hope was her one item, and that she designed a beautiful box to contain it.
She answered the question: Do you have what it takes to be a survivor? YES! Not only does she have courage and strength for herself, but also for her father. Merry Z. is the caregiver to her father, who is now a widower. With a cell phone attached to her hip, she talks to her father while painting at the many chapter activities she attends. Each brush stroke she takes is filled with paint, guidance and courage.
At her side through all of this is her husband, who somehow manages to put up with all the paint bottles taking over the house, as you can see in this picture he took of Merry in her studio. The boxes in the picture are for hospitals. They are memory boxes, inspired by her own box, for parents of deceased babies.
What an inspiring person. Merry is a survivor herself, and now inspires others to be survivors, too.
• Painters Caring for Families in Need
By Karen Radiger, Painted Dunes Decorative Artists
The Painted Dunes Decorative Artists and the canvas bags they painted for women at The Caring Place. Photo provided by Karen Radiger
I cannot thank my committee and our chapter enough for the many donations and commitment in fulfilling PDDA’s 2005 Service Project for The Caring Place Shelter for Battered Women. What a remarkable way to honor moms in need on Mothers Day with the breathtaking painted canvas bags. Think of the joy in the hearts of the children when they presented them to Mom and shared in the delight of seeing her open the many “feel good personal items” inside each bag. Because of you, each bag makes a statement from the individual who painted it and will be passed on to an individual needing to realize her self worth. I’m certain each of you drove home after completing this project with a smile of contentment and heart filled with joy realizing the full meaning of these bags. This meant a lot to me this Mother’s Day and I graciously thank all of you. It was a joy for our entire chapter to present these bags to The Caring Place.
• Learning from Our Own
By Mo O’Leary, Siskiyou Decorative Artists
Sue Eakin CDA with her Vegetable Basket design.
Photo provided by Mo O’Leary
Our chapter – Siskiyou Decorative Artists in Grants Pass, Oregon – is very lucky. We have some of the best artists you can find in our own Chapter. We have always flown in the "Big Brushes" to teach at our seminars and have been blessed by many wonderful teachers. We finally decided to utilize some of our own local talent. The first of our local artist seminars was held the weekend of April 23-24. Sue Eakin CDA, friend and member of our chapter, put on a wonderful seminar in which we painted her Vegetable Bucket design. The design was appropriate because Sue didn't have to look far to find her veggies. They were growing just outside in her garden. It was a really fun seminar and we all loved doing this project. Thank You Sue!
• You Get What You Give
By William “Buzz” Smith, Connecticut Society of Decorative Painters, Connecticut Yankees and Heart of Ohio Tolers
In my old age I have come to realize that no matter what organization you belong to whether it be a national, international, state or local group there is one principal that applies to all.
I don't care if it's a social, political, or governing group or board or just a regular membership. The one thing that applies to all is just this: You only get back from the organization what you yourself are willing to put into it. This so called "rule" applies to our own interest: decorative painting. Whether it be membership in the Society, chapters, local painting groups or mail lists, you will only reap what you sow. If you don't like something or are unhappy about an organization or group, get active and see what you can contribute to change it. If you leave everything to someone else, your own wants or desires will never get any attention. I know from my own personal experiences how doing something that benefits someone else also enriches my own life. This week I'm looking forward to a chapter meeting and as I was rummaging through some of my "stash" came upon a brand new duplicate copy of a hard cover decorative painting book. I'm going to take it to the meeting and let them include it in the meeting raffle to help benefit the chapter and it's members.
• Tip: Adjusting Patterns
By Nancy Hungate, Shades of the Mississippi River Decorative Artists
Are you like me? When it comes to adjusting a pattern to a specific size, I always seem to work too hard to get it “just right.” Here’s a formula to get the right size, the very first time! Get your calculator to figure the percentage to reduce or enlarge by dividing the desired pattern size by the current size. Example: If your pattern measures 4” wide and it needs to be 5 1/2” wide, you need to enlarge it 1.38 times its original size. (5.5” divided by 4” = 1.38). If your pattern is 4” wide and it needs to be 3” wide, you need to reduce it .75 times its original size (3” divided by 4” = .75). This means you would reduce your pattern by 75% reduction. Hope this helps you some!
• An Improved Classroom
Staff is in the process of renovating the SDP Headquarters classroom. A new floor, freshly painted walls and other projects have already been completed with the goal of making this important room the ideal place for you and your fellow members to study decorative painting.
The classroom is also in need of other improvements such as modern lighting, video equipment, and other items to bring it up to date. The Society is accepting donations from affiliated chapters for this project. Chapters who contribute to the Classroom Project will be acknowledged on a painted “plaque” in the newly refurbished facility. Is your chapter be interested in making a contribution? If so, please contact Mary Cobble at (316) 269-9300, ext. 107.
• Home to the Heartland
Have you signed up yet for the next workshop in the Home to the Heartland seminar series? The event takes place Oct. 14, 15, and 16 at SDP Headquarters in Wichita, Kan. Gretchen Cagle, CDA, will be teaching two projects – a floral board-on-board wall hanging and a richly colored fruit motif clock face – in a combination of oils and alkyds. Ms. Cagle, a leader in the industry and owner of Gretchen Cagle Publications, is a past-president of SDP, a member since 1973 and a popular publisher of books on decorative painting.
The fee for this event is $344 for all three days and includes surface fees. Space is limited, so those who wish to attend, or who want more information, should call (316) 269-9300, Ext. 104 or e-mail
janelle@decorativepainters.org without delay.
• Chapter Snapshots
Members of the Heart of Carolina Tolers had a wonderful time painting with Ronnie Bringle. Photo provided by Vicki L. Michael.
Behold the winners of the Orange County Tole & Decorative Painters' Crazy Hat Contest! Photo provided by Tracy Kirk.
Members of the Little Rhody Rembrandts enjoyed their Alton Jones "S'more" Painting weekend. Two nationally known teachers participated in the event: Bonnie Frederico CDA and Mary McLean CDA.
