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of the Month
One of a kind, hand painted giftware
By: Lesley Roper
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of the Month
One of a kind, hand painted giftware
By: Lesley Roper
Diane Ratnik Cooper was born & raised in Scarborough, Ontario and is presently living in Uxbridge, Ontario. Diane was a Professional Athlete, played in 2 Olympics (84 LA, 96 Atlanta,) countless tournaments and has traveled the world in between. She was inducted into the Canadian Volleyball Hall of Fame and University Michigan Wall of Honor. Diane was also the Event Coordinator for the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour from 1998-2002.
Diane is currently an event assistant at the Grand Baccus Banquet Hall & Conference Centre, Toronto.
___________________________________________________Diane is currently an event assistant at the Grand Baccus Banquet Hall & Conference Centre, Toronto.
Diane’s passion for her craft began back in 2000 when she bought a painting kit and found that she enjoyed painting so much. This creative hobby left Diane with a stack of hand-painted greeting cards after she had given them to everyone that she knew. She cold-called a florist shop in Stouffville to see if they would carry her cards on consignment, which they did, and that was the beginning of Diane’s business.
After Diane’s first business venture her creative juices started flowing. She would think, “Hmmm, now what else can I paint on? She stocked up on other types of paint and began experimenting by painting on different things such as glassware, wooden items etc. After Diane had perfected her craft she then had officially started her painted giftware business. With this new confidence, she signed up for a couple of Christmas craft stores and has been doing shows regularly since 2003. Presently six stores in the GTA are carrying Diane’s one-of-a-kind gifts.
Diane’s entrance into the painted giftware business certainly came with it’s challenges. Diane said, “The challenges started off with self-doubt, is my stuff good enough? Is my price point fair to me? If it doesn’t sell will it be on the clearance shelf?”. Once customers started to buy Diane’s giftware these questions were answered and the 3rd doubt was answered by doing consignment work so she still owned her own work, which she referred to as her “babies”. The great thing about selling the giftware on consignment is that it gives Diane a lot of exposure by allowing her to promote her products in many stores at the same time. The challenge in being in many stories is finding the time to service the stores that are off her regular home/work route. How Diane overcame this obstacle is by rotating her stock amongst the many shops that her products are in to keep it fresh. This has made the paperwork process somewhat time consuming but it is worth it as it gives Diane the opportunity to create more exposure for her hand-painted giftware.
There is definitely a theme to Diane’s creative expression. She has developed an amazing gift for painting flowers, and her passion s painting pink roses. Diane says, “I don’t know why, but all my favorite things from years ago are all incorporated into the pink rose. My inspiration is my mother. From her I inherited the love of making things by hand. She has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past 12 years and a portion of my proceeds goes to the Alzheimer’s Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation. My dad who past away 4 years ago encouraged my painting by saying “where is this coming from you’ve been in the gym all your life?”. My mother’s generous spirit has inspired me greatly and I take that energy into everything that I paint. I am constantly inspired by other artists, and very much so by a painter in Australia and my new friends on a painting forum group. I am so thankful to have the internet to keep in touch with other artisans from all over the world, together we inspire and support each other.
Diane is currently a one-woman show, however her goal is to combine her work with the skills of her husband so that they can do shows together. Diane’s ultimate dream is to have a quaint little shop in cottage country where she can paint and sell her giftware along with her husband’s restoration projects.
After Diane’s first business venture her creative juices started flowing. She would think, “Hmmm, now what else can I paint on? She stocked up on other types of paint and began experimenting by painting on different things such as glassware, wooden items etc. After Diane had perfected her craft she then had officially started her painted giftware business. With this new confidence, she signed up for a couple of Christmas craft stores and has been doing shows regularly since 2003. Presently six stores in the GTA are carrying Diane’s one-of-a-kind gifts.
Diane’s entrance into the painted giftware business certainly came with it’s challenges. Diane said, “The challenges started off with self-doubt, is my stuff good enough? Is my price point fair to me? If it doesn’t sell will it be on the clearance shelf?”. Once customers started to buy Diane’s giftware these questions were answered and the 3rd doubt was answered by doing consignment work so she still owned her own work, which she referred to as her “babies”. The great thing about selling the giftware on consignment is that it gives Diane a lot of exposure by allowing her to promote her products in many stores at the same time. The challenge in being in many stories is finding the time to service the stores that are off her regular home/work route. How Diane overcame this obstacle is by rotating her stock amongst the many shops that her products are in to keep it fresh. This has made the paperwork process somewhat time consuming but it is worth it as it gives Diane the opportunity to create more exposure for her hand-painted giftware.
There is definitely a theme to Diane’s creative expression. She has developed an amazing gift for painting flowers, and her passion s painting pink roses. Diane says, “I don’t know why, but all my favorite things from years ago are all incorporated into the pink rose. My inspiration is my mother. From her I inherited the love of making things by hand. She has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past 12 years and a portion of my proceeds goes to the Alzheimer’s Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation. My dad who past away 4 years ago encouraged my painting by saying “where is this coming from you’ve been in the gym all your life?”. My mother’s generous spirit has inspired me greatly and I take that energy into everything that I paint. I am constantly inspired by other artists, and very much so by a painter in Australia and my new friends on a painting forum group. I am so thankful to have the internet to keep in touch with other artisans from all over the world, together we inspire and support each other.
Diane is currently a one-woman show, however her goal is to combine her work with the skills of her husband so that they can do shows together. Diane’s ultimate dream is to have a quaint little shop in cottage country where she can paint and sell her giftware along with her husband’s restoration projects.
Diane promotes her giftware through her website www.josiesjoys.com, facebook and email.
Currently Diane’s work can be found at:
Towne Flowers in Whitby
The Glass Store & More in Markham
The Rose Pros in Newmarket
O’Cala Winery in Port Perry
Russel’s Delectables in downtown Port Perry
Stouffville Florists in Stouffville
Towne Flowers in Whitby
The Glass Store & More in Markham
The Rose Pros in Newmarket
O’Cala Winery in Port Perry
Russel’s Delectables in downtown Port Perry
Stouffville Florists in Stouffville
If you’d like to meet Diane and see her beautiful hand-painted creations you can visit her at these upcoming Christmas Shows:
Nov 6&7 Lucy Maud Montgomery House, Leaksdale
Nov 7 Goodwood Community Centre, Goodwood
Nov 14 Port Perry High School
Nov 28 Butternut house in Uxbridge
Dec 4 6-9pm, Dec 5 10-4pm
Past & Presents Christmas Extravanganza Craft Show
Uxbridge Museum,
Conc 6 & Hwy 47
Organized by Diane
Nov 7 Goodwood Community Centre, Goodwood
Nov 14 Port Perry High School
Nov 28 Butternut house in Uxbridge
Dec 4 6-9pm, Dec 5 10-4pm
Past & Presents Christmas Extravanganza Craft Show
Uxbridge Museum,
Conc 6 & Hwy 47
Organized by Diane
*If you are interested in a custom order for glassware, wineglasses. mail boxes or any other item please contact Diane. Most items take about 2 weeks for delivery.
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