Meet Your Challenge Hosts - Dini (Dina)

[dini]

Hi! I'm Dina Kowal, and I'm the Artist in Residence here at Splitcoaststampers. If you've read our Weekly Inkling newsletter or tried a new technique this year, you've seen a portion of what I do here. Most of my work is done behind the scenes, answering questions, communicating with tutorial authors, and scheduling, creating and formatting tutorials for our weekly technique spotlight. I'm also a part of the Mix-Ability hostess team, and I coordinate the themes for our fan club galleries. I love what I do. I love that some days there is no perceptible boundary between my work and my play. I love breaking down creative processes into manageable steps and seeing you 'get it,' and I love this team and this community.

I was born in Indonesia in a tiny oil camp hospital, and began my life with a dramatic medical emergency... a blood type incompatibility necessitated me being named a stateless alien to be life-flighted to Singapore for a complete blood exchange at 6 days old. Maybe it's that foreign blood (or is it because I was an alien?) that has given me a love for foreign languages and cultures. I took two trips overseas while I was in high school, and have spent the last 13 years in cross-cultural ministry with my family.

I grew up in a quiet family with a patient engineer dad and a highly organized, health-conscious mom. I have an older brother who's a brilliant computer engineer and musician. I married my biggest fan and complete opposite, a match which keeps life beautifully interesting, and gives me opportunities to learn about things like football, football technicalities, hunting, theology, and football. We have 4 school-age kiddos with a beautiful perspective on life from growing up overseas. They are amazing troopers.

Random things about me:

• I have a gift for spotting irony, randomness, and amusing typos.
• I love words. And charts, especially color charts.
• Whatever the coloring medium is, I need the big set.
• I'm extremely hard to feed.
• I adore Winnie the Pooh (as A.A.Milne conceived him) and have always related to him most, though I always come out Owl on those silly quizzes. I'm quite proud of my collection of Classic Pooh stamps, and you'll see some of them this month!
• I'm a recovering perfectionist, an old soul, and a winsome introvert.
• When I get nervous, I belch.
• I grew up in California, except for one year when we lived in Houston. Oddly, that year (when I was 6) is the only year that I have clear childhood memories... or maybe the only year we did really cool stuff.
• I love music, and my playlist includes everything from Bing Crosby and CCR to Adele.
• I really really really liked this car.

This month marks 7 years of blogging for me - hard to believe! You might also see my name on a stamp or die design in your stash... I've been designing stamps since 2008.

Isn't this fun? October always feels like a big group hug on Splitcoast. I'm so blessed to be a part of this community! Thanks for joining us for the HYCCT challenges today!

[janeenk]

Thanks Dina, for your time to intro yourself. It's so fun to get to know you. You are amazing to do all you do on here with four children besides. I loved reading about you.

[ashjoy]

We are blessed to have you share your talent with us

[madameplushbottom]

Wow, Dina. What a beautiful intro to you. I love learning about you and am tremendously grateful to have you in my life. You are a kind soul, a beautiful artist, and the perfect combination of tender and tenacious.

[MariLynn]

Loved reading your intro...football... I am a big fan of your art and I am blessed by your humble spirit.

[Scrapacat]

I always need the big set too. Wait, did you say football? I wasn't sure. LOL I love you!! Winsome, old soul of a God-loving hermit, we are kindred.

[vdoyle8]

How wonderful to get a chance to know you a little better! I, too, am a recovering perfectionist who also always needs the BIG set ;)

[scrapbooknut1]

Can you share what companies you design for?

[dini]

Sure! I'm still putting out new designs at Impression Obsession, but also have stamps licensed through Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and Our Daily Bread designs.

[scrapaholic007]

I'm loving this "get to know" stuff! you guys are so mush MORE likeable now, gah!

[dini]

Hahah! It's kind of like we're real, huh! ;)

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdoyle8

How wonderful to get a chance to know you a little better! I, too, am a recovering perfectionist who also always needs the BIG set ;)

MY husband says I'm not recovering... but TRULY - I feel like the freedom I push myself to in art has crept over into my left brain quite a bit.

[lazylizard]

Glad to hear your year in Houston was a memorable one!LOL I have lived most of my life within 100 miles of Houston. Now I live much closer. Love all the work you do to make this such a fabulous site to visit numerous times a day!!

[RhondaTX]

Now I'm going to be looking at all my stamps to see if any were designed by Dina! I love reading and getting to know you better. Makes me feel right at home now. I live in Houston too, well close to it - closer to the gulf in League City! Lazylizard looks really familiar to me, although Houston is a BIG place so she could be a look alike! Can't wait to get started on all the challenges.

[scootsv]

Dina, thanks for sharing your info with us. What an interesting life! and now to have all this time for crafting with four children! I could not have done it when my kids were young! I hope you keep your creative juices running and enjoy all that you do! Thanks again for all you do for us who enjoy SCS!

[muscrat]

I have a few Dina K designs stamps in my collection! Thanks for sharing!

[sue28]

Great to read a little more about you, Dina, I am a huge fan of your work!! Do you also design stencils - I have a stencil from Crafters Companion that I'm sure has your name on the packaging? I am away from home ATM so could have the wrong company!

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sue28

Great to read a little more about you, Dina, I am a huge fan of your work!! Do you also design stencils - I have a stencil from Crafters Companion that I'm sure has your name on the packaging? I am away from home ATM so could have the wrong company!

Nope, not me - that's probably designed by Dina Wakley.

[sue28]

Ah yes, I think that is the name now that you mention it!! I did say I was on holidays LOL!! Looking forward to joining in with some challenges when I return home tomorrow!!

[muscrat]

I have Dina's Vintage Postcard from SNSS and Trust from Impression Obsession! Love them both!

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sue28

Ah yes, I think that is the name now that you mention it!! I did say I was on holidays LOL!! Looking forward to joining in with some challenges when I return home tomorrow!!

She is brilliant - I'm always happy to be mistaken for her! Come home and play!!

[chercher]

Dina, add me to the list of those in awe of your artistic ability and creations!

Things we have in common.
I'm a big set gal. And, I gotta try all the mediums kinda gal to.

I love pooh and could at one point recite the whole pooh "original" movie. Been a while since I watched it but hope to relearn it all with my sweet grandson.;)

I'm not quick on catching goofy things due to spell check. I used to try and correct them but now I leave them for people like you. Who hopefully get a chuckle out of my mistakes.:p

I'm not hard to feed. If i had my choice i would have more vegies. I'm one of those who feel like there must be a green veggie at every meal.

So now you know a little about me. ;)

[PaperPunchScissors]

Dina, I'm one of your biggest fans. Your artwork delights my senses, your heart encourages mine, and your humor always give me a good laugh. How you manage everything is way beyond my understanding.

Thank you for all the inspiration and instruction you give so freely. You're a gem! And BTW: I'm only 4 ft 11 inches tall ;)

[LuvLee]

I LOVE how you create! You are a gift...and help me want to learn more and not stay in my little box so much! And....go football! lol

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaperPunchScissors

Dina, I'm one of your biggest fans. Your artwork delights my senses, your heart encourages mine, and your humor always give me a good laugh. How you manage everything is way beyond my understanding.

Thank you for all the inspiration and instruction you give so freely. You're a gem! And BTW: I'm only 4 ft 11 inches tall ;)

Aww! Thank you Susie! Someday we'll meet and have a proper hug, no tiptoes! I have you by 1.25"... I've been told I seem taller online. ;)

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvLee

I LOVE how you create! You are a gift...and help me want to learn more and not stay in my little box so much! And....go football! lol

Hahaaa! I read my bio to him and he says, "Do I talk about football that much?"

[dini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chercher

I'm not hard to feed. If i had my choice i would have more vegies. I'm one of those who feel like there must be a green veggie at every meal.

Oh me too! I love veggies... I eat salad 2-3 times a day! It's not that I'm a picky eater - I just have a lot of restrictions. I have candida and a gluten allergy+intolerance, plus my cholesterol is high. It's sort of a tricky balance.

[wavejumper]

I am always so interested in people who have moved around a lot as a person who has been in the same place my whole life.

You are a huge asset to SCS and I read your tutorials every week on Inklings. You are not only very talented but very patient, giving, kind, and all kinds of good things! A lot of people who can "do", can't teach...you do it so well and never make people feel dumb for asking questions.

I look at the sports thing this way: More time for me to craft! LOL

[Margscardcrazy]

Dina, I love, love, love your art work and all the things you do for our community.

Thanks for sharing with us .... nice car!!

Hugs
Marg

[Shadow's Mom]

Such fun getting to know you, Dini! What an amazing life you lead, especially bringing up four children! Loved your comment on having to have the largest size of any coloring medium! Go big or go home, right? Thanks for all you do!

[scrappigramma2]

It was so fun getting to know you better Dina! I DO have several stamps with your name on them, and I love each one! I love the pic of you and Lydia!

[CAKath]

I am always in awe of what you create- just amazing and inspiring stuff, Dina. I am so very glad you have returned back to California so now I have a chance to meet you in real life. I have business in Bakersfield from time to time and I hope to get a chance to meet you in person. I could get your autograph. :-))