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For the Love of Art & Horses: Art and horses: they are synonymous beings -- beautiful, temperamental, inspirational. Just ask local artist and horsewoman Diana M. Berthold. The East Patchogue resident's world revolves around her family, art and horses. Everything Diana creates, from her drawings, dazzling quilts and clever craft work, is a pursuit of her talents and her earnest quest of simple beauty. How wonderful it is to be blessed with two callings. Diana earned a degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in apparel design, and is a "knit specialist." Upon her graduating FIT, she designed knit tops and swim wear for children and juniors. In 1980 she founded "Heavens to Horses" in Brentwood, where she originated and produced unique horse-related items available through mail order catalogues. | ||||
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But her love of horses was always with her. She closed her business in 1983 when she moved to horse property in Suffolk County. At her East Patchogue home there is plenty of inspiration on hand. Her husband, Jeff, and two children, Elizabeth, age 16, and Jeff Jr., age 19, help with her art and equestrian endeavors. There's also Misty, the Nigerian goat, and her beautiful Thoroughbred mare, Mega-Veoux, as well as a myriad of unusual pets. And then there's the quilts. Lots of quilts: hanging from the walls, tossed across chairs, and artfully draped in what may be the neatest and cleanest tack room you'll ever see in your lifetime. Diana also loves to work with young people. "I just gave two programs at Island Park and Oceanside, about a career in fashion, focusing on its realities as well as the training," she explained. "I found in each group one girl who was working towards a goal as a designer. I began making my own clothes at age 10 and these two girls also make theirs." Diana often travels from Elmont to East Hampton, from the north shore to the south shore, presenting her creative programs that run the gamut from arts, crafts, calligraphy and fashion, to horses and quilting. "This year, I have made a promise to myself to get more involved with my art and the organizations I belong to," said Diana. "It's necessary to re-energize, so that I don't burn out by constantly giving my energy away." Diana is a South Bay Art Assn. Trustee, and a member of at least a dozen clubs, including the LI Dressage and Combined Training Assn. and the Swan Lake Park Civic Assn. In June, 2005, Diana attended the Eastern Long Island Quilters' Guild's Peconic Quilt Show, Hawaiian Holiday at Suffolk Community College in Riverhead. Seven of her quilts were entered in various categories. Diana also entered one of her quilts to the Hampton Classic Poster Committee in 2005 in honor of the horse show's 30th anniversary. Her 'poster quilt' was inspired from a photograph she snapped at the Hampton Classic. "With my combined love for horses, photography, art and the American tradition of quilt making, I create an art that I find entirely exciting, unpredictable and rewarding," she explained. Mixed with Diana's creativity, they all become something wonderful. | ||
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