Praise the bridge that carried you over. ~ George Colman Bridges and autumn are linked together in my mind. Bridges allow us to follow a road to somewhere. Autumn with its wonderful colors, crisp scents, brings a slowing down after the hustle of summer, opening the next chapter in our lives. Let the inspiration lead you across the bridge of...

Seasonal inspiration can come from a multitude of sources. In summer the supply seems to increase exponentially! Our subconscious absorption of beauty, color, unusual design is heightened by vacations, summer parties, seasonal flora and fauna – and so much more. So grab your digital camera, or your favorite medium, be it watercolor, pen and ink, or any other creative tool, and start capturing some of that beauty to save for times...

There are times when life is so busy that we do not allow ourselves any quiet moments to ponder, to appreciate, to be lazy, to rekindle our passions for our work. It is absolutely necessary to give ourselves permission to take those moments, refresh our minds, fill our souls with the surroundings that are our daily inspirations. This month has been exceptionally mild, allowing us in the northeast to absorb the sunshine, breathe in the fresh air,...

Dear Friends, We hope that 2011 has been a great year for you. We are very excited at the prospect of bringing you new and exciting design tips and concepts in 2012 to aid in your creativity and in your business ventures. We want to thank our readers for your continuing support of Designed by Dianna. We wish you and your family a season of joy and much happiness in 2012. Happy Holidays, The Designed by Dianna Team Our Creativity is YOUR...

Everyone in every organization is now part of the sales force AND part of customer service, but there are no customers without sales. Sales and customer service go hand-in-hand, but sales always come first. No matter if you’re the newest administrative employee or the CEO, your job is sales and then customer service, and if you don’t think it is, your business’s health is probably just as questionable as the rest of the companies out...

Valentine’s Day is named in honour of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers who, it is believed, was murdered on February 14 AD 270. The Roman emperor Claudius II cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome, as he believed married men, being emotionally attached to their wives and families, did not make good soldiers. Valentine secretly married couples until he was caught. One legend suggests he left a farewell note for the...