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Doreen Dilger is an accomplished mixed media artist, author, and creative entrepreneur based in Watertown, CT. Her innovative work captures storytelling through a variety of mediums, including mixed media and junk journaling. Inspired by her travels, her passion for nature, and the joyful moments spent with her grandchildren, Doreen expertly blends paint, collages, vintage papers, and photographs to create captivating pieces.
 
As a retired certified business coach and past owner of the Women Empowering Women organization, Doreen is now embracing an exciting new journey. She is dedicated to being more present and prioritizing her creative time.
 
This new chapter also includes her new business, The Cozy and Charming Traveler, where she shares her passion for travel and creatively captures those unforgettable memories.
 
Discover Doreen’s work on Instagram @doreendilger. Be sure to look out for her monthly giveaways on Instagram and YouTube. All it takes is a follow and a brief comment. 

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So, what's the concept behind The Cozy & Charming Traveler?
It's a platform where I share my journey of infusing my love of journaling, photography, and storytelling with my travels, all while embracing a cozy and charming approach to life.

My husband and I are traveling a lot more these days, and I wanted to infuse my love of journaling, photography, and storytelling with my travels. Nowadays, taking photos with your iPhone is so easy, but somebody can easily forget all those pictures and what made that day so precious.

On this new path, I've made it a priority to slow down, reflect, and be fully present, dedicating time to my creative pursuits. This includes journaling, crafting mixed-media art, playing in my art journal, painting with my grandkids, and creating tags or junk journals. It's all part of the cozy and charming approach to life, a departure from the hurried pace of modern living.
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I've longed to share my creative soul and my life experiences in a meaningful way, and that's why I've established The Cozy & Charming Traveler as my next venture.

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What is Mixed Media Art?

Mixed media art is a unique form of expression that uses a variety of mediums such as paint, watercolor, papers, vintage papers, maps, book pages, pencils, crayons, etc. It's a way to create an art piece or journal page that is uniquely yours, reflecting your individuality and creativity.

With mixed media art, there are no constraints or limitations. It's about embracing the freedom to create, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the journey of art-making, whether it's for personal use or for sale.
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Memory Keeping

Memory keeping is not just a hobby for me, it's a part of my life. My world is filled with travel, grandkids, and creative art, and I capture these moments through my camera lens. I even pay for unlimited storage to keep all these precious images safe.

Each of these photos is more than just a snapshot-it's a story waiting to be told. My preferred method of storytelling is through junk journaling. This unique process allows me to weave together the materials I've collected into a daily page each month, much like a scrapbook but with the added creative freedom of a junk journal.

If you're curious to see how these stories come to life, I invite you to check out my YouTube Channel, where I share flip-throughs of my junk journal.

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Planner Love


My planner is not just a tool, it's a part of me. I currently use a Wonderland 222 A5 with my Louis Vuitton agenda cover. I use my planner for calendar events, journaling, decorating, doodling, list making, and goal creation.

My planner is not just a tool, but a daily routine that I tackle in the morning. It helps me stay organized, focused, and productive. Sundays are still dedicated to planning and reviewing upcoming activities, which sets the tone for the week ahead.

I plan to create my planner next year. I already do a monthly junk journal, so why not combine them? 

I'd love to see how you plan and organize your life. Share your planner or journal with me on social media using the hashtag # PlannerLove. You can also check out my flip-through of my planner on YouTube for some inspiration.

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Vintage Papers

My vintage paper packets are a treasure trove of inspiration. They contain a diverse range of materials, from book pages and recipes to tickets, receipts, music papers, stamps, dictionary pages, maps, instruction pages, children's book pages, and more.

Vintage papers add a variety to junk journals. They help create easily instead of plain white paper. They also help those who want to create vintage papers without the bulk of storing all the documents or books.

As a fellow crafter, I understand the struggle of managing a plethora of materials. That's why I've created these vintage paper packs for my own use. They're a convenient solution for crafting on the go, simplifying the creative process and reducing overwhelm.

Check out my vintage paper packs that are for sale here.

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I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and I'm wondering: should I start selling my artwork online?

I'm thrilled to be a part of two exciting craft fairs a year: Pickle Fest in May and the March Farms Fundraiser in October, both at March Farms in Bethlehem, CT. 

My range of products is quite diverse. I sell vintage paper packs, sticker packs, abstract art, vintage postcards, flower blank cards, art prints, altered sketchbooks, blind dates with books, canvas bags, key chains, car fresheners, and small zipper bags.

I plan to get my products listed on my website and am currently looking at Whatnot to sell online in the Buy It Now area. 

​Keep checking back for more details!

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Let's talk about my She Shed.

While I'm fortunate to have a dedicated art space, I don't confine my creativity to it. In truth, most of my crafting happens at my kitchen table, or even from the comfort of my bed. I've found inspiration in the most unexpected places, from my grandkids' sports activities to vacation spots.

My she shed has been where I could retreat alone and play for hours, especially when my husband is home. In recent years, he has been working hard often, so he is not home as much, so I can craft from my kitchen table. Plus, it makes it easier when my grandkids come over to have them sit with me and craft, too. They love my craft space.

You don't need a dedicated room or a mountain of supplies to start crafting. In fact, I'm currently in the process of downsizing my collection, and it's a manageable task. A suitcase, a canvas bag, or even the bottom of a dresser drawer can hold your favorite items. When inspiration strikes or if you have a daily crafting habit, simply take out a few things and enjoy your time. I manage to find at least 20 minutes a day for crafting, and it's always worth it.

If you are interested in seeing what my shed looks like, here are some photos, or if you want to see the entire tour, check out my YouTube video.