Donna Montanari
34 Webster Street
 North Tonawanda,NY 14120
(716) 692-4221
Email:  Deets8@yahoo.com

I have always had a love for creating, whether it  was general crafting, cake decorating or painting. After graduating from high school I went to nursing school and then worked full time as an RN.  

     In 1981, 2 weeks after getting married and while I was working Labor & Delivery at a local hospital, my husband was laid off. I decided to teach myself how to paint in order to make Christmas gifts that
year and save some money. Little did I know that his lay off would take me to where I am today.

     In 1987 I  started to teach crafting & painting out of my home to others that I worked with and then taught night school at the local high school. I continued to work as an RN in a pediatricians office and
raise twin sons. They are now 20 and in the military. James is in Japan since Dec. 2004 and Anthony was shipped out to Korea in March 2007.

     Udderly Country opened in the fall of 1994 at 300 Payne Ave. North Tonawanda. The shop carried several local crafter's consignment items, several companies such as Russ Berrie and a variety of crafting supplies.

     Craft classes started in March of 1995. It consisted of an eight foot table in the back corner of the shop. Classes offered were floral arranging and tole painting. With only 600 square feet of shop space,
I quickly out grew it.

      In January of 1997 I moved to 34 Webster Street and more than tripled my size.  I was able to have an actual classroom that accommodated 10 students comfortably. I recently expanded the classroom to
seat 16 and have closed circuit TV's so every seat is a good seat.

     The shop carries tole painting supplies, DecoArt Americana acrylic paint, brushes: Maureen McNaughton, Heinz Jordan, pattern packets: many McNaughton & Mary Owens, books, along with pen, ink and oil rouging supplies. The shop also carries a wide variety of gifts. You can see the latest Boyds Bears, Ty Collectibles, Heritage Lace, Tyler & Bridgewater Candles and accessories and much more.

     I am a member of The National Society Of Decorative Painters, Buffalo Snowbirds Chapter, Decorative Artists Group of the Tonawandas and the Lake Country Decorative Painters.  I am also a certified Mary Owens Instructor for Pen, Ink & Oil Rouging.

     I am constantly going to seminars and conventions and taking as many classes as I can to further my knowledge and bring back new techniques and patterns to share with my students.