Available Now for Preorder!

2018 Ltd. Edition Heirloom Music Box Casket Ornament Kit~

 Peaceful Kingdom

 I am super happy to introduce the new limited edition Christmas ornament kit for this year~ Peaceful Kingdom. It is a combination of two of my favorite things~ stumpwork caskets, and music boxes!

It will only be available for purchase from now until Dec. 31, 2018.  

If you would like to read more about it, all of the ornament and kit information is on my Diamond K Folk Art blog, just look for it in the header at the top of the page, or you can click here.

2017 Limited Edition Ornament Kits Ready to Ship

Winter Queen Going Fast~Only 29 Left!!

 Golly! All preorders have now shipped, so check your email for tracking numbers! If you are pondering getting a kit for this years limited edition ornament, I have just 29 left.   Thats not 29 in stock...thats 29 in stock, ready to ship, and only 29~ there will be no more! I posted here a bit ago for the perorder explaining about the limited, very limited status of the ornament this year.  It is such a beautiful ornament!

 I designed it after Queen Elizabeth Stuart's early 17th c gloves, seen above. The silk embroidery on the rich blue silk background is breathtaking in person

 I left these pictures large so you can see the details~ all threads are real gold with just the right amount of spangles to really flash in the lights of the Christmas tree!  This years kit is mounted a different way than last years~ there is no stitching over card or pricking~ YAY!
There is purl work...as well as an or~nue flaming heart.

 Borage, pansies and tulips in silks....the ornament is dated for this year of coarse~

 Real gilt over silver tinsel that will tarnish ever so slightly over time....and pearls~ real seed pearls...a whopping 31 inches of real cultured seed pearls are in each kit!

 There are rough purls, bright check purls, and 2% gold Elizabethan Twist...the highest percent gold thread available. A Queen demands nothing but the best of materials~

 And what Queen doesn't have secrets?  Winter Queen has her own secret~ she is a fully lined treasure box, if one so desires to finish her that way.

 The lining silk is one of the scant items not included in the kit, because I used a scrap of a old silk tie, and everyone has their own preference!

The pearls, (along with the blue dutchess silk satin and tinsel), were what really made this kit limited. Pearls this small are extremely difficult to find in good quality~ I scoured the earth, wheeled and dealed and brought you some of the prettiest, tiny, hand drilled pearls ever. Ya....thats right, each one of these lil buggers is drilled by hand...actually on the gloved fingertip of the craftsman.....just amazing.
If you would like to order a kit, or learn more about it, you can do so here

2017 Limited Edition Heirloom Ornament Kit Available

Winter Queen

I am happy to announce that this year's 2017 limited edition heirloom embroidered ornament kit, Winter Queen, is now available for preorder sale on my Diamond K Folk Art blog here.  I hope to ship them by 20 October, or a little before

Gloves of Elizabeth Stuart~ (19 Aug 1596~13 Feb 1662) Electress of  the Palatinate 

This year's ornament will be extremely limited. I have had quite a challenge this year obtaining enough quantity of the materials within the kit to be able to offer it for sale. Real gold threads, real cultured seed pearls and gilt tinsel handmade in Germany were all extremely difficult for me to acquire...and to top it all off, the dye lot of my dutchess silk satin has been discontinued. The amount of kits I will be able to offer is just a fraction of the amount of kits I sold last year....so if you are interested, honestly speaking, I would not hesitate.

Everything you need to make up an ornament is included in the kit, minus a slate embroidery frame and a certain silk...if you so desire to make up the 'secret' element to the ornament~ tho it can be made without~ just check out my Diamond K Folk Art blog page to find out what her secret is!

on eBay this week!

New Flemish Fantasy Thread Palette Set

 Ever since I made the Flemish Slate Frame, I have wanted to translate that to a thread palette set and finally finished it!  It is by far and far, the most favorite yet of all the palette sets I have made. I designed a new shape thread palette as well, with even more holes~ 24! What makes this set extra special, is the addition of 22k gold that I brushed on over the paint~ it sparkles so pretty!

 I designed the shape of the thread winders after Flemish door designs~ all three are different and this one is my favorite~ if you would like to see the other two, and place a bid if you love it~ the set is available on eBay this week and you can find it here , or click on the link in the sidebar to my eBay specials. 

Not only are the fronts of the winders gilt, but the edges as well (forgot to add that to the eBay listing)

Both front and back of the palette is painted...I really love this design...maybe I need to make a box.......

Is it really 2017

Already? 

 Happy New Year! Now that its past Christmas I can share one of my favorite slate frames with you all~ nothing brings in a New Year like some gold! I had a special customer that ordered a frame for Christmas~ all she said was to base it on my Flemish Box that I worked a bit ago~

 There is a lot of gold on that box and my following Christmas ornament

 I wanted to make the frame extra special for her for Christmas, so I used real liquid gold for the scrolls and hilites and boy oh boy does it ever sparkle!

 Here I am just starting to add the gold~ in addition to the scrolls, there is gold on the petals and leaves as well~ just like how I embroidered the originals

 One thing I really love about using the liquid gold is how subtle it is....at first you may not even realize there is gold on the piece, but then when you look closer, or move it a certain direction~ the light just dances off in all sorts of directions and makes the surface glow~ soooooo pretty!

 The gold on the top of the trees looks like sunshine

 Scrolling Dutch tulips are perfectly suited for a horizontal slate frame

 I cant wait to paint myself a frame like this~ at the rate I'm going, it may be a few years before I get one~

I couldn't think of a better way to bring in the New Year than working with some 24k gold leaf~ maybe thats how this year will be for everyone~ I hope so! I am gilding casket and mirror case feet this week~ these pictured are mirror case feet that havent been burnished yet. An embroidered casket is special~ if you use the best hardware and the best real gold threads available~ why not give it the best feet available? My casket feet are fr sale in my Diamond K Folk Art blog shop~ link & more info to the right~  cause a girl's just got to have some pretty shoes....

Slate Frames & Flemish Fantasy Kit~ nearly gone!

Happy to Accommodate your fondest Desire~

Its been a while since I posted some examples of my painted slate frames~ above it a set I did earlier this year of Judith & Holfroness~ a slate with matching thread palette set. All done in blackwork, the story of  Judith beheading Holfroness was a favorite for 17th c embroiders. I left it large so you can see the details....crimson blood and all~ isn't it fabulous!? If you have a frame on your Christmas list, I am far enough backed up now that you wont get it before then~ but dont let that stop you from nudging your significant other to get you one for Christmas! I put a slide show of some of my favorite paint designs on the slate frame ordering page on my shop blog, www.DiamondKFolkArt.blogspot.com~  just click on the slate frame page at the top and scroll down to the bottom to see them.

And in case you have the Flemish Fantasy Ornament Kit on your list~ I have just 7 left ready to ship~ 6 gold and 1 silver~ when theyre gone, theyre gone forever!  You can order on my shop blog as well~ dont forget to add the shipping!  Here is a little video I took today of mine on my tree~ 

May thee take joy in every stitch of thy needle~

Good Bye Flemish Fantasy!

Only 9 Kits Remain

 If you have been pondering a purchase of my Lt Edition 2016 Flemish Fantasy Ornament Kit, or have one on your Christmas Wish list, this is faire warning they are nearly sold out~ I have just 9 left in gold tinsel, the silver is completely gone.  

If you are interested, you can learn more about what is included, and order one on my shop blog, 

www.diamondkfolkart.blogspot.com

Just click on the "Flemish Fantasy Ornament Kit" tab at the top of the blog page~

Flemish Fantasy Kit update

Kits in Stock Again!

The response I have received for my 2016 Flemish Fantasy Ornament Kit has been wonderful~ well beyond my expectations. To my super fantastic customers who have been patiently waiting their kit to be shipped, they have all gone out this morning~ so please check your email for your specific tracking number. I have really tried to keep them in stock, really I have~ and it never fails when I get down low and reorder my silks, I will get orders in that inbewteen time that have to wait to ship~ so I do sincerely apologize to those of you who I could not ship out your kit the same day you ordered one. I have fourteen left sitting here, ready to ship out if you have been pondering getting one!  You can find ordering info for them here .

Dressing a Slate Frame

Dressing a Slate Frame

 I have had several questions since I started selling my slate frames on how to go about mounting the fabric onto the frame...so here are some step by step photos of  how I do mine~
  First off, you will notice that my hand made frames are a little different than some other mass produced frames available~  mine do not have any nylon webbing attached. Not only is this the period correct configuration, I think, once you try it, you will find it much simpler to mount your fabric by lacing all four sides than just two. So, to begin~ as seen above, you will need your slate frame, pegs(just four), scissors, prepared fabric, lacing cord and needle with big enough eye to fit your lacing cord thru.

To prepare the fabric for mounting, turn over the edges and stitch at least once~ this will keep the edge from raveling on you, and will also add some strength to it and keep the lacing from ripping out thru a bare edge. For large pieces of fabric, especially if you are using my large 36" frame, I highly suggest turning the edge over a cording. 

 To begin, first lay your fabric on a flat surface, then place the frame over it. Adjust the size of the frame to allow a few inches on all sides of the fabric. Set all four pegs now

 I use Londonderry linen thread size 18/3 to lace my frames~ I like the size, and it doesnt stretch that much over time. Here is am using black so you can see it easier than if I was using my normal natural color. Each side is laced separately, and to start each side, I put a slip knot of sorts into the beginning end of the thread. I loupe it around, then just make a little half hitch knott.

 This leaves the end in a loupe that will be placed over the corner peg.

 I like to position my frame with the edge I will be lacing extending out over the edge of my surface, as seen above. This lets me continually lace the frame without having to pick it up at all.

  To start, the loupe is placed over the peg, with the tail end brought around the outside of the frame, and then up thru the corner of the fabric. Pay attention to this simple little step!!! Bringing the lace around the frame in this way, will help to pull it all together and keep it square.

 The first side, I bring the fabric right up even with the edge of the frame. Note how the needle is brought up  over the machine stitched line.

 Continue until you reach the other side of the frame, bringing your lace around the corner of the frame, just like when we started~ and I wrap twice around the peg with a slip knot to end.

 The second side to lace is the opposite side of the frame~ just like the first, but pulling as tightly as you can with each stitch.

 Third side of the frame is laced.

 Lacing the last side of the frame~ with each stitch, holding the lacing cord down with my thumb to keep tension as I go~  I like to end my laces with a slip knott, so that they can be easily undone if I have to tighten them later

 The best thing about using a slate frame is that one can achieve a drum tightness that just is not possible on any other frame

Isn't this little frame cute? Cute cute cute! I have been wanting to make some mini frames from some of the ends I have kept from my larger ones~ this is my 'Super Mini' size....tho there was actually more work involved to make the smaller frames than the bigger ones!   If you are interested in a Super Mini, I will be listing these as specials in my ETSY shop as I get them finished, (they will not be a regular offering). All sizes and wood types will be different....just whatever I make at the time!

So what is that 'Thingy' on there....

Service with a Smile~ Always

 There is nothing like owning your own business. It is the most rewarding and awesome feeling, yet at the same time, it can be so stressful and demanding it nearly sucks the life right out of you.  Diamond K Folk Art is me. There is no one else to rely on to make dolls or do my embroidery or woodworking....no one else to blame if something goes wrong...like when I cut the tip of my finger off last week. (no worries~ its all GOOD).  I love my 'job'. My family could say something else I'm sure... I work from the second my eyes open in the morning, until well after they go to bed, each and every day. To me my job isnt 'work'~ its my life, its what I love to do...so its what I want to do, all day and night long, every day of the week! It is stressful tho, having to depend on making something someone else wants to buy. I know how hard I work for my money, and I know others work just as hard and harder for theirs, so when they choose to buy something from me, I really do appreciate it in every way possible.  One little way of saying thankyou for me, is to include a little smile with each and every order~ no matter if its for something for 10.00 or 100.00.  Each and every Diamond K Folk Art purchase gets wrapped in my signature paper and string, with a little mache ornament tied on...sometimes Ill stick candy in there...but most of the time, you will get a little ornament~ and hopefully the surprise will make you smile, cause its really me smiling back at you saying "thankyou for your order"~

  I make each and every one of my smiles~ the most common are mache ornaments like these~ hand pressed from mache out of antique or reproduction springerle cookie molds. You can keep them, some put them on their Christmas tree...or you can pass your smile on to someone else. Alot of my customers collect them, and being a bit OCD like I am, I do keep track of just which ones I put one very order, so hopefully you will never get the same one twice :)

 After pressing and drying, little smiles look rather bland, so the backgrounds get carefully painted with watercolours and then varnished. Theyre pretty sturdy little buggers, but still, dont let your wee ones or furbabies eat them! The mache and watercolours are non toxic, but the varnish isnt!

Flemish Fantasy Kits Shipping this week!

I have been packing kits all week, and will begin shipping them out tomorrow. Thankyou all so very much, I have been overwhelmed with the response for my new line of kits!  I have personally packed each and every one~ checked, rechecked and checked again to make sure they are all perfectly complete

  I  kept the instructions to a user friendly 22 illustrated pages, with another 3 page packet of keys.  Of coarse, if anyone ever has any questions, as noted in each kit, you may get in touch with me anytime with questions.

  Each item placed in each kit carefully with love and intent~ for a most pleasurable stitching experience!
 I'm really excited about this new line, and already have started on next years special ornament.....ten times more fantabulous than this years!   If you havent got your kit yet, they are still available on my blog page~ they will be available only this year, 2016, or until I run out, which ever comes first ;)

Flemish Fantasy Ornament Kit

 Ltd. Edition Kits Available now!

If you are interested in making one of my Flemish Fantasy Ornament kits for yourself, I have listed them on my Diamond K Folk Art blog here .

The kit page explains all the details about ordering~ but if it doesn't or you still have a question, please dont hesitate to drop me a line at rlkinnison@yahoo.com.  

Flemish Fantasy~ An Embroidered Ornament in Gold & Silk

  Flemish Fantasy~ An Embroidered Ornament in Gold & Silk

Inspired by early 17th c Flemish embroidered cabinets, I have designed and finally finished stitching the model for my Flemish Christmas ornament~ its so very delicate and feminine~ you will want to keep it out all year long! It is safe to say that this will be the first in a series of embroidered Christmas ornaments~ I am planing on designing a new one for each year, with the full kit for each being available for that year only. Ill be posting details about the kit soon, so keep checking back if you are interested! Let me know what you think!

Thankyou too for all the well wishes, I am feeling much much better!