And the Winner Is.........

P. Smith Thomas! Congratulations!!

   I will be sending your butterfly pin disk kit out as soon as you get back to me with your mailing address ;)
For those that are wondering.... the Total Number of Beads used on my Padded Mirror Case is....
  111,170 Beads, with a Total Working Time of  433 hours, 12 minutes. 

Can you Guess???

I had to show you a closeup of my favorite little snail~ isn't he so cute!?  I have been inundated with requests for how many beads I used on the mirror case...so I thought, I will let you all guess! The one who guesses closest to the amount, without going over , will win one of my beaded butterfly pin disk kits. Just email your guess to me at rlkinnison@yahoo.com ~ only one guess per person now so think carefully!!  You have until midnight of Wednesday next to enter~thats August 27, 2014.  Good luck!

Are You Ready????

Drumroll.............................d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d..d.d.d.d.d..............dddddd........

dddddddddddddddddddddddd...................................

And the Winner of the 2011 Fundraiser Drawing, a custom made Queen Anne dollye~ is.......

Congratulations Gail!

Thank You EVERYONE so very much for entering this year, and for your most kind & gracious support. This year has been stressful financially for so many folks, that it humbles me and makes me even more honored, that you all chose my dollyes to share your lives with. I appreciate it, and the Museum appreciates it, greatly!

Museum 2011 Fundraiser & Drawing~

Not only is it that time of year, its past that time of year, I'm just slow at getting the new thermometer up! You will see it in the sidebar on the right, and has been tallied retro-actively. When we reach the top, I will hold the drawing, and this year, the premium will be a 12" Queen Anne type dollye of the winners choice~ as in, YES, a custom sculpted dollye just for them :)

Keeping my things here in tip top shape and stored properly is a difficult, and expensive task. Proper storage is just as important, if not more so, than display, in order to keep our precious bits of history around for future generations to study and learn from. Isn't the photo above captivating? This is the eye of one of my most coveted early wooden dolls here at the Museum~ she is a very early 18th century, possibly late 17th century, wooden fashion mannequin, sometimes referred to as the all elusive "Pandora Doll". Wooden dolls are extremely environmentally sensitive, as the wood, tho very old, still will expand and contract with changes in temperature & humidity. This year I am aiming high for a new climate control unit from Micro Climate Technologies in Toronto, the MCG4. I will be able to install this unit in my large glass display case, which will be the new permanent home for the early wooden above, as well as several others.

You can help bring a new MCG4 unit to the gallery by making any Diamond K Folk Art purchase, or by clicking the donate button in the sidebar~ please, please, do consider it. Every 25.00 in donation or purchase will earn one entry into the giveaway drawing. Words cannot express my gratitude to my readers, patrons and visitors. I am blessed, humbled and honored to care and share whatever I can, of our heritage with anyone who wishes to learn & be inspired.

One Little Two Little Three Little Piggies.............


I apologize for not posting on the blog sooner! I am swamped already this year~ a great thing! We are finally getting the blizzards that we should have had last November....and look at my little sweeties!!! Yes, Yetti & Blanket(our Great Pyrenees) are proud parents of 3 wee little pigs... which actually, aren't little at all~ they're HUGE! Just 13 days old, eyes open yesterday, two boys and a girl. Weighed the biggest one, the girl, FIVE POUNDS yesterday! I call her Gloria, she is the one on the right. Her brother Gary is on the far left, and my Jack is in the middle. We are going to keep Jack, the two brindles will be watching over someone else's flock.

They are so rolly polly....if they aren't eating, the children each are always holding a little pig....and see, Auntie Dixie is always hovering over them when Blanket gets a break and goes outside. We have kept them inside since they were born, as we have had in the 30 and 40 BELOW zero temps. I have also, drum roll.....got the taxes DONE, so will be getting all the info for this years fundraiser drawing up SOON! Not to worry, if you have bought anything this year, you will be entered! This years goal is very focused~ extremely focused actually. All the proceeds of my Folk Art sales will be going towards purchasing a climate control unit for the large counter display case~ I have been stripping the layers of paint off since last October!

Its looking pretty good, have the back to do yet, the sliding doors are giving me fits, as they don't come off....but its getting there. So much elbow grease...whew! I am using a non evaporating bio friendly stripper~ it works really good actually, just takes a while longer than the more potent ones.

For those of you who are making up a smock with me, Ill be posting on that soon too~ I'm so far behind! Nearly everyone has their fabric already so we should be all set to start :) It's ramping up to be a really GREAT year, and I'm seriously really looking forward to sharing it with you all~

Are You Ready????


Pip is ready this morning, I snatched her inside for a moment from making her famed mud~cakes outside....its been so wet here lately!






Drawing today for the 2010 Fundraiser Giveaway .......

............And a custom made, one of a kind dollye of their own favour...

CONGRATULATIONS PAM!!!!! I cant thank all of you enough for your support of my art, and in turn, the Lady's Repository Museum. Thankyou , Thankyou, a zillion times, over, THANKYOU!

Dreams really DO come true.........

I have been so busy, I am late in announcing that my Baltimore Album quilt, 'History's Humble Servant' has been jurried into the International Quilt Association's fall show in Houston as a finalist! I am more than honored, and just cannot even begin to express how excited I am, and humbled at the same time. I made my first quilt as a very early teen, and have always looked in awe at the quilts that were included in the big International Quilt Festival down in Houston each fall....I never thought that anything I would ever make, would be even remotely good enough to have its face shown together with such outstanding company. The show is Nov 4-7, 2010, at the George Brown Convention center in downtown Houston, Texas. I am not positive yet, as to which days I will be in attendance, but I will be there, so please do stop by and see me, and all the beautiful quilts and vendors! ( I will post my days as soon as I have confirmed them). You can read about the IQA and the show here http://www.quilts.org/

This year is extra special for all of us Baltimore Album Quilt lovers, as there will also be a special exhibit of 40 modern Baltimore Albums, 12 of which are Elly Sienkiewicz's friendship albums. There will be much to do and to see~ hope to see you there~ Ill be the overwhelmed one, standing by my quilt, with a smile from ear to ear :)

Speaking of busy, the bees have also been busy! They are doing so well, we have added a second super, and they have already started capping off combs of honey for the winter. We have lots of clover around, so it is nearly clear as water, and sooooo wonderful...but RICH! Jayson gave me a taste, and it was so sweet I just couldn't nearly stand it. He is really enjoying them, and to keep them busy, has a honey super on order, to add to the hive, making it 3 stories tall now.

And! As you can see, the fundraising goal for this year has been met! OHH my gracious, I can not thank everyone enough, I was in dire need of archival materials and storage supplies....you have no idea of the stress that can be accumulated, by knowing that such important artifacts are under your own responsibility and care, to remain for future generations. I have had sleepless nights, worrying that the precious bits of history that I care for, are being treated, and kept in a way that will add to their longevity on this Earth, vise detracting from it. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and hope to blog about in the near future. Until then, there is the happy business of the fundraiser giveaway to deal with! I am swamped right now (when lately does it seem that I am not?), so have set the date of Aug. 1st, to have the drawing and announce the winner~ this years premium, is a custom made dollye of the winners choice~ Good luck to all that entered, I hope you are as excited as I am!

2010 Museum Fundraiser & Giveaway Time!!


Yes~ time has come for the annual Lady's Repository Museum Fundraiser Giveaway! (Not to be confused with the 'Prims' Mystery Giveaway as posted earlier). Last year was a hard year for so many financially~ I have high hopes that this year will pick up for everyone, as giving often goes by the wayside when we are in a pinch. My list is heavy for this year, many of the archival boxes for the flat fold textiles are in need of replacement, I need UV filters & bulbs, and want a new light meter desperately! It is my job to safely care for and store all the objects there, so that they may last for future generations to study & enjoy, and friends, it is expensive! I humbly ask for any donation that you manage~ you may think change in the pocket isnt worth much, but collectively, it makes a huge difference! I have added the ol' thermometer to the sidebar, so you can follow the progress, and once we hit 5,000.00, Pip will draw out a winner! Instead of a ready made dollye this year, I will make the winner a special one of a kind dolly just for them~ a special way to show my Sincerest Gratitude for all the kind support. For each 25.00 donation, your name will be entered into the drawing one time~ just click the donate button~ its just that easy! You can also enter buy making any purchase at my online websites, ETSY & eBay~ every 25.00 of a Diamond K Folk Art purchase will earn you one entry(so 100.00 would earn you 4 entries)~ there is no limit to the amount of times you may enter. If you have any questions, please dont hesitate to ask~ just shoot me an email, or comment on this post and Ill get right back to you! GOOD LUCK!

And the Winner is........................


OK OK! I know I said Id post this on the 31st, but its just too exciting, and I have never been one for suspence.....so Pip is madly and with great ferver stirring the names in the basket....I told her to mix em up good!

And here it is! Youre the WINNER Nancy! Congratulations!!!! THANKYOU to all of you who entered this year, and who support my art and the Museum. Words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude. I wish you all could have won, I really do!

Ladyes & Gentlemen.........

I am pleased to announce that I will be posting the Winner of the 2009 Museum Fundraiser Drawing on August 31st! Thankyou so much to all of you who entered, for your grande support of my art and the Museum. All proceeds from my dollys and folk art always go to the Museum, and the fundraiser is my way of saying thankyou~ THANKYOU so very much! I have picked a wonderful olde painted 18th basket to hold all the entries, and lil Pip will be drawing a name out of it soon. Mifs Spring Queen Anne can barely contain her excitement and is all a flutter in her theater waiting to see where she will soon be traveling to. Good Luck!

2009 Museum Fundraiser & Giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How absolutely cheezy is that video?? BUT, since I am asking for your precious dollars, I felt I should do it in person. I hope you will please consider giving to the Museum this year. WHY give to a little privately owned entity instead of a large institution you ask? There are several very good reasons, besides the ones I state in the video~ among others, it is 'privately' owned, so I am not eligible for state & government grants or funding. The entire and sole support for the Museum comes from my Diamond K Folk Art sales, and gifts from very, very generous and giving supporters, like Y*O*U*!!!!!!!!

If you have any questions, just drop me a line~ T*H*A*N*K**Y*O*U*

Cyndi F. of Carmel Ca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!! Woo Hoo! Thankyou SO much to all of you who helped make this years Fund Drive a success!

Cyndi Has chosen sweet Hannah Grodnertal for her prize

Are you all Ready?

One Potata........Two Potata...........

First, I must say a very sincere THANKYOU to all of you who come to read the BLOG, and who support the Museum thru your very kinde & generous donations and purchase of my dolls & folk art. I could not do what I do, WITHOUT YOU. With the support of my patrons, we all can do a little to help save our past material culture from being lost, and to preserve it for future generations to study & enjoy.

I love the above daguerreotype, c1855-60. Just look at those children~ literally 'dripping in money', as my Grandmother would say. The finest clothes, the girl with her dollye, the boy holding the string to his pull toy~ a magnificent paddle~wheel boat. Their parents have paid the daguerreotypist to come to their home to make the picture, their posh floor cloth can clearly be seen, as well as the wooden baseboard behind the children's feet and at the base of one heck of an amazing painted mural. I wonder how many of their friends dreamed of paying them a visit to come and play???

Enough dreaming already! It is time for my 2008 Fundraiser giveaway! Sometime this week I will be drawing the name of the lucky winner of a dollye....all who previously donated this year, or have made a Diamond K Folk Art purchase are entered! Keep checkin back to see who the lucky winner is~

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

The beginning of the year means fundraising time for the Museum! Running a privately owned Museum is expensive~ I couldn't do it without much help & support! I have added a "DONATE" button on the sidebar to make it easy for you~ so if you enjoy visiting the BLOG & would like to help preserve pieces of our past for future generations to enjoy & study, I hope you will take a minute to show your support! You can also help us by making a purchase at the 'Mantua~Maker's Mercantile', Diamond K Folk Art on the TDIPT Mercantile, or by bidding on an eBay auction!

This years 5,000.00 fundraiser will directly support the following:

*New point & track lighting for the gallery

*UV light filters for new lighting

*4x20' overhang porch over Gallery Entryway

*10 child mannequins

*5 adult mannequins

*archival materials including acid free buffered tissue for storage

*acquisitions fund renewal

And.....as a THANKYOU to my patrons, Once our goal is reached, I will be holding a drawing for a FREE MACHE DOLLY!!! Want to enter??? Its EASY~ here are the particulars:

**Each Diamond K Folk Art purchase, or special order will earn ONE entry to the drawing.

** EACH 10.00 DONATION will earn ONE entry to the drawing.

** There is NO limit to the number of times a person can enter!

The winner for the Grande prize drawing will get to choose an existing dolly for their prize, or, request a custom dolly!

All purchases made from Jan. 1st 2008 are eligible, and HAVE been entered allready!

Don't be shy~ every little bit helps!!!