Sometimes you Get it........

Sometimes you D*O*N*T*.......

I love early photography, especially daguerreotypes. I have a bit over 100 or so here at the Museum, mostly of children. They are indeed windows into another time~ a special place in history, where we can become intimate with the sitter, and glean a rare glimpse of their every day lifestyles. But have you ever really 'looked' at a daguerreotype??? Past the obvious pose and gender of the subject being pictured???? Daguerreotypes are amazingly detailed~ of coarse some have weathered time better than others, but looking thru a loupe, one can see individual hairs....freckles....even individual petals of a rose in a vase on a table. I greatly admire the early photographers~ it was truly an Art to place a sitter correctly, with the light just right, to make a nice exposure. It could take up to 20 minutes to expose the silver plate....sometimes even longer if the person was of darker skin, or in poor light.....all the while, the sitter had to remain totally still.........as in motionless............n o t m o v i n g . . . . . . . . . .

I wonder how many plates were re-used, because the sitter moved? I bet alot!!!! Imagine....in comes this little sprite, like my Pippin, above. All happy and FULL of energy~ excited to have their picture taken!!!!!!!!!!!

Photographer says....OK~ now you need to be serious~ no jumping and hopping about~ok? 'Ok', says the little one.... as they compose themselves in as serious a manner as they can muster up... but do you see it? The corners of the eyes and mouth are hinting at a devious adventure to come...... I cant imagine how hard it would have been to get a child to sit still for so long, even with the neck brace most of the daguerreotypists used..........

So serene and serious~ so grown up and mature looking............ when in fact, this youngster was most likely the same age as my Pip~ and LOOK what I get......

ARGGGGGGGG!!!!!! What a little devil! I was trying to photograph an early 1840 little boys coat for my files....and Pip just couldnt contain her wiley little self! On days like this, one must just call it a day, and let them go out and p-l-a-y!

Coming to TDIPT Mercantile March 14....

"The Squinty Sisters"

I hope you can find the time to stop by and meet Brutus...
and her sister Mifs Gilly Puppen~ they will be joining their other sister, Minot, at the TDIPT Mercantile tomorrow evening. All 3 are primitive Queen Anne dollys, and dressed entirely in antique bits of fabric and lace.

A New Line of Needful Dollys.......


Isn't she F*U*N*! This is a peeky poo at 'Little Dollye Pin' ~ she is the debut dolly in my new line of pincushion dolls. I LOVE make-do's and pincushions, and have always admired the early porcelain half dolls. My little girls will be eager to help you with your sewing and stitchings~ their dress is of coarse a pin cushion, and they have a little compartment in the base that is big enough to hold your thimble, thread, and even those little folding scissors~ but I couldn't find mine to take in the picture.
Little Dollye Pin is very nice company~ pleasant and kinde conversation when you are quietly stitching....and I have made her promise to NOT tell secrets :) She is one of a kinde, and available in my ETSY store. The first of many to come, I have dressed her c1830, and stitched her a little paper poke bonnet~ C*U*T*E!

New Easter Pretties in my ETSY shop...


I have been doing a bit of spring cleaning this week, and yesterday found an entire box of Easter Egg Ornaments I made for a show in 2006. I sold out of these there, so I thought!! I have put them in my ETSY store in lots of 3, and at a great price too! I originally sold them for 22.00 each, but because some in each lot are dated 2006, I have priced them at 25.00 for the entire lot~ quite a savings! They look so wonderful in a basket like I have them here, or on an Easter Tree. Each lot is also good for one entry into the Fundraiser Giveaway too...so go check em out!!

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*

Bliss is............

Loving children......

Loving dollys and all things olde and beautiful..........

And having a little "Pip" to share it all with