Prairie Chain Long Handknit Scarf by Julie Pishny

Prairie Chain Hand Knit Scarf - Buy Here

Prairie Chain Scarf for the fashionable Fall wardrobe available in six different color variations.  The scarf is super long at six feet in length allowing for lots of different looks.  Wear it long as shown above or wear it wrapped around your neck in coils as shown below.

Each scarf is handknit in imported fibers from Italy made of  53% wool and 47% acrylic so it is easy care machine washable in cold water.

These scarves will soon be available for sale in my etsy shop and on my website JuliePishny.com.  They will be available in limited quantities so leave a comment if you are interested in one of your own.

The weather remains hot and dry....watering the gardens has become a daily event.  All eyes are turned up toward the heavens looking for any sign of a chance of rain.  The weather seems to be a part of every conversation...we long for rain.

A new banner has been added  for my blog featuring new jewelry designs that make my heart sing...

Blessings to you my friends,

Julie

XOXO Bracelet and Spring Posie Corsages

A very talented woman ordered this bracelet for her shop and I must say she designed a beautiful bracelet.  I love it.  She requested a white leather strap bracelet with a copper plate stamped with XOXO and black thread to stitch the plate in place.  It's so beautiful that I had to make one for myself.  The leather is buttery soft and the copper plate is a nice contrast - such a smart lady my client.

I spent the afternoon today playing with flowers for my next show.  I have been fascinated with simple floral embellishments for Spring sweaters, dresses and tops.  I wanted something fresh, simple and sweet.

I think these little posie corsages will look so sweet pinned to a white cotton cardigan, don't you.  I recently ordered several Japanese crochet pattern books and became inspired by the photos within.  I adore the books and the photos within.  Gorgeous.

This sweet corsage features a wooden rose in the center and is one of my favorites.  These corsages are small at only three inches in length.



I also love the pale green rose in this sweetie.  I tied the corsages off with natural rafia twine.

My Mom is going to love one of these for Easter Sunday - me too!

I will have some of these little beauties at Bottoms Up Antique Market in May - just in time for Mother's Day celebrations. 

Fun Explorations...

Tallulah Blue Blog - Spring Corsages

How To Buy A Corsage for the Spring Formal

How To Make Prom Wrist Corsages

Kim Klassen Photography

Photo Shoot of Prairie Thistle Jewelry - Staging A Shot

Time to bring out the camera and stage a photo shoot of the jewelry I have put together for the upcoming Cupid's Gems Jewelry Show on February 5th.

A quick shot of my reflection in the vintage mirror on the table and I begin trying to get "the shot" that best captures the luster of pearls and the flash of semi precious stones.  It's a challenge...

I like to photograph my jewelry with other things that I love like vintage dresser mirrors, old clocks from Germany, an ornate gilded box from Italy, a tiny jar of glass buttons, old linen handkerchiefs from Ireland, and tiny porcelain birds in white from France that I found this week in one of my favorite antique shops..

Glistening pearls and faceted jasper in a long opera length strand against a vintage photo of three sisters on the porch steps.  Isn't she lovely?

Carnelian and Garnet Earrings - Buy Here

Carnelian briolettes with faceted garnets on 14KT gold earrings with a vintage lace backdrop in pure white that I think reflects the delicacy and elegance of these earrings.

Add a pair of porcelain birds and it makes my heart flutter a bit in excitement.  I love this shot!

Iolite and Garnet Earrings - Buy Here

This time pair the Iolite briolettes and ruby red garnets with the porcelain birds and vintage lace of the Irish linens.

Three strand necklace of Ryolite and vintage Czech glass ivory seed beads that have an old world feel to them.  This necklace is a choker design that is so flattering on women of all ages.

Close up of vintage Czech glass faceted beads and gemstone beads in vivid blue and those fabulous little birds.  I can hardly stand how darn cute those little birds are in the photos.

Full view of the long necklace with Art Nouveau focal point that seems right at home with the staging.

Just for fun, I wanted to share the sweet baby fork and spoon with a puppy on the handle.  I will be adding them to my etsy shop - Thing Finder.

I'd love to hear about your techniques and any tips you might have for getting that "it shot".

Hope you are well and living artfully.

Blessings - Julie

KC Willis Inspired Denim Jacket

 Mysterious Fairy Denim Jacket, Size 10 - Purchase Here

Sometimes you just have to sew.  An afternoon spent with the sewing machine, a fabulous image of a ginger haired fairy, vintage crochet, old shell buttons, blue tassels and beaded ribbon and a denim jacket... all inspired by the book, Creating With Fabric by Jill Haglund featuring one of my favorite artists - KC Willis.

I ran silk photo fabric through my inkjet printer to achieve a silky almost transparent image of the beautiful fairy with butterflies in her hair.  This gave her a mystical quality that all fairies possess.  I added the silver bird charm and used a base of vintage crochet for the collage.  I added sequined and embroidered ribbon just above the blue tassels at the bottom of the panel to ground the entire piece.

I added silk yarn and three white vintage shell buttons along the side of the fairy panel.

I printed out one of my favorite expressions on cotton twill fabric again ran through my inkjet printer and stitched it into place just below the image.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious" Albert Einstein

 

I love this image and the final result ala KC Willis style.  You can sign up for one of KC's Collage Camp's online by visiting her at this link. 

Sunday Afternoon Diversions - Needlecraft Magazine 1967

 

Destash Alert - Purchase Here

Today I found this vintage Needlework & Crafts Magazine from 1967 in my bookshelf that is filled with amazing apparel to knit and crochet, felting projects, needlecrafts of all sorts and even wooden puzzle toys for the woodworker - definitely a catch all book for crafters.

If this type of magazine was still on the newstands today I would be picking up my copy every month.

Don't you just love the false eyelashes and uber size earrings in orange and pink?

I so want this crafting tote with the little girl with scissor handle wings - yes, the pattern is inside.

Crochet and knitted dresses for Spring - love them!

 

Another fun dress to knit.

Tons of crazy ads in the back - did women really wear these???

Wooden puzzle toy patterns for the woodworker - yee haw!

I love the red chaps and six shooter!

Love.love.love - this little caveman pattern.

Crochet cowgirl hat in time for Spring - pattern inside.

Knitted things for baby....

Knitted bikini - yes, the pattern is inside.

Fun coverups for the pool to crochet and knit.

I hope you enjoyed peeking inside this issue as much as I have and I am destashing and putting it in my online store for sale - Purchase Here.  It's part of my New Year's Resolution to destash, so here goes the first thing up for sale.  Enjoy!

Bluebird Quilt of Happiness - Vintage Quilt

On one of my recent junking jaunts, I found this vintage quilt featuring one of my favorite themes - little birds. Each bird is appliqued onto the quilt with a potted flowering plant in a cache pot. The black stitching sets off each element in the sweetest way.

I couldn't believe my good fortune in finding this gorgeous vintage quilt in a flea market book with a $35.00 price tag. Can you believe it?

Now, what to do with this tattered quilt. I am pondering cutting the quilt apart and making large throw pillows, but as usual I hesitate....should I cut the quilt up or just do repairs? What do you think about this, my friends? The quilt is large enough for a full size bed. It also has a red stain on one of the panels...

I am sure that you will agree that holding a vintage quilt in your hands softened by many too many washings to count over the years is something really special. So precious...so many hours of love went into the making of this quilt. I am sure the maker was very pleased with her handiwork and lovingly placed this quilt on her child's bed.

This is an example of the wear on some of the panels, but it seems to add to its charm, don't you think? How would you recommend mending this panel?

Look at the stitched feet of the birds - as they perch on the potted plant...charming.

Sweet little bluebird, who's bed did you warm on those cold Winter nights? Did you bring the dreamer visions of lovely birds in flight? Did you feel warm and snuggly tucked beneath this lovely quilt made with so much love for your bed?

Let me know what you think about this tattered quilt....

Repurposing Knit Sweaters and Tshirts Into A Floral Hat

I made this little flower adorned hat for my niece, Tasha from repurposed clothing - a lavender turtleneck, a gray embroidered t shirt and a cotton floral skirt. This is an easy project and perfect for cast off garments from your closet.


The first step is to remove the turtleneck portion of the knit shirt. This becomes the hat itself once the cut end is gathered together becoming the top of the hat. Flower blossoms were made from circles cut from a gray t shirt and a floral cotton skirt in varying sizes.


I arranged the circles from large to small and stitched them in place with a needle and thread gathering the flowers a bit to give them dimension and ruffling the edges giving them the appearance of flower blossoms.
A braid was made from the gray and floral cotton to trim the edge of the hat with a smaller flower to conceal the two ends where they were joined together.
The gray rosette was made by taking a long strip of t shirt fabric pulling it out creating tension which rolls the fabric in on itself. I then wrapped the strip around and around to create the rosette and then stitching it in place. A leaf is made by cutting a leaf shape out and straight stitching it in place.Seed beads were added for a little sparkle and interest and the hat is complete. Tasha loved her new hat and I think it is a perfect way to keep her warm this Winter.

For more repurposed clothing ideas -

geezer.com - sweater
repurposeful.typepad.com - handbag
chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com - yoga clothing