Prairie Thistle

Your Are Stronger Than Steel Ring Set

2012-01-21T13:53:00.000-06:00

I enjoy wearing statement jewelry or wearable art. A ring is the perfect accessory to show off your unique style and the sky is the limit in regard to size and the amount of sizzle you wish for the day.

This is a series of rings I designed for the

You Are Ring Series.

You Are...

stronger than steel

more precious than a saphire

rare as a pearl

more valuable than gold

and I love you.

The rings feature steel wire cores with 14kt gold filled wire wrapping with a huge lustrious pearl with 14kt gold beads and semi precious stones like iolite, garnet, peridot, amethyst, saphire, carnelian, labradorite, etc.

All in varying heights, this one sits about one inch above the finger and is so fun to wear. It's my favorite architectural ring of the group.

This is the mid range height ring that sits about 1/2 inch above the finger. The two round loops at the bottom elevate the ring and is an interesting design element. It also keeps the ring sitting upright and at the proper alignment on your finger.

This is the standard version or expected version. It is a straight forward design that sits directly on the finger.

The steel wire is treated with a protective coating that prevents rusting and keeps the steel looking black and shiny.

There's something about the blend of ying/yang that is fascinating to me. Delicate yet strong, feminine yet masculine, soft yet hard....it surfaces in my work again and again. I love it.

Happy Creating and Blessings to you my Friends,

Julie

Statement Turquoise and Silver Rings

2012-01-17T17:27:00.000-06:00

At the prompting of my followers, I am back to share what I have been creating in the studio. Hence my absence from blogging lately. With the Holidays, came all of my wonderful clients requesting special pieces for presents and I was happily busier than ever. Thank you for the opportunity to create lovely things for you to bestow upon loved ones. It is always my pleasure to do so...really.

I love turquoise and use it alot in my work and when I found these giant cabachons I was smitten and knew immediately that I wanted to create some really large silver and turquoise rings with them. When I say large, that translates to three inches across and two inches in height.

The nail color I am wearing is call Chinchilly by Essie...

A bezel was made to fit the stones and soldered to a sheet of silver that I cut to the shape of the cab and then textured around the edges. Staying true to the "wordie" in my soul, I added the word "MYSTIFY" to the silver rim encircling the cabachon.

Once the bezel is in place and the alot of polishing, the cab is set in the bezel and the bezel is formed around the edge of the stone to hold it in place. The ring above is another version of the ring, in a more rounded shape and this one is over three inches across and almost three inches in height. I added the word "Enthrall" to rim of this one.

The turquoise cabachons sit on a wide sterling silver band which gives the ring stability on the when worn.

I added rose brass bobbles around the rim of this one that is more of an egg shape in a light turquoise color that works really well with the warm bronze color of the brass. The brass bobbles were added three at a time and was very time consuming and I am not sure I will add them again in the future as they were tedious to the extreme.

I am continuing to work on the series of rings and hope to have another 4 or 5 ready for an upcoming show the first weekend in February.

I hope you like them and thank you for your reminders that I need to take a minute, photograph my work and share with you. It's so nice to be missed, isn't it?

I have some other new pieces that I am working on as well and will give you a sneek peak before I sign off today.

A lariat style necklace with lovely blue fire crystal briolettes and nature pearls in clusters on a brown crocheted necklace in the tiniest silk thread with a silver heart clasp. The briolettes flash blue, gray and turquoise...it's really striking and so comfortable to wear you'll forget that you are wearing it.

Blessings,

Julie

Winter White Aran Knit Chair Cover

2011-10-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

Aran Hand Knit Chair Cover

and yes....

there is a matching ottoman cover.

Hand knit by South African designer, Lynn Garrett and yes, you can buy these on etsy by using the link beneath the first photo.

I hope you are snuggling in by a crackling fire during these cold Fall evenings with something scrumptous on your knitting needles. The trees are ablaze with color in hues of brilliant orange, red and gold and seem unusally beautiful this year, don't you think?

It's time once again for the annual Pie Supper held in a one room school house called the Independence School, that my Dad attended when he was a little boy. The local women of surrounding area bake a variety of pies like, coconut, apple, pumpkin, blackberry, peach, pecan, black walnut & raisin, chocolate, butterscotch, banana and cherry. They also bake cakes for the cake walk.

Everyone in the community crowds into the one room schoolhouse - it's usually standing room only with the tallest in the very back. Then the auction begins...children go first, bidding on their favorites. Once the children are happily eating their pie, the bidding begins by the adults. Once everyone has a piece of pie, multiple pieces are placed in plates featuring a variety of pies that are auctioned off until every last slice of the pie is gone for another year.

The proceeds benefit the upkeep of the school building for another year.

The local quilting club raffles off a quilt and they usually put on a few skits that are always a crowd favorite. Hymns are sung and of course finishing with God Bless America. It's old fashioned country fun at it's best.

Wish me luck getting a piece of my favorite - black walnut and raisin which is always sold quickly. For those of you who would like to try a slice of heaven, here is a recipe for you to try.

Black Walnut and Raisin Pie

by Andrea Spring

CRUST

1-1/2 cups Crisco shortening

1 tsp white vinegar

2 T milk

1/2 cup hot water

4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp salt

1 T cornstarch

Combine shortening, vinegar and milk. Pour in hot water. Mix well. In separate bowl, mix together flour, salt and cornstarch. Combine flour mixture with shortening mixture until dough forms. Separate into four equal balls. Wrap in film wrap and refrigerate 1 portion and freeze remainder for future use. Refrigerate for at least one hour before rolling out.

FILLING

3 eggs

2/3 cup granulated white sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup dark corn syrup

1 cup dark raisins

3/4 cup chopped black walnuts

Mix eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon, butter and corn syrup until well blended. Add black walnuts, mix well. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out one portion of pie dough. Place in 10 pie pan. Sprinkle raisins over bottom of pie shell. Carefully pour filling over raisins. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Lower temperature to 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until center of pie is just set.

Happy Fall and Blessing My Friends - Julie

Wag-o-Ween

2011-10-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

Jessica Lynne Art

We were in Savannah, Georgia last Sunday and it was their annual Wag-O-Ween celebration with alot of wagging tails in costumes ranging from furry fairies to Batman...

It was an ongoing pet parade on every street with downtown boutiques and businesses passing out treats to their furry guests and owners.

It was a fun filled afternoon enjoying Southern BBQ at Angel's and strolling through the spanish moss filled avenues...a glorious day all in all.

Happy Wag-o-Ween to All!

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Smitten With Vintage Silver Spoons

2011-09-30T11:05:00.001-05:00

Silver Spoon Cuff Bracelet - Buy Here

I had so much fun at the UNPlaza Art Fair last weekend, it was glorious Fall weather - the kind that makes you look up and give thanks for such a blessing to enjoy. Thank you all for stopping by to see me at the show - loved.loved.loved seeing you.

One reoccurring discussion at the show was the deep love we ladies have for two things....vintage shell buttons and silver spoons. Once being referred to as waumpom No one really knew why they were drawn to them - it's one of those indescribeable things we ladies have in common - young and old.

This is my latest leather cuff featuring - yup, a vintage silver spoon. The leather is soft, wide and black. I love it so much that I will be adding more of them in different versions to my etsy shop soon. If I can keep them in stock, I will have them at my next show which is coming up soon.

The Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival in Fairway, Kansas on October 8th & 9th. I will be sharing a booth with the lovely ladies of the Kansas City Fiber Guild - how fabulous is that??? It's that time of year to get your "fiber" on and these ladies know how to create extraordinary wearable art pieces that are a must see and add to your Fall wardrobe. Hope to see you there.

Blessings to You - Julie

How To Paint Leather Boots

2011-09-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's time to pull your boots out of the bottom of your closet, dust them off and get your paint out and breathe some soul into them. It's quick, fun and you get a new pair of kicks for about a one hour investment and $15 in materials.

Start by selecting the "it" pair of boots from your collection. I know that you own at least three pair of cowboy style boots. I would suggest choosing your least interesting pair that you hardly wear anymore but can't bring yourself to give away.

Gather your supplies.

You will need the following:

Sandpaper - 160 grit

Two soft cotton cloths (old t-shirts work great)

Alcohol - rubbing alcohol works great for this application

Acrylic paints - your favorite color of the moment and a mahogany, deep plum, or walnut shade to add depth and distress

Oil - Linseed (any conditioning oil) to condition and protect the color

Boot polish in a clear or transparent color

What I used for mine...Sage Green and Dark Plum acrylic paints.

I started with a pair of white boots so if you want the lighter shade coming through like mine you will need to paint the boots white first and allow to dry completely.

Got it all together? Then let's go.

Start by sanding all surfaces of the boots which will remove the sealer and rough the surface so that the paint will soak into the leather. Do not sand to the point that you have removed all of the base paint color. Sand with a light touch.

I did sand some areas of my boots down to the natural brown leather beneath the painted surface to reveal a nice brown area which also distresses the leather and will add depth of color. DO NOT SAND your stitching as your boots will come apart at the seams literally. Excuse the pun.

Once the two boots are similar in distressing and you have sanded all areas it's time to paint them in your favorite base color. Squeeze your acrylic paint into a cup and add a 1 part alcohol to 4 parts paint ratio and mix thoroughly.

Now paint your boots. I used a wool swab, but a sponge applicator would work as well.

Now before the paint is completely dry, take the soft cotton cloth and wipe away some of the paint to reveal the color beneath. Let dry for about 5-6 minutes while you paint the other boot and rub away some of the paint so that the two boots match.

Remember you can apply the paint, sand and reapply the paint as needed.

Now, back to the first boot. Add your darker acrylic paint to a cup adding alcohol again in a 1 to 4 ratio, mix thoroughly. Begin lightly applying the darker paint over the base color a section at a time like a wash. Before the paint dries take your soft cotton cloth and gently wipe some or most of the darker paint off revealing the base color underneath. Repeat for the rest of the boot and then continue the process on the second boot.

Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes. Then sand again if you like until you achieve the amount of distressing that appeals to you making the boots your own or adding your soul to them.

Now rub the linseed oil or any conditioning oil made for leather into the leather slowly so that it has time to soak in with a clean soft cotton cloth. DO NOT USE the same cloth you used that has paint all over it. C'mon!

Now apply the boot polish per label instructions.

There you have it, a great new pair of new kicks for Fall for about $15 investment.

These are the boots I purchased from a seller on etsy that I distressed and painted. I love.love.love my new one of a kind, unique to me boots in my favorite shade of mossy green.

I'd love to hear about your boots once they are finished.

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Prairie Fire Gemstone Earrings

2011-09-08T20:52:00.000-05:00

For me Fall weather just gets me excited...I am already thinking about cozy sweaters, crisp Fall mornings, beautiful Maple trees in flaming red hues, hot chocolate at Football games and pear & cranberry crumbles with vanilla ice cream. Our temperatures dropped to a very pleasant 70's range which was so nice after the 100+ degree temperatures we have been experiencing over the past month.

I believe that all of the Earth's creatures were delighted with the cooler temperatures and the rain. Even the trees seemed happier. Were the birds singing more than usual or did I just imagine it in my happiness?

Thinking of the upcoming Fall colors inspired new gemstone earrings loaded with garnets, cherry quartz, carnelian, smoky topaz, citrine and lemon jade.

They are large earrings that dangle three inches but are so lightweight and comfortable to wear. I like to wear them with a crisp white blouse and my favorite pair of jeans.

I have been wire wrapping gemstones in various color palettes of blue, green, brown, and golden yellows... I have added a few pairs to my etsy shop if you would like to pop over for a peek. I have been busy.busy.busy and shipping my jewelry all over the world. It's so rewarding. Whenever I create a piece of jewelry I never know where it will travel and I love that. It's a pleasure to send my creations off to Norway, Sweden, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Czechoslavakia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Spain, Canada, Finland, and Singapore. Thank you all for your kindness and support.

We lost our favorite Uncle a couple of weeks ago and we are still reeling from it. He was such a wonderful man that was so kind, generous and a fellow artist. He was a wood and stone sculptor who created lovely hand carved angels and sculpted animals in stone. I'll post a blog about him and some of his work later...when I can bear it. It's just to soon. I know you understand. I miss him so much. We all do.

So, I have been doing things that Dale would have enjoyed. Spending time outside enjoying nature and spending time in the studio creating. I have been experimenting with steel wire creating organic formed neck pieces with stitched sheer fabric and thread. It seems he is with me wherever I go and I can remember his laughter... which always makes me smile.

I hope you are all well and enjoying your family and friends.

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Vintage Typewrister Photography and a Collection

2011-08-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

While at the farm this weekend setting up a special pie safe cabinet that I began filling with my found objects gathered over the years I paused for a moment and gazed at the vintage typewriter I have in the foyer. I kept sweeping past as I gathered objects from cabinets, drawers and shelves to add to the shelves of the pie safe upstairs. Each time I would pass the typewriter I couldn't help but gaze at the keys as I swept past. It's one one my favorite accessories.

The third time I passed the typewriter, I had to pause and grap my camera for a few quick shots as I knew that until I satisfied my visual self the work upstairs would be a distracted attempt at best.

I adore this old typewriter that I found in a junk haunt of mine several years ago. I can't imagine life without it at this point. It gives me pleasure every time I pass it in the hall as I go up or down the stairs.

Inspired by Sibella Court's book, ETCETERA where I fell in love with her cabinet filled with her personal collections of seashells, antlers, bugs, etc. I have decided to gather my own personal collection together in one cabinet a vintage pie safe I purchased from my dear friend, Allene years ago. It's the perfect size to hold my collection and it sets in the upstairs hallway of the farm.

I have these wonderfully personal things stuffed in drawers, cabinets, shelves tucked away out of sight as they really don't blend well with my usual decor. But, they make me so happy when I open a drawer and find them inside. Encourage by Sibella to live this these collections and share them with others I started gathering them together. It will be a process as they are stashed away in boxes and containers virtually in every room of my house. My little totems...

I added a tiny figurine of a dog with a ball which reminds me of my little Molly who lives to chase her ball. A seed pod from my garden last year and a wooden printer's block of a W for my maiden name of Williams. A bone china oval bowl holds more pods. an owl feather and a chandelier crystal.

This guy is one of my latest acquisitions a taxidermy aligator that I love is perfect for my shelves. I plan to add my little wooden box of rattlesake rattles and a tortoise shell. When I carried this little fellow up to the register to purchase him the owner of the show said, "NOOOO, you are not going to buy that!!!" I laughed and told her that yes indeed I was going to do just that. She couldn't imagine what on earth I would want with him, but I love it and felt it was a steal at $22.

A vintage glass bottle holds tiny glass buttons, a carved owl in white, a translucent marble bowl from Italy, a wasp nest, a vintage watering nozzle and large apothecary jars that shimmers in the light.

An old pulley wheel holds one of my autograph books from 1948 open with a dried zinnia bloom next to a silver tray holding vintage chandelier crystals and papery money plant pods.

Another pulley wheel, a tiny whisk broom with a green velvet top, a transfer ware pitcher in shades of the same hue of green, vintage bottles and a magnifying glass for up close viewing.

A watercolor of a farm scene behind the Last Supper souvenir from Italy that I love. If you look closely you can see the windmill...it's painted in lovely hues of green and is very old and crumbly.

I will add more photos for you as my collection takes form in the pie safe over the next few months. I plan to add more feathers, shells, antlers, apothecary bottles, magnifying glasses, fossils, vintage binoculars, a doll head I salvaged from a fire and a few botany books I have on hand.

My own personal eclectic collection of things I treasure and enjoy. Thanks for the inspiration Sibella!

How do you live with your personal collections? Are they trapped in boxes and drawers? Are they spread out on a tabletop or showcase? I'd love to hear about your collections and how you live with them.

Blessings - Julie

Melon and Cucumber with Pepper and Lime Recipe

2011-08-29T08:38:00.000-05:00

Photo by Julie Pishny

My kitchen garden is filled with delicious cucumbers this year and I have been searching for fresh delicious recipes to use them for my table. I found this recipe recently while browsing one of my favorite award winning cook books by Deborah Madison entitled, Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Please don't be put off by the title of the book as I assure you that all of the recipes contained within are worthy of your non vegetarian table.

Melon and Cucumber with Pepper and Lime

1/2 honeydew melon, chilled
3 cucumbers
2 cups watercress or arugula leaves (optional)
Lime and Fresh Mint Vinaigrette
Salt and Freshly Milled Pepper

Scoup out the seeds, then slice the melon, remove the skin and cube. Scrub cucumbers, peel and cube. Spoon the dressing over the top and season with salt and pepper.

Lime and Fresh Mint Vinaigrette

1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt
5 to 6 tablespoons sunflower seed or light olive oil
2 scallions, including one inch of the greens, thinly sliced into rounds
2 tablespoons choped mint or 2 teaspoons dried, crumbled

Cucumbers and melons are closely related not only botanically but also in texture and sometimes flavor, depending on the variety.

Travellers Copper Bracelet

2011-08-25T16:11:00.000-05:00

Being an enthusiastic traveller always ready to strike out on an adventure I created a wide cuff bracelet in copper to honor my voyages to distant places. I hand stamped each city and country that I remember fondly in my travels onto the surface of the cuff as a pleasant reminder of the places I have been and as a reminder of the places I have yet to go.

Our first Big Adventure together was in Cabos San Lucas in Mexico. We were there on a company retreat and had the afternoon to ourselves with no scheduled activities planned so we took advantage of the opportunity for some sight seeing. The rattle trap van had been rented to transport luggage from the airport to our hacienda and was our only available transportation for the day so we grabbed the keys and with map in hand, we climbed into the cargo van and were off on our Big Adventure. For those of you unfamiliar with Mexico once you leave the tourist areas of Cabo San Lucas the roads become very narrow and the surrounding areas are desolate with only scrub brush and cactus as far as the eye can see.

Our destination was Todos Santos, an artist colony and the home to the famous Hotel California that the Eagles had written a song in tribute of in the 70's. Welcome to the Hotel California, any time of year you will find us here...

The van was a bit more tragic than we had first thought and we began to wonder if we would make it to our destination without a break down. There were no towns in between as we had anticipated just points of interest on a map.

We saw the occasional bony steer and an occasional donkey here and there. I have no idea what they were eating as I couldn't see anything that a cow could survive on and no water for them to drink. It was a bit alarming to be driving around a curve in the highway and see a long horned steer beside the road with no fences to keep them away from the highway.

We began to see burned out cars in ravines along the highway with shrines nearby for those that perished in the crash. It seemed that when accidents happened the cars were left to rust where they lay. It reminded me of the Mad Max movies I had seen starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. We became even more suspicious of the steer and began to watch more closely for signs of them lest our rattle trap van end up along the highway joining the other abandoned vehicles laying in rust.

We arrived in Todos Santos without mishap and easily found the town center. Anxious to get out of the van for a bit we parked and climbed out onto solid ground with a sigh of relief. We found a flea market and purchased souvinirs, a coffee mug for Dan and a pottery vase for me. We found no artist colony but we did find a cantina, where we purchased cervazas and took a seat under an umbrella out of the hot sun. As we sat musing about where we might find the Hotel we looked across the street and there it was covered in vines. The windows were boarded closed and a no trespassing sign was nailed across the front door. It appeared that the hotel had been closed for quite some time.

It was a grand adventure and set the bar for our future adventures together. Now we jokingly proclaim that we are off on another Big Adventure each time we leave for vacation. Our trip involved staying in a beautiful hacienda on the coast, seeing whales, eating the best banana pancakes on the planet at the Palmilla, deep sea fishing, visiting Sammy Hagar's restaurant the Cabo Wabo and of course our adventure to Todos Santos.

I added Cabo to my bracelet along with New York City, Malta, Bahamas, Monaco, Italy, France, Florence, Nice, Chicago, Barcelona, Puerto Rico, Roma, Spain, Mexico, Marco Island, and Tuscany. Just a smattering of my favorite places...

The Hotel California is now open once again and available for your next Big Adventure.

This customizeable bracelet is available for purchase in my etsy shop where you can add your favorite cities and countries to create your own personal Travellers Bracelet.

Thank you for visiting...

Blessings, Julie

Mixed Emotions - Photoshop Elements 9

2011-08-10T15:49:00.000-05:00

I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.

Virginia Woolf

On a junking jaunt to Fort Larned, Kansas I found an old cardboard box in the back room of an antique shop sitting in a chair filled with shabby discarded dolls. As I knelt down to lift each doll carefully from the box, I was drawn to their eyes and plastic faces that seemed...a bit haunting...a bit creepy...and a frankly sweet.

I purchased the cardboard box of outcast dolls for $12.00 and brought them home to the my studio where they sat not unlike in the antique shop...just quietly waiting.

As I was organizing one afternoon, I again lifted the dolls carefully from the box and I had the inspiration to photograph each of the doll's faces.

Again, the photographed doll's remained in my computer's hard drive until again one afternoon while organizing some of the photos...those faces appeared once more.

Again in another inspirational moment, I loaded each photo into Photoshop Elements and began to blend the faces together to create one unified face ... I call the result.... Mixed Emotions.

I used Kim Klassen textures and a vintage handwriting texture of my own. If you haven't discovered Kim Klassen's textures you are in for a treat and I encourage you to explore her lovely website.

I hope this email finds you creating something you love.

Blessings my Friends, Julie

Prairie Chain Long Handknit Scarf by Julie Pishny

2011-07-31T14:26:00.002-05:00

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

Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Czech Style

2011-07-24T20:01:00.000-05:00

Czech Bread and Butter Pickles

After several years of poor cucumber production at the farm due to our Mother Nature method of gardening. We plant the seeds and water as we can and Mother Nature takes it from there. This year my cucumbers are producing very well. We harvested a large bucket of lovely cucumbers and today was Pickle Canning day.

Our favorite sweet pickles are Bread Butter Pickles with a twist. Instead of larger slices of cucumber I use a mandolin and slice them super thin and add sweet red pepper.

I used a few vintage jars for refrigerator pickles to eat now and to share with friends. The pint size jar is a blue Ball jar, the jar on the left is a light green Drey jar and the jar on the right is a Ball Hinge Top Jar. Aren't they gorgeous? It's a fun way to share your pickles as gifts in vintage canning jars.

For pickles to enjoy later I used new jars, lids and screw tops.

Remember to sterilize your jars whether they are new or vintage, including the lids and rubber gaskets. I use my dishwasher or you can use boiling water in a large pan on the stovetop.

It's also a good idea to determine how many pounds of cucumbers you have harvested to estimate your supplies before you begin. I multiplied the recipe by 6 resulting in 15 pints and 6 quarts of pickles. I admit that I didn't estimate acurately before I began the process and this resulted in three seperate trips the grocery store for more supplies.

My day started at Penzy's Spices to gather the mustard seed, turmeric, celery seed and cloves.

They have the best spices and the staff is always so helpful it's a beautiful shop that's fun to explore.

Now for the recipe...

This isn't the exact recipe of my husband, Dan's grandmother, but he says that it tastes much like it and she always cut her cucumbers wafer thin making an almost relish style pickle that works great for hot dogs and hamburgers.

Czech Bread and Butter Sweet Pickles

3 lbs of cucumbers

2 cups red or white onions

1 sweet red pepper

10 tablespoons Chopped Garlic Cloves

1/2 cup pickling salt

6 cups water

3 cups white vinegar

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

3 1/2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon turneric

4 whole cloves

1 teaspoon celery seed

Begin by slicing all vegetables super thin using a mandolin. As you slice the veggies, layer them in a non-reactive bowl (I use my porcelain sink) and sprinkle with salt and ice as you slice. When all vegetables are sliced add water and let soak for 2 hours.

Drain the water using a plastic colander and rinse well for 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside.

Add vegetables to a large pan on the stove. Then add the vinegars, garlic, celery seed, turmeric and sugar to the pan and stir together.

Place 1/2 of the mustard seeds and all of the cloves in cheese cloth and tie with a string. Add the bag to the pot. Add the other of the mustard seeds to the pot. Stir to blend.

Bring the contents of the pot to a near boil and then remove from heat.

Add your lids to a pan of hot water on the stovetop and bring to a boil to sterlize.

Start a large pot of water to boil for the jars once they are filled with pickles.

Fill the jars with pickles and add liquid from the pot as needed to cover pickles in the jar. Leave 1/2 inch of space from the top of the jars.

Take a clean wet cotton towel and wipe the rims of the jars and then dry the rim with a clean dry cloth.

Remove the lids from the pan on the stove and dry with clean dry cotton cloth. Place on jars and screw on rings to the point of resistance.

Once all jars are filled with pickles and the water is boiling add jars to pot for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes remove from pot and let cool on a towel. You will hear the jars pop as they seal. Check after one hour that all jars have sealed by pressing on the top of the lids. If they move up and down they have not sealed. You will need to move these jars to the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 weeks.

As Dan and I worked in the kitchen filling the jars with pickles it brought back memories from my childhood of canning and pickling with my sister Lisa, my Mom and Grandmother. We used to can pickled beets, dill and sweet pickles every Summer. The women and girls were always in the kitchen processing green beans, sweet corn, strawberries, jellies, and jams. Things always taste better when you have made them with your own hands and so much fun to open a jar in the Winter.

I hope you give pickling a try...

Blessings my friends - Julie

Chamomile Blossom Crochet Ballet Slippers

2011-07-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Chamomile Blossom Crochet Ballet Slippers

I recently purchased a crochet book from Japan that is filled with patterns for flower blossoms of all types and immediately fell in love with the chamomile blossoms in the book. I thought sweet pale green ballet slippers would be the perfect project to showcase the blossoms.

If you have ever worn crochet slippers the crochet bottoms are not the most comfortable and they are slippery on hard wood floors. I selected pale gray buttery soft suede for the bottoms instead. I punched holes around the edge and this provided a way to crochet around the edge of the suede to begin the slippers.

After a few trial and errors I had a pattern that resulted in the desired look of the ballet slippers. I did chainstitch loops to thread the pale green satin ribbon through so the slippers can be adjusted for a close fit.

The chamomile blossom were crocheted in three different sizes as no two blossoms are ever the same in nature. Right? The yellow cap was made first, then the white petals were added and the green base and stems were crocheted seperately. The blossoms were then stuffed with polyfil and hand stitched together. The final step was stitching the blossoms to the ballet slippers at the toe.

I loved the result so much that I immediately started another pair in robin's egg blue which are finished and waiting for the chamomile blossoms which I have yet to finish.

But, today is bread and butter pickle canning day at my house...I am working with a 5 gallon bucket of cucumbers from my garden. I will share my recipes and canning instructions later.

Blessings my friends - Julie

Farm Style Gazebo

2011-07-08T15:13:00.000-05:00

Sweet little Rylie, playing in the sprinkler at the farm over the weekend with her little farmgirl pal, Tasha. Watching them brought back so many memories of my sister and I playing in the sprinkler together as little girls while on vacation in Oregon while we were visiting my Mother's Uncle. His grandaughters were there for the afternoon and we ran and jumped over the sprinkler all afternoon.

Aren't they the cutest?!

My gazebo was installed on an existing slab of concrete this weekend and it fit perfectly. My friend, Martin had made this gazebo for me years ago to set up for shows. I have been so excited to get it set up as I had been dreaming of how fabulous it was going to look in my mind for months. It's even better than I had imagined. I can see it from all of the windows and it looks so pretty. It will be fun for parties with a little table set with my vintage floral china and some twinkle lights. Maybe a homemade coconut cream pie and steaming cup of hot chocolate this Fall with Dan.

It helps screen the hoop house a bit, but I still need to plant some evergreens to complete the screening of the hoop house from the flower garden.

A pretty crystal heart and crystal flower necklace designed for Summer available now in my etsy shoppe.

Now, to more serious matters....I have ground hogs living under my front step! Yes, I said ground hogs as in plural...three of them! Yikes and help! What do I do about this ground hog family?

I was just telling my friend, Susan at lunch how clueless and sweet the "one" ground hog was living under my step. I thought he had lost his family and was an orphan all alone. He was not afraid of people and seemed to be floundering on his own. Tricky little ground hogs. I had even fed him an apple because I felt sorry for him.... I know, I know what was I thinking? Well, the deed is done...I have baited my front step and now I have three hungry ground hogs in residence under my front step. Two cute ones and one slightly scary looking one.

Do I try to trap them? Will they go away on their own? Is there anything I can place around my step that they don't like as in moth balls or something? Send me your remedies...I promise I will NOT be feeding them anything else in the future. I am even a bit frightened to use the front door now that I know there are three of them! I was just out last night watching the fireflies... while were watching me. Creepy.

Blessings - Julie

French Expression of Love Steampunk Coin Necklace

2011-06-30T16:18:00.000-05:00

"L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle."

A love that moves the sun and the stars...

Our earthly dream of finding our split apart soul mate and once united together we would possess a love that could move the sun and the stars...oh, it's so deliciously romantic, don't you think?

A watch part was used to create a bezel for the beautiful coin (I brought home from Europe) with a cute little gear symbolizing the mechanics needed by fair maiden to find her one true love.

The blue carved gem symbolizes devotion, the red garnet drop symbolizes passion and the golden chain reflects the sweet bondage of union.

The watch part was riveted in place and I hand stamped a signature on the back. In hindsight a year would have been a nice addition.

Summer is On here. It's blazing hot at 102 degrees with a nice breeze and the humidity is relatively low today so it reminds me a bit of Arizona in the Summer. Which is practically in the desert, so it's hot. I have been busy in the studio this morning and this afternoon errands have kept me out and about in the heat. Everyone seems to be moving a bit slow today.

We have a big weekend planned for the celebration of the Fourth of July which will include a huge family dinner and grilling for 15 campers that will set up tents in the West pasture. We will watch fireworks on the fourth and cheer and applaud loudly for our favorites as they explode in the sky. It's so much fun, you can hear the sound of car horns tooting away for those that are watching from the air conditioned comfort of their cars. It's one of our favorite holidays.

We'll all say, "Happy Birthday, Grandma" as we remember my grandmother saying that it was so nice of everyone to celebrate her birthday with her by having a fireworks show in honor of her birthday every year.

I hope you have something wonderful planned for the weekend whether you are in America or elsewhere and may you find a

the love that moves the sun and the stars...

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Belle Armoire Jewelry Feature

2011-06-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

I know like me, you religiously go to your local Barnes and Noble Bookseller to pick up the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine before they are soldout. I adore this magazine and have every issue printed over the past few years. It continues to be a source of inspiration and it connects me although it be vicariously to other jewelry artists.

The most amazing thing happened to me a sweet.sweet.sweet and very talented jewelry artist on the West Coast by the name of Riki Schumacher connected me to Diane Cook another sweet.sweet.sweet and talented artist. You must visit thir blogs and view their lovely jewelry creations.

This connection lead, Diane to invite me to be a part of a collaboration with the theme of using the same focal point called Marianne which is available from Brass Bouquet along with hundreds of other great elements. Well, I was just beyond pleased, excited, honored, and ectastically happy.happy.happy to be asked let me tell you.

Seven very talented artists agreed to participate and Diane wrote a brilliant article and six months later here we are in print in our favorite jewelry magazine.

I drove to two Barnes and Noble locations before I found any available copies. Just as I was putting my hands on the magazine on the shelf my phone rang and it was my best girl, Stacey. I told her she would never believe what I was doing. I was actually at Barnes and Noble picking up a magazine that had a piece of my jewelry inside...eeeeek....it's just too much!

That's my creation above featuring found objects: mother of pearl buttons, a mother of pearl "Mother" broach, a crystal oval and lots of vintage chain. Pearls and Turquoise one of my favorite combinations and a resin hand that I created from a vintage hand pin using a mold, crystals and metal tidbits.

My Mom had been in the hospital and she was in my thoughts as we almost lost her. As I worked in my studio she became the inspiration for the necklace. I filled this necklace with things that remind me of her. She once gave me a huge jar of buttons that her Aunt had given her as a child to play with when she spent time at her house. One of my Mom's favorite rings was from a family vacation to Wyoming - a huge turquoise creation. My Mom also has the most beautiful hands...I remember looking at her hands as a little girl thinking how lovely her nails always looked. I thought my Mom was elegant, beautiful and I was always so proud that she was my Mom.

What a great opportunity to be a part of this collaboration...It was a wonderful experience and I think that every single necklace is spectacular. But, why wouldn't they be, these are some of the most talented gals in the business.

What a lovely Summer necklace, don't you think by the uber talented Molly Alexander?

Love the colors Molly selected for her necklace.

Diana Frey style is always romantically fabulous - her trademark. I think Fabulous must be her middle name!

This necklace is by Marie Dodd even though it says Riki's name in print. Marie has a steampunk vibe that I just love in her work.

Diane and Rikki's necklaces are so fitting to be side by side as they are dear friends and gal pals. Both of these ladies create romantic found object creations that are unique one of a kind creations - truly wearable art pieces. Love them both (& the necklaces too!).

The last necklace is by Cindy Wimmer and is a Victorian dream...beautiful blue heaven...with amazing roses and lovely fibers...beautiful work Cindy.

Thank you, Diane for including me in this collaboration...it has been my dream come true.

Now go out and visit these talented ladies blogs!

Diane Cook - Rosa & Josies Blog
Diana Frey - Diana Frey Blog
Riki Schumacher - Riki Jewelry Blog
Cindy Wimmer - Sweet Bead Studio Blog
Marie Dodd - Maire Dodd Blog
Molly Alexander - Beautifully Broken Me Blog
and Brass Bouquet

Blessings my Friends - Julie

2011-06-23T11:23:00.002-05:00

'across the sky' by SatoriPhoto

...to be with you...day after tomorrow...

Across the Sky Summer Dress ... RubyChicBoutiq... $39.00	Fly Large Silver Necklace gardenologykc $55.00	Buttercup Collection - Earri... ThePeachTree $18.00
Dire situations skirted - Bl... Minxshop $110.00	Love Potion 5X7 soulfuse $15.00	Super-Simple Organic Facial ... BlackDoveBotan... $15.00
Alison With Daisies - color stephensheffie... $500.00	Light gray curly mulberry lo... Ayca $22.00	Daisy Face - Photograph Pend... wearableartbyj... $35.00
Willing ElementalEyePh... $75.00	Three Whispers and Three Dan... hypericumfragi... $35.00	Blueberries - 8 x 10 GrainAndSilk $25.00
Solace 11x14 Original Painti... rachelheath $65.00	Key to my Heart Necklace dreamingstardu... $16.00	Above the Clouds - photo pri... Frankenkitty $26.00
BLUBERRY PRINCESS - Organza ... TheOnly $24.90

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Metalwork Shawl Pin

2011-06-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

This Fall I will be joining the local Fiber Guild at the Creative Hand show which means it is time to start putting a collection together for the show. In addition to knitted fingerless mittens, wrist warmers, shawls, felted bags and the sweetest crocheted ballet house slippers with suede leather soles and tiny chamomile blossoms on the toes (which I am very excited about)....I have decided to add a collection of shawl pins.

Organic shapes are my favorite forms so... a sheet of copper is annealed, folded and shaped into a triangular shape then texture.texture.texture is added....the part I love! It's polished to a high sheen and sealed so it will stay bright without tarnishing.

It's a large dramatic shawl pin measuring almost 4 inches in length with a bamboo pin to secure it to the garment. Shawl pins are not only striking against knitted fibers but hold allows your favorite scarf or shawl to drape without falling off your shoulder. The shawl pin is a great way to showcase your favorite textiles.

I think this shawl pin would look lovely with an airy white crocheted shawl.... beautiful with those sweet summer dresses.

I'll finish with a sweet little clover from my flower garden....yes, I will probably regret leaving it but it was just too sweet to pull....

Blessings - Julie

Steampunk Frozen Charlotte Doll Leather Purse

2011-06-13T17:19:00.000-05:00

Once I had this vintage leather pouch in my hands with the awesome hardware and aged brown leather with great texture I knew it would be a great foundation for something extraordinary. I have had the pouch for several years in a wooden Black Walnut box that my Dad made for me...waiting to be repurposed into art.

This frozen Charlotte doll with one of her tiny hands missing was very interesting to me and I knew she would be an interesting element so she was added to the leather pouch as a focal point. As an expression of the feminine and as a way to counter balance the leather and metal of the piece.

I added the vintage text...1801 to satisfy my fascination with vintage paper and numbers. I then added a tiny rhinestone button as a bracelet for her wrist. Charlotte was then given wings to fly. Her wings were riveted in place on the leather pouch. A heavy brass chain was also added to the pouch so I could carry it as a purse. It's the perfect size for keys, credit cards and lip gloss.

This is my favorite Catholic charm from Italy of the Holy Mother and Child that I added to the heavy chain along with the Saint Patrick charm my dear gal pal, Marcy carried home to me from a trip to Ireland.

Two vegetable gardens and a flower garden expansion have been so much fun to plant over the past few weeks. I just found passion flower seeds that I brought home from Italy that I have to plant tomorrow...yippee.

I hope you are enjoying the growing season.

Blessings - Julie

Seek Peace Daily Charm

2011-05-27T15:26:00.000-05:00

My handstamped silver charm in an Etsy Treasury......yayy!

Little Light' by sweetstellas

Antique Victorian Brass Kero... Antiquelampsan... $45.00	Summer Nights Shimmering Sho... BootsNGus $70.00	Seek Peace Daily Silver Char... gardenologykc $18.00
LOVE oatmeal and black recyc... alexandrafergu... $69.00	Personalize a Postcard Pillo... OliveHandmade $36.00	vintage nautical anchor char... novella $48.00
Mason Jar Lights sweetteaclothi... $32.00	Austrian Tulip, Vintage Oil ... lightinawormho... $50.00	Hurricane Glass Oil Lamp, An... atelierno22 $35.00
Captured Butterfly Lantern, ... saltandsauce $55.00	No Matter How Dark The Momen... robinwade $68.00	White Muslin "hope"... CasualElegance... $29.00
Hope - Cream Burlap Feed Sa... nextdoortoheav... $25.00	god gave hope hand stamped s... pureroxfaith $32.00	Antique Mason Jar pendant li... rivertucky5 $29.99
Eagle Antique Vintage Clear ... MinSvenskaLand... $75.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

It's always a wonderful feeling to be chosen.....we just can't help it, can we? From the time we are little kids being chosen for a game at recess......well, the thrill of being wanted and feeling special never ends......

thank you for choosing my little silver charm for your treasury.....it made me feel so very special

and YES, I LOVE.LOVE.LOVE the vintage glass fruit jar lights hanging under the tin roof canopy - how fabulous is that?????

What I Want For Breakfast Tomorrow - Strawberry French Toast

2011-05-16T19:57:00.001-05:00

Strawberry French Toast from Cafe Amandine in Los Angeles

This is what I want for breakfast tomorrow morning, but alas I live in Kansas...it's just not going to happen. So....we do what we can do in the Midwest and that is try to make our own version of this decadent breakfast from Los Angeles' Number One Bakery.

Ingredients

3 eggs
1 1/4 cups nonfat milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
8 slices of whole-wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed
1 (8-ounce) container strawberries, hulled and sliced
4 teaspoons bittersweet chocolate chips
Cooking spray
2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Set aside.

Place 1 tablespoon of ricotta in the center of 4 of the pieces of bread and spread around slightly. Top with about 6 slices of strawberries and a teaspoon of chocolate chips. Cover each with another piece of bread to make a "sandwich".

Spray a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and preheat. Carefully dip each of the "sandwiches" into the egg mixture until completely moistened. Then place on the skillet and cook over a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until the outside is golden brown and the center is warm and chocolate is melted.

Transfer to serving places. Top with remaining strawberries and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

If you feel like a splurge, forego the skim, non fat, whole wheat options. Use whole milk or half and half, creamy ricotta and french bread.

It's not Cafe Amandine's Strawberry French Toast, the award winning bakery on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles...but, it's the best we can do in the Midwest. sigh.

Best of Bakeries in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Magazine

Romance Is the Joy of Life

2011-05-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

Lovely romantic photos for you to enjoy this evening. Let's all hang our hammocks this Summer and surround them with lovely romantic lanterns with our best stemware filled with fresh strawberries and chocolate and champagne to set the mood. Let's bring back a bit of decadence to those lazy days of Summer.

Let's wear lots of lace in the colors of sherbert....peach, blueberry, vanilla, lavender...

Let's take an afternoon nap...

Let us be a princess in our own personal fairy tale...

Let's create a romantic setting with a daybed, and tea for just two...

Blessings - Julie

How To Plant Vintage Glassware

2011-05-06T17:30:00.001-05:00

Potting up vintage glassware like retro cups from the 70s, vintage stemware and sherbert dishes in vibrant blues is so special in your kitchen windowsill, on a table in your screened in porch or at your desk in your office. They brighten up any space...like a hall bathroom.

But, first things first. You have to gather your supplies.

Cactus Potting Soil

Containers

Plants - succulent varieties

How easy was that? Simple.simple.simple.

The fun part is going to your favorite antique mall, thrift store or junk shop and selecting your containers.

The second fun stop is going to your favorite nursery to select succulents. Any variety will do so go wild. One variety in a container is great, two is even better.

I like to pot up containers at my potting bench outside so that I can be messy and not worry about soil going everywhere as I always manage to fling it here and there. I don't even know how I do it, but it always happens so I pot outside whenever possible.

Here are my sweet euchervia and rose moss or portulaca ready to go into these sweet vintage cups.

I adore this pattern on this cup. I really think I would buy the set of dishes if I found them. I already own three sets, but I just don't think I could resist them.

Back to potting up the containers. Chose your favorite container, be sure that it is clean - no junk store debris allowed - if it is dishwasher safe - run it through - that would be best. Why? You will be providing a warm, damp container - the perfect environment for pesky bacteria to grow. This can wreak havoc for your sweet little plant's roots. Healthy soil equals a super happy healthy plant.

Remove your plant from it's plastic container by pushing up from the bottom. Now you have to spread the roots so that your little plant will fit inside your container. You need to keep as many roots as possible so gently push your finger up into the root ball and spread it apart or in half.

Put a bit of soil in the bottom of the cup, place your little sweetie in the cup next and then add soil around the sides as needed to bring the soil level up on all sides.

Now give your little plant a drink, just 2 tablespoons - I repeat 2 tablespoons only. Too much water will drown your plant. Plants need moisture and air to grow at the root level. Too much water removes any air pockets from the soil and the plant will drown.

If you are potting an euchervia or hen and chick, remove soil from the plant on all sides and bottom so that it will fit in your container. Use a deeper container for these guys.

Who could resist such a sweet little plant in a vintage glass sherbert dish?

That's all there is to it.

Except, if your plant will be living inside place it in a sunny window - south or west exposure. If your little guy is going to the office with you, place under a lamp and it will be happy. Office lighting will not be sufficient - you need a small lamp. If you are placing your plant outside - it has to be in a shady area as the container is so small that it will dry out in the sun super quick and will bake in the sun.

So, gather you containers and have some fun. The containers are just darling at place settings, great gifts for teachers, Mom's love them, Nana's too, they are great for a fund raiser - kid's can do them, too.

Happy Gardening - Julie

Vintage Poultry Items Are Perfect for Farmhouse Style

2011-05-04T20:23:00.002-05:00

romantiskahem

I am smitten with vintage poultry egg baskets and have a nice collection started that I hang from my pot rack in the kitchen. I also use them to hold fresh fruit, white tapers, pinecones in the Fall, and vintage Christmas ornaments in the Winter.

Glass and More - Etsy

Look at how pretty they are filled with eggs in this German version.

retrorenovation

Retrofitted into a fabulous hanging light.

Good Housekeeping

A floral arrangement is perfect for Spring decorating.

House Beautiful

Fill them with your favorite bowl filler for your kitchen, coffee table or guest bath.

Now let's talk about chick feeders...

Great caddy for your stuff.

Another vintage chick feeder light fixture.

Enjoy the day.

Blessings - Julie

Fabulous Vintage Finds

2011-05-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

Salt and Pepper Shakers

After spending the afternoon redesigning my blog and browsing past postings I realized that I really like the Fabulous Finds blog postings from the past. So, here is another latest in vintage finds from the Prairies of Kansas.

Great little crystal salt and pepper shakers that are so sweet when you are entertaining and need several sets on the table for your guests.

Wayfarer Eyeglasses

These are so in, again. They really look great on the guys but I have seen a few girls that looked adoreable in them. Great geekery.

Table Butler Set

This silver plated set is from Japan and is really heavy with beautiful detailing. Another fun piece to use when entertaining.

Sweet Lazy Susan Sewing Storage

This is the sweetest sewing storage case I have ever seen. It's a lazy susan that spins, with a holder on top for your pin cusion. Lift the lid on top and you have storage for bobbins, thimbles, needles, etc. The next level has pegs for spools of thread. All in PINK.

80's Eyeglasses

Great eyeglasses from the 80s ready for new lenses.

Farmhouse Fun Milk Bottle Caps

Scout Stapler

Fun desktop stapler in a Junior version.

My Three Trolls

Why? Because they are just funny.

Santa Figurine

Vintage Bottle

Well, I hope you enjoyed this segment of Fabulous Vintage Finds.

Tomorrow, is the Bottom's Up Show again in the West Bottoms of Downtown Kansas City. It's located at 12th and Santa Fe. The show starts at 10am - hope to see you there.

Upholstery With Vintage Grain Sacks

2011-05-01T16:10:00.001-05:00

Don't you just go gaga over vintage grain sacks? No? I just can't understand that, because I adore them and look for them wherever I go when I am out and about. Hard to find, even harder to find without holes and stains.

My son Chris and I went to pick up a sweet little dresser that I had purchased earlier in the week and the owner, Corey encouraged us to go upstairs to see the new things he had brought in since my last visit and we found these great industrial looking stools. Chris had been looking for a stool to play his guitar and I wanted to make a footstool out of mine.

Chris' stool had this great white vinyl covering and chrome legs - no improvements needed there. Mine however, had burnt orance upholstery that was...kind of gross and the legs were a bit rusty. Hated the orange upholstery, but loved the patina on the legs.

Once I got my little beauty home, it was time to match it to a grain sack. The one that seemed to fit had one quarter size hold and two smaller worn places. I rummaged through my thread stash and found some vintage ivory button thread to mend the holes before attaching them to the stool. I knew that I wanted to patch the holes using an old method of placing running stiches close together in a criss cross fashion with a patch piece on the underside of the sack. I didn't want to match the sack exactly I wanted my repairs to be visible adding a bit of character to the piece.

Dan supplied the electric staple gun which was fun to use and made the job easy. It was a basic job of stapling opposing sides pulling the fabric tight as you go, then adding filler staples to hold the whole thing in place. I think this little stool may have been an office chair in a former life due to the shape but I couldn't see where the top would have attached. But, I think it makes a nifty foot stool.

Other really great grain sack foot stools...

Miss Mustard Seed - etsy

ebay

Remodelista

Three Fine Grains

Listen To The Whispers of Your Heart Treasury on Etsy

2011-05-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

'Listen to the Whispers of your Heart' by blitz68

Thank you Gardenlogykc for the title :)

Silver Flower and Freshwater... StudioSeventyF... $33.00	Estate Style Earrings. Storm dreamyvintage $18.00	Visible Connective - Heart t... meltemsem $45.00
Poetry in Grey bayanhippo $44.00	When Wishes Shine A Signed... gildinglilies $20.00	Crochet Gray Pom Pom Scarf V... zuzusworld $17.00
Vintage Woven Metal Basket luckylittledot $34.00	Ivory Mohair Rectangular Sha... Starpompon $80.00	Bride to Be Paper Drink Stra... GoAgainstTheGr... $16.00
White Iron Stone Pudding Bas... keeky27 $20.00	Listen to the Whispers of Yo... gardenologykc $38.00	Vintage LoganDeluxe 8mm Stee... inmyigloo $18.00
SPECIAL OFFER spring blossom... isheshop $15.95	Ready to ship..Tote Bag with... bayousalvage $75.00	Flock Flying ducks ceramic w... PrinceDesignUK $69.00
Mr and Mrs vintage silverpla... Vivianstreasur... $15.75

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Another treasury on Etsy featuring the most wonderfully soft, shabby inspired treasures. I swear, I want everything featured. It is always such an honor to be included in a treasury that features one of your creations. This time is was my Listen To the Whispers of Your Heart silver spoon bracelet. It has been one of my best sellers and one of my favorite pieces to create.

It's a cold Spring day here, and another frost is in the forecast for tonight. I am ready for warmer days. I have an entire flat of beautiful white zinnias with the sweetest blush of pink in their centers ready to be planted in my flower garden. I am so excited about getting them tucked into their new beds.

Stay warm my friends...I am off to explore all of these etsy artists shops.

Etsy Treasury Sexy C.U.T.E. by Jodi

2011-04-29T19:39:00.002-05:00

'Sexy C.U.T.E.' by byjodi

Thank you BreatheCouture for the fabulous name!!

Strapless Blue and White Cot... BreatheCouture $60.00	Life is beautiful (wood floo... magalerie $25.00	American Chair - Fine Art Ph... buckscountyfra... $30.00
vintage brownie camera - 4x6... MarianneLoMona... $8.00	vintage pop shop soda bottle... lacklusterco $38.00	Farmgirl Leather Cuff Bracel... gardenologykc $28.00
Fenton Cactus Pattern Milk G... BarkingSandsVi... $58.00	Large Photograph - Traveling... AmeliaKayPhoto... $75.00	Dalmatian on Red Vintage Sui... studiolara316 $200.00
Vintage Security Foods Pail bellalulu $32.00	Cloud nine - silk dress low ... Minxshop $200.00	Red Flyer Bicycle - For dude... Raceytay $30.00
In Sunshine And In Rain Art ... thedreamygiraf... $18.00	Napkin Ring Set LittleVintageC... $17.00	Tote Lollipop Bag (Red&White... sweetaccessori... $43.40
Vintage Square Ornate Geomet... Sharingbliss $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

XOXO Bracelet and Spring Posie Corsages

2011-04-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

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

Spring Is In Bloom On the Prairie

2011-04-14T20:52:00.001-05:00

A few years ago I purchased a white lilac bush and the second year I had lovely white lilac blossoms. The third year my white lilac blossoms were lavender and pale pink. At first I was disappointed, but then the fragrance and pale hues of pink and lavender won me over. Lilacs are just my favorite heirloom flowering shrubs. I have a bouquet next to my chair as I write this blog to you tonite. The fragrance is heavenly.

Lilac are super easy to grow, will tolerate less than perfect soil and require full sun for maximum bloom. Plant them under a bedroom window for fragrance at night. The blooms are short lived, but spectacular and worth making room for them in the garden.

Being a farmgirl I adore vintage chick feeders and the one in this photo is my favorite. It is a small feeder only 8 inches in length, but isn't it sweet? I keep it on a shelf in my kitchen and tuck special cards, candy, and photos in it throughout the year. Today, the little feeder is holding a French enamel house sign.

The chicks in the photo are made of concrete that I picked up on one of my junking jaunts and they sit on the shelf with the chick feeder in the kitchen.

The feeder and the chicks remain on the shelf year around but everything else changes around them as the seasons pass.

A chair at the farm with the sweetest embroidered garden pillow featuring a wheelbarrow filled with flowers. I think the umbrella is a sweet touch. I was amazed when I walked into the shop picked up the pillow and the owner told me that the pillow was $5.00 if I wanted it. Sold. I guess it was just my lucky day.

The blue tones in the pillow match perfectly with my chair that I sit in to enjoy my morning coffee when I am at the farm. Simple pleasures...

My apple tree is in bloom and the fragrance, well smells like apples. Dan pruned a few of the taller branches for me that I couldn't reach when I was pruning the trees earlier this year and I brought them into the house for a bouquet for the coffee table. They look so perfect in a vintage white enamelware bucket.

Who can resist vintage calico aprons hanging on a rooster hook in the kitchen? I think they brighten the kitchen and add alot of charm. The best part is that they are so fun to wear when baking cookies with the kids.

I have planted my Zinnia beds again, weeded my flower beds...again, pruned my fruit trees, purchased my seeds for the vegetable garden, added three truck loads of compost to the veggie garden, and have already started dreaming about all the lovely blossoms to come in the months ahead. Dan is dreaming of juicy red tomatoes.

How does your garden grow? Are you a flower gardener, veggie gardener, tree and shrub enthusiast or do you just enjoy your neighbors blossoms and produce?

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Prairie Thistle at the Bottom's Up Antique Market

2011-03-31T22:31:00.000-05:00

A quick share of my booth this month at the Bottom's Up Antique Market that opens tomorrow. I have filled my space with loads of wonderful things for garden, home and body.

There are so many things I love in this space like the Breakfast at Tiffanys style dress and hat on the mannequin, the black walnut cross on top of the cabinet on the left, and the hanging lamp made from a vintage galvanized metal funnel.

I designed this French inspired shelf that I so admire in Jeanne de Arc Living Magazine with loads of hooks and cubbies to display your favorite collections. My talented husband, Dan made these beauties for me. I can't wait to hang mine at the farm! For my out of town friends, let me know if you are interested and I can check on shipping options.

One of the favorite things I made for the show is this "Sisters" piece that is a printed dictionary page soldered between two panes of glass with vintage brass corners - they are gorgeous.

A painting that I did of the shadow of an angel above vintage sheet music bits with deep blue space below. I added "The Angels Sing" in french below. I painted the angel and the letters in a silver metallic paint that appears and disappears depending on the angle.

The Queen of Sheba mixed media shadow box in a vintage sucrets tin.

A vintage Little Red Riding Hood doll and book.

A barnwood cross that features "With the Help of God " written in French is one of my favorites.

Two large vintage blue fruit jars made into sweet lamps.

Just a glimpse into my booth...hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings my friends - Julie

Winner of Prairie Thistle Spring Giveaway Is

2011-03-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

Jeanne d' Arc Living

The winner of my kick off Spring in a happy way by hosting Prairie Thistle Jewelry giveaway is A New York Magpie's Eye - congratulations my friend. My wish is that you wear the bracelet in health and happiness! What more could you ask for, now really?

Stop by Maggie's beautiful blog filled with her amazing paintings and art work. It's a feast for the eye and soul. That's one of the best things about giveaways - meeting new amazing artists and fellow kindred spirits.

Today I ventured out for a bit of junking and here is a list of the things I brought home with me...

Two empty drawers with sweet little knobs, a crewel footstool, an Italian sconce loaded with crystals, a giant dictionary, a lovely creamy dress, a robin's egg blue vintage fan, a miniature pottery town, vintage clasp earrings, some vintage chains, an egg basket, a porcelain creamer with pink roses, monogram serving spoons, vintage autograph books, a banker's box with working key, and a cafeteria tray in turquoise blue to hold my works in progress.

Sale - Etsy

Now which item do you think I am most excited about finding today? Did you guess the Italian sconce with the crystals? I saw one like it in one of my favorite magazines from Europe and thought how wonderful it would be to find one and six months later...it's riding home with me in my car. Yayy!

Sale - Etsy

All in all a good day junking considering I only had a couple of hours to spare. I ventured out to find more spoons and more chain for my projects in progress. I did not find the spoons, but I did find alot of everything else! That's the way it is with junking jaunts. You never know what you will find. Which is all the fun part of seeking and wandering about....don't you think?

Jeanne d' Arc Living

Blessings - Julie

Studio Space and Prairie Thistle Life

2011-03-20T06:46:00.000-05:00

I have a confession, I love to get up before dawn, snuggle into my favorite chair with my pups, Angus and Molly, and a steaming cup of very strong coffee to write another posting for my Prairie Thistle Life blog.

Did I ever tell you why I chose Prairie Thistle Life as the title for my blog? It goes something like this... My ancestors were Scottish, I have loved Joan of Arc since I was a little girl and I live in the prairie lands. That's the simple explanation.

In the language of flowers, the thistle (like the burr) is an ancient Celtic symbol of nobility of character as well as of birth, for the wounding or provocation of a thistle yields punishment. For this reason the thistle is the symbol of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland. It's kind of a "Don't Mess With Us" symbol of the feisty Scottish.

Joan of Arc was from the Order of the Thistle which was a symbol of the strong alliance between Scotland and France during the 100 Years War. You will see the fleur d lis and the thistle intertwined with one another on her coat of arms.

The thistle, Jeanne de Arc, France, Scotland and the prairie have always been a strong influence in my life.

My Studio design will include this theme as well and the crystal chandelier which is the first French element for the space. The chandelier may or may not be French, but sparkling crystals always remind me of France. The space is progressing wonderfully and as promised here is a photo of the chandelier that is providing a soft light and loads of sparkle to the room.

The hardwood floors will be installed next, another DIY project for the hubby and me. We are using hardwood flooring made of oak that we salvaged from a restoration project that is from the mid 1800s that was going to be discarded. After sanding the floors I plan to give them a whitewash pickle treatment. I love the look of white painted flooring, but it is a studio space which means alot of abuse and white painted flooring would be too difficult to keep clean. I am there to create - not clean - right? Oh, there's that feisty Scottish blood running through my veins again....

The square prisms cast tiny rainbows in the late afternoon which is always a delight and reminds me of afternoons at my Grandma's playing with her prism in the sitting room. Miss you Grandma, every single day.

Yesterday, I spent the day with Sweet Dan gathering materials, planing Black Walnut lumber, and fashioning a large wooden cross that I then stenciled with "Avec l'aide de Dius" (translation - With the help of God). I made one with old barn wood that is a rustic beauty and two from Black Walnut. I'll include a photo in a future posting when I hang one in my studio space. The other two will go with me to the Bottoms Up show the first weekend in April.

This is my sweet little niece, Tasha wearing one of my vintage garden hats. Yes, I collect garden hats and I wear them, too. The more flowers stuck to the band of the hat the better! I keep hoping to channel the gardening wisdom of the ladies that wore these hats in another gardening lifetime and it helps keep the freckles to a minimum that I am prone to get every Summer. Mine are not cute like those of Ina Garten!

While entertaining my niece and nephew recently at the farm, we were leaving the house for an afternoon walk down the gravel road when my niece, Tasha noticed this particular hat hanging by the door and asked if she might wear it on our walk.

It's a big hat for such a little girl, but she was oh, so very sweet wearing it as we crunched along the road on our way to the old bridge to throw rocks into the creek below.

Doesn't she look like a happy little farmgirl?

We threw sticks into the water and then ran to the opposite side of the bridge to see the stick appear from the other side. Simple country kid fun. Throwing things into the creek from a bridge just to hear the kerplunk, see the splash or watch them float by on the ripples of the creek. We balanced tiny stones on the metal rail of the bridge just to see how long they would stay there and then it was crunch, crunch, crunch back to the house for a cookie.

The last time we drove across the bridge my nephew Caleb said, "Aunt Julie, my rock is still there."

Blessings - Julie

Bottoms Up Debut - Kansas City

2011-03-07T18:22:00.000-06:00

I thought I would share some photos of my new Prairie Thistle space at Bottoms Up in the West Bottoms of Kansas City. I only had two weeks to prepare for the show so I quickly put together a booth design for the show. This venue is open the first Friday and Saturday of each month. I had such a lovely time at the show I have decided to join in again in April. I hope you can join me there, if you have never been to Bottoms Up you are in for a delightful shopping experience.

I will have a bit more time to prepare for the next show and plan to bring in more jewelry, antiques and French inspired goods for the home and garden.

One of the necklaces that I put together for the show featuring a large vintage shell button with a tiny sparrow wired to blueberry lace quartz.

I adore my sparrow cabinet that I had custom made to display my jewelry. It is four feet wide and five feet in height and features a hard rock maple top. It holds an enormous amount of jewelry, but would also be perfect for linens and lingerie. My Master Cabinet maker has agreed to make more of these cabinets by order. Send me an email if you are interested and would like more information.

It was a fun show with a lively crowd enjoying the lovely offerings of the antique vendors.

This was the first mannequin that I purchased long ago. It is actually a boy mannequin torso that I always try to disguise with lots of lace strategically placed creating a more feminine shape.

I also brought lots of antiques for the glass case in my space. This is a lovely Italian figurine of a family of Blue Jays.

Hand carved wooden statues of Jesus are exquisitely detailed.

A vintage beveled glass silver Victorian hand mirror and a white beaded purse with a tiny mirror in the clasp.

Purchase Here

A pair of white leather Mary Jane shoes - too sweet.

Our leading lady of Bottoms Up, Gwen McClure. She's a lovely person and you can hear her laughter all day as she greets her returning loyal customers.

This is a photo of Gwen's lovely French inspired offerings.

Another booth filled with wonderful European antiques. The two consoles in the front have silver leaf tops.

There are no words....

What a wonderful weekend and I am so excited about the show next month and I hope you can join me.

Bottoms Up

1200 West 12th Street

Kansas City, MO 64101

Related Articles and Links

Jenny Steffens Blogspot

West Bottoms Business District

Bottoms Up Facebook Page

French By Design Facebook Page

Beth Leintz Blog

Giveaway -Not All Who Wander Are Lost Bracelet

2011-02-27T13:00:00.000-06:00

Hello sweet friends,

It's time for a Prairie Thistle giveaway....

I have chosen one of my favorite expressions... Not All Who Wander Are Lost. With Spring right around the corner, I have been venturing out on the warm, sunny days visiting my favorite antique shops.

For this bracelet, a vintage spoon bowl was flattened, textured, stamped and then a sweet soaring bird was soldered in place.

This bracelet is comfortable to wear with the leather cording that forms to your wrist. The extra large lobster clasp makes the bracelet easy to take on and off. All and all a sweet bracelet. Perfect for the wanderer.

The giveaway will be open until March 20th.. I will announce the winner on the 21st which is the first day of Spring.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway:

1. Become a follower of the Prairie Thistle blog.

2. Share the giveaway by posting the giveaway on your blog.

3. Post a comment - let me know where or how you love to wander...

Grab the Button at the Sidebar to your Right.

Blessings - Julie

Kim Klassen Skinny Mini Photoshop eCourse

2011-02-17T10:45:00.000-06:00

Kim Klassen Photography

I am a huge fan of Kim Klassen as I am sure that any of you that have seen her work are as well. She is absolutely fabulous and also very generous.

Kim is offering a Skinny Mini Photoshop eCourse absolutely FREE - now that's generous with a capital G for great, golly gee, and groovy!

I am having a fabulously wonderful time learning how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and it is loads of fun thanks to Kim's videos, homework assignments and great images to play with.

Here are my first two photos...

Next class will be textures....I can hardly wait. This is something I have wanted to do for the longest time and on my to do list for 2011. Thank you.thank you.thank you Kim for your generosity.

It will be so much fun to select textures from Kim's shop when the workshop is finished.

Pop in and check out Kim's photography and textures for sale - you won't be able to resist.

Farm Goings On and Such

2011-02-12T18:17:00.000-06:00

My sweet boy Angus, photographed by my sweet friend, Stacey on a recent trip to the farm. She just grabbed my camera and snapped a few quick shots and seemingly with no effort came up with this photo of my best boy - Angus. He's getting older and I know that this will be one of my eternally favorite photos of Angus that I will always love. As you know, Angus was a rescue puppy and I have had him with me for the past 10 years. I've loved every minute of it.

Ha. This one cracks me up. Another Stacey shot of Molly checking out a blueberry.

My son Ryan, with "Meaty" as he calls Molly. She is a chunk and we love her anyway. Poor Molly is currently on a doggie diet of only dog food and veggies. We also have to limit her to her daily rations as she is a grazer like her Mom and will munch all day long if allowed.

Occassionally, a lone rider will pass by the farm in this instance one of our Amish neighbors. See the horse's ears standing straight up? That's because Angus was sounding the alarm by barking way too loudly. He just wouldn't stop until the horse and rider had passed the barn. My neighbor seemed to find this very amusing as Angus is only about a foot tall including his really big ears. What he lacks in size he more than compensates with his loud doggie voice. Wow, is that dog loud.

Sweet Dan is putting on the last coat of pain in my future studio space at the farm today. I am so excited about my future studio space. I currently work in my finished basement in the city, so I am super excited about all of those windows and bright white walls. The next step is installing the hardwood floors.

Lots and lots of windows. I will be able to view my flower garden from these three windows while I work. Bliss.

I purchased a chandelier for the studio today at one of my favorite antiquing venues. I love.love.love it!

I cleaned all of the crystals today and Sweet Dan is going to hang for me tomorrow.

This is the light that I found for the space above my kitchen table. It has the prettiest milky white glass.

Another vintage fixture for the guest bath ceiling. It was originally a tarnished brass, but with a fresh coat of glossy white paint it becomes perfect.

Some of my other favorite finds for the farm...

Lovely vintage cannister set.

Tiny procelain espresso set from Czechoslavakia.

Vintage aprons hanging from a French Rooster hook on my pantry door.

Green bakelite dominoes in an ironstone bowl.

And one sweet little cast iron bull dog.

I never get tired of designing my perfect sanctuary in the country. Isn't it fun finding something special to add to your home that just makes you happy whenever you look at them?

It's sunset and once again the sky is ablaze in hues of vibrant pink that looks so beautiful floating above the blue tones of the snow on the ground...what can I say, I am a country girl through and through. and it's here that I feel most like me.

Blessings - Julie

Cuffs, Cris Car and Cupid's Gems

2011-02-08T21:51:00.000-06:00

Another metal cuff, from the bench this week. This cuff is made from patinated steel, brass and a luscious pear gemstone.

The Cupid's Gems show over the weekend was so much fun. I loved seeing all the familiar faces, getting all those great hugs and getting feedback on my new jewelry designs. Feedback is so important to good design for me. I really need the feedback from customers to know what resonates with them and what is just not interesting to anyone but me. This happens as I have a very quirky sense of style that just doesn't hit with everyone.

My Silversmithing Instructor, Genevieve Flynn stopped by to see me and two of her other students at the show. She is brilliant and I just loved seeing her. She was such a sweet surprise at the show.

I had alot of fun putting the table design together for the show with loads of mirrors, vintage boxes, books and a corseted mannequin.

This is the mock up of my table for the show that I staged the day before the show in my dining room to see how many pieces of jewelry I could comfortably fit on the table. I added a vintage wooden thread cabinet that allowed me to add alot of pieces to the table.

and it was just cool. Form and function, I love that!

This is the first in a series of cuff bracelets that I have planned for the upcoming weeks. I am excited to continue creating and sharing them with you.

On another note, it's that time of year, to clean up our diets and get back to our exercise routines after the holidays. I like to juice several days each week - it's delicious and super good for you.

Here's one of my favorite juicing combinations that I call a Green Booster.

1 pear

1 cup sugar snap peas

1 bunch kale

1 inch fresh ginger root

4 drops euchinacea

I am currently enjoying Cris Carr's latest book, Crazy, Sexy, Diet filled with not only recipes but the how, when and why of the human body and how to boost your immune system and balance your internal pH. My sweet friend, Stacey Bruce recommended it to me and we picked up our copies together at the Barnes and Noble Bookseller a couple of weeks ago. Thanks, Stacey! We all need those personal cheerleaders in our lives that encourage us to be better to ourselves.

I hope you are all warm and well. It was 9 degrees here today.....brrrr. Only 40 days until the first day of Spring...

Blessings - Julie

Jewelry Display

2011-02-05T19:13:00.002-06:00

My first show of the year went really well and the best part was seeing all of the familiar faces from my shoppe days at GardenologyKC. I miss those gals more that I can tell you.

This was the display I used for the show which was a bit challenging as I have to work with just one six foot table so I added the corseted mannequin and a white wooden stool for a bit more surface area.

This corset was one of those finds that I am so happy about. It does wonders for an ordianary dress form.

One of my favorite necklaces is the Italian enamel floral broach paired with large orange coral beads. It will be a sad day when I have to let it go to a new home.

I added a vintage guilded Italian box, mirrored dressor trays and lots of small vintage books to my display this year for added height and shimmer of gold.

This vintage thread box worked well for added surface for what else, more jewelry.

A vintage glass box held my copper formed cuff bracelets. The floral lace in this photo was an antique shop find that worked so well on top of the cut work table cloth I used for the table.

One last side view of the table design for the show. I took these photos with me so I would remember where each component should be placed to save time moving things this way and that.

My biggest problem at the show was that there wasn't enough room for more that 4-5 shoppers to be browsing the jewelry at the same time. Alot of ladies were having to wait patiently for an opportunity to slip into an empty spot. I think it made the shoppers feel a bit rushed as they tried to speed it up out of consideration of those waiting.

Connie and Nancy do such a wonderful job preparing for this event. They take such good care of the artists spotting us at our booths as needed, providing snacks, cookies and always with big smiles. They are really wonderful and so good at what they do.

The Thompson barn is so beautiful, a historic landmark of a classic Kansas barn.

Yup, here I am again in the mirror, but really I just wanted to share the cute dog figurine underneath the mirror. He's one of my favorites and trust me I have dozens of them.

Enjoy the Day - Julie

Photo Shoot of Prairie Thistle Jewelry - Staging A Shot

2011-01-30T13:33:00.000-06:00

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

Art Sings of God Wide Cuff Metalwork Bracelet

2011-01-24T17:13:00.000-06:00

For Art Sings of God and Ultimately Belongs to Him

- Patti Smith

"Much has been said about Robert, (Robert Maplethorpe) and more will be added. Young men will adopt his gait. Young girls will wear white dresses and mourn his curls. He will be condemned and adored. His excesses damned or romanticized. In the end, truth will be found in his work, the corporeal body of the artist. It will not fall away. Man cannot judge it. For art sings of God, and ultimately belongs to him."

I am reading Patti Smith's latest book, Just Kids that won the National Book Award and was one of the best ten books of 2010 chosen by NPR Radio. Patti has a lyrical way of writing that is a deep pleasure to read and I highly recommend this book.

I was inspired by the idea that Art Sings of God and ultimately belongs to Him. Today, so I cut a piece of heavy gauge copper to form into a wide cuff bracelet. I saw a model wearing a wide cuff bracelet in a fashion magazine that I was thumbing through while waiting for my car to be repaired and the image stuck. The expression by Patti Smith and the vision of the wide cuff inspired this bracelet.

I wanted the cuff to have an organic feel to it, as well as a celestial reference. The upper portion of the cuff is celestial and the bottom of the cuff is organic referencing tall grass of the prairies.

I placed the HIM above in the celestial area of the cuff as I often look to the heavens for guidance, gratitude and patience.

Hand forming metal is such a pleasureable experience putting my fingerprint on the metal by repeated blows of the hammer. I never grow tired of bending and forming the metal. I especially like working with copper it responds well to hammering and the patina of the copper comes to life when polished to a high sheen.

More wide cuff bracelets that I love, just for inspiration.

Cuff by Eva

Carrie Underwood

Gucci Fall 2010

Gucci

Miley Cyrus - Oscars 2010

Blessings - Julie

The Dragonfly and the Lily Pad Silver Ring

2011-01-20T16:06:00.000-06:00

Have you heard about the "one ring a day" challenge? Artists are challenged to create one unique ring every day. Can you imagine the pressure on the 100th day? Some of the creations are simple like a rubber band, twist tie from a loaf of bread, pop top, etc. Some of the creations are just pure genius.

One of my favorite examples is Dan Bentley, who is making his fiance a new engagement ring every day - how romantic is that??? I love this guy!

I really don't do alot of rings, so just creating one ring would be an achievement. So, here goes...

This ring is huge, measuring four inches in diameter with a large brass dragon fly soldered onto the top. If you haven't guessed the lily pad was made from a vintage silver tomato server.

A repurposed vintage tomato server is now a fabulously huge ring. I am not up to the challenge of the one ring a day, but I think this one suits me perfectly. What do you think?

We received 6 inches of snow yesterday that is quickly melting in the bright sunshine today. The birds are at the feeder enjoying an easy meal. Considering how difficult the life of a bird is with predators and pesticides, feeding them seems like the best thing to do in the cold days of Winter.

I have been busy at the bench getting ready for an upcoming show the first weekend in February called Cupid's Gems. This will be my fourth year participating in this show, another reminder of how quickly time passes.

Hope all is well with you.

Blessings - Julie

Winter Pick Me Up Giveaway - French Larkspur

2011-01-18T13:16:00.000-06:00

French Larkspur Giveaway - Enter Here

Contest is open world wide and will end on Thursday, January 20th at midnight. I will announce a winner on Friday morning!

All you need to do to enter is visit the Eco Natural Soap website, take a peek, and come back here and tell me which product you would love to try! Easy, right?!!

New Year's Calls Giveaway Alert

2011-01-09T14:52:00.000-06:00

A dear and talented friend is hosting a fabulously generous give away to welcome the New Year. Pop by her blog and join in the fun!

Riki Jewelry Blogspot

New Year's Wish

2010-12-31T06:43:00.002-06:00

It's New Year's Eve, I hope you all have a fun evening planned, even if that means curling up with a good book in front of the fire at home or going out with friends to your favorite club. The anticipation of a new year is always exciting for me as I begin thinking about the things I want to do in the upcoming year. This list usually involves learning something new, healthier habits, spiritual growth, spending time with family, exploration, adventure, and time to relax in the country. Not a bad list.

Of course, I didn't accomplish all of the things I had aspired to this year when I made my list of things to do in 2010. Like visiting Savannah, Georgia. This will be on my list again for 2011.

I also intended on visiting friends in Virginia and Alabama - this is on my list as well.

Those 10 pounds I swore that I would loose are still a burden I carry around. Add it to the list.

My gardens are still a work in progress and will continue to make the annual list of things to do.

I didn't make it to the Round Top antique show in Texas - still on the list.

However, I did visit Europe for holiday, had fun gardening at the farm, celebrated the graduation of my daughter from Kansas University, and spent quality time with my family and friends.

What's on your list of things to do in 2011, I wonder? Is it similiar to mine?

What I wish for others is peace, health, and the warmth of a loving hand whenever you need it.

Blessings - Julie

Oddly Perfect Jewelry

2010-12-15T15:53:00.000-06:00

There's something oddly perfect about odd numbers, don't you think? I love the way collections look in odd numbers, like the same punch of color repeated in a room three times. Like the same color captured in the pillows on your couch, a vase on the mantel and a painting on the wall...it all seems so absolutely brilliant.

The blend of angular and curvy shapes in the numbers 3 and 5 - really, I love that! My lucky number is 7, what's yours? Is it an odd number?

Purchase Here

I have been playing with rings since I had a lovely lady request a custom order for a couple of rings and this is my latest. A new chunky ring that I stamped with 3's, a 5 and a 7 with my vintage metal stamps. I think it's the oddly perfect ring. The width reminds me of one of the fabulous rings Meryl Strepp wore in It's Complicated. One of those movies that I watch as much for the styling as the acting.

This one is made from the handle of a very old and heavy piece of vintage silverware that had gorgeous detailing of oak leaves and acorns. Gasp. I purchased this old spoon years ago, and have lovingly looked at it again and again wondering what I would do with it someday. Nothing seemed to do the piece justice, the craftsmanship is outstanding. Today, I took the leap and repurposed the utensil into an adornment for my finger. It's chunky, huge and spectacular. I love looking at the ring on my finger - it's one of those simple pleasures in life.

Hopefully, I will continue to grow strong like the mighty oak and be able to weather the storms that will surely pass through my life as the years go by and may I have as much grace as those lovely majestic oak trees at our farm in the country.

Purchase Here

I purchased this wonderful napkin ring on Ebay years ago and was inspired to do something with it today since the oak leaf ring turned out so well giving me the courage to modify the napkin ring into a bracelet. The ring features the number 3, one of my favorite numbers since it represents the number of children I am blessed with. I purchased it from a seller from the United Kingdom.

Purchase Here

A simple silver dome with the number 1 stamped onto the surface. I like to think of the number of children or in celebration of a first place finish, or maybe to remind someone that they are number one in your life.

Now back to the movie, It's Complicated and the Kitchen Garden that I fell in love with.

The designers call it a Kitchen Garden California Style and it was so amazing in the movie filled with luscious greens, leeks, tomatoes on the vine, cabbage and glorious foxgloves. A flower that I love and have never been able to grow.

I have already begun to dream of what I'd like my kitchen garden to look like next Spring and Summer. Sans the foxgloves...I'll have to substitute cleome, now that I can grow!

Enjoy the day my friends.

Blessings - Julie

Tapas In Barcelona

2010-12-12T20:06:00.000-06:00

Barcelona was everything that you have ever heard about the city, sophisticated, elegant, and fashionable. In the Barre Gotic we heard music from a violin echoing through the cobble stone streets. As the violinist played, a newly married couple walked away arm in arm from the chapel. Romance filled the air...

Angels overhead - everywhere... this was one of my favorites.

We enjoyed tapas at a small courtyard cafe with a glass of wine. My favorite was mozarella cheese and heirloom tomatoes with fresh herbs.

A wonderful afternoon walking through the oldest part of Barcelona was pure bliss. A feast for the senses...

Blessings - Julie

Hope Looks Forward Silver Bracelet

2010-12-06T16:10:00.000-06:00

A recent request for a silver spoon bracelet for a petite wrist with a lengthy expression prompted me to rethink the design to accomodate a smaller wrist size.

I detached the spoon bowl from the handle, modified the size making it smaller, stamped the bowl and then shaped it to fit comfortably on the top of the wrist. I then trimmed the spoon handle making it shorter as well and shaped it to fit the side of the wrist.

A silver chain and lobster clasp were added making the bracelet ready for my petite friend who requested this bracelet to be made for them. I love it so much, I am sure there will be more to follow.

I love this illustration with the sheep in the background and the young lass looking up to the heavens. Since it is knitting season and I have been wool obsessed I thought I would share it with you.

Latest etsy addition...

Let Your Heart Take Flight Leather Bracelet - Purchase Here

I love the simplicity and cowgirl sensibilities of this bracelet featuring ancient Roman glass donut, silver donut, rhinestone rondelle, faceted brilliant blue gemstone bead and sterling winged heart charm.

Blessings - Julie