I have been listed in Athens Spirit blog in Athens Alabama...

Along with 40 others artists from the surrounding are.

If you are in the area....come by and check us ALL out.... Christmas is right around the corner and the Craftsman Cottage will be open Sunday the 23rd....so that that last minute shopping done with a warm cup of coffee in your had...now how many shops will offer that.......

.http://athensspirit.blogspot.com/2012/12/craftsman-cottage-opens-downtown.html

BOOTH UPDATE

BOOTH UPDATE

If you are interested in either of these..you can contact me via email

prairiechilddesign@gmail.com

This jumper started out as a curtain panel. I folded it in half..cut the neck out..the arm holes...and started sewing with my antique singer sewing machine....If you didn't know...it was a treadle that has been converted with an electric motor. It has one stitch and no reverse....and I wouldn't trade it for anything....

These 3 pieces can be found at the Craftsman Cottage on 100 N. Clinton St. Athens, AL.

$95.00 Sm/Med

This sweater was simple and need that Prairie-izing....I added satin ribbon down the front and wove a ribbon around the waist so I can be form fitting or worn loose. The hem is full of beautiful vintage lace, crochet, bits  and pieces.

It has 3/4 sleeves and soft..soft...soft.

This lovely little girls dress would be beautiful as a flower girl dress at a country wedding. 

A simple bolero  over the shoulders would be more elegant.

The dress started out as a cotton slip and now has layers and layers of Prairie.

 There are elastic gathers on the sides. Mother of Pearl Buttons are hand stitched here and there.

$85.00 size 6

SHE HAS SOLD...

THE SWEATER.....

I added 'The Sweater' to my Etsy page and it sold that day....I am sorry to see it go...but...it is what it is.....lol

I have been busy keeping up with orders and I promise I will get everything posted before Christmas!

The booth is doing well and I will be back to the Craftsman Cottage to replace what has been sold. Hope to see you there.

I have been working on a sweet see through jumper that will be perfect for summer 2013. It is a sheer with blue embroidered daisies randomly, it use to be a soft cotton curtain....:)
 It will have adjustable tie offs at the shoulder and has a single large pocket and a few gathers with mother of pearl buttons. I will post a photo when it is finished.

I have been selling up-cycled sweater sleeves as hand warmers...these are doing very well and I plan on creating more with just lace. So keep an eye out for those.

I plan to post again before Christmas..but if I don't....Happy Holidays to All and to All a good........:)

THE BOOTH

I went to the booth and added a few more pieces to fill in some empty spots. 

Let me take a little time to explain a few facts about what I do..

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I am always searching for pretty white cotton blouses to create my Prairie Style Clothes and occasionally I will find a great piece that I just know I can do something special with.

 Well the other day I did just that. I found this long sleeve long 

john style undershirt... that is in the photo below.

 I know exactly what I was going to do with it. I did all the usual things like adding  pieces of other blouses to it,  crochet and tattered fabric.

Then I tea dyed it..put it in the dryer...with no thought of anything amiss....but, to my surprise when I pulled it out of the dryer....there was a stain that looked like someone had spilled oil all over the front and back....It was terrible....now mind you...NOTHING SHOWED WHEN I STARTED...

What was I to do?

 I cut the largest stained part out which just  happened to be at the neckline and up the left  shoulder. I added a large piece of lace to cover the area left.There were several other spots all around this  area. so I added  lace, pieces of cotton sweater, crochet and mother of pearl button. 

 I spent more time fixing it then I did creating it...lol....But it turned out beautiful.....all the bits and pieces just added to the over all look.

 This kind of thing happens on most blouses but nothing this drastic.

  So you know.. it turned out better then I had originally thought it would.

You just never know.....

UP DATE

Here are a couple photos as promised..The booth turned out as I had hoped. I need to add a few more pieces it seems.....hmmmmm...I wonder why......It was a very busy weekend...

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I added a few more items to the booth....such as an Altered Couture Magazine. It was the winter issue and had one of my sweaters in it...The four page spread really helped with the whole layout of the booth....

I would like to Thank everyone who turned out for the event....Happy Holidays...from... PRAIRIE CHILD @ the Crafrsman Cottage..

Latest Goings On...

I just thought I would let you all know that I will be setting up a space at Craftsman Cottage, it is in a Craftsman Style house. There are local artists that recycle and re-purpose all sort of interesting items

. The location is 100 N. Clinton St. Athens AL. The Grand Opening/Christmas Open House will be this weekend. There will be an artisan cheese business there and lovely music, as well as local artists to show you around. If there are any in the North Alabama area out shopping this weekend....give us a peek.

It has been years since I last set up a real sho-sho fru-fru setting...lol. I am in the process of going through all my stored 'stuff' and trying to decide what I need to create a beautiful  little spot for Christmas but not over do it like most have a tendency to do.

I think I am going to add  some Christmas cedar, a few bunches of rosemary and a large bowl of old faded roses mixed with dried peppermint tea. I am going to hang a string of rosemary intermixed with used dried teabags. I may wrap a few "presents" with tissue paper and tea stained tattered fabric with bows piled into an old basket.

 Two old doors that have been painted a dark turquoise and hinged together will stand in one corner will hold a few pieces. There is an old dress form to display a Prairie Dress and an antique wood clothes rack will hold a few more pieces. I plan to have a few Altered Couture Magazines on display to show off the sweater that I have in this months issue. I hope it will turn out in reality as beautiful as the image that is in my mind. If it does I will post a few photos later.

PRAIRIE CHILD ITEMS...FOR..SALE

Starting now I plan to be more active with my Prairie Child blog

and I am keeping my fingers crossed to make it happen...:)

 I am all over the place in the social either world....lol as well as sewing for the public. With Christmas right around the corner I am trying to create items for Christmas presents, All who know me, knows that I make 90% of the presents I give....Time is short.

I have recently acquired another dress form so there may be some major changes in my creative style.

 I have  up-cycled for the last two years using everything from old bed sheets to curtains to old tablecloths to get the yardage that is needed to create those unique pieces.

STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR.... I am going to start using some new linen yardage to add to the up-cycled line.

 I want to create a casual feminine line with soft crumpled no iron wear.

   

HERE ARE SOME OF MY LATEST PIECES...

they are listed on my Etsy page and you can use the app on the Prairie Child blog to reach it.

 I have been trying to find the time to add new information to my blog...but...time is hard to come by...lol. I do hope you will be with me as I  break out into NEW IDEAS...

 Here is my idea of a pair of ultra baggy pantaloons. I used a pair of curtains to make a couple different pieces and this is one example. I am wearing the other curtain panel.....lol 

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 This sweater and skirt can be worn together or separately. I used 3 different sweaters to create this lovely piece. The skirt was a linen curtain and it is beautiful...this photo does not do it justice. .

 This beautiful linen blouse will fit that pleasantly plump female...like me...I added the little pocket low to be used. It would be great for a teacher or anyone that is constantly looking for somewhere to put that pen or that odd item you don't want to loose.

 I created this very adjustable jumper to fit several sizes. A table runner, vintage lace and a skirt were all stitched together to create this lovely summer jumper. A silk camisole, or a simple sport bra will look great under this piece....Showing a little extra skin is not a bad thing....:)

This VINTAGE blouse is factory made so I don't know exactly how old it is.

 I cut the sleeves, the collar and added loads of vintage doilies, lace,tattered fabric. It is light weight and see through. This lovely blouse and  nice sport bra would look beautiful over a pair of you favorite skinny jeans.

I hope and really will try to be more constant in blogging.....so..keep an eye out for my posts and remember....check my Etsy page to purchase one or more oft these items. Thanks PC 

DREAMINGS

Of late I have been daydreaming of opening a real storefront...a little boutique in an old brick building with wood floors and a tin ceiling.....
I think I would like to see my clothes on racks with the sun shining through large front windows and a large antique table filled with bits and pieces of old lace and tattered fabrics..Yes..I do think I shall have to daydream a little harder.....

GREAT NEWS.......

Hello My Lovelies......I just had to let you All know.....that Prairie Child Design is soon to be in it's FIRST publication.....Altered Couture Magazine...has graciously asked me to be apart of their lovely magazine..a four page spread in the next issue...I am so proud and I hope you all will be happy with me.....Thanks..PC

FOUND A NEW HOME.....

I sold these 2 pieces to a repeat client....She loves my work and has purchased from me on several occasions..

The lovely lace blouse is to be worn over a vintage cotton slip and this simple prairie dress. Thanks Ms. K.   

LATEST SALES....

These pantaloons are a custom made pair...I used an old bed sheet and part of a curtain....I added bits and pieces of tattered fabric and lace, lots of vintage lace as well.

This top needed just a touch of the Prairie feel, so I added lots of tattered fabric and vintage lace. The customer wanted the pantaloons to somewhat match the blouse, so I added the same bits and pieces on both pieces.Thanks Ms. D.

A FEW SALES......

This lovely outfit was totally up-cycled. I used part of the blouse on another piece then added a love table runner for the part that had been cut away....The skirt was long and boring...I used some of the hem on another blouse and decided to cut the rest of the skirt to create this lovely asymmetrical hem full of bits and pieces.                                                                         The whole outfit came out beautifully.  

 This mini bustle turned out wonderful...I showed the piece with lovely vintage broaches to give an idea of how to wear it...It can be worn in the front like an apron, in the back like a bustle or as a cape to be worn over that special prairie outfit.....

 This sweater is a small so I turned it in to a prairie bolaro  ....and I added several pieces of doilies,  ribbon and vintage mother of pearl buttons....

...JUST A FEW PIECES THAT FOUND A NEW HOME.....

This beautiful dress started out as an old sheet...I added lots to vintage lace and loads of bits and pieces...

This pair of Taps was a pair of Capri's that got turned into a bit of sexxyness...The feminine quality is surely there.... 

This blouse was bought by a return client....Thanks Ms. K

LATEST....

 Here are a few of my latest pieces to have been purchased by wonderful clients....

This is a tow-sak tote...lovely

This lovely long vest has had much interest.....

This blouse has a single tie at the neckline, to be worn over another prairie style blouse...

 These pieces are my first attempt a coloring my work...and I really love how they turned out....

These two blouses are so much more beautiful in person.....

This lovely long skirt was a custom order...It is to be pinned at the waist and the client has beautiful vintage brooches that she will pin down the length of the ruffle.....I added darts to the front on the outside and then cut them open to be part of the finished design...there is a strip of tattered fabric on the right side that has a tie off the raise and lower the hem.....It is so beautiful.......