This thing is finally DONE!  Well, okay, it has been done for some time.  Rather, I should say it is ready to meet the world.  For some reason, once I was finished knitting it, it took a while for me to get around to blocking it, and then an even longer while for me to get photos.  But here it is!

I made this from two skeins of Ultra Alpaca in the Candy Floss Mix, with just a small ball of yarn left over.  So, to be safe, I’d say you could do this with 420 yards of worsted weight yarn.

As you may have guessed, this pattern was inspired by those lovely purple thistles so often found on the prairie…

Want to knit this?  The Thistledown Stole pattern can be purchased for a mere $5 at the Sugar Pickle Knittery–what a bargain!  ;)

For those who may not know, my mom (a.k.a. Puff) makes and sells the sweetest ceramic creations at her online shop, justpuff.etsy.com.  She’s had the shop for nearly four years now, and it’s high time she got a facebook page, too, don’t you think?

She also has a brand new owl bank coming out soon, which she will post once it’s ready (these aren’t the horned owls already posted, but a completely new design.)  I am not kidding–I’ve seen these things, they are PRECIOUS.  You’re definitely going to want to stay in the Puff loop.

Click here or type in facebook.com/justpuffhandmade!

As always, my pre-spring jitters are being accompanied by a love of pastel colors. Cheerful but gentle, I think these washes of hue are perfect for the season where things are starting to grow anew.  And, they make me want to make things!!

I think the snails might be my favorite.  I am also surprisingly pleased with the little heart.  The folksy beets didn’t turn out quite as I expected…

If you want to carve your own stamps, pick up some carving blocks and a linoleum cutter–but be careful, they are extremely sharp!  (Probably not a good project for children.)

I am finally having another giveaway.  And I really, really love this piece!!  It reminds me so much of Spring..

This bracelet cuff is made from silk, muslin, brocade, and has been hand-beaded and embroidered with some lovely, delicate beads.  And don’t you just love the button on this thing?!  I do.  (Of course, it’s vintage.)

But how exactly does one enter this contest, you ask?  It’s so simple!

1. Go check out my fan page here.  (Or go straight to facebook.com/prairiesque.)
2. “Like” the page (by clicking the button at the top that says “like”!)
3. And leave a comment on the current profile picture!

That’s it!!   The giveaway will run from now until Saturday, January 21st.  A winner will then be drawn using the random number generator.  Good Luck!!

Last week during a small day trip around south central Kansas, I discovered an awesome little gallery in the town of McPherson, right next door to one of my favorite yarn shops, Oh Yarn It!  (Needless to say, I picked up a little bit of yarn, too…)   The Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson (VAAM) Gallery is located at 223 S. Main Street in the Opera House and was a very pleasant, albeit unexpected, stop on our trip!

Jeannette Seger, one of the artists who contributed to the gallery, was there to show me around.  She is the creator of this lovely drawing…

And of course, I couldn’t help but get myself a little something (which I will share later!)  I would highly recommend stopping in if you’re in McPherson–there were tons of gorgeous originals, prints, and artisan crafted items like handwoven shawls, jewelry, pottery, all of a very high quality.  I love finding hidden treasures like this!

I also hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas.  Mine was nice and peaceful, which is exactly how I like it.  The weather has been glorious here.  After church, we went for a walk around one of my favorite places by the river and visited the Keeper of the Plains and the war memorial honoring the American Vietnamese who fought to resist the Communist aggression…it was so lovely!

One of my favorite gifts I received that day was a gorgeous necklace (handmade locally, of course!) featuring a vintage glass cabochon with a faux watch face…I don’t know why, but I just love fake clocks.

Necklace: Bella Luz
Jacket: Lucinda’s
Blouse: vintage

Later on we visited the farm and our sheep friends…

…then back home to relax, which, of course, meant looking at all of my new books!!  (I got quite a few.)

I love this little break at the end of the year.  It feels like a great time to re-focus my energy, and inspiration seems to be coming at me from every direction.  (Um…let’s hope that lasts into the new year.)  ;)

My studio is, and has been, for some time, a complete disaster.  I’m in the process of organizing and cleaning it up a bit.  Last week on my facebook fan page, I promised a giveaway to celebrate my 1,000th sale on Folk.  Once I get a little more order in the studio, the giveaway is ON!!