Remembering the Past to Start Something New

Local Draws on Her Fayette County Roots to Launch DIY Studio in Ammannsville

The start of the new year brings all things anew. New feelings, new chances, new dreams, and especially new beginnings, and a little studio in Ammannsville reminded me that sometimes we must remember the past to start anew.

Elizabeth Prichard-Jones is a woman of many titles. Wife, mother, sister, friend, blogger, crafter, designer, and her newest title, craft studio owner has been a long time coming.

“I have outgrown the current corner of my bedroom so my hope for the studio is to create a space where I can dream, create, and document some really fun DIYs and vintage items,” said Prichard-Jones, owner of Country Peony.

Country Peony is a craft blog where Prichard-Jones showcases DIY tutorials focusing on simple and inexpensive crafts. Within her blog, she hosts live video events for various craft companies and has digital products like a wreath-making e-book which she plans on creating courses to go along with. She also has an Esty shop called Country Peony Vintage where she sells vintage-inspired goods and seasonal items. Some of her DIY projects have also been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, and Cosmopolitan.

Prichard-Jones, the daughter of former County Judge Ed Janecka and his wife Margie, always had a love for DIY projects. “My mother whether she was sewing, baking, cooking, crocheting, quilting, canning, gardening dove right in with such ease and enjoyment,” said Jones. “I became her sidekick in these endeavors, and she created a spark inside of me that soon turned into a flame.”

That flame also continued to grow from her father. “My father has a big imagination and he’s always coming up with ideas and he’s always busy working on the farm doing stuff,” said Prichard-Jones. “I remember him saying you’re not an expert at anything but you know a little bit about everything so sometimes you just have to try everything and see what works.”

The studio though is not only about creating for future endeavors but also about creating a place to preserve a piece of Ammansville’s history. “My in-laws owned the property with an old building that was once a grocery store called AJ Cernosek Grocery. It closed in 1965, but for over 20 years it had been a meeting place full of wonderful baked goods, produce, farm goods, and a meat market called Eugene’s Meat Market,” said Jones. “They asked if I would like the wood and I said, of course, so that is what the outside of the studio is from and some of the flooring. The grocery store also had a similar footprint but was not as tall. We just wanted the studio to be really open.”

Renovations of the studio started in March 2021 and she moved in in August this year. “I am still slowly building it out and of course need some more things like a few more pieces of furniture and appliances,” said Jones. Speaking of decor, Jones has purchased a few pieces that may have been in the general store at one point and would also really love to replica the feeling the general store bought to Ammannsville. “I talked to locals and found out more and more about the history of the general store and it was a really cool place because people came to not only shop but to gather and sit and talk while waiting for their meat or eggs. My family’s goal was to renovate and bring this beautiful building back to life,” said Prichard-Jones.

One way she plans to bring the studio back to life soon is to open it up to others to allow them to create and dream too. “It’s so fun and easy. I want to inspire others to do the same so I would love to offer workshops where I can educate people on how easy and affordable it is to create something all on your own,” said Prichard-Jones.

“Some people may ask themselves why don’t I just buy it instead of going the DIY route? Well, I recently made some wreaths that cost me $15 whereas if you were to buy them you’re probably looking at $80 but ultimately It’s a process, and the joy that it brings to you when you’re making it and the pride you get when you can say I made that,” added Prichard-Jones. “I try really hard to focus on the process because with life in general you know it isn’t about the end goal it’s about the journey to get there and really trying to enjoy the day-to-day mundane things. Seeing the beauty in the little things.”

Along with her new studio, Jones also recently released the third collection of her Vintage Quilt Jacket Collection with Kristina Carnes of Ollie & Mags Handmade which first started in the fall of 2021. “I am a collector of vintage quilts. Quilts are very special to me, especially vintage quilts,” said Jones who comes from a long line of quilters. “Both of my late grandmothers, their mothers, my mother, and my mother-in-law were/are all amazing quilters.”

“As a child, I even created a makeshift quilt stand out of a cardboard box so I could quilt alongside my mother and grandmother when they would have their quilting parties or quilt at home. I even won a ribbon for some handiwork that I added to a quilt when I was a child at the county fair. But that is when I stopped quilting and I hope to pick it up when my children get a little older. However, watching the time, laughter, love, sometimes teamwork, and hard work that went into making a quilt was a beautiful thing to witness as a child. Then, knowing that most of the time a handmade quilt was meant for a loved one as a gift was even more special. So, when I go thrifting I always look for vintage quilts because I see the hard work and the story in every stitch, and I love that they are all 100% unique to the creator.”

While thrifting at estate sales or the Round Top Antique Fair Jones started noticing that many vintage quilts were in bad shape. Also, she started seeing a trend on Pinterest of upcycling vintage quilts into jackets. “I thought to myself that it would be an incredible thing to bring some of these amazing and charming quilts back to life, and into a jacket, for all to enjoy,” said Jones.

She already had an incredibly talented friend in mind. “Kristina and I met in college and I was always very inspired by her creative spirit and love for vintage so I asked her and she was on board,” said Jones. “Once I found enough quilts I handed them off to Kristina and she does such a beautiful job of letting the quilts tell their own story and bring them back to life.”

The styles of each are what also make each jacket unique. Jones said, “During our initial brainstorming session Kristina and I decided that it would be fun to create two different styles of jackets to fit our unique personalities, so you have The Elizabeth and The Kristina.”

The Elizabeth style is a more feminine structured fit with a collar and pockets and is more in the pastel color range. The Kristina on the other hand is a more relaxed fit, boho fit, and has an array of colors, patterns, and a softer texture.

You can check out her latest Vintage Quilt Jacket Collection along with her latest vintage finds on her Etsy store and to follow Prichard-Jones on her latest DIY adventures visit her website www.countrypeony. com.

All of Prichard-Jones’s endeavors tell a story of their very own and that is exactly what she wants you to do in the new year, find something in your heart that inspires you and hold onto it into the new year and tell your own story, a new story.