When Carol Pyykkonen was a child, she watched with fascination the simple movements of a knitting needle hooking and gliding among colorful threads in a lively dance of dexterity. The beauty produced from the intertwined hues seemed enchanting—like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis—an impression that persisted as she learned to knit, often incorporating beads into her patterns for added flair. Young Carol guided metal and yarn in intricate formations to create works as artful as if she had applied paintbrush to canvas.
When a car struck her bicycle in a life-altering collision, the 12-year-old’s passion was elevated to something akin to therapy. She suffered a head injury and was in a body cast for six months—time she spent expressing herself through her stitchery.
“For me, knitting is a mantra; sewing is a mantra,” Carol explains. “I get so much satisfaction from creating things from my heart. And it makes it so much more special when other people love them.”
The artist’s favorite design was wrought with deepest affection—a keepsake bouquet made for the wedding of her best friend’s daughter. Using vintage brooches, ribbon, and a classic silver tussie-mussie, she fashioned the bride’s stunning accessory, filling in spaces around the jewelry with her signature beading.
Carol spends hours in her home studio in Michigan, crafting pieces often inspired by the romance of Paris or the elegance of the Victorian era and adding a soupçon of originality to keep the compositions ever fresh. She plies her talents under her brand, Eclectic Elusions, embellishing clothing, bridal frills, dresses for porcelain dolls, antique purses, and expressive accessories.
As a design maven, she seeks distinctive accents and source materials. “I never like to throw things away, because I never know when a button or ribbon might be an inspiration for something new,” she notes.
Rather than dwelling on the physical trauma she endured long ago, Carol views the accident as an act of providence, firmly believing she otherwise would not have developed such an intense focus on the hobby that became her profession. “My handwork is very important to me,” she says. “Hours go by, and I don’t even realize it. I enjoy the solitude and the sense of peace that comes over me when I work with my hands.”
Like a fairy godmother, Carol Pyykkonen transforms German porcelain dolls, garbing them in ornate dresses sewn with aged fabrics and diligently applied beadwork. Personalized passports made from fabric and charming accents are works of art to be treasured.
“For me, knitting is a mantra; sewing is a mantra,” Carol explains. “I get so much satisfaction from creating things from my heart. And it makes it so much more special when other people love them.”
