A Day In My Life

Personalized Fairy Jars

Hello!  I hope everyone had a great weekend?  I did...I did:)  I spent Friday night at Silkweed's helping out there...what a great success that was!  One of my Fairy Lanterns sold within just a short time of the store opening for the big Holiday Open House:)

Saturday I laid low...cleaned house...made a nice supper...

Sunday nate and I went winter coat shopping after Lauren's Nutcracker pictures.  I so enjoyed my time with Nate, listening to him talk to animatedly about COMPUTER STUFF:)  He really is fun to be around and we each got a winter coat!

Today...I need to get busy sewing again for this weekends craft show...because of the orders I filled in the last two weeks, I literally have nothing for the craft show, except a few fall Fairy jars:)

A couple of weeks ago, I promised to tell you how to go about ordering a "special order" Fairy jar.  Now, special order can mean two things:

1.  You want me to pick a fairy out of all the ones I have, and place him/her in a "home" of your choosing...for instance; fall, beach, snow, etc.  You pick the jar size and style (if I have it) and we find a fairy that fits your needs.

2.  THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR "special order"...YOU share a photo with me of someone you know and I create the fairy jar.  You can still decide what type of setting, jar, price range...etc.  Now, the photo is what is tricky...

A. I need it in Jpeg form if you are emailing it. 

B. Regardless of email or hard copy it needs to be clear...I do use old pictures, but if they are fuzzy...you will have a fuzzy fairy:)

C.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT...the picture can not be just a headshot of the person.  Imagine a fairy in a jar with no body...CREEPY  LOL  At least a portion of the legs need to be in the picture...and preferably two arms:)  If the picture is not a full body shot I can generally make it look like they are sitting or kneeling...or deep in grass...BUT there des have to be some lower body.

D.  I can generally crop someone out of a picture if you only want the one person.

E.  I can usually put up to three little fairies in one jar (large size jar)

F.  Special orders are priced $10.00 over the amount of a regular jar price...HOWEVER for the month of November they will be priced ONLY $5.00 over the original price.  After that, we will be too close to Christmas (only 46 days right now till Christmas!)

G.  They all come with the Maine Forgotten fairy story on the jar...they are named (you choose the names) and they are numbered.

So pricing is as follows for NOVEMBER ONLY...and ONLY through me...not through the stores the fairies are in:

Extra Large  25.00 + 5.00

Large    20.00 + 5.00

Medium     16.00 + 5.00

Small     14.00 + 5.00

extra small 12.00 + 5.00

Lamps    30.00 + 5.00

Lanterns (2 in stock)  30.00 + 5.00

These prices do not reflect shipping, but I just sent out 8 fairies to a customers and shipping was 12.00...so shipping is not a huge amount.

These prices are only good until the end of the month...and also after the end of the month they may not be guaranteed for Christmas.  If you have questions or want to order  Fairies you can email me at MePURSEnalities@aol.com or contact me through the blog.  I will give out my phone number through email if you want to chat about the order:)

And YES...I do do wholesale orders...I will not sell to a store within 20 miles of another store carrying them.

I hope I didn't leave anything out...

Dancingly, Denise

More fairies

I just wanted to show you the two Maine's Forgotten Fairies that I finished up last night after muscial rehearsal.  I LOVE these...they have found their home at Silkweed's for sale.  I have enough lanterns to make two more...did I mention I LOVE them?

as you might be able to tell by the cord they light up!  So that is what I have to show you.

I am excited about Silkweed's open house tonight 5:00-9:00...but before that I am off to a musical rehearsal.

C you soon!

Dancingly, Denise
 

Just a few...

More pictures of what is going on down at Silkweed's...we are in a mess, but by Friday at 5:00 you will never know it!

remember those stockings I was making?

I am headed to relax...EXHAUSTED...between this and the musical...

Goodnight all

Dancingly, Denise

Hell week times TWO:)

It is amazing how, when it rains it pours:)  It happens to be that I have two hats on this week and they are both pretty darn intense:)  By Day I am a "christmas open house setter upper" at Silkweed's...and by night we are stumbling through Act I and Act II of Godspell.  So I leave the house at 7:30 am and get home at 10:30pm...oh and by the way...I must still be the mom...crafter/artist and so much more.  But hey i love it or I wouldn't DO it right?

So yesterday marked the first full day of the close down at Silkweed's to get ready for her open house this Friday night.  This is what the BOSS was doing:

Gives a whole new meaning to DUMPSTER DIVING:)

More pictures to come!

Have a great day...

Dancingly, Denise

Happy belated Halloween...

Halloween was very different for us this year...and it found me reduced to tears...working on fairy Jars all by myself:)  For 17 years we have all been together for Halloween (give or take a few where Scott had to work)...and we have spent the night traveling to Grandparents and special people in our lives "trick or treating".  last year marked the end of that for us as we said Goodbye to my Dad on that day at his funeral:

We knew that that marked a huge change in our Halloween celebrations, but I had no idea how painful I would find that this year.  They say the "first" are the hardest when someone passes away...

Saturday night...halloween...found me BY MYSELF...for the first time in 17 years.  Scott had to work...Lauren had to work...and Nate went with Cody to Fright At The Fort.  I was just not prepared for the emotions...definitely mixed in with missing Dad...missing traditions...and EMPTY NEST:)  But, I had some great friends online...and my pal Lisa and Bobo who called and cheered me up.  I told Lauren how I was feeling and she texted me...we'll be together next year...I knew it was odd for her too.

Now, it wasn't like I didn't have a gazzilion things to do.  I had finished up the linens Saturday morning...this is what 3 dozen placemats, 3 dozen napkins and 1 dozen table runners look like and well over 48 hours of work:

and I had a dozen mittens that needed to be finished and tagged...and a dozen flannel Christmas stockings...and 1 dozen winter/Christmas fairies to be made... Last night I finished the Fairies and here are a sneak peak of a few:

Christmas Eve Fairy (she is sound asleep in front of the tree)

reindeer fairy:

 Ski fairy (this little guy has the most adorbale face):

Snowman fairy:

and a Winter Fairy:

 They all have old-fashioned names and are numbered and ofcourse have the Maine's Forgotten Fairy story on the back...they are headed out of the house today.

Today?  Well, this week I will spend my days down at Silkweed's.  She is closed for the week...we will open back up Friday evening for her annual Holiday Open House.  It willl be alot of hard work this week...but totally worth it when the store is all decorated.  Nights will find me at Musical rehearsals.  This is the beginning of two weeks affectionatly called "hell week".

So I am off to Silkweed's...

Dancingly, Denise

To Dance With My Father Again...

June 16, 1937-October 27, 2008

Dance With My Father Again

Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Spend me around till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
How I'd love love love to dance with my father again

When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me(yeah, yeah)
Then finally make me do just what my momma said
Later that night, when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me

If I could steal
One final glance
One final step
One final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
Cause I'd love love love to dance with my father again...

-Luther Vandross-

I am thankful for...

My StepMom today.  She took such good care of Dad, not only when he was sick, and then dying, but during their life together too.  During his last days SHE had to make all the tough choices...and during his sickness SHE was the one who picked him up when he fell, or held him while waiting for the ambulance.  We believe we have the best StepMom and BOBO we could ever ask for.  We Love You!

Denise, Scott Lauren and Nate
 

Be back...

In a couple of days.  I am working on projects for this weekends craft show...in Newport at Nakomis Highschool.  among other things;)

watch for my post in a day or two...

Goodnight...

Dancingly, Denise
 

It's Just A House...

To some it may be just a house...but to many it is so much more.  I haven't really talked much about Dad and Bonnie's house since we put it up for sale in April.  The whole experience has made me so sad...mostly that we have a need to sell it at all...for you see if Dad were still with us it would not be for sale.  We are very close to having it sold...with the house signing scheduled for Friday afternoon.  The people buying it are very kind and I hope it is the perfect house for them.  But still it makes me sad...

What I love about my kids and husband, is that generally if one of us comes up with an idea...we all just go with it.  Oh we might put our two cents worth in...and change things around...but rarely does one of us say "boy that's dumb".  Because of this it is no surprise that the Perkins-Fields family had a pizza party in Dad and Bonnie's house tonight.  Okay, I admit...Nate was a little concerned about the "what if we spill something" factor...so we put a table cloth on the floor...and Lauren was not thrilled about sitting on the floor to eat...and Scott downright refused to sit on the floor...but beyond that it all worked out pretty well.

We had pizza and chips...in honor of pizza being a food Dad loved to eat on occasion...and when he was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer he wasn't able to swallow it any longer:

And then Nate thought we should have ice cream cake...that is what I made for Dad's birthday last year.  Unfortunately we didn't think of it in time for me to make it...so I bought one:)

Nate spent some time doing two of his most favorite things when he is there...sliding down the hallway (needs to be waxed:)

and ofcourse...RINGING the DOORBELL:

But mostly...we sat and talked about our days...and said goodbye to Bobo and Buppies house, each in our own way.  We will remember sliding down the hallway...how quiet it is there,,,how peaceful it always was...we will remember me walking down the hall yelling "honey I'm home...what's for dinner", we will remember it was a haven when we were in pain...and a riot when Bobo and Buppie were picking on each other.  I will see the image of dad dancing down the hallway and into the livingroom during Lawrence Welk ( I guess he did that alot...I saw it once and thought it was adorable)...we will remember the kids as babies there...their Christening parties for Lauren and Nate...there is so much we will remember...and others will remember...and I hope as time goes on...as we drive by and see the flag waving proudly...we will be able to smile and say remember when...

Goodnight

Dancingly, Denise (whose baby girl also had her senior outdoor pictures taken on Sandy Point Beach today:)

Looking Back...

A year ago (to the day) I wrote the following on my blog...even then...I do not believe that I "knew" that within days, my dad,my hero...would be gone.  I am so thankful that I have my blog to look back on...it made me incredibly sad to read it...but reminded how very sick he was...and that yes, he was dying right there in front of my eyes...this is what I wrote (an in less then 10 days he was gone):

Back to the hospital... October 19, 2008

Dad is back in the hospital.  Tonight at about 5:30 Bonnie and I were getting him out of the bathroom and he collapsed.  We got him down to the floor and my step sister helped keep him sitting up while I called 911.  Their ambulance crew all know Dad and Bonnie...and love them dearly...(it's a small town which really helps) and one of the guys was there in just minutes.

I was truly shaken to the core.  The look of blankness on his face as he sunk to the floor and the incredible muscle shaking right before he went...I can not even describe.  I have seen the shaking before and certainly the weakness, etc...but I have not experienced the complete helplessness of not being able to get him where he needed to be...until tonight.  My Bonnie and Dad have experienced this many many times on this journey.

Dad is scheduled to have a port put in tomorrow morning...so that Home Health care could take care on the dehydration needs at home.  We are not sure now if that will be happening or not, after tonight's difficulties.  He is safe and sound in the hospital right now, so we shall see what he and Bonnie decide in the morning.

I had the opportunity to stay up with Dad most of last night, as he was very restless...and woke up alot.  I chose to sleep in their room on Bonnie's bed...and sent Bonnie to sleep in the spare bedroom so she might get some sleep.  I know it may sound odd to call it an opportunity...and I will admit is was exhausting...just not knowing what to do for him to make him comfortable.  But we "talked" a couple of times... at midnight I decided he had sunk to low in his bed...and told him we needed to get him back up in it.  He said okay and so I sat him up on the edge...stood him up and told him we were going to "dance" our way up the edge of the bed (like the HHC nurse had shown us).  he said okay... then after a few minutes he said "you aren't very good at this dancing thing"  I sat him down...looked him square in the face and said "think of all the money you spent sending me to college to be a dance teacher:)"  He did his little puckered face...I got him laying down and he fell promptly asleep...for a short time.

At 3:30, after helping him up...he sat on the edge of the bed...for about a half hour.  You have to hug him up or he just slips down...but his back was bothering him and he seemed content to sit.  I rubbed his back...At about 4:00 I starting asking him if he wanted to lay back down...or maybe go out in his recliner...or did he want some medicine.  Then I stopped...looked at him and said "or is your daughter asking waaaaaay to many questions for 4:00 in the morning?" (The thing is is that Bonnie and I have found in the last week that he can only take one question at a time and if we ask him more...he shuts down)  He said "you talk too much all the time not just at 4:00 in the morning:)"

I have some more stories to tell..and am really feeling the need to share them...I just don't want to forget a thing...but for now I need to put clothes in the dryer and try to settle down for a bit.

Thanks for reading...

Denise

 

It is odd and amazing that a year later it looks like we will be closing on his and Bonnie's house.  Within the next few days or weeks I believe.  My heart is so heavy with grief and love for this man...for my Bobo who took such good care of him...and for me, Scott and the kids who miss him so very much.  During the tough times then and throughout this year I have learned a huge lesson in "who you can count on in life...and who you can't"...I learned I have incredible friends...I learned that sometimes nothing else matters except "Showing up" and being there.  I have done things that have been tough for me this year...because I knew it would be helpful or a kindness for someone else.  I have given up on people in my life that aren't "there for me" or my family...I still love them...but I know they are not who I go to when I need help or understanding.  I pray that I have the strength to be there for the people who have taken time to be there for me. I now know that this grief doesn't get easier with time...it gets different...but not easier.  I hope I have become a better listener, knowing that someone could tell me something special about themselves today, and be gone tomorrow. I know that I still react to the squeaky sound of Dad's recliner (with a smile) and agree with the kids that the squeak must not be fixed:)  I know for now that I am sad...but that I have wonderful people in my life to help me get through this.

And for now, I KNOW I need to stop talking.  I have spent the weekend struggling with dizziness.  I so hope it is not a side effect of the LYRICA, because I look forward to some relief from pain that it is providing me.  I am headed to the Drs. this afternoon to see what it might be caused by...

Dancingly, Denise

Dad is back in the hospital.  Tonight at about 5:30 Bonnie and I were getting him out of the bathroom and he collapsed.  We got him down to the floor and my step sister helped keep him sitting up while I called 911.  Their ambulance crew all know Dad and Bonnie...and love them dearly...(it's a small town which really helps) and one of the guys was there in just minutes.

I was truly shaken to the core.  The look of blankness on his face as he sunk to the floor and the incredible muscle shaking right before he went...I can not even describe.  I have seen the shaking before and certainly the weakness, etc...but I have not experienced the complete helplessness of not being able to get him where he needed to be...until tonight.  My Bonnie and Dad have experienced this many many times on this journey.

Dad is scheduled to have a port put in tomorrow morning...so that Home Health care could take care on the dehydration needs at home.  We are not sure now if that will be happening or not, after tonight's difficulties.  He is safe and sound in the hospital right now, so we shall see what he and Bonnie decide in the morning.

I had the opportunity to stay up with Dad most of last night, as he was very restless...and woke up alot.  I chose to sleep in their room on Bonnie's bed...and sent Bonnie to sleep in the spare bedroom so she might get some sleep.  I know it may sound odd to call it an opportunity...and I will admit is was exhausting...just not knowing what to do for him to make him comfortable.  But we "talked" a couple of times... at midnight I decided he had sunk to low in his bed...and told him we needed to get him back up in it.  He said okay and so I sat him up on the edge...stood him up and told him we were going to "dance" our way up the edge of the bed (like the HHC nurse had shown us).  he said okay... then after a few minutes he said "you aren't very good at this dancing thing"  I sat him down...looked him square in the face and said "think of all the money you spent sending me to college to be a dance teacher:)"  He did his little puckered face...I got him laying down and he fell promptly asleep...for a short time.

At 3:30, after helping him up...he sat on the edge of the bed...for about a half hour.  You have to hug him up or he just slips down...but his back was bothering him and he seemed content to sit.  I rubbed his back...At about 4:00 I starting asking him if he wanted to lay back down...or maybe go out in his recliner...or did he want some medicine.  Then I stopped...looked at him and said "or is your daughter asking waaaaaay to many questions for 4:00 in the morning?" (The thing is is that Bonnie and I have found in the last week that he can only take one question at a time and if we ask him more...he shuts down)  He said "you talk too much all the time not just at 4:00 in the morning:)"

I have some more stories to tell..and am really feeling the need to share them...I just don't want to forget a thing...but for now I need to put clothes in the dryer and try to settle down for a bit.

Thanks for reading...

Denise

 

It is odd and amazing that a year later it looks like we will be closing on his and Bonnie's house.  Within the next few days or weeks I believe.  My heart is so heavy with grief and love for this man...for my Bobo who took such good care of him...and for me, Scott and the kids who miss him so very much.  During the tough times then and throughout this year I have learned a huge lesson in "who you can count on in life...and who you can't"...I learned I have incredible friends...I learned that sometimes nothing else matters except "Showing up" and being there.  I have done things that have been tough for me this year...because I knew it would be helpful or a kindness for someone else.  I have given up on people in my life that aren't "there for me" or my family...I still love them...but I know they are not who I go to when I need help or understanding.  I pray that I have the strength to be there for the people who have taken time to be there for me. I now know that this grief doesn't get easier with time...it gets different...but not easier.  I hope I have become a better listener, knowing that someone could tell me something special about themselves today, and be gone tomorrow. I know that I still react to the squeaky sound of Dad's recliner (with a smile) and agree with the kids that the squeak must not be fixed:)  I know for now that I am sad...but that I have wonderful people in my life to help me get through this.

And for now, I KNOW I need to stop talking.  I have spent the weekend struggling with dizziness.  I so hope it is not a side effect of the LYRICA, because I look forward to some relief from pain that it is providing me.  I am headed to the Drs. this afternoon to see what it might be caused by...

Dancingly, Denise