A Day In My Life

My Fiber College Projects

As promised I wanted to show you what I did while I was at Fiber College.  I took FIVE classes.  The first was the knit and Felted slipper class in which i made one slipper...which wasn't bad for a few hours of knitting:

The next day I took a punch needle class using wool rug yarn.  I think this is my NEW hobby:)  I really liked doing it and am just starting to get the hang of it, but I will say the supplies are a tad bit pricey.  The nice thing is I also purchased the hook that I can use with regular worsted weight wool yarn, which i have alot of for my purse felting.  Lot's of scraps so that will be fun to try something with them.  For now, I picked this Santa:

 and this is how much I have gotten done front:

 
And you punch from the back:

 
I purchased all my supplies from the great people at Attic Heirlooms Attic Heirlooms  Such great fun!

In the afternoon of that day I took a wet felting class and made this:

 
Into this (the handle needs to be sewn on):

 
I had done a bit of wet felting last year and a little here and there, but nothing like this.  I love this little purse.  I made a pattern from clear plastic...designed the flowers onto it...added the roving...wet it, flipped it all over...set up the flowers on the other side and then began the process of wet felting.  It was so much fun, a little messy and here is the cool thing...the sheep whose wool I used for the base of the purse, his name is ROMEO how cute is that?  I am very excited about making some more items and have some more of Romeo's wool to use on them!  Watch for them in my Etsy shop, on here and at www.dancinglydenise.typepad.com/mepursenalities

On Saturday I took a class and made this:

 
and this:

 
and guess what the organizer fits inside of the bag:

 
AND here is something even greater, they are both made out of PLACEMATS!!!!  Placemats, can you believe it?  I am excited to make more of these too, where oh where will I find the time?

On Sunday I took a class in painting on silk.  I enjoyed the class, I like these two sun catchers I made, but I am not really sure it is a craft I will take up. 

  
 You know when you try something and it just doesn't feel like it is for you?  Well that is how I felt.

This weekend is full of family stuff and preparing for craft shows coming up.  I will be in semi hibernation mode for the next week and then in complete hibernation mode soon after.  I have a great deal of items to make for orders and for my shop and the craft/art shows.

See you soon!

Dancingly,Denise

Fiber College In Searsport ,Maine

I am so excited, I am all signed up and ready to go for this:

FiberCollege Home

I start tomorrow morning with a class to knit and felt wool slippers!  I also have classes in needle felting, wet felting,rug hooking and sewing this weekend!

Thia is MY kind of fun;)  I went last year and had a really good time and was worried I wouldn't make it this year (funds are small) but I sold some purses, fairy jars and such and with my money from OLD THINGS I am going!

I will let you know how it goes and all the great things I do!

Dancingly, Denise

OLD THINGS

AS many of you know, I have TWO booths over at OLD THINGS...and antique mall in Orland.  3 floors of absolute awesomeness is how I describe it.  I have one booth full of mish mash, and one booth I call the COSTUME CUBBY and TOYBOX. In my other life, I was a dance teacher, choreographer, and dance studio owner.  For 15 years I lived my dream and then it kind of crashed with the Fibromyalgia diagnosis. That was 10 years ago and I have held on the all the costumes, music, studio decor, etc...so that is what is in the Costume booth, as well as every toy my kids ever had growing up that they no longer feel any connection with...pretty dresses i made Lauren are there too.  Oh don't worry...being the pack rat that i am I have saved all kinds of things...BUT I am cleaning the three bay garage out...I need to show you pictures of that too...but it is so embarrassing and SCARY!

ANYWAY... I have been lucky to be able to use the store front window two months in a row and so today I needed to go change it out for the second month.  THIS is what it looked like for July:

Sorry about the glare.  It was a ballerinas dream come true!  I did sell more costumes this month then anything else.  People are buying them for the little girls in their lives to create dress up boxes, etc.  I have all kinds of accessories like hats and such too.

So this month...Sharmaine asked if I would make it sort of "old fashioned"(she LOVED the ballerina window, but after a month wanted to change it out so my costumes wouldn't fade)...that was tough cuz my costumes don't necessarily go that way.  BUT I had all these costumes from the Opening Party scene of the Nutcracker and they look like Old Fashioned party dresses...so I created an Old Fashioned Tea party/Wedding (the little bunnies are married:)  It took me alot longer today then I expected, and my poor foot was so swollen...but the final scene was well worth it.  I hope it brings in more sales this month...here it is...

These are just a few of the old fashioned dresses I have...different sizes from child to adult.

 while I was putting the window together a couple from Arizona came in and purchased one of the dance prints I had hanging in the window for the "ballerina window"  it was a 50.00 print (all framed) and I had 25.00 on it...hey that is half my rent for one of the booths for the month!  YAHOO!

A close up of two teddies enjoying their picnic...the glass greenware is gorgeous...but I have had to let go of some of it (not enough room)...I have a beautiful collection that my Aunt Ann has given me over the years.  Look at the little paper napkins with rings on them for the bears:

 

 
and here are the guest of honor:

Everything is for sale (by the way.

Here is another guest:

 Hey, guess what!  i sold two of the purses I showed you yesterday and I didn't even have time to put them on ETSY!  I sold this one:

and the little green one in this picture that i didn't show you a close up of yet (it needs a button):

I do sell them a bit cheaper if you catch me BEFORE I put them up on Etsy...once they are up there I have Etsy fees, Paypal fees...before they go up I can take a check...wait till it clears and get it sent out to you...(I can also take Paypal).

I am still excited about the www.ultimateblogchallenge.com

I am posting on my business blog too over at:  http://dancinglydenise.typepad.com/maine_pursenalitiesand_mo/

Enjoy The beautiful day!

Dancingly Denise
 
 
 

Welcome August!

I don't like to wish the summer away...but I do like the cooler nights that August usually brings.  I have tried hard to no complain about the heat this summer,cuz i know all to well that the COLD will make me downright fussy!  Today is the first day of the ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE! www.ultimateblogchallenge.com and I want to kick it off with a BANG.

As many of you know, I have been in a creative slump...basically since March when the ole' appendix decided to cause havoc and mayhem!  Oh, I have created a thing or two IN MY HEAD!  But I just can't seem to get moving...so my goal was to finish up a couple of things and show them here today.  I'll show them over on my business blog too...which has been gravely neglected!  Maine PURSEnalities(and more) 

I have spent the day, finishing up and working on several felted purses.  They are not all quite done, but some are now ready to add to my etsy store www.dancinglydenise.etsy.com.  What is AMAZING to me, is that they have all been "almost done" since FEBRUARY...but I just truly got stuck.  I am hoping that TODAY is the start of my creative unstuckness (is that even a word?)  Unfortunately, other than making sure the teen boys in the house got fed, I have done absolutely nothing else, but work on these purses.  The dishes are piled, the laundry needs folding, I need to iron a bunch of costumes so I can change out the window at OLD THINGS tomorrow and NOW I have to clean up all the wool I got out to needlefelt the purses, and all the yarn I got out to sew them up...and all the doodads and thing-ma-bobs I got out...that is the part of creativity I haven't found a way to enjoy...CLEANING UP!

It still amazes me how I can knit something like this:

or this:

 and with a bit of sewing and alot of hot water they become these:

 

those have been sitting in my kniting bag for over a month now...the white one I am going to try my hand at dyeing...and the pink and brown one need a magnetic closure and maybe a flower?

This one also needs a magnetic closure and maybe a flower or a big button...

 These two I have had all done, just looking very plain janish and needing some needle felting...so i added a juggling snowman and some pom poms to this one:

 and then this one I added a little sheep to both sides.  This is what I call a grab and go purse...just throw your keys, cell phone and some lip gloss in it...oh and don't forget some money:)  and GO!

and here they all are together...a days worth of work...but I feel so good!  Oh, the little green one I added a couple of needle felted flowers to today...but it is in desperate need of a button!  I think I need to go shopping:)

Now my goal is to get one of these up on etsy each day this week...here's hoping!

See you tomorrow and thanks for looking!

Dancingly, Denise

Thankgiving is upon us!

And so is the housecleaning!

No...I really wasn't throwing out the cat honest...I FOUND him there:)

I wanted to let everyone know that ALL of my felted purses are on sale at ETSY this week only!  It is their big holiday sale and I decided to go along with it.  I have lowered some of the purses to half off...check it out at www.dancinglydenise.etsy.com. These prices are ONLY good through ETSY and only until Cyber Monday.

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  I have chocolate covered pretzels...rolls rising...I think I am ready.  I am in the process of washing a 1/4 of my dining room carpet at a time 9no place o put the furniture)  I washed the part that the tree will go in tonight, so we can put the tree up this weekend.

I have been agonizing on poor Lauren's birthday.  She will be 18 on the 12th, and with Nutcracker schedule, Scott's work schedule...etc...we seem to not be able to fit in her spaghetti meal and cake and icecream with family and friends.  So, tonight I finally had her and Scott look at the schedule...I was right, NO TIME!  So this year we are waiting until December 27th.  This feels VERY weird...but if we wanted to do it "right" we had to wait.

By the way I have a second blog:)  It is dedicated ONLY to items I make for sale...so if you are interested it is here:

 Maine PURSEnalities(and more)  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Have a great day tomorrow and remember to be THANKFUL!

Dancingly, Denise

Craft Shows...

So...for the next few days, I may be slightly missing in action as I prepare for the first craft show that I have done in years.  I am planning on doing two this season...before the Nutcracker performances start.  The first one is next weekend (saturday).  So far I have all my knit/felted purses that I will be taking.  BUT I need to finish up 5 that need some needle felting, etc. I finished knitting these two today...and now that need some decorations, ect:

 I have 32 fairies that need new homes before the craft show on saturday:

I tried my hand today at making mittens from recycled, felted wool sweaters...I am loving the look of it, BUT I need to line with fleece I have decided for added warmth.  As much as I would like to show you a picture of them, my computer won't cooperate in pulling that particaulr picture up?  Weird...

I decided that I shouldn't leave the kitties out, since they were fairly patient and left my wool alone today (for a change:)...so I made them a felted ball with a bell in it to play with...they love it...

I am going to pick up some catnip...make tea from it and soak the ball in it...then they will really love it:)

On top of all this...I need to finish some bracelets (maybe), the wire pumpkins, and so much more.  BREATH!

Oh yeah...and I still need to be a mom...choreographer...dish cleaner, supper maker...etc.

Wish me luck!

Night all

Denise 

I haven't got time for the pain...

As many of you know, I have fibromyalgia.  The thing with this condition, is that a person can look totally fine and functional on the outside, but on the inside the body is screaming.  I was diagnosed with it 10 years ago and I have been worse, and better...and more worse, and "just okay" etc.  But the main thing with this is I have pain every day 24/7.  It is not an exaggeration, I am truly never without pain.  Mine tends to be in my shoulders, neck, upper back and head.  basically, my nerve ending fire and inappropriate times and cause a consistent pain.  Some days the pain is debilitating, most days it is tolerable.  I have tried lots of things to "fix" this.  Took muscle relaers in the beginning and truly could not function as  mother of a 4 year old and 7 year old (at the time)...I owned a dance studio, that was booming with so many students...but the pain was beginning to get in my way.  In the last few years, I have just basically lived with it...tried to get as much sleep as possible, keep hydrated...keep stress to a minimum (ha ha ha).  recently, I have been getting more discouraged cuz the pain seems to be getting worse again...so two weeks ago tomorrow I had a Drs appointment for my cholesterol (not good by the way) and the Dr and I start talking about the fibromyalgia.  He mentions Lyrica...have I tried it?  he finds that some of his patients have good luck with it.  So after a very lengthy discussion I decide I will try it.  It will be two weeks tomorrow and can I say WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LYRICA???  Two days after I started taking it I had my first painfree...no heavy duty ibuprofen day...in YEARS!  Now everyday is still not like that, but atleast half the days of these last two weeks...I have been almost painfree (maybe a twinge here and there)...that's SEVEN days of no pain.  When you have lived with pain for ten years...this is amazing.  I sit and wait for the pain to start and it doesn't.  Today has been a "pain" day unfortunately, but it does not discourage me near as much as I have been for so long.  Now, I will say that there are some side effects...one is fatigue.  For me I seem to be in a pattern of having a day full of energy and then a day of pure exhaustion.  Again, this doesn't seem too bad when I have had days on end of exhaustion.  Some days , now, I feel like I can take on the world...AND I feel so much more creative than I have for awhile.  There are some other side effects that have set in, that aren't great...but hopefully live able...dizziness, tinny mouth, constipation, a little blurry ness a couple of times.  What I do worry about is that other things I have tried for Fibromyalgia have helped for awhile and then POOF they stop working...I am hoping this is not the case with this.  I am NOT a medicine taker...I hate even taking my supplements, but I am feeling good about this...

Now, here is an ice cream sundae for you:

We have these glass sundae cups, that nobody ever uses...and I said to myself..."Self, how about needlefelting a pincushion in it?"  and there you have it...I am going to make three more to put in my craft show coming up.

And then there is this:

What the heck?  Old rusty wire...and I would show you what these little babies are, but I gave the finished one away today to a dear friend.  So you shall have to wait...I will share the link as to where I got the idea also...but for now, I must get to musical rehearsal...

Dancingly, Denise

Fiber Arts Fun

That's my work at the end of the table at the empty chair...and then that's my pals Casey and Angela.  I had alot of fun in this class and was totally inspired to do more when I got home...but more about that later.   Fiber Arts College was great...I was slightly dissapointed in the class I took on Thursday, but not because it wasn't what was described...but more because I needed to learn to quilt and she was teaching how to do the computer stuff (I already was familar with all of that).  Casey and Angela joined me on Friday morning and we did a dry needle felting class...

Saturday I took a ride down later in the day and just walked around and ejoyed all the sites.  By the time I got home...Scott had gotten home from work...was completely exhausted, laying on the bed and I suggested to him that we NEEDED sheep...and he would need to learn how to sheer them so I could use the wool;)  Ofcourse Alpacas or others would work too:)

I feel so inspired after this weekend...so inspired that i stayed up last night working on another felted piece.  I will take a picture and show it to you tomorrow.

In the meantime...Nate has a football game tonight and then I have musical auditions.  Can't remember if I told you that we are doing GODSPELL this year?

And in other news...Lauren auditioned for the Nutcracker on Saturday and got a phone call today that she is in it!  We don't know what she will be as of yet...but at soon as i know I will let you all know!

Dancingly, Denise