dancing goat studio

february occasional sale - red hot!!!!

2012-02-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

i LOVE romance. i love poetry and love songs, hearts and flowers, candy and cupids, and i absolutely LOVE valentines day!! everything from the shape of hearts and the color red inspire me, and so without a doubt, february occasional at dancing goat is RED HOT!

a fire-engine red, vintage bike hangs from the ceiling at the dancing goat this month. setting the stage for valentines day and hinting at a season of warmer weather, knocking on our igloo doors.

re-purposed fabric is in the spotlight again this month with thrift store clothing that have been re-designed into fabulous re-versable pillows in a variety of colors and textures; such as boiled wool, cable-knit sweater and leather.

book-page heart garland offer a sweet and simple "green" decorating idea alternative and crochet heart ornaments are available for multi-use valentine kistch.

nothing says "be mine" like white chenille letter heart pillows and scrabble tile magnets, which literally spell out your sentiments on a favorite chair or a metal tray chalkboard.

artful heartful valentine giftables are ready for february 14th giving. red velvet cuff bracelets have antique lace detail and romance novel book text quotes to heat up the mood. fabulous jewelry re-mix is all glitz and glamour with rhinestones, hearts, keys and steampunk style aplenty.

and as always, altered book purses are ready made and available for special order, to accessorise your favorite little black dress or gift to someone special. so have a "red hot" february with cheeky style found at dancing goat studio.

quirky pillows with pizazz

2012-01-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

a winter wonderland and some colder weather has finally settled in over minnesota. mornings have found me admiring the hoar-frost on my backyard trees and has triggered an instict to sew. any other time of the year, sewing seems a bit of a waste of time. projects are only completed as a means to an end. but for some reason, winter allows me the luxury of being able to sew, simply for the sake of sewing.

earlier this winter i had the great pleasure of discovering a new clothing-only thrift store in downtown new london. sponsored by an area church, the store has lovely volunteer staff and piles of colorful clothing ready to be up-cycled into something fabulous.

earlier thrift store projects included; sweater pillows, sweater votives and sweater covered lamp shades. i later discovered some gorgeous wool and leather jackets begging to be purchased and re-purposed. the red pillows pictured above are created using an old wool blazer and is embellished with mismatch fabric covered buttons. the pillows also feature jacket pockets still in tact. the other photo allows a sneak peek at projects in process and a view of my messy fabric stash. sooooo many possibilities.

this post is a reminder to myself and my readers, to slow down this winter. allow yourself the luxury of creativity. open your mind to the creative use of new/old materials.

and remember always, to re-use, re-purpose and re-cycle.

"baby it's cold outside"

2012-01-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

almost on cue, minnesota's weather changed from an un-seasonably warm 50 degree tuesday to a "something below zero" wind chill wednesday, just in time for
the january sale at dancing goat.

AND baby it IS cold outside.

dancing goat is rockin the winter blues and snowy whites, with painted furniture and lamps. eco-chic accessories warm up the cool mood, with up-cycled sweater decorating accents.

you will find sweater vases, sweater pillows, sweater lamp-shades and sweater scarves, in shades of beige, aqua and cobalt blue.

skates, ski's and sleds add a touch of winter fun to the decorating landscape, while sweet heart pillows, created from a well worn chenille bedspread, leave spelled-out sentimments around the studio.

as always, the jewelry re-mix display is overflowing with glamorous baubles to dress up your winter day and the book purse selection is well stocked for that special gift buying or splurging opportunity.

foxy crafting with emily

2011-12-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

spent a wonderful evening crafting with daughter emily. i went to bed at 10:30, but she stayed up until after midnight (to finish a second fox) i think she may have just caught the crafting bug. this week i carried home a a stack of new (old) thrift store clothing to de-construct and re-cycle into something new and FUN!! and so the journey begins...

december occasional sale

2011-12-07T04:59:00.000-08:00

more sneak peeks for december occasional sale. open december 8,9,10 from 10am-5pm.

all that glitters for the holidays

2011-12-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

dancing goat studio is putting on the glitz for the season filled with christmas and new years parties. silver and gold, cream and white and a glimmering array of brights and lights, all with a hint of whimsy, fill the shelves and corners of the studio this week. open for december occasional sale thursday, friday and saturday december 8-10 from 10am-5pm.

altered book purse - christmas gift special orders

2011-11-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

checking our list and checking it twice. dancing goat is working hard to fill special order custom purse orders designed by our lovely and creative customers. aren't these fabric and book choices fabulous!!!

there is still plenty of time to design a one of a kind quirky book purse for someone special on your christmas list. over one thousand books to choose from and some cool retro vintage inspired fabrics to make the perfect purse. new this year are clutch purses with a detachable wrist strap and up-cycled leather belt straps on our classic altered book purse.

custom design is easily done via e-mail if you are unable to swing a visit to the studio. just e-mail kim at kwendlandt@tds.net to begin the design process.

vintage santa and other holiday goods

2011-11-10T18:57:00.001-08:00

you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, because santa claus is coming to dancing goat studio! the holiday season is soon upon us and the studio is overflowing with red, white and black elves.

vintage santa is november's occasional sale theme, teamed with berries red, pinecones, birch bark logs and other winter greens.

join us for new london's "home for the holidays" and enjoy a mug of warm spiced apple cider with the goat and some retro christmas deor.

and as always the studio will be decked out with new/old decor staples in aqua blue, harvest gold and avacado green. HO HO HO!

vintage jewelry re-mix

2011-10-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

with the holidays soon approaching the elves at dancing goat studio have been busy creating one of a kind vintage jewelry re-mix for gifting (and keeping for yourself)

a collection of classic rhinestone jewelry and chains are mixed, and then re-mixed with steam punk favorites such as misplaced keys, abandoned padlocks, brass letter stencils, re-purposed watch faces and rusty hinges and with a touch of nostalgia from re-cycled book text and illustration.

trick or treat

2011-10-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

ding dong the witch is dead. which old witch? the wicked witch. ding dong dancing goat is dressing up for halloween in all things shabby, orange and black.

ghostly creams and irredescent whites glow against a backdrop of zombie green and gravestone gray.

as always we have a variety of sumac red, aqua blue and harvest gold tables and lamps to warm up your homes as the fall chill settles in.

join us for a weekend of spooky fun under a hunters moon. open this week oct 13 -15 thursday thru saturday 10am - 5pm.

re-cycled yearbook necklaces circa 1976

2011-09-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

new re-cycled book page necklaces crafted from 1976 black and white yearbook images. LOVE these~

fall festival downtown new london

2011-09-24T06:20:00.001-07:00

early fall foliage color is on display inside and outside at dancing goat studio. how about a plush velvet chair with style to spare in warm avacado green or a shabby wicker chair in sumac red to keep your pumkins contained on your front step. come see all we have and get ready for our scary "trick or treat" theme coming up for october.

squirrely girly

2011-09-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

the acorns have made their noisy descent from the regal oaks surrounding our rural minnesota farm, ushering in the cooler days of late summer. time for a new look at dancing goat studio.

september's 'squirrely girly' theme is a tribute to our own furry gatherers of nuts and their wide eyed owl friends. grey, black, cream, brown and avocado green are the new colors for fall in a mix of textures ranging from burlap to crushed velvet. come in to preview dancing goats latest re-styled furniture or stop in to get ideas of how to re-think and re-fresh what you already own.

retro revival

2011-08-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

dancing goat studio is in retro revival mode. lots of aqua blue, lime green and harvest gold. great colors for taking to that new college apartment or freshening up a stale decor pallette.

cabin kistch

2011-08-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

july at dancing goat studio was crazy!!! summer arrived with hot sun, cool water and a lot of sizzle. our area cabin dwellers are back for the season and being treated to some of the best lake weather we have had around here in a long time.

inside the studio we have been outfitting cottages for the summer, with great vintage coleman coolers, chippy metal furniture, funky upholstered benches, glossy meadow green tables, bright metal serving trays and all things cabin kistch.

many of the posted items are still available and more inventory is added weekly. retro revival theme begins the week of august 10th followed by jewely re-mix on august 18,19.

june sale

2011-06-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

cabin essentials

dancing goat's june sale ushered in a new season of life-style decorating and an ecclectic attitude. the studio has been well stocked inside with a color filled/art-ful assortment of painted furniture, cabin inspired decor, vintage glass and plucky ceramic chickens.

the back door patio is filled with a variety of non-traditional planter options, from chicken feeders, to galvanized buckets, rubber work boots, wooden boxes and wire baskets. perfectly paired with outdoor seating and sizzle.

slimmer clutch book purses

in fashionable center stage are our new book purse sihloettes. the jaunty clutch style is a fresh twist on an already eco-chic altered book purse. the purse sports a slimmer 1 1/4 inch spine and a clever detachable wrist strap.

also new are sweet re-purposed button earrings. at $8 a piece they are a guilt free splurge and a nifty thrifty giftable.

painted furniture americana

2011-06-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

here is a sneak peek at the furniture that will be for sale this upcoming weekend at dancing goat studio. the theme for the sale is garden junk/ americana and will feature all things red, white and blue throughout, along with a wild variety of garden decor junque.

also this week we are introducing "repurpose wednesdays" and will offer a book-arts project using recycled book text and wire. see post under art classes tab for more details.

garden dreams

2011-05-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

no, this is not my garden at the moment, but is a vision of what it has been and will be again soon. dancing goat studio is in full bloom, but my garden at home was lovingly planted on sunday afternoon and hit with frost on monday sunrise. I pulled out this photo and was compelled to post it on my blog as encouragement to myself and my many fellow minnesotan garden friends.

flower power

2011-04-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

vintage typewriter and inspiring text

it has continued to be a snowy minnesota spring and far too many of us norski gardeners have been going crazy waiting for the grass to green and the garden centers to open. BUT inside dancing goat the flowers are in full BLOOM.

dancing goat is an occasional store that specializes in uncycled chic fashions and decor. we are open the second weekend of every month and will next be open the weekend of may 12, 13 and 14. we are also often open be chance, just watch for the dancing goat signs on the sidewalk. other special events on our upcoming schedule include; ladies night out in new london on may 12th and girlfriends night out on may 20th. see blog calendar for details.

come visit soon and see what is new!! also be sure to check out the 'art classes' tab on the top of the page to learn about repurpose wednesdays, funky art classes for girls of all ages!!

swan planter waiting for a cascade of fresh flowers

upcycled chic - vintage plate garden flower stakes -

spring repurposed jewelry

2011-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

after repainting, rearranging and cleaning dancing goat studio, i have finally been able to take time to CREATE! new to the studio is REPURPOSED JEWELRY. most of the chains, beads and crystals used in these designs are recycled from bits of broken jewelry and flea market finds. in addition to these goodies, there are button rings, vintage key necklaces, earrings featuring random faces from 40's era yearbooks, mismatched silk scarves and upcycled slip dresses.

for the garden, dancing goat has been creating recycled glass totems and garden stakes, chalkboard terracotta pots and silverware garden markers.

for the home there is a colorful array of repainted furniture and one of a kind pillows made from flea market fabrics. AND, as always, there are all things rusty, chippy and random to freshen up your home and garden, at guilt-free thrifty prices.

dancing goat is also very excited to show off it's newly expanded storefront spaces. last fall, just before our long minnesota winter, we added a 10X20 back alley concrete patio and new this spring we have spilled into an adjoining classroom/extended ratail space. SO in additional to the green/style designing we offer, there will be a full schedule of upcycled and funky art classes to feed your creative soul. click on tab at top of page titled "art classes" to view spring schedule.

a new beginning...

2011-02-26T05:32:00.000-08:00

spring is a time of anticipation. of new beginnings. although minnesota "spring" is still several weeks (possibly months) out, we winter weary norski's are planning ahead and looking to the future.
dancing goat studio had a great "under the radar" start in downtown new london. I did little to no advertising and refused to allow the newspapers to write stories about who I was and what I was doing. at least until I knew who I was and what I was doing. after my trial start (august - december) I closed shop doors for 2 months for a chance to re-group and basically re-everything.
I am in the process of re-arranging, re-painting and re-thinking the dancing goat studio space. I realized that I need more studio work space and less store front space. I emptied out the studio storage space and took inventory of the flea market finds packed and stacked in there (found some great hidden finds that will be repurposed and for sale this spring) my goal is to be open for "by chance" walk in business by march 1st and then begin my official business hours: mondays 10 - 5 and the second weekend of every month. my upcoming sale is scheduled for thurs-sat march 10 - 12. and, as always, my dancing goat inventory will change out monthly, following either the theme of the season or the whim's of my muse.

The above image is a "before" photo of my dancing goat studio space. I will be adding "after" photo's as I work to ready my studio for spring 2011!!!

dancing goat studio

2010-07-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

dancing goat studio / farm fresh art - vintage modern design, is my new downtown new london studio space. the studio features altered book purses, handmade jewelry, vintage modern decor, retro fashion finds and local art goods. beginning in october 2010 I will be offering surface fabric design classes at the studio. check my blog periodically for class schedule dates and times.

dancing goat studio is open the second weekend of the month thurs - sat from 10am - 5pm. also open some days by chance (watch for dancing goat sign on main street sidewalk)

contact me (kim wendlandt) at kwendlandt@tds.net if you have questions or would like to schedule a privite showing of the studio and design center.

stacks of books...

2009-09-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

altered book purse images - just a few

2009-09-11T20:28:00.000-07:00