Seniors Line Dancing Competition

There were no judges but everyone was a winner. That had been predetermined at an earlier time. The event was held this past Wednesday, August 29th  at the Trussville Civic Center. Four groups from different senior centers were there to show off their line dancing skills.

Among them were the Fairfield Swinging Seniors. They took the stage clad in red long sleeved tee shirts, white slacks, white shoes and white gloves.  They danced to Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Till You Get Enough. Not sure if they planned it that way but August 29th  is the birth date of The King of Pop.


Representing Fairfield ,Alabama



Shepherd's Center East, Movers and Shakers

 Dressed in sleeveless sequined shells and draped with $ earrings and $ medallions the Movers and the Shakers didn't disappoint  dancing to Johnny Kemp's, Friday Night, Just Got Paid. Wearing jackets, positioned with their backs to the audience, two of the dancers threw off their jackets when the music began turned and threw money out into the audience. They were quite a hit with the audience as they performed their synchronization to the beat of the song.


Trussville's Best



Trussville's Best was right at home at their own civic center,  Their performance was precise as they danced to an upbeat arrangement  of  The Tennessee Waltz by Ireen Sheer. To this same music they were performing the Tennessee Waltz line dance. You can see an example of it by clicking the link above. After reviewing the dance I see now why one of the ladies was counting to herself the entire time. It wasn't out loud but I could see her mouth moving.   As most of these groups go there are usually very few men . This group had only one. He held his own and was a credit to the men.



Time Travelers

Men In Black was what came to mind when Time Travelers took to the stage. Outfitted in black slacks, vests,white shirts, ties and sunglasses their dance routine was elaborate and well timed. Dancing to Pit Bull's rap of , Back In Time the dancer's kept their grave expressions in keeping with the Men In Black III theme. Pit Bull mentions in his rap the very outfits the dancers are wearing. Like most rappers his beats are  samples from other artists. I recognized the background music immediately as Peaches and Herb singing Love Is Strange done to a disco beat. The song has been done by other artists  but the one done by Peaches and Herb's  is most memorable to me.

After all of the presentations the audience was to vote on who they thought was best. As mentioned before the MC stated that all groups would be part of the Master's Games that will take place in October . As the votes were tallied dancers and audience were invited to line dance to a variety of music.

Here's my first attempt at uploading a video. It's 59 seconds long.

THAT'S IT***

My First Craft Showing



Unable to have the banner I'd designed in Publisher, printed at an office supply store, I resorted to making this one around 11:00 pm, the night before my display.



I'VE  BEEN FREQUENTING THE  East Lake Farmer's Market (ELFM) at East Lake United Methodist Church. . From a previous post you will know that I subscribed to picking up a half basket of fresh fruits and veggies as well as homemade goodies every other week. This week was different in that I got to display my own craft items. This  is something I've wanted to do for a long time but couldn't get up the nerve. I enjoy being in the company of others who craft. I found it at ELFM. I was not so much interested in making money as I was getting up the gumption to actually get out there and experience the craft vending world.      

            

Most books I borrow from the public library but I was so impressed with, The Handmade Market Place by Kari Chapin that I bought it. It is chock full of worthy information and tips. It seems that every question I had was answered somewhere in her book.

ON WITH THE SHOW



A table showing my wares.



yellow tie dyed tee shirt scarf with matching yellow beads.

Here is one of my 4 cardboard models. As stated I "reuse and redesign  with discards." I found these photos in  a 2nd hand shop. They'd been taken from discarded photo albums. I was looking for vintage photos and found what I wanted. I took the head shots to Staples and had them enlarged. I then asked and was given cardboard boxes from a car parts warehouse (They have the best boxes, Sturdy and clean) and cut out the shapes.   The initial inspiration for the models came from  Bea Graansma and Carolina Gonzalez .

 

All neckwear comes as a duo. A tee shirt scarf with an accompanying  vintage necklace or a tee shirt necklace.
The lighted compacts in the forefront have vintage photos also.



**BTW All of the photos I used are from a secondhand store. I don't know any of these people. 



Neckwear doubled

 

White tee shirt  scarf worn with a decorative pin.

The neckwear can be worn together or separately. Most lengths are in the 30+" range. It can be worn long or short by doubling the necklace and scarf around the neck. Wearing it with a brooch  or pin would be nice also.

I only decorated 4 compacts. To see a close up of the others click the photo of the table above. I sold three of them. Below is a closeup of the first one to sell.




This is the backside of one of the lighted mirror compacts

 


This is the front side of the compact. I used lace, photo and cut outs from thrift outlets. I call this one "Saturday on the Town."



I didn't have a picture of the pink one showing the lighted mirror when slid open so
this is  "On the Beach".   Slide open to use the mirror. Slide the cover farther down to use the mirror lighted.





This is Lois whom I met weeks earlier. She gave me the info on who to call to get the "hook up" to be a vendor. We shared a booth this past Saturday. I was facing north and she was facing south. Look over her shoulder and you'll see my table behind her.



I am proud of myself for finally getting out there and trying it out. I'll be there again next week.

THAT's IT***

Fruit & Veggie Haul

These are the fresh veggies that were in my box from the East Lake Farmer's Market this weekend. Tomatoes,squash,purple hull peas, green beans, redskin potatoes, and peaches. This is plenty for me. I'd been picking up every week but had to change that because it was more food than I was getting to. A half box is $15 which is what I get. A whole box is $30.  Supporting local farmers and crafts people is my goal as well as getting fresh food when so many places have been deemed fresh food deserts.

Also included in my box was a pan of homemade rolls. I ate three of them yesterday topped with homemade strawberry jam that was in my last box.

The market will discontinue in October. Since I've been picking up the fresh veggies, I've been eating healthier. That's not to say I've abandoned fast food , but I seem to do it less often and at times  I find the fast food tasteless and unsatisfying.  

In addition to fresh food, various crafts people have their wares for sale. I've bought handmade earrings from one of the outside vendors and purchased items from inside the church's thrift store in the past.

Yesterday, I had to have these colorful hand embroidered kitchen towels. The photo doesn't do justice to the precise stitches used to form the images on the towel. The craftsperson told me that the towels were purchased and are part of the Martha Stewart collection but the images are hand stitched. The fabric seemed to be a mixture of linen and cotton.  The colors and borders as well as the handwork would make a cute sundress for a small child.  On the other hand who'd want their child wearing a casserole dish, teapot or drinking glass. It was just a thought.

THAT'S IT***