The Dooking Weasel offers diverse products to meet local need

SEELEY LAKE – "For as long as I can remember I've endeavored to make things I either didn't have, couldn't afford, couldn't find or just for fun," wrote Jeanette Roesner, owner of The Dooking Weasel, in an email. "I've been an artist, author and seamstress all my life."

Roesner opened The Dooking Weasel in January. She looks forward to offering handmade custom crafts, toys, embroidery and books as well as providing sewing services including mending and alterations to the communities of the Seeley-Swan valley.

Roesner has always been compelled to tell a story, making picture books before she knew how to write.

"Writing has always been my first passion," said Roesner.

When Roesner was 12 years old, she used her grandmother's sewing machine to make stuffed animals and do minor clothing alterations. Four years later she graduated to making prom dresses for her friends. She made her own wedding dress last October.

"I enjoy doing things as much by hand as by machine," wrote Roesner who has also made several quilts.

In 2012, Roesner moved to Seeley Lake. She followed work wherever she could find it and kept sewing as a hobby which paid for itself. She had no official name until she started going to the local farmer's markets.

"Once I realized how high in demand my basic sewing services were, let alone the demand for customized projects, I decided to give things a test run," wrote Roesner. "Positive feedback gave me the confidence to tackle this undertaking with a grander plan in mind for the future."

Roesner opened "The Dooking Weasel" in January as the sole owner/operator. Her husband Joel helped choose the name that was lovingly inspired by their ferrets. Roesner explained dooking, pronounced like it's spelled (Doo-King), is the sound a ferret makes when it's excited. And since a group of ferrets is called a "business" Roesner said it seemed fitting to name her business after their fur-babies.

Roesner hopes to provide a much-needed set of services centered around customization. Ultimately, Roesner hopes to run a financially stable craft business from her home making The Dooking Weasel her only occupation that provides for her family well into her retirement years.

The Dooking Weasel offers a variety of products and services ranging from stuffed animals, cloth rag dolls, quilts, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, clothing mending or alterations, wire wrapped creations including beaded butterflies, dragonflies and Christmas spiders and books.

Roesner has published "Chimera Academy: Legacy," book one of five in a young adult spy novel series. She has other books that she hopes to publish soon. Her books range in genre and age just like her sewing and other craft projects.

"I like variety. As an artist that's how you keep creativity flowing by experimenting and doing lots of different things," wrote Roesner.

Roener is also open to selling patterns and/or teaching classes for people interested in learning to make their own crafts. In the near future, there will be a binder available at Deer Country Quilts filled with pictures of completed products that people can order. Roesner said she will accept custom orders, mending and alterations at her own discretion serving customers on a first come, first-served basis. She tries to guarantee that her toys and other children-related products will tolerate average abuse and usually offer the first minor repair on anything free of charge.

Roesner sees many advantages with her new business including choosing her own hours, sourcing materials, procedures and creating and/or changing her product line on a whim to better serve her customers.

"I currently work for two different companies where I have to follow strict guidelines for everything," wrote Roesner. "The freedom to choose my own is amazing."

The Dooking Weasel's products are available seven days a week at Deer Country Quilts during their regular business hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and 12 – 4 p.m. Sunday. Roesner works at Deer Country Quilts on Tuesdays. People are welcome to stop by with questions or requests.  

The Dooking Weasel can also be reached via email thedookingweasel@gmail.com or find The Dooking Weasel on Facebook.