I did this last fall and had LOTS of interest in placing preorders for Spring 2010 outfits. A few reasons to preorder:
I realized that I have left out lots of details about the store, Sweet Dreams Designs, trunk shows, my trip to Quilt Market and lots of other things that some may be interested in reading. But it seems that everything is happening so fast and leaving little time to blog about it. So, I'm thinking it may just be best to skip ahead. Maybe...just maybe I'll have time to go back and fill in the blanks!
I have felt for the past few weeks, as I'm finishing up trunk show orders, that I'm kind of spinning in circles waiting for this big change. Like nothing else can happen until I "get this list done". The first thing on that list was moving my mother in law into our home. Not as scary as it sounds! The move went well, and Jeanette and "Miss Kitty" are living in our basement (aka The Mancave). However, the "cave" has been transformed and has turned into quite a cute little home for Jason's mom! The second thing on the list, of course, was finishing up trunk show orders. I had to finish the orders before I could do the big thing #3! The third thing was moving my entire sewing studio to the second floor of the shop!
I have been very anxious to get this done for several reasons. I'd like to be as "hands on" at the store as I possibly can as well as still keep up my sewing for Sweet Dreams Designs and Grandmother's Joy. I can't do that if I'm stuck behind a machine at home. Another positive thing about moving is that it is out of my house! I feel like if I can put myself on a schedule and sew at the store during work hours, then when I come home I can spend time with my husband and be a wife. It would also be nice for my rear end to see my couch cushions once a while! Granted, I'm not much of a couch sitter, since there is always SOMETHING to be done when running a household! But, on occasion it would be nice to sit alongside Jason and watch Thursday night TV!
So, now I am facing a major change in the way I do "business". In order to put myself on a schedule, that means getting up and getting ready and hitting the road every morning! I'm sitting here writing this in my PJ's at 11am, thinking "what have I done!?!?!?!" lol....
As soon as everything is arranged, I'll post pictures of the new studio. It's not super cute or anything, but I think it will be more functional than my home studio since it is much larger and has built in shelves, an attic, etc. It also has a bathroom, refrigerator and microwave, so I may never have to leave!
Thursday I leave for Houston for the International Quilt Market! I'm a little nervous about traveling all by my little ol' self, but I'm guessing I'll make it there alright! I'm meeting up with a bunch of crafty girls like myself that I have become friends with over the past year through.....TWITTER! Yes, my online friends will come to life this week!
I'm meeting up with Mary on Thursday evening, and then staying with Missy and Liz on Friday and Saturday. Then all along the way, I'll be meeting Patty (who you have all heard me talk about before...pattern testing, fab fabrics, etc), Paula (more fabulous fabrics and some upcoming clothing patterns I can't wait to get my hands on!), and many more great ladies and designers who I can't wait to meet! Oh, and there will be fabric there too! I'm hoping to find the very best to bring back to you guys for upcoming seasons! I'll be bringing my laptop too, so hopefully I'll find time for lots of pictures along the way and maybe a blog post or two! I've been waiting for this trip for months and can't believe it is finally here...making October officially the busiest month of the year.
So, last night when I was writing my blog post about the new store, I had to wrap it up quickly because I was so exhausted. Last night we moved every. single. piece. of clothing from the store's showroom to the upstairs office/storage area. We took down everything on the wall right down the very last nail, and moved it as well. It only took about 3 hours and 5 of us working, but we were all worn out when the process was over.
Today, I have 4 painters doing a total makeover on this place of mine! The colors could not be any more perfect....Bathe and Liquid are the colors, and of course high gloss white as the trim. I debated over the expense of the high gloss, but boy is it worth it....the turn out is absolutely amazing! We are under construction at the moment, but it is already a major improvement over the drab beige flooring & boring cream trim and walls. It truly looks like something out of a magazine! Well, the colors anyway....the flooring still leaves a LOT to be desired. It is old carpet that has seen better days. Right now we have scheduled to install new hardwood flooring on November 1st. I have already purchased the laminate flooring....harvest oak. I can. not. WAIT to see this place after it is installed....talk about a major turnaround!
Next on the agenda? New ceiling tiles, and new lighting fixtures. Maybe can lights & maybe even a chandelier....a baby one or two just for fun! I have spent a bunch on this re-do, but if I'm going to do this, I want to do it right and make it a place people WANT to come shop. I don't want to shop in a drab store. I want to shop somewhere crisp and clean and bright! SO, that is what I'm making for my customers.
I will be posting pictures just as soon as I have something to share! I'll hold off on the "before's" so the "after" will pack a major punch!
I'm here, I promise! But, just barely and only for a minute!
I've been trying to find the time for this long awaited post, but the "spare" moments have been few and far between these days. This particular moment should really be spent sleeping, but I'm in one of those moods where I'm completely exhausted, but too anxious to sleep.
Those of you that keep up with me on the various social networking sites know exactly what I've been up to lately, but those of you who don't have a big surprise in store! Speaking of stores.....
....this one is MINE! Yep, that's right....bought a children's store! It seems like such old news now that it feels silly writing about it. Here's the story anyway....
Ok, so I was looking for a retail location because I had an awesome idea for a children's custom clothing store/fabric sewing store. I won't share the details just in case! lol! I had been on a hot pursuit for this particular house built in the late 1800s...totally beautiful, perfect for what I was looking for. Long store short....it was expensive! So anyway...I had almost given up on this place and I get an email on my phone saying "JUST LISTED" 81 Church Street at an unbelievable price. I rushed down to my computer to see that it was a children's clothing store!
It was a little different situation than I was originally looking for since it was the business for sale and not the actual building. But, I called about it immediately and made an appointment to see it on Sunday (this was on a Thursday). Well, on Saturday I had a show at Ross Bridge and afterward I just decided to ride on over there and check it out. The owner (who usually only worked 3 or 4 days a month) was there. So, we chatted for a bit....I even talked to her husband who kept the books etc. It was a perfect meeting. When I left the parking lot, I called Jason and said I WANT IT! He said go back and make an offer! Wow....really? He was totally into it...which is huge because he is not the risk taking type. SO....Sunday rolls around and I meet with the selling agent and make an offer immediately. By the end of Sunday, we had a deal!
We closed TWO WEEKS LATER! All this and holding trunk shows at the same time. It has been an absolutely amazing journey so far. Something I can NOT believe that I have done. Like an absolute dream! (a crazy, busy, life changing dream, but a dream nonetheless!)
So, for the last month I have been learning lots, sewing not enough, visiting market as a BUYER!, and so much more. Add this to trunk shows, keeping my granddad on Mondays, and trying to be a wife and housekeeper at the same time! Am I excused from not blogging lately?
So, this is a REALLY quick peek into what has been going on "behind the scenes" lately. I'm going to try my best to keep you up to date....I pray to stay busy, but hope I have time for blogging at the same time!
I appreciate everyone's support over these last three years through the many changes that Sweet Dreams Designs has taken on. I feel like this is the best one yet, and very lucky to have my customers - both old and new!
I promise more details to come soon!
LOVE the way this new pattern for Patty Young of ModKid Sewing Patterns turned out! This is the third test pattern I have sewn for Patty. I'm so sad that I'm giving up the opportunity to test two more for her before Quilt Market in October, but with everything going on right now there just isn't time! (More details on that later!)
I had never done pintucks before and Patty's directions made it super easy and what an awesome way to add detail! Heidi Baird and her beautiful daughter Anneli of Emma Saxton Studios did the amazing photography for this set...Thanks to Heidi and Anni and a special thanks to Patty for allowing me to test her patterns again! As usual, I'm in love!
We've been seeing a lot of this little guy lately, and as the season progresses there will be even more to come! Preston had a photo session with Carmen from CBM Photography and she was sweet enough to share this photo of him wearing a Sweet Dreams Designs outfit from the Spring 2009 line! (Wow...seems so long ago since this outfit first debuted, so it is awesome to see it in action!)
Thanks Carmen, and thanks Preston's mommy for sharing this sweet moment with me!
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