Notes from the Patch

It's like living in a rainbow

Okay, all you assistant fabric buyers. You gave me some great advise on what fabric collections you would like to see us carry now that we have a bit more space.

Our color wall has some empty spots and with two fabric reps coming this week I need some help.

I have a question - what tonals do you like? You know, those nearly solid colored fabrics that read like a solid but have tonal dots or swirls or something going on? Is there a tonal line that you go to time and time again - one that you'd love to own a half yard of in every color? There's Dimples by Andover, Marbles by Moda and MixMasters, Quilter's Linen and Fusions by Robert Kaufman to name but a few.

I appreciate your help on this. Of all the fabric buying decisions I make, I like buying for the color wall the least.

Encourage one another,

 

 

Celebrity sighting

Look who showed up just in time for our grand opening party.

Kaffe Fassett!

When I knew we were moving into a bigger store I asked some of you what fabric lines you would like to see us carry

and many of you said Kaffe.

To be honest, I haven't been much of a fan the last few years

until I pulled these gorgeous bolts out of the box and stacked them on the cutting table.

They are stunning.

And many of you must think so too because we have been cutting full collections all day.

Kaffe is in the Patch!

So this brings me to my next question. What other fabric lines would you like to see us carry?

Encourage one another,

Welcome to our new store

Enjoy some photos of our new store. Sorry, the slide show may take a moment to load.

 

Encourage one another,

It's showtime!

My little  bees worked themselves nearly to death Wednesday bringing the last of the storeroom stuff over from the old store, organizing the new storeroom and setting up the classroom. By the time they finally buzzed home for the night the new store sparkled.

I cranked up the stereo and stayed to work on some last minute displays and to take some photos to share with you. As pretty as the store looks in the daylight I think it is absolutely magical at night.

But you'll have to take my word for it because as I packed up to go home I accidentally locked my camera and my office keys in my newly keyed office. Yikes! I'll be calling the locksmith first thing  this morning because everything we need to run our cash register is in that locked office and I have a feeling from reading your comments, we just may have a few visitors for today's grand opening. = )

This whole move from inception to completion has been an amazing experience for me. Everyone has worked so hard to make it happen - on time.

The shopping center owner who insisted on putting in an all new ceiling, those fabulous double doors and then last night came the news that he was going to put park benches in the breeze way for the husbands who waited for their wives as they shopped!

Dennis, my cabinet maker who literally and figuratively made the store. Those cabinets are the jewels in this quilt shop. Dennis has worked insane hours to get this done on time and I am forever grateful for that. I don't know if you all know that Dennis is Beverly's husband. She is my talented friend who makes all of the children's clothes that are in the store.There is so much creative talent in that family that it's ridiculous!

Then there are the bees. Those girls who are so much more than employees. They never left my side until the job was done. They slepped and scrubbed and carried and climbed. I could have never done this without them, nor would I have wanted too. We laughed and sang and even danced a few times and they made it fun...as fun as moving 5,000 bolts of fabric can be. I love these friends who work with me every day!

So for the first time in six days I'm going to put on something other than jeans and an apron and swing open those double doors and welcome you all to our new home.

Welcome to Strawberry Patches!

Encourage one another,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some before and after

Here are some before and after shots of our stores transformation. It's amazing what can be accomplished in just two months when like minded people come together with one goal in mind.

Our embellishment center went from this

to this.

 Here's our Minkee Boutique before

and after.

 

This is the front area of the store before

and after.

 The fabric wall before

 

and after.

The back corner before

and now.

Our Kona section

 

and some of our thirties fabrics.

We have one more day before our grand opening on Thursday and there are more areas I want to show you as we get them pulled together along with our classroom.

See you tomorrow,

 

 

Moving - day three

Sorry. No photos tonight. Today was so non stop crazy. I never sat down once (except when my contractor wanted to go over the final punch list and I just sat down on the floor while he talked with me). No lunch breaks, bathroom breaks. Nothing. (Please don't scold me I know better).

My feet are pulsating stumps. I wish we hadn't taken over the foot massage place because I could so use a good foot massage right about now.

We got tons done today though. Several things we did yesterday needed tweaking, but we're good and I'm loving it more and more each day.

One problem though. Since everything is in a new place putting fabric away is proving to be a bit of a challenge. We had a desperate quilter in today that traveled a distance and we just couldn't turn her away. When she left Barbara said she had no idea where the fabric she selected belonged. I said, "Don't look at me, I haven't got a clue either".

Everyone has worked so hard. I have THE BEST team of people helping me and I could have never done this without them. Seriously.

I promise to post photos next time. Now I must hobble off to bed.

Goodnight.

 

Moving day

Spoiler alert. The following post contains photos of the new store.

I snapped some photos as I locked up tonight. We made so much progress in our move today and everyone worked so hard. Kara and Paul, Susan and David, Jane and Marissa, Annette and Brian and Caleb. You guys rock! Actually we all rocked out after Bill got the sound system hooked up. It was great fun.

This was a big moment when the guys brought in the cutting table. Suddenly it felt like a real quilt store.

The fabric really pops on those black shelves. You all will be happy to know that there is lots of room for more fabric.

Look at all of those fat quarters. We've been rolling them for months and there are thousands of them!

This is one of the front windows and some of the gifts we are offering.

Batiks in a rainbow of color.

There should be lots more photos tomorrow. Looks like we'll make our opening on Thursday without a problem.

Encourage one another,

 

The Plan

Spoiler alert:: The following post contains photos of the new store. CeCe and others who don't want me to spoil the surprise, please do not proceed!

We finally have a  plan.

Consider yourselves warned.

WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS NEXT WEEK!

I know. I know. But it is necessary to close for a few days so we can get all of this stuff from here to there and make it look cute when it gets there.

We started announcing the news a few days ago and the panic has already started setting in. THREE DAYS? What will we do for THREE DAYS?!!

We'll get through this people. I promise.

So here's the plan...

We will close the store on Saturday, April 2nd at 5:00pm

and will reopen on Thursday, April 7th at 10:00am in our new location.

Our new store is just a few steps away in the same shopping center, right across the breezeway from OSH - up front, in the big girl seats. You don't even have to retrain your car. When you pull up in front of the old Strawberry Patches and get out of your car you just walk left instead of right.

You'll know you're at the right place when you see these...

Umhumm...THE doors are in. (Cue heavenly music here) 

How do you spell   E-X-C-I-T-E-D?

Encourage one another,