Changing the Displays

I've spent all day today changing the displays in the shop.  Not a stitch of knitting did I get done! I re-priced some items, moved things around, and added some new stuff.

I took all the table linen off the clothes horse and put on the scarves and fingerless gloves...

I moved things around on the pecanwood shelves...

...and changed the display on the welsh dresser...

I moved the old Royal typewriter up from the floor and made a display round it on the little card table...

...put a basket of teddies and other things on the toybox with the Asterix books...

...and changed the shop window radically.  I put in some bootees that had already been in there, but on some shelves and not really noticeable, and added a display of buttons.

I also gathered up all the little crochet flowers and put them in a crystal rose bowl...

I've made most prices cheaper, although not the half-price they were in the sale.  I hope the new display will bring people in, I haven't sold a thing for days now...

Christmas Update

Every time I go to the shop I take a box or two of things....  there's so much there now that I'm running out of space, so I think I can't take anything else.

I've put new stuff in the window...



...including some tea cosies...



I've added more stuff to the Welsh Dresser...



...and the French Dresser (Vaisselier)...



... and hung more things from the beams.



In fact, after I took this photo I hung up some more bunting!

All I need now are the customers!

December Update

Gosh - December already!  I can hardly believe it.  Anyway...

Today was NOT busy - in fact, one of the most NOT busy days I've had!  A few people came in, and made lovely comments, but no-one bought anything!

I decided I would do a bit of housekeeping - vacuum the carpet, move things around a bit, change the window...




Somehow, I think it looks a bit boring...

I moved the doll in the high chair further into the shop...



...and the clothes horse with the linen on to a different area of the shop...



Now there's more space in the front area of the shop, which I hope will encourage people to come and look round.

Boxes of Delights

I've been unpacking some of the boxes from England and found some Kaffe Fassett Colourscape yarn.  I decided it would make a pretty, warm, ripple knee blanket...

Blue Hyacinth

I love hyacinths - love their shape, love their colours, love their fragrance.

Anne bought me a blue one last Wednesday, the opening day of the shop.  When I went in this morning (after four days) it had keeled over on the table.  I cut the flower off and put it in a vase...



...it's so beautiful...

Friday Fun

It was a much better day today!  I actually SOLD some things!!!!!

And my friend Melanie came and chatted to me in the morning and Maarit came in the afternoon!  It's the perfect job - knitting, crochet and chat!

I finished the bunting this morning and put it up outside the shop...



I wasn't totally happy with it, but the people who came in had seen it so I thought it was, at least, doing its job.

However, by the end of a cold, damp day, the bunting triangles had gone all curly and it looked pretty awful!  So I took it down and now am trying to think of a way to stop that happening again.

Opening Day at the Shop

Today was the official opening day of the shop.  No bells, no whistles, no fuss... and no customers!

Fortunately I was able to get in some good crochet time...



(Goodness, I look like the before advert for plastic surgery).

I am making some Christmas Bunting to hang outside (or inside if it's raining) the shop window.  Perhaps then people will know the shop is open.



I also made two of the triangles into a coaster...




It was pretty cold today and not many people even came along the street - one or two looked in the shop and read the opening hours, so maybe they'll be back.  I'm hoping some of the members of my old knitting group will pop in and do some knitting at the Chez Penny table, which is looking pretty good...



My friend Anne came for lunch and stayed until the shop closed, so at least I had someone to talk to!

Ah well - can't be any worse tomorrow and at least I'm getting the bunting done!

Nearly Ready to Open...

Hooray!!!  I managed to find a shelving unit on Saturday and took it over to the shop today.  Polly from the Maison Lapeyriere helped me get it out of the car as it was rather heavy! It is Pecan wood, apparently, but looks like a light mahogany or teak.  It came from the Reclamation Yard in Confolens. Terry was very helpful, measuring everything and getting it in the car for me.

So here it is...



...and, as you can see, I have managed to fill it up quite well!

I spent several hours in the shop today and got quite a bit done, although it's slow going - bringing the boxes down from 2 floors up, unpacking, arranging, pricing etc.  I must admit I'm quite tired now and about to have a restorative glass of wine.

Here are a few pictures to show you how it all looks now.



...it's a bit bare at the back of the shop!  I want to use the table for a knitting group meetings and workshops, so I can't fill up the space too much.



The welsh dresser makes a pretty display unit.  I've had several offers for the dresser itself, but it was a present from my husband, and I love it.

Remember that cactus I made?  Here is what it was for...



...I had this terrarium thingy, with four little pots in.  Not really useful for anything living, but I thought it would be ideal for the cacti!

My friend Anne gave me a garland to go along the front windowsill and it just fits perfectly!



You can see the window display a bit better in this photo...



I'll be back tomorrow and, hopefully, ready to open on Wednesday!