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...
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
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...
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, 25 November 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
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!
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!
Monday, 21 November 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Mitaines
Made some mittens today for the shop - fingerless. The mittens, that is... There doesn't seem to be a translation for fingerless gloves, or fingerless mittens. If you know one, let me know!
The pattern is by an old friend of mine - Sandra Buckley - she sells her pattern on Etsy - her shop is called Bijou Boutique.
Apart from making fingerless mittens, I have baked some cheese and herb scones....
...and even cleaned a couple of windows!
The weather has been warm today and I haven't needed to light the wood burner at all. Maybe in a few millenia, we'll be eating Christmas Lunch on the beach like my Australian friends! (Or more likely round the lake, as it takes about 2 hrs to get to any beach from here!)
Yesterday I made some cacti - see my other blog for details - and I've published the pattern (FREE) on Ravelry. It's not exactly going like wildfire, but there have been a few downloads.
The pattern is by an old friend of mine - Sandra Buckley - she sells her pattern on Etsy - her shop is called Bijou Boutique.
Apart from making fingerless mittens, I have baked some cheese and herb scones....
...and even cleaned a couple of windows!
The weather has been warm today and I haven't needed to light the wood burner at all. Maybe in a few millenia, we'll be eating Christmas Lunch on the beach like my Australian friends! (Or more likely round the lake, as it takes about 2 hrs to get to any beach from here!)
Yesterday I made some cacti - see my other blog for details - and I've published the pattern (FREE) on Ravelry. It's not exactly going like wildfire, but there have been a few downloads.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
l'Heure Bleue
I have to confess I did nothing in the shop today except remove a cupboard handle so I could mend it at home, and take in some dusters and polish. I did go and look at a brocante in Rancon to see if there was anything going cheap that I could use for display, but, of course, there was nothing. The shop is half-empty because I have no more items to display stuff on. Still, at least that gives me room to put out a table on which to do my classes, if I ever get them going...
But I did take some pictures in Le Dorat - as I came up to the square from La Petite Fontaine, the outline of the statue was so stunning, I just had to take a photo...
...and when I reached the square itself, it was like something from an old movie...
The French call this twilight time l'heure bleue, which is so descriptive!
But I did take some pictures in Le Dorat - as I came up to the square from La Petite Fontaine, the outline of the statue was so stunning, I just had to take a photo...
...and when I reached the square itself, it was like something from an old movie...
The French call this twilight time l'heure bleue, which is so descriptive!
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Painting and Preparing
I finally got to the shop today to paint the interior. It badly needed it as, during the art exhibition, things were stuck on the wall and brought off spots of paint when they were taken down...
...also, the paint needed freshening up, as it is an old building with stone walls and the paint tends to discolour over time. Now, though, it is sparkling white!
I spent most of the day there and, after the painting, put up a few bits and pieces, including some Christmas baubles...
...and tried displaying some of the brooches and tree ornaments on the welsh dresser...
There's no point in doing too much at the moment, as Pete will be in on Monday to fix a heater and work some magic with the front door so that the rain and snow doesn't come in. He'll also fit a new pane of glass that was broken last summer. When all the work is finished I can arrange the window properly - adding a pretty tablecloth for example, and bring in other bits for display. At the moment the window looks like this...
...just to keep people's interest and show them that something is happening!
From the outside it looks quite pretty too.
...also, the paint needed freshening up, as it is an old building with stone walls and the paint tends to discolour over time. Now, though, it is sparkling white!
I spent most of the day there and, after the painting, put up a few bits and pieces, including some Christmas baubles...
...and tried displaying some of the brooches and tree ornaments on the welsh dresser...
There's no point in doing too much at the moment, as Pete will be in on Monday to fix a heater and work some magic with the front door so that the rain and snow doesn't come in. He'll also fit a new pane of glass that was broken last summer. When all the work is finished I can arrange the window properly - adding a pretty tablecloth for example, and bring in other bits for display. At the moment the window looks like this...
...just to keep people's interest and show them that something is happening!
From the outside it looks quite pretty too.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Chez Penny is Re-Opening!
Watch this space for the latest on what is happening as I get the shop ready to re-open next week!
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