STUDIO SETUP IS COMPLETE!!

Well, I'm finally finished setting up my studio and now I can get back to work creating my giftware again! It's amazing the amount of tools and supplies a person can accumulate over the course of 14 years of operating a business. Yes, I do have a LOT of stuff, and I couldn't get everything into my new studio because it's actually a smaller space than I had before, but I think I did a pretty good job. It's still a work in progress though and as I work in there I'll move things around if I need to. And even if I don't really need to, I know I will move it around anyway because I like change!

Now that I've gotten to this point, there is still work to do. There are boxes to re-label and new stock lists to create. And then there's the dreaded inventory to take - but at least I know where everything is now! Hey, I even found things I forgot I had, so even though it's been a lot of work moving all this stuff, it's been helpful too. Nothing like a move to make you get organized!

Trying to fit all this stuff into a smaller workspace was a challenge. Some of the storage items I've used in the past just wouldn't work in here, so I had to improvise. That's probably what took the longest getting this space set up - having to keep changing things around because my original set up idea had to be modified a few times. I even changed rooms after I got started because this room was a bit larger! Ugh! Now that I've finished it I think this will work out good for now though, but I guess time will tell!

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

Mission Accomplished...Move is Complete!

Our move went well and we're settling in nicely here in Kamloops, BC. It is very strange to be living here after spending the last 15 years in the Kootenays, but we are finding that although the "mountains" here don't compare to anything where we used to live, they do possess have their own special beauty.

My studio space is coming along nicely as well (although slowly) and it will be great to get back to creating again, which I haven't been able to do for the past nine months now since we started this newest moving adventure! I also have a LOT of things to re-organize and put away right now but once that's finished I can get back at it!

We are loving our new house so far - it's the newest and largest home we've ever owned (and this is home #5 since 1989). We were really lucky to find it! It is nice to have studio space "in" the house again too. My last space was built in the back of our detached garage and although it was a nice, large, heated space with it's own entrance, I found it hard to be working out there and constantly running back and forth to the house - seems I can't remove the "Mom" hat for even a few minutes! I still have a dedicated room for my studio, but this set up should be more convenient for all of us and I can still close the door and not have to pack my work up when I'm done!

If you've ever moved, you know how challenging it can be. Getting settled in (especially if you have kids), finding where everything is (inside your house and in your new hometown), meeting new people, changing services, etc. When you have a business to move as well, it does set you back a bit, especially when you change cities, because you almost always lose most if not all of your local customers (fair/sale shoppers you've gotten to know). It's really like starting a new business all over again, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at things. I'm a "glass half full" type of person however, so change doesn't scare me. Besides, I'm a Gemini too so I'm changing all the time!! Let's see what changes this move brings!

Happy Crafting!
Cheryl

Ready, Set....MOVE!!!

Well, my studio is all packed up are we are ready for the movers to come pick up our things in another week and move us all to Kamloops, BC. I can't wait to get into my new home and my new studio space and get organized again! I'm a bit of an organization freak so I'm just itching to get all my stuff re-organized - hopefully it doesn't take too long!

Packing up my business after 5+ years in Golden has been a real eye opener...boy, have I accumulated a LOT of stuff in those 5+ years!! Not only supplies but shelving, props, equipment and adding a son to our family almost 12 years after having our daughter!

If you're in the business of creating things to sell you really need to have your supplies and work space available 24/7 so that you can create when the ideas strike you - and you never know when that will happen. There's nothing worse than having an idea pop into your head and you can't find the supplies you need to make it!!

This is actually the second time I've moved my business since we started it back in 1995 (goodness, has it been that long already?!). I know it's a lot of work to re-establish a business in a new city, but I always find that having to re-organize my space makes me so much more creative. I think that "re-connecting" with all my supplies while I'm putting things away just seems to spark so many ideas. I'm really looking forward to the changes!

Don't forget that our website is still open if you want to check out some of the items we carry - just remember that we won't be filling any orders until March 1st. Until then....

Happy Crafting!

Cheryl