Evolution or Creation?

Is there are great plan or is everything just evolving?

Well, you won't get a clear answer from me, because well, nobody really knows?  Maybe the "great designer" is having the same problem I have.

You see when I first looked at the space next door it was clear to me how things would happen: Paint, put up some slat wall, move the yarn and we would be done!  Then I decided to make things more interesting by finding some vintage (cheap) pieces of furniture. We would paint them and mix up the Ikea cabinets and give the whole shop a good shake up.  Kijiji became my friend, I found lots of interesting pieces.  'The Boy' found the perfect cabinet at the curb for free, we now deem it the "Fiber Cupboard".

The plan was to paint them all 'Cloud White', but after getting the space painted one of the pieces told me that it really wanted to be green.  (Okay, it didn't really speak to me, but you know what I mean.)  Then the other piece wants to be painted a warmer tan colour, who knew? Others thought they were beautiful just the way they were.

Everyday, sometimes every hour there has been a new idea, move this here put that there.  Conversations include sentences that sound  like: "Wait there's heating vent and some pipes and that wall isn't as long as I need it to be!" or  "That new piece is should go there, which means yesterdays plan is completely wrong!"

Today's plan: finish painting, do not buy any slat wall and let the space tell me what it wants!

'The Farmer' is such a patient man, as he has heard every new idea, he just smiles and nods his head and says "Whatever you want!"  (He's a keeper)

Tomorrow the Electrician comes, we will see how the plan evolves after his departure!

See You Soon

Joy!

It took a long time to come: having traveled almost around the globe, from Uruguay to Europe to Canada. 'Alegria' from Manos del Uruguay is a new superwash merino, hand dyed ball of Joy!  'Alegria' is Portuguese for Joy!

This little dress is called  'Eileen' and even the largest size (3T) only takes one skein.  Top Down construction makes it an easy knit.  The pattern can be purchased from the shop through our new agreement with Ravelry and the kind designers that sign up for their wholesale agreement.  Win Win for everyone.

Helen could not resist the temptation to knit with this yarn either, she chose a pattern from the 'Hitchhiker' series by Martina Behm.  Trillian is a lovely shawl, garter stitch with a bit of lace edging.  Lovely and squishy.  Joyful!

Another reason to be 'Joyful'...painting is coming near completion.  Just waiting for electrician..then we will be ready to move yarn!

We are excited by this adventure, and for a couple of weeks we will be in a bit of chaos!  (but isn't it always!)

See you Soon.

Vintage finds!

Renovating the new space has been an adventure!  We are finding all sorts of new information about this building.  It was originally thought that the opening between the two stores was created during the 70's.  'Ed', the contractor estimates that the opening was created in the 60's, then opened and closed at least 3 times. 

The previous tenant left the space in pretty good shape, just a new paint colour and a bit of re-wiring and it will be ready for us to move in!  

 

Until then this is our way of making use of some of the vintage patterns we have been collecting!

We have been able to keep the mess to the 78 side of the store, everyday a little more painting gets done!  

A reminder that this is a Knitt'n Night week.  (Wednesday 6 - 8)

See you soon!

Creative merchandising

It begins!

Yesterday Ed finished installing the door and tidied up the tunnel! They found some recycled trim to use around the doorway!  The tongue and groove was there when they uncovered the opening, waiting for me!

 Unfortunately the opening is right behind one of the bigger Ikea bookcases in the shop, there will be a lot of re-arranging to do. 

This is the solution for now.  There is quite a bit of work to do on the other side of the door!

Perhaps by the next Knitt'n Night in 2 weeks we will be able to use the '78' side of the shop! (It's air conditioned!)

See you Soon!

78 - 80

The pictures contain three items, these items all have one thing in common.

The dresss is made from fabric purchased from 'Mother Mod' fabrics when I was in grade 9.
The portrait photo is of me taken about 10 years after I made that first dress.
The project pad is the one we gave away this February! (a few remain, come get yours!)

What is the common link to these items? Well they all began at 80 King street West.

I don't know why I still have the dress, I wore it only for that first year of high school. I do remember how the shop looked inside, filled with fabric and usually busy!

The portrait was taken by Mr. Gould when he had his camera shop and framing store were in this location. When he first opened he occupied the space at 78 King west and then expanded into 80 King West.  I walked through the doorway to get to the portrait space.

When the Gould's moved their business the doorway was closed and various tenants occupied my space, Community Care, a sports shop and flower shop.  Cathy's Gold occupied the space at 78 for 34 years.  On April 6th she retired.

Last Friday we found the opening and I picked up the key on Tuesday!  It's not everyday that a door opens and we are taking a big leap and expanding the shop!  It will give us more space for everything!

...the adventure continues!

There is a lot of work to do, painting and moving yarn!  The shop will get a bit of a shake up as we assess what has worked for this location and look forward to adding new yarn and fibre related activities.  

Maple Festival is this weekend, the weather sounds promising and that means that beginning Thursday new yarn will be added to the clearance section!  (A teaser: selected Marble Chunky colours are now just $10 a ball! Remaining stock only!)

See You Soon!