We are open!!

We opened our doors yesterday morning at 9:30 and I drew breath just before 4!! Well more like 5 actually as I had to do my online orders before I went home!!
I couldn't have asked for a better response to my shop - so many positive comments, and I lost count of how many times people told me that this was just what Lowestoft had been waiting for.
Thank You so much if you came to support us in person , and for all the virtual support I received both here and on facebook.

We were in the paper on Friday...the write up was excellent, wasn't keen on them using a pic of me - but seen worse!

There was a lot of enthusiasm for the workshops and classes I am planning, so I will pull my finger out and develop a programme as soon as I can.

I am off to enjoy my time off before we reopen on Tuesday. Its our 2nd wedding anniversary today, we can't go out - we feel like all our babysitting credits have been used and don't want to ask anyone!! And I am shattered!!

You can find Patch and me at:    

9 Bevan Street

Lowestoft

Suffolk

NR32 2AA

Telephone 01502 588778

We are open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30 to 3.30

We still have a large range of our fabrics on the website - and will be adding the oilcloths and the new dena designs and riley blake fabrics just delivered in the next week.

Pink

Just a quick update - I am so busy both in the shop and back at home placing orders to make sure Patch has enough stock to fill the space behind these very pink doors, I am struggling to find time for much else.
I had to have a pink front door - I toyed with the idea of pink masonry paint for the whole of the outside but the man who generally leaves me to it, very firmly said NO! I can't wait for the signage to go up..this week...next week....as long as its before 5th March!!!

The whole interior has been painted white - new lights have been fitted in the upstairs space, it looks fab and very clean and bright...I just need to clean the floors and stairs ready for the shelves to go in..but we are definately on the home straight!

I have a cutting table..my friends hubby built it for me at the weekend. I just need to paint it, although I am reluctant to as I love the way it looks and don't want to spoil it!!! Its made from MDF....can you just varnish over it to seal it?

Back to the shop tomorrow for the carpet fitting in the workshop space and for B(useless)T to perhaps show up and get me connected..phone and broadband!! Last week was a no show and it will be a whole month from ordering the line to an engineer showing up, because they need to prepare at the exchange (they can't even guarantee the number either)..did I wake up in the 1950's..is he going to show up on a bike with a basket?? Best bit...I can see the exchange and Open Reach depot from my shop front window.
Back soon with updates...I think I am 2 days away from being able to burn my painty jeans and go to work in proper clothes!!

a start....

So...I am in (huge grins).
I really didn't know if I would get the keys on the right day, in fact the repairs were still being done when I got to the premises to pick up the keys but (deep breath)it all happened.
On Wednesday I did the school/nursery run and spent the whole day clearing out. This shop has been empty for 3 years. It is filthy. The landlords hadn't cleared out all their old gubbins so we have removed it and it will be in a skip on Saturday morning!
My mum has been amazing. My stepfather was rushed into hospital on Wednesday afternoon(he is okay, its an existing problem..which imo is always better than a new one!) and as she couldn't do anything she has kept herself busy by pulling up carpet and cable clips....as you could tell from the first shop picture it was previously a tv shop - and oh my you have never seen so many plug sockets, aerial sockets, cables, etc etc in your life!
Anyway these pics are on day 2 - the end of a busy day 2....

this pic is from the door in the retail area looking at the staff area, its just a corridor with a kitchen worktop down near the back door and a loo....

heres said loo! AFTER cleaning - seriously you don't want to see the before *eek* this toilet will be going tomorrow, I have a local firm in to do the work we cannot do. Priority, this nasty non flushing loo! Maybe another day I'll tell you the tale (tail) of this toilet...........

kitchen (ish) area - I have picked up another wall cupboard today and we have a worktop fridge in which I can keep salad to keep me out of the choice of - sandwich bar - chip shop-restaurant all in a 30sec to 1 min walk away!!!

Now I'm standing at the back door looking down (bored yet?)

in the shop stood at back wall - this counter was shifted by me and mother 5mins after I took the photo

standing at the right of shop looking left!!! That pile of shizzle will be in a skip on Saturday morning...

left looking right (them there cage things are what we have taken off the big window - the rest will be off at the weekend and taken away)

And now for the upstairs - standing at the front windows

standing at the top of the stairs....

and again...those 2 openings are store rooms....

the staircase.....
It needs a good clean and a good paint but more than ever I see Patch finding its home here. Still a way to go, but I wish I'd taken pics when I first got keys, but tbh after seeing the loo I just didn't have the stomach!!
Back tomorrow..new loo going in *fingers crossed*, I'm painting the bottom end of staff corridor so new cupboard and fridge can go in. I'm knackered. Already. The online stuff still has to be done. So is getting done after my day at shop has ended. But in 4 weeks and 1 day time - Patch Fabrics, Lowestoft will be open and I can go to work. And home will (mostly) be home.

Technical Drawing

My friends husband is going to make my cutting table for the shop.... I know what I want so he asked me to do him a drawing.
There was head shaking apparently....

I think its obvious..don't you???

Restraint

Whilst I wait for the keys to the shop, I am using the time to make sure we will have stock to fill it!
Its a tough job but someone has to do it ;)
This week I have been contacting new suppliers, placing orders (and pleading that they don't deliver for another couple of weeks until we are in and have somewhere to put boxes...otherwise I fear my husband will leave!) and  having visits from new fabric supplier reps.
The collage above shows most of the oilcloth designs that we will be stocking in the shop (and also online). They are made by Clarke and Clarke and are fantastic quality and just beautiful, I could very easily have ordered all 100+ designs had space and pennies permitted.
I stuck very closely to the amount of rolls of oilcloth budgeted for on the shops business plan (think page in notebook rather than spreadsheet) did not deviate at all...And then we got talking about the cottons.
Then it went a bit wrong.

So these 5 designs will be available in home dec weight cottons. 
Well, we had to get the beach huts being based at the seaside!!!

8 days and counting until my lease begins - the landlord repairs that need doing before this date are still outstanding (I may or may not be driving past frequently!) so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am panicking unnecessarily - these things do usually find a way of working out at the eleventh hour! In the meantime I am meeting 2 sign companies at the property this week to talk about signs for the front and window graphics and trying to get organised at home because, as of next week I will be leaving the house to work for the first time in 3 and a half years!!!

I never went away.....

I seriously couldn't believe that I hadn't even logged in to my blog since October..I really don't know where time goes, between Patch and the 5 boys (including my husband in that number I haven't produced an extra one!!) there isn't a lot left....but anyway, huge news!
It was always my plan/goal to have a real life bricks and mortar shop selling fabulous fabrics and sewing paraphenalia...but whenever we talked about having a shop it was implied that it would be 'later' 'when the kids were older' whenever 'that' would be. But then the months of running Patch from home ticked by, and while I was still loving every single thing about running my own business, the itch wasn't being scratched - my return to work wasn't...working. I need to be out at work, I've been at home 3 and a half years. I feel priviledged I was able to leave work after having baby no4 and be at home with my children but in order to keep sane......

.....this is going to be the new home of Patch Fabrics.
And we will be opening our shop in March.
The premises have been empty a long time and need a lot of tlc. But I love a challenge!
I get the keys on 1st February...but am going in this week hopefully to measure up so will get lots of before pics (brace yourselves!)
And you see that 2nd floor...its ours too! That will become our workshop space, or extra retail space if necessary in the future.
I am very excited. My head is buzzing with ideas, I have 3 notebooks full of scribbles and lists. I am placing
orders for necessary stock and waking up in cold sweats about getting everything done!!
Although I have lots of support from family and friends (well mostly - you know who you are xxxx) this project is me myself and I  - so the excitement is tinged with apprehension..but you only live once!
In the mean time the website is still live and kicking and has just been updated with new fabric

 

and fabric packs....

(click on the link to go to shop)
 ttfn
Claire x