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.

Soul Blossoms

Back in August I posted about the new Amy Butler collection Soul Blossoms. It was due to launch in the UK in October, then December and now, finally, its (almost) here.
I have listed the 9 designs Patch is initially stocking over on the website.

buttercup in spearmint

delhi blooms in grass

disco flower in hot pink

fuschia tree in chartreuse

laurel dots in cherry

passion lily in cerise pink

peacock feathers in sea glass

sari blooms in raspberry

temple doors in freshmint

They are available to purchase now and will be dispatched on 1st February. Priced £2.50 per FQ. As always if you want more click the required number and it will come as a whole piece.

I am planning on making something for one of the shop windows from this collection...I have a plan (stan), more on that later!!

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

Clutter City

Patch will be there...check here to check out the fab company I shall be keeping...can't wait x

Create, Make, Originate...

About 10 days ago I was asked by Primary Times to write an article about crafting. Not a huge deal - about 250 ish words, send some images, the content was within my capabilities...but could it be in by the following morning??
Amazing what you can get done when your children are being hideous, the baby won't sleep and you still need to cook for and taxi about children....
 (oh and by staying up til 2am!)
Because of the tight schedule I didn't get to see the finished article before it went to press, but I was chuffed to notice they didn't censor me ;)
I didn't come up with the title but everything after my name is my work..and its been a long time since I wrote anything!!
It was published this week, Ialong with one of the many images I sent them to choose from. The chosen image is one of Kittyeden's fabulous Christmas decorations. You can find Sara's work for sale on her website.

As a result of writing this article I have added some more bunting packs to the website, and I am currently updating the links page. If you have written a tutorial for a simple stitching craft project, and would like me to add it to the links page at Patch, please let me know how I can find it by emailing claire@patchfabrics.co.uk, and I will get it added.

Those of you in Suffolk will get this in your son or daughters bookbag this week...

I hope you can read the text on the picture above- if not-  have a look on our facebook page where the photo is readable!