I answer all the phone calls at Pink Chalk Fabrics. This would be the second phone line that comes into our home. The birthplace of the shop. Sometimes when people call I wonder if they realize I’m actually answering the phone from my living room (that would be the room this photo was taken from).
Last August the business had clearly outgrown the extra upstairs bedroom and I looked at commercial space. Sky high prices!
After many late night conversations the correct answer revealed itself. Take over the dining room, prove the business concept and attempt to ride out a turn in the recession. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. We took over the dining room (plus the front entry way and half the living room) and the business grew beyond estimates. Still waiting on that turn, come on already!
The flip side of the recession after Christmas was FINALLY a softening in the commercial lease rates here on the island. Goodness, who were they waiting for! I guess me and my conservative accountant brain. A match.
Moving was like one of those dreams where you just can’t get to where you’re going. The u-haul rental took quite a long time only to realize at the end of the ordeal the 10′ truck didn’t come with a ramp. Add in a stop at a local rental shop for ramps. Ahem, more than half the cost of the truck itself.
Once home, I got the truck stuck in the grass as I was turning to back into the garage. Add on 20 minutes to find my work gloves, fill a wheel barrel with gravel (fortunately we have a large pile of gravel just sitting around for such purposes, yes, sounds like another post), shovel said gravel behind wheels of bald tires on 10′ truck, and pray that it backed out successfully. It did. Girls really do know how do finesse these things the first time around.
Diana and Jacqui doing the hard work. We finished the move today except for the ONE cutting table that will require very strong men tomorrow (thank you again Diana!).
I’ve had this vision of workspace since I began the business two years ago. A lesson in patience beyond what my mile-a-minute brain is really comfortable with. Dinner tonight was grilled sausages and tator tots. Greg surprised me with a bottle of champagne to commemorate the day. Not a typical pairing but the perfect way to celebrate this very meaningful milestone.
I’m so looking forward to answering the phone on Monday! Thank you to all my fabulous Pink Chalk Fabrics customers for making this move a reality. xo Kathy
congrats Kathy!!
and now you get your dining room back! you should have a celebratory dinner party
Congratulations! It’s beautiful. Are you going to have an open house? (hint, hint)
How exciting!! Wish I could have been there to help you move. We are doing a great deal of packing and moving here, too. Looking forward to Tuesday when the movers arrive to take care of the furniture and heavy stuff. Congratulations and have fun in your new space!!! ox
Kathy:
Congrats! Can’t wait to see the space filled up with all the beautiful fabric!
b.
Isn’t that what dining rooms are for…to use for our sewing purposes? Congratulations on your new adventure. Wishing you lots of success and tons of fun.
After following you and cheering you on over the last few years, I have to say I am really excited and giving you a “go girl” for this wonderful accomplishment! (and after starting our own business I KNOW what that is) I’m coming to the PNW (again) to look around to determine whether we are moving next year–we’ll see how it feels. But I’d love to stop by and see you…I hope you’ll be there late July-early August! I’ll be near Port Townsend visiting family & I’ll make her come over to Bainbridge with me for a shopping spree! P.S. our dining room has become my sewing space too…oh well. congrats again! so pleased for you!
So exciting and just looking at all that fabric makes me smile, and then feel like shopping
Can’t wait to see photos of the new space all set up! Congrats!
Congratulations! Enjoy your new space (I liked your paint color by the way) and here’s to outgrowing it!
Congratulations on the new stage of your business. I have fallen in love with sewing all over again as a result of your shop.
Congratulations on your new space! I’m really happy for you. I’ve enjoyed your blog for a long time now. Now, I’m excited to enjoy your shop too. I just moved to Singapore a few months ago and recently saw you ship internationally. Hooray! And THANK YOU SO MUCH for your reasonable international shipping rates!
Oh KAthy! I am so proud of you! I wish you nothing but the best luck and many happy customers!
That must be so exciting! I imagine you’re going to be glad to have the space in your house again, but will it be a bit sad to not have all that pretty fabric nearby?
Congratulations! What an absolutely thrilling day! I’d think that enjoying a dinner in your dining room might also be on your list of things to look forward to.
Oh Kathy, such great news! Congratulations on the move, and much luck with continued success. It’s been fun cheering you on as you’ve grown.
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