Just a preview of "Before"

Now that Fabric Town is officially closed, I'm working daily at the shop getting my projects done for the opening of "Next Act". We hope to be ready by the end of September. There's alot to do before we have our Grand Opening.  I just wanted to show you a "Before" photo of this adorable little chest.

I started working on it yesterday and hopefully will have the "After" photo for you tomorrow. I have found that I truly enjoy painting. I like the quiet time and I especially enjoy the creative part. Keep watching this blog, I'll have lots more photos to show you and more information about "Next Act". Patti H. is helping me with my new blog so I can shut down Fabric Towns. I will continue to post on this one until after Kim Diehls event. Then it will become "Cranberries and Calico".

Getting ready

Just wanted to let you know that I'm already full speed ahead into my next adventure. I guess I'm not really the sit around, clean house and watch TV kind of girl that I had planned on being.
 OK, fine...I'm a Type A and the girls at FT said I have ADD on top of it all.  Who Me???

Nancy (my sister) and I have been working 'round the clock and are getting things lined up. Right now I don't want to post too much... suspense is always good!!!!

 I plan on shutting down the Fabric Town website and blog soon. If you would like to follow me as I head into my "Next Act"... keep watching the FT blog and I will post my new Blog info soon.

Just a reminder:  Our Kim Diehl Workshops and Trunk Show are still coming in August ... I'm really excited about it. I'll continue to post to the website information regarding the event.

Enjoy the day,
Patti

 

It's a first

I woke up this morning and realized .... I'm unemployed.

That's the first time since I was 20 that I have not had a job. I am kinda-sorta already working with Nancy getting "Next Act" started, but for some reason that feels different. Mainly, because it's not really open yet - so I don't have an actual POE (Place of Employment) to go to.

Today, I'm going in to clean out the shop. I went yesterday and got some done but mostly just sat there looking around. I started with Fabric Town over 20 years ago... where did the time go?  They say time flies when you're having fun.... WOW, I must have been having the time of my life.

I think I better get another cup of coffee and think about this on my deck. 

Unemployed.... Hmmmm, that's different.

The End.

Fabric Town is now closed.

Thank you to all the wonderful customers who supported the shop.

Patti

Sunshine on a gloomy day.

Two and a half days til we close. A bit sad and the shop is in total disarray. In walks the Bachmans delivery man and brightens up our day.

This beautiful bouquet is from my friend Julie. What a thoughtful thing to do. Julie owns "Keepsake Cottage Fabrics" in Bothell, WA. We met at Terry Atkinsons Shop Owners Retreat. One of the nicest people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing. Thanks Julie, for the flowers and the friendship.

Last week..

Starting tomorrow, July 16th everything will be 50% off.

This is our last week, we will close on Saturday, July 21st at 5:00 PM

If you have any kits to pickup, be sure to stop in before 5:00 PM Saturday.
 Chairs, Cutting Table and all display units that have been purchased can be picked up after Wednesday July 18th.

Hacked

Hello,

I am getting emails from friends thanking me for the weightloss tips that I sent them via email.

I was hacked, I didn't send you those tips. I don't know what makes people do things like that. I guess they don't have anything better to do.

Sorry for the junk mail.

Patti

A lovely addition to my deck

       Do you like wind chimes? I do, but not the heavy metal - loud kind. I like the soft ones. This afternoon, Jackie from Valley Girl came in to bring me a gift for my deck. I've talked about Jackie and Sara, they make me my oatmeal and latte's for breakfast. This was a wonderful surprise. I hung it up the minute I got home. Right now I can hear it softly chiming.

Along with the chime was this Green crackle glass plant vase. It would be great to put a little flower in it or to root something. Tomorrow when I go to the shop, I'll get a clipping from one of my Pothos and root it. What a thoughtful gift. I feel fortunate to have such nice people as my friends.

Once again, if you want to start your day off with a cup of fresh brewed coffee and a smile.. go to Valley Girl in Apple Valley.  (try the Peaches and Cream pastry.. Fantastic!!  Oh wait, I wouldn't know about that, I'm on Weight Watchers)

Will today be the last day?

Every day I go in and the shop is more empty then when I went home the night before.

I ask myself each morning.. will today be the last day?

Running through the scale of emotions.   Sad, Glad, Anxious, Happy, Thankful, Mad and the list goes on.

Thankful would be the one that I feel the most. I have had fun, met great people and made friendships that will last a lifetime. I'm walking away - looking forward to my future.

Bolts, Patterns and Stuff

There are only about 200 bolts left, the notions wall is almost totally empty and we have reduced the patterns to a mere hundredish.

Will not be making it till the 21st.

It's now or never....

Quilting by the Hearth

I spent the morning with Lisa and Sue in Lonsdale. Took an array of photos to let you see all the fun things available when you visit "Quilting by the Hearth". This photo is of "Three Barns". It's the quilt for the kits I was folding this morning. (previous blog)

Lots of wonderful quilt samples hanging everywhere.

Kansas Troubles... ahhhhhh

and more....

and more...

Do you like Batiks? Well, I have never seen so many in one shop. Lisa thinks they have about 1200. Check em' out.. and I didn't get a picture of all of them.  Batik Heaven.

Sue made this sample. She's great when it comes to the small pieces.

I've always wanted to do a bargello...

This quilt looked vintage.

One of their own patterns. Many throughout the shop.

Rug from Rags by Country Threads. This sample is almost finished, a few more strips in the center and it will be floor worthy. I really want to do this, have been to Country Threads several times and always forgot to get the frame pattern. I'm hoping Lisa has a class in the fall - maybe I'll get the chance to finally do it.

This rug is just getting started.

 Aprons hang from the walls and ceiling in the kitchen.

Lots of book racks with a great selection.

Plenty of notions, bag accessories and sewing supplies.

Check this out... flip flops to match your bag... how cute is that !!!

Love this table and chairs. I remember when my Mother had the aluminum kitchen set.

Fun little cookie jar sits on the table... cute little touches like this add so much to the shop.

Special little room with Childrens fabrics. This shelf is full of soft flannels.

Cheery novelty prints

Wonderful brights.

Hope you enjoyed the little tour. There's plenty to see that I didn't get photos of. Lots of new things to enjoy at the Hop. Be sure to stop in.

Helping get ready for Quilt Minnesota

Helping put kits together. Sitting on my deck, coffee and fabric - perfect way to start the day...

 Quilt Minnesota is just around the corner. Shops all over the state are getting ready for the largest shop hop of the year. From August 3rd - 18th thousands of quilters will travel from one quilt shop to another - section by section enjoying all the wonderful things being offered. Each shop is as individual as a fingerprint - no two are the same.

Since I won't be participating in the hop this year, I'm helping out a friend at her shop. Lisa from Quilting by the Hearth in Lonsdale is really making some wonderful changes. New shelving, painting not to mention the fabrics. I was so surprised when I went in and saw all the lines of fabric, notions, patterns and Kits. From the outside of her shop you'd think it was a tiny place. Once you get inside it's room after room of the prettiest fabrics. I'm a Kansas Troubles addict. WOW - I found my shop. Alot of shops have KT but always run out of the black prints.... Lisa has lots, and the rest of the colors as well. (And that's only in one of the rooms)

While Lisa and Tim work on the inside of the shop, I've taken on the job of folding kits. The sample that this kit belongs to is wonderful. It's a Miss Rosies called  "Three Barns". Notice it's in Kansas Troubles... yummm. Guess who may have to purchase this kit and make the quilt - hard to really decide, there's lots to choose from at Lisa's.  I'm going there today, if I get the chance I'll snap a picture of the quilt.

Don't forget to mark your calendar  Quilt Minnesota   August 3 - 18, 2012.  Quilting by the Hearth is in the Southeast section.... will I see you there?

Patti

Going, Going, Going

It's amazing how much wider the shop looks with 90% of the fixtures and merchandise gone. The walls are empty, the samples off the walls and fabric is down to about 400 bolts.

Still have some books, notions and kits left. Will be selling misc stuff that we find in the backroom and in those little nooks and crannies. 

If anyone is looking for a great ironing table that has loads of storage - we have one for sale.
Our front counters would make a great workbench for a garage, lots of storage area underneath. They would make great cutting tables as well, they're just really big.

File cabinets, metal shelving, desks all have to go. 

I'd like to get as much out of the shop and into new homes before we close on the 21st.
If you'd be interested, stop in and check them out.

Final day coming soon

Fabric Town's final day will be July 21st.

At least that's the date we plan on closing. Once the remanining inventory is gone - we'll close.

Please check to be sure we're still open before you drive a distance. 

(952) 432-1827

Looking pretty strange.

If you like to shop in a store that's spacious and you've got room to maneuver around and see everything easily in. Wait til you see Fabric Town now. It's getting so "Spacious" that is has a slight echo.

Yesterday we emptied 87 bolts, on Friday 119. The samples are coming down as the patterns and kits are sold out. The reflection of the lighting on the bare walls makes it so bright, it's like double full spectrum. I may put a sign up - Free tanning ... sure seems like you could get one.

I hate to see the shop all torn up and looking so bad. However, each day as it empties I'm one day closer to letting go. It's hard but I think it was the best way to do it. I am getting to say goodbye to my long time supporters, friends and those special customers who have become family. I will admit, it's not easy. If I can give one bit of advice - when you go into a shop that's closing, be careful or better yet, be tactful as to what you say to the owner and employees. You wouldn't believe the things that are said to us on a daily basis. A few times I was left totally speechless.

We still have a good supply of things left, thinking it will not go much more than the first two weeks of July.

That's it for my update. Have a wonderful 4th of July... be careful, be safe.

Patti