Knitting Area Table

After lunching at Olive Garden on the way, we picked up the table and chairs for the knitting area today. It's an oak pedestal table with one leaf and 5 chairs. Loretta gave 2 chairs to the shop making 7 chairs around the table. I bet we can find one more somewhere! It is my plan to paint the table white and the chairs different colors. They are in their permanent home now! I took a few pictures -

 

Ready to unload

 

Table in Place (that's a drop cloth under the table)

 

Chairs

 

Where the Knitters will be

 

Tomorrow, phones and Internet -

Ikea - shelves

After lunch and unloading the sales counter at the shop (with help from Wade, Christa and Audrey), we went to Ikea for shelving. I had Billy shelves on my mind but they don't come in 5ft height. Expedite was the next best choice. They only had 6 of those; we had wanted 10. As it turns out, we could not have gotten 10 in the truck. THAT would not have been fun!

 

What bin # did you say? I only see black ones, do you have to have white?

 

Waiting for some help to load the truck? These boxes are unbelievably heavy!

 

Turned out to be a truck full

Now, to go unload at the shop

 

Sales Counter

Found our sales counter, shopping bags and shopping baskets on Harwin.

 

iPurl Buildout is Complete

Met with Maurice at 8 AM at the shop. Everything is done. We are still having electrical issues but that is not his responsibility to fix.

Every time I go to the shop now, I can take boxes until our house is clear again. Just in time too!

I will be taking pictures all weekend as we work.

Thursday Update

Maurice called with a few problems. 

Electricity is on but the air conditioning will not come on at all. Evidently, it has never been connected to power. The InstaHot in the bathroom is not connected to electric either. If you turn on the light switch in the bathroom, it blows the breakers. Maurice had called Jason at AMReit and he had said those issues were our responsibility now. I called Barbara. Those very points were negotiated in the lease. Thank God for Jeremy! I am sure it will all be resolved soon.

I went by yesterday around lunch but Maurice and crew had worked early and were gone. (I have never seen them working - beginning to wonder if they are like the shoemaker's elves). It looks good. The only thing needing to be addressed is that the kitchen area is very dark. There isn't a light fixture in the kitchen. When the classroom walls went up, one wall blocked the light from the fixture that is now in the classroom. I asked Maurice to put a fixture in the kitchen.

I picked up more paint yesterday - pure white and two colors - and have been painting half the day. Little hutch is very nearly finished. Joe bought shiny new casters for little hutch. Waxed the chair - not sure how I feel about the waxing. Maybe I will like it better tomorrow.

Friday, we are celebrating Cindy's birthday over TexMex and margaritas. Saturday AM, Joe and I are going to Ikea to get shelves - lots of shelves. Sunday, we are picking up the table and chairs for the knitting area. We really need to get a fridge this weekend too. Monday, phones and Internet are being installed. And so it begins...

 

Middle looking to the front windows

 

Middle looking to the back

Kitchen is in the back left corner - a bit dark

Outside corner of classroom

Knitting area will go in front of this wall

Maurice has completed the work on the inside for us. I am meeting him in the morning. Will take pics.




 

Little Hutch Knobs

Anthropologie has an amazing assortment of knobs and pulls.

These two look fabulous on the little hutch.

Saturday Shop Update

Joe and I left home early this afternoon to go by the shop to look at what's been accomplished. It had been awhile since Joe was there! We thought if Maurice and crew, by chance, had gotten the carpet installed; we would go pick up the knitting table and five chairs and bring them back to the shop. We got a BIG drop cloth and I am going to paint them there! (going to be so glad to get all the boxes of yarn and accoutrement out of my house! Perfect timing as we are having Pam and Family here for the weekend of Cinco de Mayo)

There was still no electricity at the shop but I know Maurice has that situation under control. The carpet was there but not installed. The last bit of painting had been completed. Work is a week+ ahead of schedule! Everything has been done very quickly and very well.


Maurice -always smiling

Yesterday, Maurice's wife was with him and they let me snap their picture!

 

This morning, the hutch and chair got second coats of paint. They look fabulous! I ran out of white paint and will have to get more Monday.

We stopped in at Anthropologie and got three beautiful pulls for the little hutch - one for the door and two for the drawer. I can't wait to get them on to see how they look.

We also got a router for WIFI. Best Buy said Comcast would bring one when they come out but Comcast told me I had to get one. I still have to get a phone.

Shop Update

It amazes me that a few simple errands takes ALL afternoon. State Farm was my first stop, delivering information to get the shop and inventory insured. After a quick stop at the bank, I chased around trying to find which post office could give me the keys to the shop mailbox (pretty sure we are getting iPurl mail). Tomorrow, I have to go to the post office in Conroe. I stopped at the shop to make sure the electric meter had been installed and it had. State Farm asked me to take a few quick pics to help them out. I forgot to get the extra keys made.

Maurice and crew are almost finished. Shop is spic and span! Looks like they are waiting for carpet to be delivered. Everything looks great.

A few pics -

Just to the right of the black awning where the brown paper is in the windows. There will be a big iPurl sign up there soon!

Liking the wall color!

InstaHot down on the floor for really fast hot water. A Keurig on the counter and I am good for the day. With a small table and chairs along with a fridge and microwave, the kitchen will be complete. Hoping to have room for a couple of tall shelves for storage.

 


Little double sink - I can guarantee there won't be much dish washing happening

 

Thinking the little fold down table we found at Round Top would be really cute in the kitchen. I am going to paint it. I can hear Joe now.....

 

Cody from Knitting Fever, Inc

Joe and I met with Cody from Knitting Fever this afternoon! It Is fun to see all the new yarns - yarns that will be coming out for Fall. I really like having Joe's input and was so glad that he could join us. He gets me out of my "color box" as I tend to always lean toward the same colors (I have to remember to order blues!) I like hearing his ideas about yarns and colors -a male perspective. We ordered some basics like baby yarn and we ordered quite a bit of the FABULOUS new yarns. I think there are some totally new and fun yarn surprises in store for everyone this Fall.

Cody walked a few doors down to the shop with us! The plumbing for the kitchen is in place along with the cabinet/counter! The tile for the kitchen floor is in and ready to be laid. Maurice is waiting on the carpet to be delivered. We are still trying to get the electric meter installed. Entergy is scheduled to be out again on Thursday. Someone probably has to be there - I hate waiting for someone to show up! The telephone and Internet service is scheduled to be connected on the 30th - these two are very important to me! We are still pretty much on schedule. I plan to be working in the shop accepting deliveries, stocking, displays and pricing May 1st.

I plan to resume painting shop furniture tomorrow!

Under Construction

Joe and I stopped by the space late yesterday afternoon to see what it is looking like! Maurice and crew are working fast. great wall color don't you think? I leaned toward turquoise just a bit to accent the Shabby Chic atmosphere!

The BIG challenge is to use the space to its maximum so it doesn't look like a bowling alley.

The box on the left is the classroom and the area right in front of that (where the dark ladder is sitting) is the knitting area. The large oak table is perfect for that area.

Monday, I will start on my Shop To Do List which starts with getting phones and Internet WiFi service started.

Waiting for Entergy

I have been waiting for Entergy for a couple of hours at the shop (listening to an Audible book to pass the time). Called Entergy and the address isn't on the meter can in the back outside and they won't come back until someone calls them and tells them it is! I called AMreit and told them. I am gonna run around now. Left Maurice there.

Took a quick pic!

Found out there is a chocolate shop going in next door! Oh my!!

Little Yellow Chair

I have been painting a plain little chair today. It's really beginning to look cute. The color is called Cream but it's a beautiful pale yellow. First, a picture of this sad little chair. We found this Chair at Round Top for $25 at the last place we stopped. It has some nice little details on the top back and front legs. It is a simple design and surprisingly comfortable. I want chairs throughout the shop for shoppers to be able to sit down if they want to!

One coat of paint

Chair Back Detail

 

Don't know if you can make out the detail but it's really cute. I am going to add some pale pinkish details, I think.

 

Shabby Chic Hutch Progress

Posting a couple of quick pics of the hutch painting progress. I am pleased with the way it is turning out. I have Duck Egg to paint on the inside and the raised decorative pieces on the front along with a little stripe on The largest knob on the front legs. (Duck Egg is a cross between green and blue). Pulls have been removed and will be replaced.

 

 

Close up for detail

There are 2 shelves inside. They will be painted white. Inside the drawer will be white also. Yarn colors will pop and look fabulous on white!

 

Key

We did the walk-thru and got the keys. I text Maurice and Barbara called him. He came and got a key. Things are hopping now.

Painting the China Hutch White

When you don't HAVE to paint, painting is fun. I can say I have always enjoyed painting. It makes everything brand spanking new AND whatever color you want it to be!

I am using a paint I have never used before. It has a great reputation and comes from overseas.

Annie Sloan Paint.

This is a cute small china hutch (we paid $150 - marked down from $350) that we are going to use to display yarn. (Joe and I broke the glass out of the front loading it into the back of the truck - saves me from having to tape off the glass before painting). We will replace the glass after its painted.

Some people (Joe) finds it painful when other people (me) paint over wood. I think it's cool to create new and pretty from old and ugly. All men seem to have this "thing" about wood.

More pics coming as I paint. Walk thru is at 4pm today.

Walk-Thru Today?

I am dressed and ready for the day early! Early for me, anyway! We are supposed to do a walk- thru today and get the keys. Maurice is ready to put his lock box on the door so his guys can get in and get started! So, I am dressed and ready with my checkbook by my tote.

Of all the things Maurice is doing inside, I most look forward to seeing the paint color on the walls! Isn't that weird! It's a shade of my favorite color of green. I gravitate to this color and most of my clothes are coordinated with this color. It is also found in some shade throughout my home.

I am going to pull the little hutch out into the middle of the floor and start getting it ready to paint. It's a sure way to get the phone to ring!

Table and Chairs for Knitting Area

On my hunt for Annie Sloan paint this afternoon, I found the table and chairs we needed for the knitting area. The set is an oak pedestal, with one leaf, with 5 chairs. Six to eight knitters should be able to sit together knitting and have room for a glass or cup of something to drink. Now, to get it home and painted!

In the morning, I hope to be painting the cute little hutch and posting pictures. I purchased Annie Sloan chalk paint in 3 colors. Darn paint is $38 per quart!

I just remembered that I will probably have to go to the shop so I can do a walk-thru with the Owner and get the keys. Maurice needs a key so he can start work. Sigh....

The Monday After

After sleeping in, Bella and I have been sitting quietly on the loveseat this morning. We both are remembering all the fun that happened the last four days! There was so much on-the-go, talking, laughter, giggling children and good food that ended with Poppy getting a confetti egg cracked on top of his head!

Looking at our great furniture finds from Round Top, I am anxious to get started painting furniture. I painted the little hutch, down to the tiniest detail, in my sleep Saturday night so I know exactly what I want to do to it and what it's going to look like! It will display the Huasco yarns beautifully. Loretta had mentioned the Annie Sloan chalk paints on the drive to Round Top and I had previously Googled Annie Sloan, so I have decided to use it! That means actually getting dressed and leaving home today. Sigh. I know it will be worth it though.

Round Top

We found a nice table for knit group, a small hutch for displaying yarn, a chair and a telephone table. All at great prices! A fun day of bargain hunting!

You can find just about anything at Round Top

Halaina, Hannah and Audrey in the bluebonnets

Alexis and Kayla in the bluebonnets

Headed to Round Top - Bluebonnets

Getting everybody arranged

Lantern Moon Order

The Lantern Moon order just arrived. Everything is beautiful!

Meeting with Maurice

We are moving along! I met with Maurice, the contractor, this afternoon. All the necessary selections of paint/wall color, trim, tile, carpet, counter tops have been made. He was surprised that I came with my paint chip in hand! I think most women know the colors they like to wear or have around them. Don't they?

It's going to be busy the rest of the week thru the weekend. Kim and family are coming in Thursday morning. Friday is always TexMex night. On Saturday, we are all going to Round Top to look for a table and chairs for the knitting area of the shop. I have a style of table in mind; hoping that we can find one (I also have a backup style). The chairs can be mix- match. We may be able to find some interesting shelving options. One thing for sure, you never know what you will find at Round Top!

Sunday, we are grilling and having an egg hunt for the three grandchildren that will be here - Matthew, Kayla and Audrey.

So, non- stop for the next few days. I will try and post pics as we go along. My bunnies still need eyes! Sigh......

Monday, I will be on the sofa knitting and catching up on all the "Grimms" I have recorded. I am really savoring the last few days that I have being at home.

Weekend

Sneezing, drippy nose, coughing, congested - breathing through my mouth with my eyes crossed. Wishing for sleep. Miserable.