As most of you know, I just took two days off from the world. I grabbed up my kids..well not the middle child because he's never around..and we enjoyed some much needed time together. Amy, Stephen and I all went trick or treating Saturday night, then Sunday I took Stephen to the Fun a Farm so he could enjoy one last day of playing in the corn. Then we met Amy for a dinner at Golden Corral and then headed over to a hotel with a small indoor water park. The hotel...was AWFUL. It was a Ramada Inn, but it was old and dirty. The water park was FREEZING. They permanently closed the hot tub. I couldn't even tolerate the cold pool, so leaving Amy andStephen there I went back to my room to take a hot bath. The water in the tub came out yellow. The next morning Stephen and I went for our free hot breakfast, and the dining room was freezing too! No thanks, never again. We came home Monday morning without even taking another dip in the pool.
Monday afternoon I got down to business sewing for the mystery. I know I'm leading this thing, but you all have to know I fly by the seat of my pants. I have no idea what's going to happen one day to the next. I didn't know I'd be working 7 days a week when I started the mystery. So just know I'm thankful for your patience with me.
Here is as far as I got yesterday before I went to bed. Since all the little rows are sewn together, I know the rest of the parts will be quick to sew. I'm not super pleased with my directional fabric prints. They might prove interesting...if we can call it that. I love the colors though so no changing! I not sure if I'll get my other first dance one even started, since it's time for that to almost end. On a good note, I have three days off a week from now on so that equals sewing time!
Now, one of the things I did this weekend was start thinking on business goals. Where do I want to go, what do I want to happen?
First I started with the basics:
1) I KNOW that someday I'll need to be back home full time. I'll need my business to support us when Jerry gets sick again.
2) I know that I need to pay off as many bills as I can before then, so I need to work as long as I can.
3) I still want my shop. The plans for Hillbilly Quilt Shop have changed a bit, adding a few things I think would help support it in this town off the beaten path.
This weekend Jerry and I spent some time outside looking at our yard, and some empty lots available next to us. I also looked at a place that's available for rent. Weighing all options and our needs we decided to build right here on our property..but it's not ours yet and won't be until his disability gets approved. Our lease states we can't place any buildings on the property, but that's not stopping us from drawing it up, getting details on prices and preparing.
In making plans, I'm really thinking out what I want to sell in the shop. You are going to laugh but I think it's going to have the name Hillbilly Quilt and Candy Shop. There are no other shops in this town. No gas stations. I'm going to bring in old time candy. It will be a hit with tourists and children alike!
I'm also going to start making hand made items. Not a ton, but a few. I want a kitchen area where I sell things like apple butter, jams and jellies. I want to add in towels , both plain and embellished, hot pads made from Ahhhhs, and rag rugs to the candy and kitchen retail area.
For the quilt shop, it will still specialize in paper piecing and hand embroidery. Only I'd really like to add in machine embroidered items as well. ( long term goal). I am considering making the building two floors with a classroom and fabric warehouse up top, I need to see if a ramp is feasible.
Of course this is all future goals. Here in the now, I'm still working on my book plans. Forever wishing for that book aren't I? Do you know hand sewing takes forever? Well I get three days a week off a week now, ..can we say sewing time?! I'm hoping to plan the next mystery soon, only I'll pre blog and pre video for it before I even start it. I'm learning folks!
When we moved, the flow of my things just was not working. So this weekend I took everything out of my closet and off my walls. Besides working for Ozark Fabric today, I'll be working on this mess.
Jerry is helping me get new better shelving so I can try to survive sharing my bedroom with clothes, fabric, quilt shop supplies, etc. I have TONS of patterns not placed on the website, because I couldn't easily get to them. I want to add new notions and floss but I need organized first. So today that is my goal.
I'm going into November with much excitement. The new job opportunity to catch up bills and put away money for my goals just thrills me. ( although I don't like food service so I'm not sure the job itself thrills me) . I'm excited to have the time finally to get books underway and sewing finishes.
I'm loving that my web site is gaining momentum and that my Ozark friends continue to support me so much.
It's exciting to see even my husband getting behind me and supporting the new Quilt shop here at home. In just a minute he's taking me to the Amish outbuilding shop to see what my goal is going to cost me. That way I can go to work at the new job tomorrow with my goal in my head.
I'm may run things differently than any quilter, designer, writer, instructor, shop owner than you've ever met, but I'm just a Hillbilly and I like it that way.
P.s please comment and tell me what you think about the Hillbilly Quilt and Candy Shop complete with old fashioned candy, butters, jams and jellies, tea towels, hot pads and rag rugs. I seriously cannot wait.