But I have been very busy this week.

The Mess Girls went back to school Wednesday. This is a big year for them; E started middle school and MiniMe is now a high school freshman! They both have to get a lot earlier this year than last which means I also have to get up earlier. I feel like I’ve been on a treadmill set on high speed from 5:45a.m. until around 11:30p.m. every day this week. Getting up early has been beneficial to my schedule a little bit because it gives me a little extra time every morning to get a few loads of laundry done or some basic chores done before leaving for the store. But the after work schedule has been mad. Every night I close the store, run home, either bring food home with me or figure out something quick and tasty, take one or both girls to some activity (gymnastics, piano, babysitting, etc.), help with homework, sign papers, watch a few minutes of the convention (or Project Runway!), and go to bed.

Things have been pretty quiet here at the store lately so I’ve been forced to had time to get some alternative modes of income generation going. I have the fall class schedule all up and ready to go. Next week I hope to figure out how to add a way for y’all to actually register and pay for classes through the blog or I will add class listings to my etsy shop. Today I started getting things spruced up at my etsy shop and added a few items. I’m starting with fabrics, particularly holiday/seasonal yardage. Eventually I will have fat-quarter collections and more of my designer fabrics listed. I would also like to put together some kits with my own patterns and fabric. I’m just going to keep chugging along until I come up with the right combination of product/service/price/customer. No one ever told me that this small business ownership thing would be easy!

I’ve also been working on my fall email newsletter. I intended for it to go out last week but I keep adding and tweaking things. Tomorrow hopefully I will get the final touches on it and get it sent out. I also just realized that I lost the email newsletter sign up with the blog template change. I’ll add that to my to-do list.

Also on my To-Do list:

After being a stay at home mom for almost 15 years I had forgotten what it was like to be out out in public again. When I look back to all my years selling shoes, greeting cards, and cameras it was easy to remember the jerky customers, the long hours, the low pay and the other less than glamorous parts of the retail life. But today reminded me of why I loved it and when it was time to “go back to work” I chose this as my life.
 
I’ve only been open for business a little over a month and I already have regular customers that are starting to feel almost like friends. I honestly get a real thrill when people come through my front door (and not just for the obvious business related reasons.) Slowly, day by day, this business is becoming what I envisioned all along. A warm, inviting, friendly place that I can’t wait to get to everyday and where I hope everyone who comes through the door feels welcome.

Today I had a very special customer. Her name is Sierrah. She came in with her mom and two sisters. She asked if she and her little sister could color at the little table I have in the corner set up for just that purpose. She drew the fabulous artwork you see in this post. It is now hanging behind the counter. I even got her signature! So when Sierrah (with 2 r’s and an h!) is famous I can say I helped in some small way to encourage her in her art.

I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting some really cool teenage girls (who says they are all petulant and scary?) who I am really looking forward to teaching to sew. And another customer today pointed out the “eclecticness” (a new word I just made up) of having “Rage Against the Machine” playing on the radio while purchasing retro inspired fabric to make into an apron.

Yup, this is definitely “me” and exactly what I had in mind.