Thursday, December 30, 2004

Another busy day

My Mom and Dad came over and helped me with the inventory again. Things were going really well until Mom ran out of price tags in the new pricing gun. It took me over an hour to figure out how to load the gun with more tickets. I was trying to do it very complicated and it was actually very simple. I must have wasted 1/2 a roll of tickets oh well live and learn. I got a lot more yarn in the shelves. I am such a hopeless yarn addict. Everything I put in the shelves I wanted to make something out of. I will probably go broke with this yarn store because I will knit everything in the store. I sold my 1st ball of yarn in the store today. A young girl came by and asked if she could buy some yarn for a hat. We said sure and let her in. Excused the mess and then she shopped. It was fun. She ended up buying Gjestal Naturgarn in black. Should make a nice hat.
Another person stopped by and bought a couple of scarves from me. It was a good days business for a closed store.
My Mom bought a baby basket for our new Grand baby due in June so we figured until June we will fill it with Sirdar Baby yarn. It looks really cute. This should inspire a few baby outfits.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Lots of work done today

I got lots done in the store today and yesterday. So far we have some of the new lights up and 1 of the slatwalls. Also we got the couch moved over. Today I got a lot of the inventory done and my Mom and Dad helped ticket things and stock the shelves. We are probably 1/4 done the inventory. Lots more to do. soon I will take some pictures and post them.
I put a small auction on eBay this week as they won't let me list some of my yarns. They are saying I have to edit my listings so I only got about 1/2 the usual inventory on eBay. I was able to get all my new yarn listed. I might have to relist all my old yarn over again. I am still waiting to hear back from eBay as to what is wrong with my listings.
As for knitting I have the back , 1 front and sleeve done on a baby sweater.
I am off to knit right now. I need some down time.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Started Inventory

I have a new program for inventory and I started to put it all in my computer yesterday. A real learning curve but I think it is working right. My huband got home last night with all the slatwall supplies. I am hoping to get some of it up and painted today.
I actually have some yarn in the store. I got 2 huge boxes delivered yesterday from Diamond yarns so I just took them to the store. I have completely run out of room at the house. Once its all in inventory it can go in the shelves.
Tomorrow - Christmas day and I will take the day off. My parents and sister are coming and I'm sure we will have a nice day. I need a day off.
Merry Christmas everyone.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Another fun day planning for the store.

Today was a really busy day. I had to meet with the bank and get set up to take Visa and debit. I also met with the accountant about setting up books for the store. I was planning on cleaning the whole store tonight but I am too tired. I got some of the bins cleaned out and called it a day. I am going to sit and knit the rest of the evening. Hope there is a good Christmas movie or special on TV that would be perfect.
Tomorrow I am going to wash the windows and clean the rest of the bins, my husband is down in Vancouver and tomorrow he will be picking up the slatwalls and all the hooks for the needles and book racks for the patterns.


The inside of the store. We don't have the lighting in yet, so it will be brighter when all the lights are in. . Also in the picture is my son and his companion dog. Posted by Hello

Inside the store. All my boxes waiting to get filled with yarn. The dog is Bella my son's companion dog. Posted by Hello

The front of the store, the bench is for sitting on and knitting on nice sunny days Posted by Hello

This is the view from inside the store Posted by Hello

This is the outside and front of the store Posted by Hello

Saturday, December 18, 2004

The New store looks great

I was over to the store last night. I have been staying away so I don't bug the guy who is working on it. Yesterday the phone line went in while I wasn't home so I went over to see if they came. They did of course, so I know have a phone and high speed internet in the store.
I was pleasantly surprised how great the store looks. He was just finishing the shelves, all the painting is done and the tile floor entrance is down and today the carpet is going in. This store is going to look so good. Once it is finished I will post pictures before we put anything in it. The store is pretty small but it will certainly hold a lot of yarn. There is 16' of shelves on one wall. These are the triangle shelves 16" x 16" and 18" deep. There are 36 full trianlges and 36 1/2 size triangles along the edges and on the top and bottom. These shelves are made out of birch a nice light wood.
I can't wait to start loading them up with yarn.
I have all of my yarn, patterns and needles ordered for now. The next 2 weeks are going to be really busy getting, pricing and sorting all of this.
This week I got my Opal order in and the new sweater yarn is wonderful. I will be posting at my eBay Store when I reopen my auction Dec. 28th. I am going to make a baby sweater over the holidays, for my new Grand Baby due in June, out of one of the colours and will post a picture when done.
I didn't get much Christmas knitting done this year with the store opening. Oh well can't do everything.

Monday, December 13, 2004

More Yarn shopping

I just put in a big order with Diamond and Nova yarns. I am getting Gjestal Naturgarn, in 15 colours, Valeria di Romi - Garbi in all the colours, Tona in all the colours. Carioca in all the colours, Emu Superwash in a variety of colours, and the rest are Sirdar yarns Denim Aran in all the colours, Denim Tweed DK in 6 colours, Snuggly 4ply in 12 colours and Snuggly DK in 10 colours. I got 10 pattern books from Sirdar and a bunch of leaflets. I can't wait to get all this yarn now that I have somewhere to put it. It is going to take 2 weeks to unpack, inventory and stock the shelves.
Hope all these links work. I am new to this but I think I figured it out.
I will be putting my order into Patons tomorrow or Wed. That should be fun. Now I need to get some housework done.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Yarn shopping

I have been very busy getting yarn and fixtures for the new store. This is too much like fun to be called work. We went to Home Depot the other day and bought all the lights for the store. We are going to have halogen track lighting in most of the store and a light fixture on a post on both sides of the store then a big feature light over the checkout. The light we got for there is wonderful. A huge stained glass swag light. It will match the colour of the store and the cedar beams.
The store is painted a nice sunny yellow. On a dull rainy day it will be bright and cheery. It has cedar post and beams. I will include some pictures next week once we get the lights up and before I stock the shelves.
I got a shipment of yarn last week Fortissima sock yarn, it is really nice. I got Sirdar baby yarn, Domino DK and Baby Care DK in lots of colours. I got Patons Bumblebee cotton and more White Buffalo yarn. I also got my bamboo needles in. Love those too. Next week I should get my shipment from Opal of the the new sweater yarn http://www.ladybugyarns.ca/6Ply.htm and 3 lollipop colours that were reprinted, 1009, 1010 and 1016 http://www.ladybugyarns.ca/Lollipop%20123.htm also 6 colours of Mosiak http://www.ladybugyarns.ca/Mosaik.htm.
Well I will keep updating as things happen. I am hoping to open the first or second week in Jan. I am going to be very busy over Christmas holidays.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

My New Yarn Store

I want to keep this blog about my New Yarn Store - Fun Knits.
I have been selling yarn on eBay for about 8 months now and I am going to open a bricks and mortar store in Jan. I live on a small Island ( Quadra Island) in British Columbia, just east of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. We have about 4000 full time residents here and a lot of knitters, crocheters and weavers. They are all very happy I am opening a store.
I have to go to Vancouver today for a week but I will write in more detail when I get back.
Shelley