8 May 2016

Open














Hello my lovely friends.  I do hope this long overdue post finds you happy and well?

Well, I only bloody did it!  I only opened my very own little yarn shop!  It's been exactly one week now and, truth be known, it still feels a bit surreal.  I can't really remember the details of the first few days; they were a bit of a whirl.

I will warn you, I'm struggling to articulate myself at the moment.  I suppose my mind has been so frantically busy for three solid months, it's taking a little time for it to slow down enough to allow me to enjoy calm, structured thoughts.  I've had a lot to deal with in my personal life recently on top of starting my own business, not to mention moving house, so please forgive me if this post is a little sketchy.

Anyway, the sun streams in through the front window for most of the day which is a complete joy but it makes taking photographs of the entire shop quite difficult - it's quite a long space and the pictures make the back area look deceptively dark - but I am really keen to give you a flavour of what it looks like.  I think my next post will concentrate a little more on the actual yarns and products I've chosen to sell.

From the offset, I knew I wanted to create a space that was light, pretty and colourful.  It had to be a space that made me happy.  That way, I knew it would have a jolly good chance of making anyone who stepped over the threshold happy too.  You will notice quite a few personal touches if you look closely.  I have my favourite Sascalia and Katie Daisy prints framed and up on the walls and, dotted around, there are a few of my precious bits and bobs.  I've been lucky enough to receive some wonderful good luck cards and they sit along the top of one of the display units so that I can see them.

I've had to be quite clever with storage.  I have a little kitchen and a loo but no stock room.  Strategically-placed boxes and cupboards conceal my surplus!

I have a large table at the rear of the shop which extends to twice the size where I hope to hold classes and get-togethers.  For now, it's a lovely area where I can sit and work and friends and customers can take a perch and have a natter.

There's still quite a lot of tweaking to be done.  For example, since these photographs, I've changed the positioning of quite a few things.  The display on the table near the door is now quite different and I'm expecting the arrival of even more stock on Tuesday.

You've all been so incredibly kind and supportive and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I will return next week when I am hopefully far less poleaxed!  It struck me only yesterday that one of the most blessed opportunities that my little yarn shop will offer now it's up and running is routine.  That and the chance to sit, take a breath and let it all sink in.  Perhaps then there will be room for a little pride to creep in?

xxx

84 comments:

  1. I am so very happy for you! It looks charming and the window, with all that wonderful sunlight, will be what draws people in! Good luck with everything and remember to just breathe!

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  2. Heather, such a beautiful pink shop of beauty, wish I could wing my way over for a nosy xoxo

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  3. Awesome!!! Enjoy every moment, lovely! πŸ‘ŒπŸΌπŸ’“

    hello gorgeous xxx

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  4. Looks so calm and pretty, I hope you keep it like this as sometimes yarn/craft shops get so full that you can't see anything as there is so much cramped in, and it is overwhelming especially if you need inspiration. Good Luck

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  5. Looks so calm and pretty, I hope you keep it like this as sometimes yarn/craft shops get so full that you can't see anything as there is so much cramped in, and it is overwhelming especially if you need inspiration. Good Luck

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous. Like the yarn shop of your dreams!

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  7. Inspired. The stuff of dreams ��

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  8. Do you sell navy blue or bottle green yarn hidden away somewhere too? Some of your potential knitting/crocheting customers might like those colours. It perhaps doesn't fit the aesthetic of the shop but I would imagine that you would sell more yarn by including those with an interest across the full colour spectrum. If I made crochet or knitted animals, I might have a use for browns, beiges, tans and greys. What about if I wanted to make a primary coloured set of building blocks for a baby? Or a bright and cheerful cushion cover.

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    1. You make a very good point, thank you. I have arranged the yarn in such a way that the greys, beiges and darker colours all sit along the bottom shelves and I notice that you can't actually see them in my photographs! I also have a display unit towards the back of the shop which houses a veritable rainbow of cottons which would perfect for the most cheerful of cushion covers or baby toys. I'm pretty confident that I carry almost every colour except, you've made me realise, bottle green which I will get on to first thing Tuesday! :-)

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    2. Thank you for your response which is polite and informative (even though I expect what I wrote was annoying - I hesitated to post it). I wasn't in fact trying to be a kill joy but these were things I noticed and thought your customers might too. Possibly bottle green doesn't have much love - except for a school cardigan maybe.

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    3. Hang in their Heather. Hang in there... ;) You are doing just fine.
      Xxx
      Annette

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  9. Congratulations!!! Your shop looks so fun and inviting. I wish you all the best!

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  10. Ooooh! Your shop looks so very pretty and cheerful! So full of light and colour! Congratulations! Enjoy and do try to to catch your breath!

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  11. Congratulations. I love the look of your shop and would love to visit one day soon. xx

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  12. I'm wishing you all the best! Your shop looks so lovely with its sweet colours. I regret it's so far from ma french home. Best wishes again.

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  13. It all looks fabulous! You clever thing,love your styling and clever extra hidden storage!x

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  14. What a beautiful shop! I have dreams to open my own here in the States. Very best of luck to you! Dianna
    Www.artsydaisycrochet.com

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  15. What a beautiful shop! I have dreams to open my own here in the States. Very best of luck to you! Dianna
    Www.artsydaisycrochet.com

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  16. I so wish my local yarn shop looked like this! Unfortunately they only sell rather questionable and boring yarn (I am honestly not a horrible snob!), and when I asked the owner about local spinners/dyers she said I must have money to burn! Can't wait to hear about your choices for stock. I have tried the Tulip hooks on your recommendation and they are amazing, I wouldn't want to use anything else now. Best of look with the shop, I would love to visit someday!

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  17. Your store is lovely! Please open another near me in Utah!

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  18. Wish I lived nearby, would love to visit!

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  19. What a wonderful shop. WELL DONE! I wish I lived closer so that I could pop in!

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  20. Congratulations! It looks really fantastic - very beautifully decorated, with some gorgeous yarns and equipment. Hoping to pop over from Coventry for a visit during half term, although not sure how I can justify buying any more yarn at the moment :)

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  21. lisaminton@live.com8 May 2016 at 17:21

    Absolutely adorable & inviting shop!
    Can you please tell me where it is? I will be in England in August and hope I can pop in!

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  22. Congratulations! It's looking absolutely gorgeous, exactly the sort of place I'd love to buy yarn from. You've worked so hard, I'm so glad you've got it open, and I'm wishing you the very best of success. CJ xx

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  23. It looks so gorgeous. All the hard work ? Totally worth it !xx Wishing you years of happy trading
    Nicky
    x

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  24. It looks so lovely, wished I could just pop in and say hello.

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  25. It looks gorgeous!! Good luck on your new venture

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  26. Love, love it!! Wish I could shop there, but too far from Indiana, USA. I wish you the very best in your new adventure. Thank you for sharing this with us.
    Mickie

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  27. So, so beautiful, I wish I could make the trip just to visit your lovely shop! Those pastel yarn skeins would make such a wonderful pair of socks!

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  28. Spectacular Heather. My goodness it looks so inviting. I want to be sitting at that table doing a workshop or nattering. We are motorhome shopping tomorrow and first trip I book will be so I can visit. Good luck lovely lady I'm sure it will be a great success xxx

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  29. Oh my Gosh! You did it!!! Fantastic. You are a true inspiration to me. Lets just do it... No one knows what tomorrow brings. Why wait when happiness is right here, right now. Thank you for sharing your beautiful little yarn Boutique!!! I want to see and hear more. Whenever you have time that is.
    Xxx
    Annette

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  30. CONGRATULATIONS!!You are so lucky to work in such a pretty enviroment.Good luck.

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  31. Oh Heather, I LOVE IT! It's absolutely scrumptious in every way and I am so happy you finally got it open and made it through Week 1.
    It's just the beginning... :-)))
    So much to come in your lovely Pink Milk Yarn Shop adventure.
    I'm so happy we are along for the journey!
    Bless you,
    Danette

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  32. p.s forgot to ask where is your lovely shop? I am in Chesterfield Derbyshire

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  33. What a beautiful, beautiful shop.
    Congratulations.
    Marja

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  34. Just heavenly Heather. It looks such a beautiful place. Xx

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  35. Well done, looks so lovely, wish i lived nearby!

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  36. OMGoodness, what a sweet and lovely shop! You did a spectacular job. I wish I lived nearby. Congratulations!

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  37. Congratulations!! It looks gorgeous. I wish you every success (and only wish I lived on your side of the world to be able to visit!!)

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  38. Que hermoso lugar... tiene magia, dan ganas de crear y crear y crear... La distancia hace que realmente sea un lugar de en-sueΓ±os!!!

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  39. You have done an incredible job with the shop (I helped a friend set up a yarn/fabric shop last year & I can't imagine how you moved house as well!).
    It is all so beautiful, and I wish I lived close by :)

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  40. Yay, way to go Heather, everything looks completely fabulous! Well done and congratulations, please be a LOT proud of yourself. This space looks absolutely calm, dreamy and inspiring, I want to live there 😊 Very best wishes for a successful and fulfilling business. Please keep posting updates, we LOVE to know how you are doing x

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  41. congratulations on your new shop it looks wonderful

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  42. congratulations on your new shop it looks wonderful

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  43. Congratulations!! It is so pretty!! Makes me wish I weren't in the Seattle area! Enjoy and blessings!!

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  44. Que hermoso lugar... tiene magia, dan ganas de crear y crear y crear... La distancia hace que realmente sea un lugar de en-sueΓ±os!!!

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  45. It's so beautiful and charming! If there wasn't an ocean between us I'd be on your doorstep this week! Best of luck...

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  46. How gorgeous your shop looks, Heather! Congratulations on getting it all ready and open and looking so beautiful both inside and out!
    Helen xox

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  47. Have just put a comment on FB ( Ronni Mog ).Got fingers and toes crossed that it all goes well for you,you deserve it too.The shop does look so pretty and inviting,pity I am in Cornwall,I would have bought something from you.Happy crafting.xxxx

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  48. Hello.... congratulations on your new shop it looks wonderful...just did not say the address, so he could go visit her ... success !!! kisses Ale

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  49. Hi, my name is Paola, from Italy. I'm your follower from bit time. God luck for this beautiful adventure. Your shop is as you would it be: nice, light andcolorful. It makes me happy too. Stay in touch on your blog, Paola

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  50. Wow! What a gorgeous shop Heather! All the love, care and hard work you've put into it clearly shows. You have a fantastic variety of yarns of the most beautiful colours and a great selection of other goodies for sale....I wish you were closer...
    Will you be selling things from your shop online?
    I wish you every success, you deserve it.
    Pati xx

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  51. Oh WHY are we not neighbours?? I'd love to shop here. I'd spend far more than I should. It all looks absolutely beautiful. Great merchandising. Bloody well done to you my friend. I'm so proud of you. Xxx

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  52. Hooray! A perfect little palace of pink prettiness! We will be venturing up to visit you soon, my lovely pal Jooles and I - and I might just never leave! Too much prettiness! πŸ’•πŸ˜πŸ’•πŸ˜πŸ’•πŸ˜πŸ’•

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  53. Your shop looks so beautiful and lovely! CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK! I wish I could come and visit it. Greetings from Poland!

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  54. Congratulations! This little shop is lovely! Thank you for sharing the photos. Yes, sit back, take a breath, enjoy and create.... Best of luck with this new adventure!

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  55. To those of you in places like Utah and Poland who are envious of us in Leicester, I visited the lovely Pink Milk today, a little oasis of pastel calm in a city that is currently very blue due to certain football related events....GOOD LUCK Heather!

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  56. It's the cutest shop I've ever seen! The combinations of colors are unbelievable! You are wonderful person to show people the warm cute beauty.

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  57. Congratulations! The shop looks great and I know it was a lot of work. I only wished I lived closer so I could come and visit.

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  58. Emma Hargreaves11 May 2016 at 09:30

    Looking fab- I have friends in Leicester so can you post your address so I can visit on our next Midlands trip

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  59. Oh Heather it all looks wonderful! I'd need to save up my pocket kidney if I was to come visiting, so many gorgeous temptations. You have done an amazing job, it looks so welcoming and friendly. Can't wait for more pics and tales of shop life.

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  60. Well done Heather you shop looks amazing.Ann

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  61. Congratulation again on your beautiful shop!
    Well done you, can't imagine how much work it must have been to make it all happen. It's beautiful, reflects so beautifully your style just like your log and work.
    Wishing you all the best, I hope I can visit your fab shop one day ;)
    Love Renka xx

    www.poppycreates.com

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  62. I'm so delighted for you! Congratulations! There is nothing like the feel of a cozy store full of yarn!

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  63. Well done you - the shop and yarn and extras all look beautiful!

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  64. Hurrah! I think you should be so proud! Not many of us turn our dreams into reality! I wish you so much success and happiness,
    Lucy xxxx

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  65. Congraatulatons on making your dream a reality, long may you trade for your fabulous little shop xx

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  66. It looks amazing! I love the light especially - both my local yarn shops are far too dark and I end up having to cajole them into letting me take the yarn outside for a proper look. The really great thing is that your shop is not far from my in-laws'. We'll be staying with them for a few weeks this summer so I'll definitely be paying you a visit!

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  67. arielle Peereboom17 May 2016 at 08:57

    What a lovely little shop ! Wish you success with this cutie :)

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  68. The shop looks amazing, Heather. I wish you all the best for its success and hope to be able to visit one of these days. xx

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  69. Congratulation and good luck for your shop...a paradise!!love

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  70. Its beautiful, and im so glad for you that you can reach out and do your dream. Not everyone can do that. I wish you all the best. With love Janice

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  71. Heather, I have yet to congratulate you, please forgive me for being distracted. Your shop looks gorgeous and certainly very tempting! I'm hoping to sort a visit to see you with Sandra cherry heart. Hopefully soon. Congratulations and well done xxxxx

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  72. Well done Heather - it's just beautiful! A dream yarn shop. If I'm ever up your way I will definitely make a visit.
    Cathy x

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  73. How is your beautiful shop going, lots of visitors L'm assuming. Wish I lived closer but South Africa a bit far to pop in....

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  74. I'm miles behind but well done for following a dream and making it a reality. My local yarn shop has been a haven of peace for me where through the knit and natter group I have made some genuinely good friends. We would all now do anything to support our Sue in her shop. I wish you loads of luck and new friends in your new venture xx

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  75. Gorgeous! I hope I can visit someday. I'm across the pond tho. Hehe.

    Do you think once you're settled, you can update us on the Happy Scrappy scarf please? I would love to see how it turned out!

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  76. Congratulations. I swear you are living my dream !
    I can not wait to see the wares in your online shop. I found you through Sew Sweet Violet, who I have just found online. The two of you ladies have such a pretty delicate color pallette. Im so so inspired. I live in New Zealand.

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  77. I would completely bankrupt if there was a store like this close by!! What a delight!!! Congrats!

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  78. What a beautiful shop you have :)

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  79. Glad you spoke up......billions of sufferers say nothing and suffer badly. Believe me, a lot of people will read your post and feel a little more at peace because you felt you could be yourself and talk about things. Much love x

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  80. Oh, what a dream you lovely shop is! It's like a woman's candy shop. πŸ˜‰πŸ¬πŸ­πŸ¬ I think I could practically live there!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Anyone ever told you that you're a peach? xx

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