Yes, that would be the title that would describe this week. Every moment has been full of movement and progress. I know at the end of it I'll just crash into the floor. We spent much the last week in PA for a family wedding, thus the blog silence, then we came back into town to celebrate James' fourth birthday (I'm glossing over that for a reason- if I think about it too long I get teary because I no longer have a baby, but a boy), and we'll spend the rest of the week moving around fixtures and setting the store up just so before we even think about moving the yarn over.
What do you think of this table? A nice spot for a rest and a stitch? We salvaged this and many others from a local factory. Like this entire building, it's being reclaimed and repurposed. What once had a life in the tool and die industry now has a life in a yarn and dye space. Cool eh? Now I'm just thinking about paint colors for this table, as the wood is really too far gone to be sanded and varnished. What color do you think would be nice on this table?
Above the shelves in the first picture (see bottom picture), you're going to see this map. On it, I'm placing a dot for each one of you (or maybe a dot representing dozens of you in one place) that has helped Simply Socks Yarn Company grow. I want a constant reminder of the knitters who have helped me and my family be happy and whole. Each one of you has provided me with a career, and there are dozens of dyers, shippers, and artisans who rely on everyone who has touched SSYC over the past 6 years. If I were to write a list of all the lives you've affected with your purchases, it would be rather long.
When I walk in the door each day, I want to look up at Canada and think "Hey, Bobbi, I know you're going to love this month's club selection," or at PA and think "Vickie, you're going to get this sunny weather in about 12 hours." Afterall, it's the loyalty of all you knitters that has made this new storefront happen, and that's going to be my focus as I look at this map throughout the day.
Take a look below, and you can see just where this map resides, 10 feet up. These shelving units are nearly 10 feet long, and that's just one side of the store. There's so much room for sock yarn!
These shelves won't be empty for long! If you were planning on placing an order for something, I recommend doing so in the next couple days as we will soon be closing for about a week to move everything over.
Wow! The place looks huge! I think the table should be red. Then you could be black and white and red all over - ha! Just kidding, but I do think the table should be red. How exciting!
Posted by: Vickie | July 14, 2011 at 10:33 AM
PS - The light in this space is just amazing!
Posted by: Vickie | July 14, 2011 at 10:35 AM
How about BM Saybrook Sage (their most popular color)? The space is just stunning!
Posted by: CyndyC | July 14, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Spectacular room!
Posted by: Kathleen B. | July 14, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Wow, you guys are thinking just like me- I was thinking a muted terra cotta for that table, and a sage or pale olive for another table...
Vickie, Can you believe that these pictures are taken with no flash and no artificial lighting? All sunlight streaming in the windows. The colors in the yarn are going to be so true and beautiful in this space.
Posted by: Allison | July 14, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Love the map idea. How about a color for the table of cold oatmeal. Or a schooners sail canvas. Or the bark of a paperwhite birch tree.
Posted by: mary | July 14, 2011 at 11:05 AM
The place is looking beauiful! I'm thinking Earth tones for the table. Love the black and white on the floor. Can't wait to see all the rainbow colored yarn, filling the place up with lots of color!
Posted by: Brenda | July 14, 2011 at 11:29 AM
I've seen milk paint used on things like that table and think it looks really neat. There are some colors here: http://www.milkpaint.com/color.html My favorite is the pumpkin that's 75% white.
Posted by: Jennifer in NC | July 14, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Voting for red :) I can't wait for your opening!!!! It looks fabulous!
Posted by: April | July 14, 2011 at 02:12 PM
I am partial to a medium grey. Or drab olive
Posted by: Rachel | July 14, 2011 at 04:44 PM
oh, I want to come and visit. that is just gorgeous.
Posted by: cate | July 14, 2011 at 06:16 PM
I'm voting for turquoise!
Posted by: Joyce | July 14, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Are you SURE the wood is too far gone for a natural wood look? I think it would look wonderful.
Posted by: RustyBird | July 14, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I too love the idea of milk paint - perhaps in Bayberry Green or Federal Blue with 75% white. Or 50% white.
Posted by: Donna | July 15, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Gosh ! the new shop looks so great, I just want to hop in the car and drive up from North Carolina ...... will you be having an "open shop" when you're ready for customers ?
Posted by: Sara Lee Albright | July 15, 2011 at 02:04 PM
This is a wonderful space! And I love the map idea.
Posted by: Jane | July 15, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Congratulations on getting the space ready - it looks simply stunning!
I'd vote for a creamy white, like the floor tiles for the table top and black for the legs. After all, you want people to be able to work at it, so red--maybe not. But are you really sure that the wood can't be salvaged? If it's a little dinged up, that just adds character.
Posted by: Louise | July 15, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Oh please don't paint it! It has so much character in the wood and every ding and mar has a story to tell. I love the patina of old wood and tables like this in particular. Can you try to just clean it and see how it looks? I know you are overwhelmed right now and want to slap some paint on it and be done. Just think about it.
Posted by: Kc | July 15, 2011 at 07:38 PM
I am jumping up and down! I can't wait until you open those doors!!!!Will unpack for yarn!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 15, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Rather than painting the table, how about scattering the labels from all the yarn you carry and then add a shellack to secure them in place. The result will look like one of those old suitcases that's traveled around the world.
Posted by: Rebecca Olker | July 15, 2011 at 11:58 PM
I'm imagining seafoam green for the table, but then I've been reading a beachy book and wishing I were there. I also can't wait to make a pilgrimage to your beautiful new store.!
Posted by: Wanda | July 16, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Allison, what a beautiful place! I spotted on one of your newsletters that you were doing it up, and I love the way you've done it - very stylish. Wishing you many happy and succesful years there!
Posted by: Cybèle de Jong | July 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Red, definitely red!!!
Posted by: Marylu | July 16, 2011 at 07:19 PM
Wow! The space looks Absolutely Fabulous! I wish I lived closer.
Posted by: blogless grace | July 16, 2011 at 09:28 PM
I love the table just the way it is:)
Posted by: Wanda and Jeff | July 17, 2011 at 09:16 AM
My first thought was teal but with all the colors of yarn I think bright colors like teal, etc. might distract...I loved the idea of the milk paint for the diluted colors. Then the yarn will get attention - and not the table! What fun...Decisions, decisions! Best of luck to you Allison!
Posted by: Renee' | July 17, 2011 at 04:43 PM
Me again... I was thinking it might be cute with a diluted red table and a diluted slate blue table and get one more table and paint it white and sand it up a bit.
Posted by: Renee' | July 17, 2011 at 04:48 PM
I like the yarn labels shellacked to the table tops would be great. Wood can always be sanded and refinished, imho. Don't hide the beauty in it!
Posted by: Barbara | July 17, 2011 at 10:27 PM
I also love the table natural, but if it must be painted, what about picking up some shade of blue--one of the richer or more teal shades--from the map? Looking at the picture of the map in place on the wall, I could see bringing a color of it down to the working spaces, but I'm sure space will look different with yarn colors on the shelves...in that case, I like terra cotta. Red seems to me too stark a contrast, just my opinion...
Posted by: Laura | July 18, 2011 at 09:22 AM
Allison you have a beautiful store. I wish you were in my neighborhood so I could shop in person... Guess one day we will travel to the States like we say and the store will be on my list of places to visit. Until then all the best. Lise
Posted by: Lise Legris | July 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
I am voting for a table the colour of sea glass, with matching cushions for the chairs. Those wooden chairs are not comfy for too long...
Sea glass blue/green/turquoise is my favorite colour of happy.
Posted by: Val | July 23, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Did you put in a pin for me? ;-)
Posted by: Amy Samin | July 28, 2011 at 10:47 AM