Making of the New Peapod Fabrics

Thanks all for coming to our Grand Opening (prize winners will be announced by Wednesday). It was very nice to see you all. I received a lot of warm wishes and compliments for how the shop looks and its contribution to the neighborhood. The newest comment I received was from a stranger who walked by as I was walking out the door this evening. She said to me, "I've been living this neighborhood for the past 35 years, and this is the cutest store ever. You are doing a great thing" It was very sweet to hear. I understand that her comment was not just how the shop looks. It is about what my shop contributes to the community. I know we need Peapod Fabrics :-) No, I meant any small businesses that make the city and communities special. Okay, if I may say something for the sake of all the small business owners, I have to admit that it is not always easy. Costs of running businesses go up every year. Laws and regulations are not always on small businesses side. Demands for paying less get higher as the recession goes down deeper. We try to meet the demands, but the truth is that we have to make a living too. I almost wrote then Mayor Newsom to protect small businesses in a better way. Without unique small businesses, the City of San Francisco won't be the same place. I'm sure you guys agree with me on this. Who doesn't want to see neighborhoods more vibrant and happy? Am I right? So let's support hard working small businesses! We really need your help, otherwise we can't stay. I did it again, didn't I? I didn't mean this post as a pledge for small businesses. But, I meant to show you before and after pictures of the new Peapod. So here enjoy my long journey to Grand Opening. It was hard, but a fun project. Space configuration was the hardest part of this entire project. an overall view... the nasty carpet had to go... so did the plastic drapes... the floors are in...dash seemed lost as he noticed the difference... dash: i prefer the stinky carpet, mama... phew! moving complete... fabric bolts await the new shelving... what was i thinking? the famous "tattoo parlor" black walls... painting the other side of the walls in grey... thinking of what color to paint this wall with... much needed bright color smiles on the door... turquoise started growing from the kitchenettes... the peg boards painted in orange...our notion wall is growing... thinking about what to do with the cutting table... every time i finished a part of the space, i had to place shelving and fabrics to see how they all looked... accent turquoise was the third color choice. couldn't hold my paint brush anymore.. reds and pinks by the windows, but got stuck with the rest of the space around them... more turquoise... this was the disaster zone and last area to work on... feeling desperate for this area with no time or money to hire another handy man... i was almost crying because i didn't ask my floor guy to put the flooring on this bench area as it was covered with an ugly carpet. i was on my own. after giving much thoughts, i decided to cover it with my canvas and piping (my first attempt using piping, a staple gun and a glue gun). i bought this child rocking chair dirt cheap several years ago at an estate sale, but it was sitting in my storage forever. i painted it, wove the chair bottom, and made quilted seat and pillow. a perfect project! i was very proud of myself when i was able to change the light fixtures... welcome to the new peapod fabrics...