Reality is Settling in

Hmmm ... where to start this blog post.  I've been so busy over the past few weeks I have had no time to do any writing or blog posts.  I've had it on my "to do" list ... that incidentally never seems to end.  So many other life details and changes have taken priority in the past few weeks I've been preoccupied.  

Within the past 3 weeks the shop has really taken shape and is looking pretty fab.  The endless pile of paperwork is done and I'm starting to feel reenergized and organized.

 

This is our new shop display!  I took this photo yesterday.  This new display features pink, green, black, white and a touch of Christmas.  Very pretty.  It feels energetic! 
Can I just show you one more picture?

Same sofa, with yellow, turquoise and black, from our spring display at the Summerside shop.  Proving if you use a neutral background, in this case the sofa, any look is possible.  Colours just work!  Change out your accessories for an entirely brand new look.

Today I'm going to share some random pictures of things, thoughts and events which have inspired me recently.  This sparkly table top setting at the shop is one of them.

Wine that is named Open... how absolutely perfect!  I'm liking that...

Now that we're up and running at 98 Fitzroy St we had a small open house to mark the occasion.  I was trying to decide what type of food to have and cake sounded good...

A Moving Designz cake... of course!

 

I did not know that you could take an image and have it placed directly onto a cake until 2 weeks ago.  I'm not sure how many bakeries offer this service.  Isn't it cool?  All I had to do was bring in my logo image, which they scan and then place onto the cake.  The local Sobeys store did this with 2 days notice.

I also noticed these mouth watering chocolate treats.... while I waited to pick up my cake.  OMG I wanted to buy one (yeah two... all) and just gorge.  Is that why they make them?  So people like me can feel guilty about even wanting one?  I fought the urge took my cake and ran away before I caved.

 Speaking of sweet things... I think these pretty little espresso cups with built in spoons would be the most perfect little dishes for serving individual desserts.  

New News!!! 

 

Meet Susan Rogers of Blue Mountain Entertainment.  http://www.bluemountainentertainment.ca/index.html

A local film maker I've been meeting with over the last few weeks with a very exciting idea/concept ... Excerpt from Susan's webblog below. 

"In other news, the rumours are true, I am in the very early stages of planning a new reality based Design Show with Susan Snow of Moving Designz. No more news on that yet because we have a lot to sort out but I am hoping we will get an 8 minute pilot shot in  January."...

http://bluemountainentertainment.wordpress.com/

I guess since she's putting it out there I will too! I told my sister last night who just kept giggling and repeating "are you for real?" As in Reality TV? Yes!  Maybe!

The local paper did an amazing story on my business last weekend called  "Living the Dream"

(SOMEBODY PLEASE PINCH ME)

(SOMEBODY PLEASE PINCH ME)

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Business/2010-10-30/article-1909789/Design-company-expands-and-moves-to-Charlottetown/1

More Good Karma! 
Another really amazing thing happened last month which I've been wanting to post on... Kelly James, my fellow blogger and friend from Jax Decor http://jaxdoesdesign.blogspot.com/ just happened to stop by for a visit all the way from Ottawa to PEI.   Her and hubby took a vacay to PEI and stayed at Number One Grafton and we got to have dinner and cocktails together.   

This is Kelly's stunning purple bedroom via her website (eat your heart out Ash)  Kelly is a big fan of purple.  You must and I mean must go to her website and look at her beautiful house.  She has such a great eye and her house is to die for.  I luff her style !!! 

 http://www.jaxdecor.ca/

I'm loving purple lately too!  Purple + Shoes + Bling = Shoe Heaven 

Proof... right here, right now, my new purple shoes.  Love design and love great shoes.  
Perfect with jeans on a casual Friday :)  Shoe envy?  Kelly has it, Ashley has it ( another purple fan), Anita has it, Karrie has it and a total of 30 odd customers apparently have it too!!!

Back to more random shop images .. this gorgeous white sofa that everybody loves (including me) arrived at the shop last week.  

One more view... with those pillows... I love the whole look, especially paired with the teak storage coffee table, custom graphic pillows and white cutwork accessories.  If you follow me, you will note all my August purchases that I blogged on from the buying show are finally arriving,  yeah!

 The new bedroom display, chocolate, white and green.  Coming into winter feeling warm and fresh.  Peppermint patty anyone?

The new window display... more chocolate, pretty blues and some bling.  I love the mirrored tables.... not to mention the chrome studded chair... oh love!

Large oversized wall clocks just arrived at Moving Designz Home & Cottage

Time to be thankful to family, friends and customers for your kindness and loyalty.  The flowers, the emails, the notes, the phone calls, the drop bys, the words of encouragement, the invites, the hugs, the tears, the dinners, and the unending offers of help.  All very, very appreciated.

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it"   

Many, many thanks ...  :) 

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan  

Moving... Moving Designz

For today's post I am going to share my last few weeks with you and along with a look at the new Moving Designz Home & Cottage shop in downtown Charlottetown. 

The date of this picture is September 9.  Anita and I are standing in the new shop space while the ink was drying on my lease agreement.  The new space gives us an additional 1000sq ft of retail space.  As you can see we need to do alot of work and alot of planning on this bare space. 

My target date for the big move is Oct 01 so that we can be open on Oct 12.  That gave us just over a month to pull this move and redesign off.

Moving a business means a "Massive To Do List" and being super organized.

Within 3 short weeks, we (Anita, Ashley and myself) had phones, cable, internet and debit machines arranged and rearranged, movers booked, packing supplies ordered and on hand, customers notified, shipments rerouted, change of address complete, new signage and business cards ordered and delivered, new cheques ordered, A/V equipment taken down and reinstalled, lighting removed and reinstalled, construction on the new space underway, etc, etc.... believe me the list seemed endless!

Packing day and Ashley showed up in her newly revised tee shirt which we all had a good chuckle over.

The final wrap up.... my pretty shop is all packed up and ready to move.

I can't even begin to tell you how much shrink wrap was necessary but suffice to say lots to protect the furniture and accessories.

Also a necessity was lots of caffiene to keep us going. 

We emptied out the store in record time.  It only took the crew of 12 of us 3 hours to be locked and loaded and on our way.

My girls having a little fun.  Anita get a free ride on the wheeled filing cabinet.

I'm polishing off my coffee, this is the last day in this office.  Coffee makes everything better!

Wow it's empty, saying good bye to 3 and a half amazing years at the Summerside shop.

Meanwhile back at the new space, work has been progressing quickly and steadily getting ready for us to move in.

Promising space... must get rid of the yellow and erect walls for the office, warehouse and kitchette.

The walls have now been painted white and to the very left our warehouse demising walls are up and ready to be painted.

The flooring is getting laid and they are working on the electrical.

Still lots to do but the lighting is almost done... We brought our beautiful drum lights and crystal chandeliers from the Summerside shop to be used in the new store.

Moving day and our first load is in... yeah!!!  With more coming in the next moving van....

It took us 6 long days to get things unpacked, organized and redisplayed. 

After a very hectic week we have the shop set up for opening day on Tuesday, right on time.
People have been dropping by and peeking in all week... they're ready for us. Always a good sign :)

The open concept in the new space makes placing furniture a breeze.  The shop looks fantastic!!! We are all so excited to be in this new space.

The diningroom display is appropriately set up for a fall display. 

A huge thank you to my girls Anita and Ashley for all of the extra time they put in over the past few weeks.  We are a great team!

  Additional thanks to my best friend Karen, The Bradshaw Brothers- David and Jason, Dallace, Jeannine, Wendall and Ralph all their hard work on moving day.  And another thank you to Kelly Moorehead who volunteered her time to come and help us set up all week.

We're open for business and looking forward to seeing everyone :)  Stop by and say hello.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend!

Susan