our new myBearpaw shop and studio
Welcome to our new shop and studio!
We’ve spent most of the last month moving out of our old shop and into the new one and finally we are open, and I even held my first class yesterday!
Our old shop was way too big and left over from our previous business retailing homewares and gifts. As the classes and craft supplies took off more and more I knew we needed better premises, as even though the last place was large it was divided into smaller rooms, none of which were ideal for classes.
So we have moved about 10 minutes away, closer to the centre of town and to a really vibrant, busy area of Edinburgh called Toll Cross.
The shop is one big open space which we have divided into a small, but good sized shop and a large studio behind.
My husband has been a total brick, working almost every day for the last 2 weeks to get this shop ready. He has done all the handy work stuff: painting the shop fascia, the electrics, lighting, plumbing, re-furbished the toilet and kitchen area and designed the shop fascia! And hung all my quilts! I am SO lucky!!
The shop has space for a good selection of fabric, wool and haberdashery. And then there’s the studio…
…which is wonderful! It’s such a good size, I will comfortably get 8 students using sewing machines around the table and 10 – 12 for hand sewing or crochet.
It’s got excellent lighting, two cutting/ironing areas and lots of storage space for class paraphernalia and samples.
Plenty of wall space for all my (and a few other people’s) quilts, most of which I use for classes, and some just to look pretty!
If you think the studio seems to go on forever (photo below), that’s because there is a mirrored wall at the back of the room. This place used to be a hairdressers and the mirrored wall was there when we came. We decided to keep it and make a feature of it. Can you see the chandelier hanging up there? This used to hang in my bedroom in my old house that had high ceilings. Since moving to our bungalow it’s been in our barn, I am delighted to have it back in my life!
I am so excited to be teaching in this fantastic space. I start my evening classes on Wednesday night and tomorrow is our Craft Club – it’s going to be so much fun here!
I’m also very pleased to have got all this done and to be able to now concentrate on something else. We are only opening the shop on Friday and Saturday every week. I really didn’t want to be tied down anymore to a 6 or 7 day a week retail business, something I have been doing for the last 15 years! So we are concentrating on the classes and I will have time to work on developing new classes, new kits and patterns, and designing for magazines – all of which I love doing. And I will also have time to enjoy life and not be constantly chasing my tail!
So my new life starts this week.
And one last photo. This is our seating area – A comfy sofa with an inspiration library on the wall, for students to use at lunchtime. And of course the chandelier!
To the left of the sofa is the door through to the kitchen/storage room and a toilet beyond (no photos as it’s still being worked on!). The mirrored door was too heavy so we replaced it with a beaded curtain! I just love this beaded curtain (even though Jonathan wasn’t keen!), it totally completes the look, makes a wonderful clattery noise, and makes this the girliest space ever!
See our website for our new address and directions. Maybe our new studio has persuaded you to come and take a class with us? Craft classes here.
Oh boy it looks great Jo. Wish you all the luck in the world with the new shop
Oh how exciting and what a superb husband, how great not to have to deal with tradesmen! Looking forward to hearing how it all goes.
Oh Jo it looks wonderful – I wish you all the best with this 'new life' and hope to be abe to come visit one day xxx
It looks absolutely gorgeous – good luck with it all, I can't wait to see what your classes make!
Oh Jo it's a dream! I'm so in love with it, what a wonderful space and I hope I get to come and visit some day, it's perfect.mi wish you every success with it all! Xxx
Your shop looks amazing!!! I love every little detail… From the Haberdashery on the front window, to the pennants, and the beautiful quilts hanging on the sales, to the lovely and classy chandelier!!! I would love to visit…. If only I lived in the area 🙁
Oooh, lovely, can't wait to visit :o)
Love it all….and "a few other people's quilts"!;) Is that Jonathan's reflection in the first photo?:)
The lights and floor is awesome as is the mirrored wall…what a great way to have the place look even bigger and reflect the light!
Oh my gosh we need to come back for a visit!!!:)
xoxo
Looks fab Jo, job well done. Can't wait for my next trip to Edinburgh to come and see it all for myself, in the meantime I'm linking this post to my post about your old store. Good luck with everything 😀
It's so beautiful and colourful Jo! Congratulations to all of you on all your hard work!
Your shop looks lovely and I wish I could visit to browse and buy. Unfortunately I'm right on the other side of the world in New Zealand, but maybe one day I'll make it to Scotland. Thank you for putting up these photos.
Simply fabulous, I wish you every success.
Oh boy! What a dream place. Lucky you having this. Wish I were closer to pop in on maybe not a daily basis but at least weekly. Congratulations. And well done for wonderful work by your husband.
Xxx
Annette
My Rose Valley
Its perfect! – how exciting to see your dream realized!
It is perfect. A great space to have fun with fabric and meet new friends. Next time I am in Edinburgh I will pop in to say hello and top up on supplies. Very well done both of you and I know it will be a huge success.
It looks fantastic Jo! Well done to both of you xxx
Looking great Jo!
Congratulations, it all looks completely wonderful. Your husband sounds pretty amazing too. x
congratulations Jo it looks amazing. Wish I could pop in for a visit right now!
Well that looks like Heaven to me, can't wait to come through.x
It looks blissful. I can't wait to visit! Well done to both of you and enjoy your new life without the tie of the shop! Juliex
How fabulous!! Must save my "pennies" and come over from Down Under to check it out!! Wishing you every success!
It all looks great. Wish I lived closer.
Teresa x
Congratulations on your new shop!!! It looks wonderful!!! Enjoy it :)))