2015 February
MEM's March Mad'mess'...!
2/28/2015
Oh what a week!! I planned to participate in the Delray Affair last fall. Sounded good.... I knew that it was in April. Not a problem....That was do-able since the only other thing that I had on my plate for early spring was the Annual Recreation Workshop that I was going to direct in May. I can do this.... So, then we decided to change direction of the store and start the sale in March.
OH MY!! What have I done???
The girls at the store are putting their hearts and their backs into getting ready for the RETAIL GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE . We are pulling, pushing, tugging, toting fabric from place to place and making a general mess. They are trying to keep my not so terrific organization skills under control while they figure out the best way to make this sale happen. I am so lucky to have them by my side as we start this new transition!
Last week should have been a great week to get lots done for Delray. Unfortunately I did not get as much done as I would have liked. I was snowed in Monday and did get a lot of pillow covers with fun sayings on them made and ready to go.
On Tuesday I was starting to get stir crazy...I could not get out of our long lane with all the snow and finally got hold of the young man that plows the snow from the store parking lot. I think he felt really sorry for me!!
Jeff went to work Monday morning before the snow storm came and ended up staying at his office because he couldn't get back down our lane.
Mean while, I was having Dr. Pepper withdrawals, and so getting much done on Tuesday took everything I had!! I just wanted to get down the lane and get out!! Tuesday afternoon I was saved and headed straight to McDonalds! I felt like I had been released from a prison!
The rest of the MEM crew was not able to get out most of the week. Delphia and I held the store down with limited hours and did what we were able to amid the online orders and answering the phones. I hope you all did okay during this mess of winter weather!
Much of the rest of the week was spent working on small bags and mixed media pillow covers. I also was able to get a lot of the Hobo Jane bags cut out and ready to sew. But with all that is going on with the store, my concentration has been lacking.
I think this Sunday afternoon will have to be set aside to finish those!!
We are blessed this week to have another baby added to our extended MEM family. Judy is a grandma once again.... Check out this cutie.... Glad to report that they re all doing fine!!
Make sure to come visit us this next Friday and Saturday for our big sale. Drastic reductions and great bargains for you! Remember... our hours remain the same until May 1st. Help us clean out so we can move on!!
0 Comments
Don't Cry Because it's Over... Smile Because it Happened!
2/21/2015
"Oh the places you'll go...", one of my favorite lines from Dr. Seuss. And, oh, the places I've been!
Making Ends Meet fabric store has been way more than I could have ever imagined both to me and to my family. I have been blessed by the great customers that I have met and worked with and have been so fortunate to meet and work with so many wonderful employees.
The store has been a wonderful place to share my creative energy in the pillows and furniture that I have designed. - Jeff was glad I was able to do it for you so I wasn't always redoing my own house - It has been a great vocation that has also been my avocation, and a source to help the family income and put the boys through college. It has been fun being an addition to downtown Shelbyville and the store was my focus and energy giver when I went through my cancer ordeal. It has been a true gift!
25 years ago Jeff rented a small space in the building across the street and said, "Do something with this, I have it rented for the next 6 months." We had a knock down drag out :) when I told him that I could not pay the $200.00 a month rent and no one would want to come to Shelbyville to buy fabric. First lesson.... God had other plans.
For the past 2 years Jeff has been saying..."This is no longer your passion... follow your dreams" and "Times are changing and you need to change too!" That is so much easier said than done when it is your "baby" that you have created and raised for 25 years. And yet, I knew that I was ready to move on. There have been lots of tears, lots of what if's, and lots of 'I did this once I can do it again'. There has been artwork created expressing how I felt and to get me out of some of my low points.... But underneath it all ...God has other plans and I am trying to listen.
I am now at peace with our decision. And once again to quote Dr. Seuss..."Don't cry because it is over, Smile because it has happened."
And now it is time to 're'create What and Who we are and I am so excited about the possibilities!!
Throughout the past two years, the one thing that i felt like I was missing was time to create, in whatever form that might take, and I am working to make that happen. So at this point, here are the plans as we know them:
1. We will have a RETAIL Fabric Going out of Business Sale. All retail fabric, pillows, accessories and "stuff" you can't live without MUST GO!
2. We are going to expand our online fabric store with new product at rock bottom prices. The new changes and prices are doing great across the country, so check it out!
3. We are going to continue Making Ends Meet as the STUDIOS Art & Design Center with LOTS of the upholstery and sewing classes that we have been having and expand lots of the art classes to host more local and national artists. (happy to take your suggestions) . Check out our class schedule at STUDIO Classes on our website.
4. The STUDIO will be open to the public during class times as well as Friday and Saturday from 10 - 5. I will continue to design and create my bags, clothing, pillows and one-of-a kind furniture and then look for outlets for these creations.
So this is it as we know what is happening today... and yet we know... God may have other plans!!
Thanks for your support!!
Text 22828 keyword MEM to receive notifications of the sale, classes and new online fabrics.
14 Comments
Mary Angel - Congratulations on 25 successful years, but I think your creative talents will be put to even greater use offering classes! You have so much to offer and people will love the opportunity to learn and create themselves. Can't wait to see what your imagination and energy comes up with (especially during the month of September!).
Leslie - Thanks Mary for the kind words!! We are very excited about what we are doing and are ready to really start all the planning and moving!! I'll work on September.... give me suggestions :)
Jayn Landro - So excited for you and for your creativity to be given more time and to be allowed to fully flower. It is such a God given gift. This is a huge leap of faith ... wonderful that you are open to it. Hats off to Jeff too for being your biggest supporter and giving you those pushes!
Leslie - Thanks Jayn!! We are really excited to move forward.... and you are right... Jeff has been my biggest supporter and I am lucky to have him behind and beside me!! I am ready for you to come take some classes!!
Lynda - Leslie, I had the feeling this was coming, unless you had found a way to clone yourself. Congrats on your 25 years and can't wait to see where you go from here.
Jo - As one door closes another one opens...and a new journey begins. So it will be with this new path you are taking in your business. Do what makes you HAPPY...CREATE! Looking forward to seeing you at Robert;s class. Congratulations!!!
Leslie - Thanks Jo!! So looking forward to being in the studio more and offering more classes... we will continue to have the online stuff available (including the fun batiks) for use in our projects!!
Sharon, Middlesboro, KY - My best wishes follow you on your new 'path'. My sister & I enjoyed your store SO much.
Leslie - Sharon... Thanks so much! You will have to watch the great prices we have on our online fabrics... You will have to come take some fun classes with us and watch how it all evolves!!
Annette Deardurff - Wow, Leslie- big news! I wish i could come down and shop for some clearance fabrics, but the dear hubby might disown me for adding more to my ginormous stash! Hopefully you'll still be selling it in March when i come to pick up my grandchildren for spring break. As I'm typing this I just suggested to him that I might stop in that weekend to look for fabric for the window treatments in our living and dining room, which I've been saying i was going to make since we moved here three years ago - AND HE DID SAY IT WAS A LONG WAY TO GO TO SHOP, to which i replied, " i could go on the way to Tennessee. And HE DIDN'T SHUT ME DOWN!! So woo hoo! I'd like to send you pictures of my room and windows if you wouldn't mind maybe giving me some ideas, please. I wish you every success as you make this exciting transition. I look forward to getting down there for more classes. I haven't gotten my copper loom up and going, so classes in that would be awesome! Annette
Leslie - Hey Annette! Send them to the store email and we will see what we can do to help you out!! Looking forward to seeing you at some more classes as we expand! Thanks for the support!
Annette Deardurff - Ok great - What's the store email??
Tabitha Rimmer - Sad to see it change since this place was my first job. I wish we lived closer so I could do some of the cool classes. I am hoping to come before it closes to fabrics.
Laura Dennison - One of the things I was really looking forward to when I moved here a couple of months ago was getting to visit MEM on a regular basis. I have so enjoyed my visits. Best of luck in this change of focus. It takes guts and courage and I applaud you for both. I look forward to many creative adventures in your studio.
Two Lazy Men and Their Robotic Maid...
2/13/2015
Brent and Murphy... Reunited at last.
We had a great trip and Murphy was a trooper! Considering that he has never been on a trip longer than 10 minutes to the vet or kennel he took it all in stride. We made it a good 15 hours before Murphy realized that there were cars and trucks being passed and passing us on the outside and he felt the need to alert us to this fact! After a few minutes he settled down and decided a nap was in order.
The reunion was wonderful and Murphy seems to be adjusting to a new home with his dad! Those daily walks in Florida are a lot better than the kennel in the cold Kentucky winter.
So, I told you that we were taking Brent's Christmas presents to him. Several of the items were too much for his flight luggage. One of these items was a robotic vacuum cleaner. I can not tell you how many times I walked into a room and Jeff and Brent were in this position!!
A friend titled the picture "two lazy men and their robotic maid". Lazy they are not, but totally amazed they were! "Hilda" does a great job!! She should keep the dog hair under control.
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.... or however that goes! We found a great fabric that we wanted to try our hand at dying for pillows. Just a word of advice ... if you want an EXACT color, go to the website and see the proportions of dye! I have a beautiful piece of fabric to work with for hobo bags for Delray but not what we needed for the pillows. We had a great time trying!
This headboard was the project of the week. Once we found the perfect fabric (and I did not realize just how good Making Ends Meet fabric prices are until I went fabric shopping in Florida!) and the new mattress was delivered, it was quick and easy... well, not real quick! We are just missing the tacks down the wings.
We cut our plywood to size, drilled our holes, covered 28 buttons and made it all up as we went along. Oh!, the aching fingers!!
What do you think, Bobby Allen??? I think the headboard with wings needs to be a new class for the STUDIO. Good looking don't you think??
So many people are going to gray as the neutral instead of a beige. When we started painting we went through a lot of different colors until we found just the right one. If you want a great color that is easy to work with, try Behr's "Gentle Rain". We found just the perfect color for the house!.
When Brent bought this house we knew we needed to do lots of work on it. His taste and mine in decorating are totally different yet we appreciate what each other does. He told me that I could design my bedroom any way I chose. I love this Jacobean fabric in teals, grays and lime greens. This is totally different from the style of the house but is very complimentary.
I have never tried to use chalk paint but am going to try when we go back. I have odds and ends of fun furniture pieces in this room and think that i will give this paint a try. Do you all have any recommendations for good brands that you have used? Tips? Will take all the advice that I can get!
Headed home and ready to jump into some more decorating for Jason and Lydia. I hope to help them this week put together a guest bedroom we've been working on. Can't wait to share those pictures with you.
I'm also thinking ahead to the Delray Affair. The rest of February will be concentrating on pillows, tote bags and purses! Got to get cracking!!
3 Comments
Sally Kurmu - Love your blog!
Leslie - Thanks Sally!! I am having a good time with it and I went into it kicking and screaming! I find it makes me stay on top of new projects... Hope all is good with you and yours!
Delphia - Makes me want to redo everything!!!
On the Road Again...
2/6/2015
Getting ready to go out of town takes a huge amount of coordination. I feel like I need to be gone at least a week to make all the pre-plans worth it! Fortunately, we are headed to Florida to work and will be gone for a full week.
Brent was home for Christmas and he flew so he wasn't able to take all his gifts with him when he left. So we're taking them to him, but more importantly, we're taking Murphy (Brent's pretty black and white dog) so both Brent and Murphy will finally be together again. I will miss him!!
The car is full and Murphy is ready to go!!
We are packed with all the "stuff" that I think I may need while we finish up the house. I hate to buy it if I have it, you know!
We are doing some final clean up and renovations before Brent has his first party at the new house. The party was supposed to happen last February but he found out that gutting a house when you work a full-time job takes a lot longer than a couple of months!!
I spent last weekend and this week knee deep getting ready for the Delray Affair. When I stopped to pack for this trip I made nice neat piles with all the different projects on my kitchen table. I decided it was better to come home to a full table that has to be emptied than to a mess spread all over the house.
At least if it is on the table I will have to do something with it before we can have a meal. Hopefully that is to sew it and not move it to another table in the house!!
This is a stack of fabric pieces and parts that I have been working on for some bags I am creating. I just love batiks and the embellishment process on this project. Color, color, color.... just makes me smile! I will start back on this as soon as I get home and hopefully share some of the finished pieces with you next week.
Have you ever just fallen in love with a piece of fabric and no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to compare? That is how I felt about this batik called Pop Op by Robert Kaufman. I ordered one bolt, fell in love and then ordered 3 more!
I have decided to make the drapes for my great room out of this batik and am still contemplating the top treatment. I would love to use the antique door knobs that held my last valance but haven't yet decided what it should look like. Just something else to think about!
Trends and colors for decorating go in and out and I love watching the changes, and can appreciate all the different looks but personally, I decorate in colors that make me happy. I hope you do too!
P.S. I am honored to be teaching at Art Unraveled in Phoenix again this year. Check this art retreat out... it is fabulous!!
Art Unraveled 2015
1 Comment
Darci Mckinnon - Have fun! Be safe. Kiss Murphy and sell lots!
2/28/2015
Oh what a week!! I planned to participate in the Delray Affair last fall. Sounded good.... I knew that it was in April. Not a problem....That was do-able since the only other thing that I had on my plate for early spring was the Annual Recreation Workshop that I was going to direct in May. I can do this.... So, then we decided to change direction of the store and start the sale in March.
OH MY!! What have I done???
The girls at the store are putting their hearts and their backs into getting ready for the RETAIL GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE . We are pulling, pushing, tugging, toting fabric from place to place and making a general mess. They are trying to keep my not so terrific organization skills under control while they figure out the best way to make this sale happen. I am so lucky to have them by my side as we start this new transition!
Last week should have been a great week to get lots done for Delray. Unfortunately I did not get as much done as I would have liked. I was snowed in Monday and did get a lot of pillow covers with fun sayings on them made and ready to go.
On Tuesday I was starting to get stir crazy...I could not get out of our long lane with all the snow and finally got hold of the young man that plows the snow from the store parking lot. I think he felt really sorry for me!!
Jeff went to work Monday morning before the snow storm came and ended up staying at his office because he couldn't get back down our lane.
Mean while, I was having Dr. Pepper withdrawals, and so getting much done on Tuesday took everything I had!! I just wanted to get down the lane and get out!! Tuesday afternoon I was saved and headed straight to McDonalds! I felt like I had been released from a prison!
The rest of the MEM crew was not able to get out most of the week. Delphia and I held the store down with limited hours and did what we were able to amid the online orders and answering the phones. I hope you all did okay during this mess of winter weather!
Much of the rest of the week was spent working on small bags and mixed media pillow covers. I also was able to get a lot of the Hobo Jane bags cut out and ready to sew. But with all that is going on with the store, my concentration has been lacking.
I think this Sunday afternoon will have to be set aside to finish those!!
 |
| Araya Joy Niemuth |
We are blessed this week to have another baby added to our extended MEM family. Judy is a grandma once again.... Check out this cutie.... Glad to report that they re all doing fine!!
Make sure to come visit us this next Friday and Saturday for our big sale. Drastic reductions and great bargains for you! Remember... our hours remain the same until May 1st. Help us clean out so we can move on!!
0 Comments
Don't Cry Because it's Over... Smile Because it Happened!
2/21/2015
"Oh the places you'll go...", one of my favorite lines from Dr. Seuss. And, oh, the places I've been!
Making Ends Meet fabric store has been way more than I could have ever imagined both to me and to my family. I have been blessed by the great customers that I have met and worked with and have been so fortunate to meet and work with so many wonderful employees.
The store has been a wonderful place to share my creative energy in the pillows and furniture that I have designed. - Jeff was glad I was able to do it for you so I wasn't always redoing my own house - It has been a great vocation that has also been my avocation, and a source to help the family income and put the boys through college. It has been fun being an addition to downtown Shelbyville and the store was my focus and energy giver when I went through my cancer ordeal. It has been a true gift!
25 years ago Jeff rented a small space in the building across the street and said, "Do something with this, I have it rented for the next 6 months." We had a knock down drag out :) when I told him that I could not pay the $200.00 a month rent and no one would want to come to Shelbyville to buy fabric. First lesson.... God had other plans.
For the past 2 years Jeff has been saying..."This is no longer your passion... follow your dreams" and "Times are changing and you need to change too!" That is so much easier said than done when it is your "baby" that you have created and raised for 25 years. And yet, I knew that I was ready to move on. There have been lots of tears, lots of what if's, and lots of 'I did this once I can do it again'. There has been artwork created expressing how I felt and to get me out of some of my low points.... But underneath it all ...God has other plans and I am trying to listen.
I am now at peace with our decision. And once again to quote Dr. Seuss..."Don't cry because it is over, Smile because it has happened."
And now it is time to 're'create What and Who we are and I am so excited about the possibilities!!
Throughout the past two years, the one thing that i felt like I was missing was time to create, in whatever form that might take, and I am working to make that happen. So at this point, here are the plans as we know them:
1. We will have a RETAIL Fabric Going out of Business Sale. All retail fabric, pillows, accessories and "stuff" you can't live without MUST GO!
2. We are going to expand our online fabric store with new product at rock bottom prices. The new changes and prices are doing great across the country, so check it out!
3. We are going to continue Making Ends Meet as the STUDIOS Art & Design Center with LOTS of the upholstery and sewing classes that we have been having and expand lots of the art classes to host more local and national artists. (happy to take your suggestions) . Check out our class schedule at STUDIO Classes on our website.
4. The STUDIO will be open to the public during class times as well as Friday and Saturday from 10 - 5. I will continue to design and create my bags, clothing, pillows and one-of-a kind furniture and then look for outlets for these creations.
So this is it as we know what is happening today... and yet we know... God may have other plans!!
Thanks for your support!!
Text 22828 keyword MEM to receive notifications of the sale, classes and new online fabrics.
14 Comments
Mary Angel - Congratulations on 25 successful years, but I think your creative talents will be put to even greater use offering classes! You have so much to offer and people will love the opportunity to learn and create themselves. Can't wait to see what your imagination and energy comes up with (especially during the month of September!).
Leslie - Thanks Mary for the kind words!! We are very excited about what we are doing and are ready to really start all the planning and moving!! I'll work on September.... give me suggestions :)
Jayn Landro - So excited for you and for your creativity to be given more time and to be allowed to fully flower. It is such a God given gift. This is a huge leap of faith ... wonderful that you are open to it. Hats off to Jeff too for being your biggest supporter and giving you those pushes!
Leslie - Thanks Jayn!! We are really excited to move forward.... and you are right... Jeff has been my biggest supporter and I am lucky to have him behind and beside me!! I am ready for you to come take some classes!!
Lynda - Leslie, I had the feeling this was coming, unless you had found a way to clone yourself. Congrats on your 25 years and can't wait to see where you go from here.
Jo - As one door closes another one opens...and a new journey begins. So it will be with this new path you are taking in your business. Do what makes you HAPPY...CREATE! Looking forward to seeing you at Robert;s class. Congratulations!!!
Leslie - Thanks Jo!! So looking forward to being in the studio more and offering more classes... we will continue to have the online stuff available (including the fun batiks) for use in our projects!!
Sharon, Middlesboro, KY - My best wishes follow you on your new 'path'. My sister & I enjoyed your store SO much.
Leslie - Sharon... Thanks so much! You will have to watch the great prices we have on our online fabrics... You will have to come take some fun classes with us and watch how it all evolves!!
Annette Deardurff - Wow, Leslie- big news! I wish i could come down and shop for some clearance fabrics, but the dear hubby might disown me for adding more to my ginormous stash! Hopefully you'll still be selling it in March when i come to pick up my grandchildren for spring break. As I'm typing this I just suggested to him that I might stop in that weekend to look for fabric for the window treatments in our living and dining room, which I've been saying i was going to make since we moved here three years ago - AND HE DID SAY IT WAS A LONG WAY TO GO TO SHOP, to which i replied, " i could go on the way to Tennessee. And HE DIDN'T SHUT ME DOWN!! So woo hoo! I'd like to send you pictures of my room and windows if you wouldn't mind maybe giving me some ideas, please. I wish you every success as you make this exciting transition. I look forward to getting down there for more classes. I haven't gotten my copper loom up and going, so classes in that would be awesome! Annette
Leslie - Hey Annette! Send them to the store email and we will see what we can do to help you out!! Looking forward to seeing you at some more classes as we expand! Thanks for the support!
Annette Deardurff - Ok great - What's the store email??
Tabitha Rimmer - Sad to see it change since this place was my first job. I wish we lived closer so I could do some of the cool classes. I am hoping to come before it closes to fabrics.
Laura Dennison - One of the things I was really looking forward to when I moved here a couple of months ago was getting to visit MEM on a regular basis. I have so enjoyed my visits. Best of luck in this change of focus. It takes guts and courage and I applaud you for both. I look forward to many creative adventures in your studio.
Two Lazy Men and Their Robotic Maid...
2/13/2015
Brent and Murphy... Reunited at last.
We had a great trip and Murphy was a trooper! Considering that he has never been on a trip longer than 10 minutes to the vet or kennel he took it all in stride. We made it a good 15 hours before Murphy realized that there were cars and trucks being passed and passing us on the outside and he felt the need to alert us to this fact! After a few minutes he settled down and decided a nap was in order.
The reunion was wonderful and Murphy seems to be adjusting to a new home with his dad! Those daily walks in Florida are a lot better than the kennel in the cold Kentucky winter.
So, I told you that we were taking Brent's Christmas presents to him. Several of the items were too much for his flight luggage. One of these items was a robotic vacuum cleaner. I can not tell you how many times I walked into a room and Jeff and Brent were in this position!!
A friend titled the picture "two lazy men and their robotic maid". Lazy they are not, but totally amazed they were! "Hilda" does a great job!! She should keep the dog hair under control.
We cut our plywood to size, drilled our holes, covered 28 buttons and made it all up as we went along. Oh!, the aching fingers!!
What do you think, Bobby Allen??? I think the headboard with wings needs to be a new class for the STUDIO. Good looking don't you think??
I have never tried to use chalk paint but am going to try when we go back. I have odds and ends of fun furniture pieces in this room and think that i will give this paint a try. Do you all have any recommendations for good brands that you have used? Tips? Will take all the advice that I can get!
Headed home and ready to jump into some more decorating for Jason and Lydia. I hope to help them this week put together a guest bedroom we've been working on. Can't wait to share those pictures with you.
I'm also thinking ahead to the Delray Affair. The rest of February will be concentrating on pillows, tote bags and purses! Got to get cracking!!
3 Comments
Sally Kurmu - Love your blog!
Leslie - Thanks Sally!! I am having a good time with it and I went into it kicking and screaming! I find it makes me stay on top of new projects... Hope all is good with you and yours!
Delphia - Makes me want to redo everything!!!
On the Road Again...
2/6/2015
Getting ready to go out of town takes a huge amount of coordination. I feel like I need to be gone at least a week to make all the pre-plans worth it! Fortunately, we are headed to Florida to work and will be gone for a full week.
Brent was home for Christmas and he flew so he wasn't able to take all his gifts with him when he left. So we're taking them to him, but more importantly, we're taking Murphy (Brent's pretty black and white dog) so both Brent and Murphy will finally be together again. I will miss him!!
The car is full and Murphy is ready to go!!
We are packed with all the "stuff" that I think I may need while we finish up the house. I hate to buy it if I have it, you know!
We are doing some final clean up and renovations before Brent has his first party at the new house. The party was supposed to happen last February but he found out that gutting a house when you work a full-time job takes a lot longer than a couple of months!!
At least if it is on the table I will have to do something with it before we can have a meal. Hopefully that is to sew it and not move it to another table in the house!!
This is a stack of fabric pieces and parts that I have been working on for some bags I am creating. I just love batiks and the embellishment process on this project. Color, color, color.... just makes me smile! I will start back on this as soon as I get home and hopefully share some of the finished pieces with you next week.
Have you ever just fallen in love with a piece of fabric and no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to compare? That is how I felt about this batik called Pop Op by Robert Kaufman. I ordered one bolt, fell in love and then ordered 3 more!
I have decided to make the drapes for my great room out of this batik and am still contemplating the top treatment. I would love to use the antique door knobs that held my last valance but haven't yet decided what it should look like. Just something else to think about!
Trends and colors for decorating go in and out and I love watching the changes, and can appreciate all the different looks but personally, I decorate in colors that make me happy. I hope you do too!
P.S. I am honored to be teaching at Art Unraveled in Phoenix again this year. Check this art retreat out... it is fabulous!!
Art Unraveled 2015
1 Comment
Darci Mckinnon - Have fun! Be safe. Kiss Murphy and sell lots!
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