Wednesday August 9th, 2006

A very good online friend (Jennifer in TX) suggested that I start a BLOG for the store so this is my first attempt at posting one.

It has been a very busy 8 weeks. We have gone from just a concrete slab building to a actual
scrapbook store and crop studio. This all started coming together Mother's Day weekend.
My husband who owns his own businesses wanted to give me a business to start from scratch and turn it into whatever I wanted. This resulted in "The Birth of a Scrapbook Store"
here in Cumming Georgia. We found a great location that is a little out of the ordinary for a storefront but the area is growing fast and we have some great neighbors (Sawnee Ballet,
JitterMugs Coffee Shop, A Community Church and more) We looked at several areas, shopping centers etc but this location kept our attention.

We signed the construction lease the middle of May. Found a store that had gone out of business in Ohio, purchased their remaining inventory, flew to Ohio, loaded it on Roadway
headed to Atlanta. Then the planning and blueprints were finalized and construction started.
My husband took a very active roll in the building of the store and cropping studio. He built
the office, 22 foot cropping counter, painted the floors, painted the bathroom, did the chair-rails,
installed the slatwalls, gondolas, counters etc. He poured his heart into getting everything done.
There were many weekends he would come in from out of town on Friday night or early Saturday and be at the store 10-12 hours. There were many nights he would insist I go home
while he stayed and got things done. A gal couldnt ask for a more caring husband.

I am on of those people if something can go wrong it will. Infact several friends say I should write a book about the stange things that happen to me. I am the person who came home 2 weeks ago Saturday to my own personal waterfall when the pipe broke under my kiddos
bathroom and above my entry way. All I could do was laugh. Well many things like that have
happened during the building of the store. Let's just say I will never drive by a building site
and say "that place has had a now coming sign up for 3 months ...I wonder if they are really opening..." I now know all the things that can and will go wrong. But evidentally it all comes together.

We are still in the pre-Grandopening stages but opened our doors last week and started hosting crops (7 scrappers our 1st night). I was a little afraid of the timing of the opening (back to school)
is such a busy mom and family time but everyone in the area has been so supportive and sweet.
They all understand that we are still working and planning things but are anxious to check us out. Already this week I have met some of the most wonderful creative ladies and even reconnected with some moms and children from past summer camps at Michaels.
I am still working on the idea lounge area upfront with the sofa and tables of idea books which I hope will be a daily gathering place for customers, friends & moms of the ballet students next door. I also have a coffee central alcove area in the works in the middle of the store. But again
everyone has been sooo complimentary about everything in the works.

Ok I just realized I am writting a novel (that's my downfall I love to talk and visit with people)
so I am going to wind down this first post. I have several orders to place, a few to check on
and classes, samples etc to plan.

Before I end I thought I would post just a little bit about me :)

I was born and raised here in Atlanta. I had 2 of the most wonderful parents a gal could have.
My father passed away a few years ago but my mother still lives in Tucker which is 45 minutes from the store and we see her weekly if not more. I have been married to my hubby for
22 years and have 2 kiddos DS Jonathan 19 in college and DD Jennifer 17 a senior this year.
Both kids have been very involved in the store working on anything from sorting papers and product to working on the website which is still under construction. I have one other kiddo
which is a Chocolate Cocker Spaniel (trust me she is just like a little kid ;) and then there's
the 2 rabbits but thats another story for another day.
I have been an Event Coordinator with Michaels Arts & Crafts Chain for years. Infact we just got thru with our 10 week summer camp program I do which had +2000 children come. I am actually on vacation this week working on getting things done at the scrapbook store. I have tried many crafts/hobbies but my passion has always been scrapping. Infact my kids laugh
that I cant go anywhere without picking up something and thinking about using it in or for
scrapping, altered crafts or something.

I have been very active on the AOL Scrapbooking Board for about 9 years joining in atleast 200 swaps and even meeting a few gals as they come thru Atlanta. I am soooo looking forward to meeting several more as they come thru Atlanta in the next few months and stop by the store.

Ok time for me to get busy with store things and get ready for our 1st big sale tommorrow
thru Saturday. I have decided to mark several items down and take an additional 10% off everything in the store to make room for all the new items coming in post CHA. I hope this post works....Here I go..................