I can hardly believe it's been 15 years in my shop and 14 years prior at the kitchen table! I feel so lucky to have somewhat stumbled into the cottage. It was New Year's Day so long ago and I was at Mach's, our general store looking for a video for a chilly winter day. I was approached by Edie, the woman that owned my building at the time. Edie asked me if I had any interest in renting her building for my business? Humm, I thought for a couple of seconds and said, "what the heck, lets go look". Well, that was sort of like just going to look at puppies...
My husband Carson had just started his business Flamin' Reds Wood-Fired Pizza Crusts at our house, my son was 10 and things were getting a little too close at home with music blasting out of the pizza hut and the stresses of running 2 home businesses side by side. I would see he was behind with labels and I'd jump in and help get ready for the UPS man or be too bossy.... imagine that!!!
I was ready for me to take my business to the next level and Edie helped give me a push... the story of my poky life. I asked Edie how much the rent would be? She said, "lets start at 100 dollars".... cool I was thinking, I should be able to cover that. I think Edie basically wanted someone to keep the pipes from freezing. Okay I said, I'd love to rent your cottage; I'll give it a try. I think I started moving in the next day! So exciting to have my own space!!!! Every few years Edie would raise the rent up a little.
About 5 years into renting I put a big Dolgo Crab Apple Tree in the front yard. And a few years after that I dug up a pretty big perennial garden and painted the door periwinkle. Marion Waldo McChesney, The Pawlet Potter was my neighbor across School St. reminded me few years ago about the time when the rent went up to $250. How was I to make that many lampshades... this was way before the internet.... we have it so easy now!!!! Remember those days of zillions of craft shows. I happily miss most of them these days, but don't regret the lessons learned driving back and forth to The Gold Coast to set up for juried craft shows. When Edie turned 70 she came to me and said she was ready to sell the little cottage; she had always told me she would move in her when she got old.... I figured she probably wouldn't as she had a nice house in town. The rest is history, I bought it and painted it pretty.
I'm recently back from visiting family over the holidays. It was a nice break from routine, but my first day back in the shop was heaven! Ahhh, back in my little "lady cave"! Pretty fabrics, all my little creations, my radios shows, my tea pot and friends stopping in to wish me a Merry Christmas. Thursday was a snow storm and I figured I wouldn't see a soul out in the blizzard. A few brave folks were around the village having lunch and stopping into the general store, but that didn't matter it was just so nice to be back in my shop, cleaning off the mess on my work desk, watching the snow absolutely dumping outside! The snow reflects a ton of light into my somewhat dark shop- wow, I forget each year how it brightens it right up!
It's the time of year to procrastinate digging out the taxes, figure out new ideas for 2013, think about May's Brimfield Show- what to bring, fill up my Etsy Shop, search out some new fabrics (okay, already did that!). This time of year does allow for a little R & R, a less break neck pace of routine. I've offered a few friends an Etsy tutorial, I have to speak at our local ladies luncheon and plan NOT to volunteer for any more committees for a bit.... Time to break out the XC skis!
Happy New Year! May 2013 be a little easier on everyone!
xo
judy sawyer lake