so I know I have been talking about the fact that we have moved our 3 stores recently into a warehouse. Previously (for the last almost 5 years)we have always had them in our home, in our garage and back hallway. It started with just the kit club.. which was okay for a bit.. then we kept growing and growing and soon spilled its way out of the garage into our back hallway. Then a year and half ago, we started the beadArt site.. kinda of on a fluke and it just grew like crazy too.. fast and crazy. Soon we had two business, in our garage and seroiusly spilling over into every part of our house. NOT just the back hallways. A house that has 3 bedrooms, 1 and half baths, one living" room, no dining room and a small kitchen. Oh and the laundry room is in the half bath across from the kitchen (really only 2 feet away from the kitchen counter).. so when you open the door from just zipping up your pants, you are looking at the people eating at the counter. Nice huh? lol..
SO when we opened our media store February I had NO idea where we would put it. I mean at first it was meant to just carry a few inks and canvases.. and now I swear we have over 500 items in the store! Crazy but I love it! I love mixed media and LOVE being apart of that industry in any capacity! Anyhow.. we just had no room, we tried to build more shelves, get more organizes.. but we literally had boxes in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the living room (we don't have a family room.. so this is the only place we all have to "hang out.. all 8 of us'). into our kids bedrooms, our bedrooms.. anywhere we could find an an empty space, we were using it. I think our friends and family thought we had gone mad. WE knew we either needed to MOVE or find a warehouse for our stores. We really wanted to keep it at home.. and when we found a house to buy that was bigger, out in the country, and had a huge shop, perfect for the stores.. we were thrilled. But it just wasn't meant to be..and the people decided not to move.. hence we no longer had a plan. So we went with Plan B. Finding a warehouse. We were BLESSED to find one withing a mile of our house. One off the beaten path. It's an older building and it doesn't even have a bathroom, the walls are old and needed to be repainted, it's drafty.. but when we saw it we KNEW it was perfect for our needs and the rent was AMAZING. We couldn't find a better deal anywhere. So we said heck yes.. and moved in a month later. We have officially been in there since May 3rd and I can NOT TELL you what it feels like to have my house back! My space.. my sanity! lol.. AND to have a space for everything for the stores. it's organizes and we can ship in such a timely matter.. and the kids can go there after school and hang out and help too. It's just perfect. The crazy thing is.. we look at it now and can't BELIEVE that all of that stuff fit into our house! I am serious! You will will know what I mean when you see it in this video! It was like putting a square in a circle. and by some miracle we pulled it off.. well sort of. Then the square just got too big and we said. no more! lol.
So many of you have been asking about what it looks like and what my "studio" garage looks like.. I decided to do a little video.. giving you a tour of the new warehouse.. "old" but new to us :)
so here you go! hope you enjoy! and happy Monday!
So cool!!!! You are just too funny ;)
Posted by: Martha Richardson | May 23, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Watched the whole video, Ben, and have to say your work area looks like my laundry room since I got hooked. Now that's a big problem for me.... but I can't bare to clean it and stop creating. Your fam is delightful and I have to say, being a former piano teacher....cold fingers don't work so great!
You guys are such a fun and beautiful family (loved the tour guide)
....thanks for sharing the best part of your life! Wish you much continued success in everything!!!!
Posted by: Jana Darrington | May 23, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Awesome!! So glad you finally have a great and bigger space for your business!!
Posted by: Kim Boken | May 23, 2011 at 07:02 PM
wow.. I can't believe you fit that all in your house.. madness I say.. so happy you found a space for your stores!! Your kids are too cute. thanks for sharing Christy.
Posted by: angie blom | May 23, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Wow...you weren't kidding!! LOL.....I am in awe at how much stuff was in your house!!! Thank goodness you guys have that warehouse now! Oh, and yes, I watched the whole video too, Ben. So there!! LOL...Christy's right....people do like to see stuff!! LOL Thanks for sharing your life with us!!! You have an awesome family!!
Posted by: Amy Walker | May 23, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Can I "borrow" Noah, he is soooo cute. Thanks for showing us an insight into your daily life happenings.
Posted by: Dianne | May 23, 2011 at 08:49 PM
So happy for you!! I think Noah was the star. Great family
Posted by: Espe | May 23, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I just can't believe this was all in your house!!!! Loved the whole video. Thank goodness for family. Noah is just great - not shy at all. He is so cute. It was great seeing how everything is finally getting organized. You deserve an award - you are so amazing!!
Posted by: Linda Polaretzki | May 23, 2011 at 09:27 PM
Love Love Loved the video...Noah was an awesome guide and tell Ben he totally rocked that Lynard Skynard shirt...haha :)...I can't leave Tia out...she rocked that hoody...lol:)!
ps: I know the house may be small to you now but your children will eventually leave home and one day you will be wanting that most gorgeous house back...I don't know if I could leave it :)
Posted by: Francine | May 23, 2011 at 10:05 PM
...ant tell Ben I watched the video twice...lol
Posted by: Francine | May 23, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Tell Ben I loved the video and stayed right to the end, I enjoyed seeing your house, and your work area, and how you flim, because you videos are great really clear, great light, and you are a great teaher really easy to understand and so willing to share what you know. And I hope you get that hot tub you deserve it, and tell Ben he can share it with you once and awhile
Posted by: lee | May 23, 2011 at 11:12 PM
I watched the whole thing too - loved it! Can't believe you fit all that stuff in your house. Am sure you will LOVE having the warehouse. So cool to see where you create - your desk looks like mine and that makes me feel better. Lovely family too.
Posted by: Susan Tidwell | May 23, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Oh my... i can't believe it.
Must be nice to have your house back :-)
Posted by: Astrid | May 23, 2011 at 11:30 PM
what a lovely behind the scenes video! i love seeing other artist's workspace. i am amazed that all of that fit into your garage and hallway! wow. must be nice to have a separate workspace and now a larger space for your studio! i'm looking forward to more classes in the future!
Posted by: nicole austin | May 24, 2011 at 12:57 AM
I absolutely loved watching this! Thank you so much for sharing this! You're an amzaing family and I love your house!
Posted by: Monique | May 24, 2011 at 01:47 AM
Thank you for sharing...love your new space...it has got to feel so good to have it out of the house..
Posted by: sherry | May 24, 2011 at 05:26 AM
Merci pour ce partage
Posted by: domy07 | May 24, 2011 at 06:31 AM
You rock!!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Ramee @ Rae-Berry Beads and More | May 24, 2011 at 06:58 AM
i was amazed at how much stuff you had in the warehouse, but to then find out you used to keep it in your house...that just blew me away. thanks for the video. living in australia it is nice to see what its like all the way over there. love your work, thanks so much for sharing your art with us all.
Posted by: Vicky Carter | May 24, 2011 at 07:28 AM
I watched the whole video Ben !!! Thanks for sharing your business side and family !! Your kid's are sooo cute!!!!
Posted by: Lisa Ciaravino | May 24, 2011 at 12:30 PM
thank you for sharing your world with us!!!!
Posted by: Diana Hetherington | May 24, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Thank you, Honestly, thank you. Ben should know you have lots of people that admire the person you are. The way you share your talents and are open about the ups and downs of your life, just makes it easier for others to know we all have good along with the difficult.I So appreciate the example you are for others w/ medical issues, that you can't give up. You show joy in your work and I just really appreciate that and respect your ethics. May God keep blessing you and your family! Thanks for opening the door {to mixed media} for me that has brought such joy to me. I love scrapbooking but honestly this is so freeing. Again thank you and rest assured I am NOT a stalker, just wanted to take the time to let you know what you are doing is appreciated! Sincerely, Sarah Lejeune
Posted by: Sarah Lejeune | May 24, 2011 at 01:44 PM
It must be such a relief to be clearing some space in your lovely home Christy.
Thank you for showing us around - always interesting to see other peoples' spaces'
x
Posted by: lesley | May 24, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Hahahaha! Your work area/desk totally looks like mine right now. I thought I was messy scrapbooking, but it's nothing compared to the mess I make creating She Art!
Posted by: Che'Marie | May 24, 2011 at 06:35 PM
You video was a little long but I did enjoy seeing the peeps in your life !!!! You are so far away--and yet so close through video !!!! Some of your kids were missing .... need to meet them too !!!!!!
Posted by: Annie Lou Ricci | May 24, 2011 at 06:41 PM