Well, here we are.
It’s officially shop-opening week, which means my brain is running exclusively on coffee, adrenaline, and mild chaos.
The good news: The shelving units are assembled and (so far) still standing.
The bad news: I may have accidentally invented a new form of cardio called “panicked rearranging.”
Because this Saturday—yes, this Saturday—I’ll be officially opening the doors to my very own 150 sq ft shop at The Shops on Main in Huntley, IL.
It still doesn’t feel real. Every time I walk in, I half-expect a grown-up to appear and say, “Wow, great pretend store, kiddo.”
But then I look around and see:
-
fat quarters stacked like colorful little skyscrapers,
-
shelves filled with notions that once lived only in my sketchbook,
-
and a suspicious amount of boxes slowly taking over the floor.
So yeah—it’s real. And it’s happening.
In theory, this week should be full of final touches and confident nodding.
In practice, it’s more like:
-
Realizing I forgot to label half the inventory,
-
Rearranging the same shelf six times because I want it to “feel right,”
-
And wondering if “organized chaos” can be an intentional aesthetic choice.
But underneath all that noise is something that feels…kind of amazing.
Because somehow, all the late nights, doodles, and caffeine-fueled pep talks have turned into a real space. One that smells faintly of new fabric and hope.
And honestly? I couldn’t have done it without Jenna and Krista—the real MVPs who kept me sane, helped wrangle displays, and reminded me to drink something that wasn’t just Diet Coke.
If you’re local, come see me this Saturday at The Shops on Main.
I’ll be there, smiling, sweating, and pretending I totally know how to use the cash register.
Bring your good vibes—and maybe a word of encouragement for the shelves. They’ve worked hard too.
Stay stubborn. Stay scrappy.
See you opening day. 💛
—Your Resident Maker of Things (& Slightly Frazzled Shopkeeper-in-Training)