Today's the day!

If you haven't already picked up Trees 1 and Trees 2 at your local stamp shop, they're available today on the A Muse website!

Thank you for all your wonderful comments and emails about our Sneak Peeks over the past five days.  My first stamp *ever* was a tree, so you might say I have a fondness for tree images. <wink!> 

Our new Trees 1 and Trees 2 clear stamp sets include lots of fabulous designs and you will see why we simply had to release TWO sets... how could I say 'no' to any of these great images? 

Check them out on the A Muse website.

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In case you missed our weekly newsletter, this is the week we MOVE into our new digs!  Woohoo!  There is much work yet to be done both at the new building and packing up the old.  So, here's the plan in case you were planning on placing an order or stopping by our retail shop in the coming days.

Distribution Center
This applies to all wholesale and retail orders fulfilled via our distribution center.

• Thursday, September 25th - Close at noon
• Friday, September 26th - Closed
• Saturday, September 27th & Sunday the 28th - closed as always
• Monday, September 29th - Closed
• Tuesday, September 30th - Hope to be open

Retail Store
8544 Greenwood Ave. N.

• Saturday, September 27th - CLOSED until further notice... approximately three weeks.

My husband has been working day and night to get the building ready for us to move into.  As with all construction projects, things take longer than planned, weather doesn't always cooperate and the scope of the project changes!  He has been such a trooper!! 

Lots of progress has been made since I last posted pics.  As you can see from this photo, the masonry is now complete and looks fabulous!

The stucco on the back part of the building was also bleached and painted.  This is not the final color... it's the darkest coat possible with the impermeable paint. The scaffolding is still up because we are awaiting the awning.

This is what the front looks like up close...  I *love* the door.  It's really BIG!

 

Here's a sneak peek at the inside... Makenna is standing on a "river"... it was a crack in the concrete floor that Karl, the floor guy, decided should look "special".   Annabelle and Quinn think the new floor is great for jump-roping!

 

Here is a sneak peek of the retail store.  I haven't measured yet to see if it is bigger than our last shop.  I wanted it to be bigger but there were some structural things that got in the way so I'm not sure of the actual square footage any longer.  LOL! I do know that all of our current shelving units will fit so that's good!

The floor looks SUPER shiny in this photo because it has a fresh (wet) application of wax on it.  It is supposed to flatten a LOT once it is dry.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  The floors are *HEATED* - wahoo!

OK - that's all the shop photos I have for now.  The other ones are boring construction-type ones.  As you can see, there is still a LOT of work to be done.  I don't expect we'll sleep much this week.

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On the home front, I have some pretty exciting news.  Hailey got her first pair of pointe shoes on Friday!!!  We are so proud of her.  She has wanted them since she was three years old and has worked hard for seven years!

It was quite a special event.  The principal of the ballet school, one of Hailey's ballet teachers and several other teachers were on hand to fit the girls.  The girls were so, so, so excited and couldn't wait for their turn.  I asked the teachers, all of whom were professional ballerinas, if they remember their first pair of pointe shoes and they all had such fun stories.  We enjoyed hearing them.  As a parent, I feel so fortunate to have my daughter involved with such a wonderful, caring school!  Thank you PNB School! 

On Saturday night, we attended the Opening Gala for the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  It's a great evening where you get to preview some of the ballets that are scheduled for the season.  It is also when promotions are announced and I am so thrilled to hear that my fave dancer, Lucien Postlewaite, was promoted to Principal.  This is quite remarkable since he was promoted to soloist only one year ago.  Lucien was also recently awarded a prestigious award by the Princess Grace Foundation.  Go Lucien!

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It's going to be a busy week and I'm not sure if I'll get to post again this week so this is a LONG one. LOL!  I think I mentioned a few weeks back that we adopted a pair of Tabby cats from a kitten rescue operation.  We really lucked out because they are just the sweetest, loving kittens.  Tabitha is the mischevious one... here she is attaking a tissue-paper flower that belonged (past-tense) to Hailey.  Isn't she CUTE?  I'll post a pic of Samantha soon.

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If you have stayed with me this long, you deserve a medal!!  I *know* you are going to want to read this final tid-bit...

The response to our Calendar fund-raising project has been INCREDIBLE.  Thank you for your support and for helping us to spread the word.  As of midnight tonight, which is the deadline for our matching funds, we have raised $1,788 from individual donations.  With A Muse's matching funds, that brings us to a total of $3,576!!!  This is truly AMAZING!  I am humbled by your generosity.  Thank you for your support. 

This fundraisinig project will continue in the days and months ahead.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of the A Muse 16-month Calendar will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in honor of Victoria.

Have a beautiful day!

Comments

[Jen]

The store looks amazing! I can't wait to see it in person. Best of luck with the move!!

[Katie]

Wow! Thanks for all the wonderful updates! My fave is the picture of Hailey with her pointe shoes - what an exciting and proud moment for her!

Can't wait to see the new store!

[Lyndsay Breid]

Congrats on *all* of your big news! So much excitement!

[Novell]

Whew! What a flurry of activity! Hailey, congratulations on your pointe shoes! That's a tremendous accomplishment. You should be really proud of yourself.

[Pam]

Wow! I'm thrilled to hear the amount raised so far with the calendar! Job well done kudos to all of you!

Pam

[Ingrid]

What fun to catch up on all your news - thank you! Congrats to Hailey - what an accomplishment! The new store looks magnificent. Your new kitty looks lovely, too. Love the new tree stamps. Way to go on the fundraiser!

[Julie]

New building is looking so awesome! Warmest congratulations to Hailey on her toe shoes! WOW! The kitties are cute! And, my heart swelled so big hearing the news that the Calendar project is enabling A Muse to make a fantastic contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! So wonderful that together, we all can make such a difference!

[Michelle Clark]

OOH the store is looking great. I can't wait to get there. Congrats Hailey!!

[Jen]

There is so much to respond to today! First the new shop looks amazing!!! I can't wait to visit one day! Second ~ Congratulations to Hailey, that is some accomplishment!!! She must be so proud and you too! Way to go on the calendar!!! That is awesome!!! And congrats on your new fur babies! Tabitha is adorable!!!

Oh and I *love* the trees 1&2 and will be ordering my sets soon!!!

I hope I didn't forget anything! :)

[Kathy K.]

Loads of Congratulations are in order!! Hurrah for the new store, the for long-awaited pointe shoes, for the fun of 2 new kitters, for the success of the A Muse calendar fundraiser (I love the 2 sizes I selected....think these will be perfect holiday gifties for so many on my list!!) for the 2 new CLEAR tree sets (which I picked up at Stephanie's and I can hardly wait to break them in!!). Lots of activity going on at your hive - you're all very Busy Bees. Good luck & take care and again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[scoopy (Emily)]

Congratulations to Hailey! Can't wait to see the new shop in person - best of luck with the move this week!

[Jennie M]

The store looks awesome! HUGE congrats to Hailey, that is so wonderful! And I am absolutely *thrilled* to hear how much was raised by the calendar project!! :)

[Hailey]

Hi everybody. Thanks so much for your nice comments. I am really excited about my first pair of pointe shoes!!

Hailey

[Elena]

Congrats to Hailey on the pointe shoes! And the shop looks like fun - yay for heated floors :)

[Alana]

Whoo-hoo for the new store! I can't wait to come in and visit!

[Linda Beeson]

I so love the way you colored your tree on the card! Adorable!

[Michelle M White]

Forget the store...let's go see Lucien!!!

[Patty W]

Wow...LOTS of good things!

Congrat to Hailey on her pointe shoes!

Loved the card too!