Ever since Saturday we've been without light in our color room. Joe had just changed all the light fixtures in the building the beginning of this year. He had ran all over three counties looking for matching fixtures. We thought they went very well with the feel of the Shoppe.
Since this building is old the process of replacing seven fixtures was a nightmare. It seems every one of the existing boxes were wired differently. It was scary. I'm glad Joe has an electronics background and can work with wiring safely. After completing that task we made a comment to the landlady about the state of affairs with the wiring in the building. She told us that she had had the whole house rewired after she had moved the building to this location twenty years ago and the wiring could not be a mess as she got the "best electricians in all Wayne County" to rewire the place. Needless to say we have taken note of the "best electrician in all Wayne County" and will not be using them. We have had other run ins with them and issues with wiring here at the Shoppe. I know some men don't think woman know anything, but little did they know that day one of the ladies at the class knows a good deal about such manly things as wiring and all of home repair as she does that work every day. They were outright lying to us about what they were doing, well really they didn't do what they were saying as she was watching. This company has snookered our landlady at least twice. I believe they most likely have everytime she has asked them to fix her problems here in the Village. The wiring in this building is older than twenty years. I don't know how some of it passed code even back then.
Saturday our main light in the color room which was the very worst wiring job began to flicker and then totally went out. Changing of bulbs didn't help. Joe decided it needed a new ballast which he wasn't looking forward to doing especially with the dreaded color room wiring. Well things only went from bad to worse as no ballast that would fit could be found. They had changed all the new lighting to need smaller bulbs and different ballasts. He spent a few days searching for the needed size ballast and finally ended up at a locally owned electric store. There he was told he could thank his government, but he was going to have to replace the whole light fixture as it was mandated from on high that the ones we have aren't allowed to be used anymore so the companies aren't making the ballasts.
Normally on Mondays we do extra things like this as well as all our errands, doctors appoints, etc. Well this Monday as life would have it the day was full of extra Monday type stuff to do as well as quarterly trip over to Raleigh for the Vintage Quilt Study Group. Monday we did all we could do about the light, but the installation wasn't happening. Next plan was Tuesday morning before opening which is another time where we do things we can't do when opened for business. More problems found and not enough time, Wednesday morning the same. We've been in the dark in that room for two and a half days now. Thankfully we have wonderful customers who work with us! Thank you! Today was the day that things finally came together and we now have light.
Here is the story in pictures. We're not real happy with the look of the light and definately not happy with quality of the light.
Good thing we had some track lighting over there on the right and two windows in the room. It was still dark in there. The flash of the camera helps here though.
The work continues. We have never seen a light made like this, so flimsy. They sure don't make things like they use to.
We hardly have room in the Shoppe to begin with, but when working the place really can't be used. Things are displaced and torn apart on top of it all.
Since there is only one of us doing normal preopening jobs in-between helping with the light (I do need to be a couple inches taller for that job!) the reordered things and new things just keep sitting in the box they came in. On the bright side I did manage to get it all done this morning. Oh, yes, we now have in more pocket planners for next year. The first shipment sold out so quickly I couldn't believe it.
It is so nice to have light again!
This light isn't as pretty as the first one we put in there. Of course the cover for the first light can't be used on the second light. But we do have light!
Since I had the camera out I did take a shot or two of some fall decorations in the Shoppe. They will be coming down before I know it and the Christmas decorations will be going up. Time just doesn't stand still for anything. I do love fall and try to hold on to it as long as possible.
Didn't even have the candle light on over there on the right. It is now!
The Do Not Disturb sample has been popular. Since the Fall Quilt Sampler has come out Country Threads has gotten a ton of orders for the pattern. So many in fact they wrote and told us about it. We are still sending out patterns for the quilt and pattern, just one this week.
The Shoppe is now all back together and lights all on, even the accent ones! It is a good thing as today is rainy and dreary. I love light.
Speaking of runs on things. Yesterday we had a run on our Cheddar Centennial fabric from Marcus. When things like that happen we know there has got to be a reason. Thank you Donna for putting on Reprofabriclovers Yahoo group about us having the fabric. We're down to only 5 yards and will be reordering it.
I did get the first Setting blocks for the Generals' Wives block of the month done, all twelve of them. Forgot the pictures though. I hope to get started on the third block soon. It is nice being able to do some piecing again.
Happy quilting! Until next time.
Mary Ellen
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