Showing posts with label Moseley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moseley. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Renovations part one

I thought I'd do a blog post to show you the building where my new haberdashery store and workroom studio business will be in - it doesn't look great now but thats all going to change soon - very soon!

Its a mock Tudor building in the heart of Moseley village, Birmingham, built in 1898, with a stone laid by Mrs Richard Cadbury. It had been used as a boys social club from around the 1920's up until around 2004 and has been a bit...well abandoned since really. After several years of to-ing and fro-ing and months of negotiations and planning, the building is about to have the transformation of its life! 

So here are a few pictures to show give you an idea of the 'before'...

Here she is from the main road...all the windows and doors boarded up.

Imagine...a gorgeous porch here....

The cadbury stone...

This is the entrance hall..still with original Minton floor so we'll need to see what we can do with that. 

The main hall on the ground floor with the massive bay at the front. 

Most of the bay is boarded up at the moment as you can see. It lets a huge amount of light in just now so once we open it up it'll be amazing. 

The stair case is still pretty solid, just needs cleaned up a bit. 


There used to be internal walls in the hall upstairs but once they were stripped back the original ceiling joists were exposed. 

There are lots of bits of the original, and not so original, wall paper too.....





 Hmmm...not sure about this one yet, could look good with a lick of paint and some new handles. 

And thats the tour. Requires quite a bit of imagination at the moment, but I've got a pretty good picture in my head of what it'll be like and its amazing - so can't want for the transformation to be complete and to show you! I'll be keeping you updated on the blog so stay tuned for another renovation instalment. In the mean time I've got lots of exciting creative projects to share with you. 

Monday, 23 January 2012

The start of something BIG!

Today has ended up being quite a landmark day for me...in a hugely positive way!!!

We finally found out, after almost 4 months, that Birmingham city council has granted us planning permission to turn this building in Moseley....




......into a retail unit where a fantastic new fabric and haberdashery shop and craft workshop/studio will be created. We plan to bring all the best and most gorgeous fabric and haberdashery supplies to Birmingham and inspire and teach budding crafters new skills in a wide range of short courses and workshops.


I am now dedicating myself full time to the project from the renovation of the building to the business planning and set up. 
Today was my first day on the Business Enterprise Course with the Princes Trust Charity who are giving me so much help and support...and it has been great to network with all the other entrepreneurs too. So all in all...a great Monday!
Stay tuned to the blog or sign up to the newsletter for all the latest developments on this exciting venture...

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Back to reality

After 7 weeks of adventure in South America I made it safely back to the UK on Thursday. Now that I've waded through all the laundry, hovered up all the dust, stocked up the fridge and chucked out all the junk mail I finally feel ready to get stuck into my new full time creative life! 


Before I left for my travels I resigned from my day job as a physiotherapist and now a completely new adventure begins. I am planning on opening a beautiful fabric and haberdashery shop in Moseley, Birmingham in an amazing old mock tudor building that I will bring back to life again! 


The building has been vacant for over 6 years and previously used as a boys club since the 1920's. As soon as the council grant up planning permission the site will once again be a hive of activity as we renovate the building and turn it into an exciting creative hub


As well as a selection of gorgeous fabrics, trims, buttons and other craft supplies we will offer a fantastic range of classes and workshops so we can spread the crafty handmade bug.  


So stay tuned to my blog or follow me on twitter for all the latest updates on how the business plans are coming along as well as snap shots of of my South American adventures!