Lovely things and filling up the shops!

Its been a busy couple of weeks with my family up to visit and going backwards and forwards from the van! We tend to go every other week and rent in between which pays our site fees for the following year. Last week we at last had some lovely weather and it was nice to just sunbathe on the decking with a good book or two! We dropped my parents off at the airport on Tuesday and as its only 10 mins from Inverness we did a little shopping. Of course that meant a trip to the DH shop but didn't go mad just a few little bits and pieces.

I will go back to last week first as I received the most gorgeous quilt in the post from my lovely friend Deb. She made it all by hand as its just gorgeous! I loved it so much I decided to base the whole idea of the homewares store upper floor around it!!

She also sent me the most adorable little bunny jumper she had made as she knows I am bunny mad! Its just perfect and fitted Marie just right I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it lol!!! Thanks so much Deb you really are such a great friend!

Back to the shop! Debs quilt was so pretty I decided to add much more pretty fabrics and things to the shop and of course I had to add some of my trademark bunting lol! I got the little letters from Ebay and raided my other houses from some sweet patchwork cushions I had.

I decided to put my lovely wicker chair by Wendy in as the colour just looked so right in there!

The screen started out as barewood which I painted in a nice pink. I then cut small bits of card for each section and the covered them with fabric. I am really pleased with it so much nicer than just painted although it took me hours to do!! 

I had corner unit  that wasn't very exciting and it was quite awkward to fill so I used lots of different fabrics from my stash to make a unit full of fabric bolts. The effect is much prettier than just a few odd things on the shelves. I also added a little basket of remnants for making patchwork.

I already had the barewood unit I bought it a while ago as I liked the style so I painted and distressed that just to add another colour to break up all the pinkness!

I also used the unit on the wall to display all  my lovely crosstitch cushions by June. Marie is running the shop and looks greats in her new bunny jumper!

I picked up the teas set in the Sue Ryder shop for £2.99 in the sale and I think its now nice and full and much more my kind of shop!!

I had a little change around on the ground floor china dept. Just added some more stock I don't think I can get much more in lol!

The large blue display plate was in a 20p box from the DH shop!

Bethany of course had to make new signs I was sad to lose the Wishes and Dishes name but the shops work much better this way so Quayside Homestores is its new name!

 I have also bought a few odd things here and there over the past few weeks. I got a lovely white wire hall stand which I have put in the shabby chic shop. I had a little change around around after much to-ing and fro-ing I finally managed to work it in.

You can now see the lovely cushions I bought from Gill as they were hidden at the back before which was a shame as they are so pretty! The little house was from Ebay I just liked the colour.

I think it looks much better although it still amazes me just how much you can fit into these little shops.

Not much change in the cafe just a new blue light fitting as I stole the brass one that was in there for the pub!!

The pub has a few more items to fill it up. I also got a nice big ship for the window.

And no pub would be complete without some crisps, nuts and pork scratchings ( I love them!! but they are so bad for your teeth lol!!)

A couple more glasses, a toby jug and some tankards which match the pumps.

Whenever I go to the DH shop I always try and get one WOW item. Its the item thats a bit of a treat, maybe a little more expensive but the thing you just fall in love with!! When I went a few weeks ago it was 2 little jars one of spiced oranges and one of pickled peppers. They were £3.50 each but I just couldn't resist them!

I also got a few more things from Ebay to fill the shelves. The biscuits, dog food and dog treats were all 99p from the same seller and are very nicely made.

I now have 2 girls working in the shop as I spotted 2 matching aprons for £1 each in the DH shop and thought it would make a good uniform. Becky is serving today and Beth is tidying the shelves.

My WOW item from last weeks visit was a little toast rack with a heart on the top which I thought would look nice in the B & B at £4.25 it wasn't overly expensive and really does look perfect in place.

Barnacle cottage needed new signs as I changed the shop. Bethany goes a bit mad as she she has done this one about 5 times cos I keep changing it!

And last but not least I managed to find a funky green light for the hairdressers. It was the grand sum of 99p on Ebay and it came all the way from china but it matches perfectly!

I hope you have enjoyed my Quayside update things are constantly changing even I wonder sometimes how I keep up lol!! xxxxx

Anyone for a pint????

Things have been nice and busy in Quayside with the new owners getting the new pub open for business. They wanted to open as soon as possible not wanting to miss the summer (if we ever get any) season!

My Dad who has a DH pub himself is up visiting so he got roped into the refurbishment! We had a great day sat around the kitchen table making things yesterday.

So here we have the latest addition to Quayside The Captains Rest pub!!

Outside my lovely daughter made my signage and we added some white fairy lights, an old brass lamp and the butt bucket filled with sand as there's no smoking allowed inside nowadays! We went with the name the Captains Rest as I had a spare sign made by Julie Lawton and it suited it perfectly!

Next was the bar. It started out as a base of an old bed as it made perfectly spaced shelving! I gave that a coat of paint and he added the unit underneath. I printed the bottle graphics from Google as it would cost a fortune to fill them straight away so that will take time but I think it gives the impression they are nice and full. He then made the bar from my lovely B & Q wood stash! It was then waxed along with the stools.

The barrels I picked up in the DH shop and I added the leather tops so now they are nice little bar stools.

My Dad gave me the lovely bench seat which was surplus from his own pub so the layout was based around that as I really loved it! He also contributed the little table with it. I made the cushions so the customers are nice are comfy!

Next came all the finishing touches. A couple of shelves to display some seafaring items, the curtain which matches the seats, the time at the bar bell and the treasure map on the wall. Most of these items cam from Fiddly bits miniatures who have a great range of nautical themed items.

I am so pleased with it! It was the one thing the village was missing and even in such a limited space I think it has everything you need for a good local pub! Denzil can vouch for the beer hes a regular already!!!

2nd post today! supermarkets, Scottish minis and blog holidays!

This is my 2nd post today I'm keen lol! Just wanted to show you my new sweeties shelf! As you know Quayside all you need and the Quayside candy box have merged to save on business costs but this led to some of alterations to the shop layout! The triple shelf I had for the sweets was just too big as I really wanted to fit the Pepsi cooler in. It was a pressie from my other half a few years ago before Quayside even existed so I really wanted to make sure I could find it a home. By losing the big unit I could put both fridges at the back which seemed more logical. I was planning to have a look for something in the DH shop at the weekend but ever impatient I decided to make one myself!

Using odd bits of wood, some candy stripe wallpaper and good old Google images I think it turned out ok and I also saved me some money in the process which I can now spend on other goodies! Also as I made it myself I could make exactly the right size for the space which worked really well.

 I filled it with all my favourite sweets which has left me with a serious craving for a big bag of pic 'n' mix!!!

I also had a nice wire unit but it had big gaps between the shelves so I added an extra one! Lots of fresh fruit and veg and a produce sign printed off has really made it look much better.

I still need some more basic groceries like milk and butter and some stuff to fill the shelves but its only just opened so it will take a while to get the stock levels up! 

Dave is happily browsing for some nice goodies to take back to the holiday let upstairs for Debbie and himself!

I also forgot to show you a pic of some fab little minis my good friend Karen bought for me! She is here visiting at the mo and bought me this lovely gift of Scottish themed minis! They are all in the shop now as you can see and have to say my favourite is the little teacakes they are so cute!!! Thanks Karen I LOVE them!!!

I am so happy with all the changes I have made in Quayside the past few days and I can't wait to show my Mum who arrives on Saturday!!! Her and my Dad are flying up with Bethany who is back from her hols down south she will not be happy when she sees how many new signs are needed ha ha!!


This will be my last post for a week or so while  I am busy with family and fiends visiting and  I hope you all have a lovely time with your minis in the meantime and look forward to catching up with all your wonderful projects soon!

Lots of Love Paula xxxx

Bob in a boat!

Just a little post today as am busy making shelves for the grocery shop and  I now know where the expression waiting for paint to dry comes from its such a chore lol!!!

A few days ago I picked up a little sailing dingy in a charity shop for £1.50 as I thought it would be just right for fisherman Bob! Not really anywhere to put it due to a lack of sea in the village but he looks right at home sorting out his nets even though he is on dry land!!

Hes very excited about the new business thats opening in Quayside and has even been on hand to help with the refurbishment, even donating a few things from his own home as they would fit in just right! You will have to wait a little longer to find out what though ;-)

All change in Quayside!!!

Things have been very busy in Quayside for the past few days!! The village church had its grand opening and some of Quaysides business owners have decided to move premises!! The planners were granted planning permission for an additional floor in Rose Cottage which has meant LOTS of changes!

Rose Cottage had a very high ceiling and with businesses in Quayside desperate for more square footage for trading an extra floor has been added!

The china shop has had a large delivery of jugs and vases so a new display has been set up in the shop.

On the first floor Wishes bridal wear have moved premises leaving an empty floor so the china and homewares store has expanded into the first floor. Now selling a large range of furniture and soft furnishing and other household items.

Quayside cuts has opened in the newly fitted 2nd floor as it offered a good start up package with no rent for a year so they moved premises from Butterfly Cottage!

The bridal shop has moved across into Butterfly cottage as larger premises became available. The nursery shop downsized into a smaller unit to condense their stock down a bit!

Wishes has moved to larger premises as now the church is finished they are seeing much better sales and needed to expand! It will be renamed Wishes and Dreams we are just waiting for the sign writer to return from her summer hols! The stock looks much better spread out and a new unit for cakes and accessories was also added.

The bridal shop looks lovely with its new window display.

Mamas and Babas has moved into the 3rd floor as it became available when the hairdressers moved out. The shop itself is doing well but business is much more internet led nowadays so they don't need to keep so much stock on the premises.

The Quayside Candy Box sweet shop and icecream parlour was in serious financial trouble with sales at an all time low due to the awful summer weather! The had discussions with the owners of Quayside all you need and came to an agreement that they would merge their businesses which will reduce their overheads considerably! They have just moved the shop units they have for now but have decided to invest in some new ones and are off to get them at the weekend.

Quayside all you need now really does sell everything you need!

When Quayside all you need merged with the Quayside Candy box that left one small shop unit available. It wasn't empty for long the new owners have already signed the lease and are getting ready to start the refurbishment. The village is bursting with gossip wondering what it could be and all they know it its something the village has needed for a long time! The new owners have left a few clues :-)