You know that it's been hard going for a while. The day after our wedding, Stuart and I had our first big discussion asa married couple: We just aren't making any money, should we close the shop?
It's heartbreaking but we have to. The location is just not right for us. Not enough traffic, too out-of-the-way. Could we change locations? Sure, maybe. But if I am going to pour my heart into something again the way I have with my shop, we need to be pragmatic about it. So, maybe we will have a bricks and mortar shop again someday, somewhere. But we aren't going to jump right back into an across-the-sea voyage in a leaky boat, you know? I need to regroup.
But first, I need to grieve. Oh, you guys, it's so much fun when it's busy and people come in who get it. I will miss it so much.
I'm sure sometimes I will feel really down about it, sometimes I will feel ready to let it go so something better can take its place. I want to honor what it has been to me and to the community that has developed around it. I want to acknowledge and celebrate the parts if it that were successful and learn from what wasn't. I want to make a scrapbook of it. I want to have a party there.
After almost a month of tumbling into the abyss (starting the day after my wedding! my poor husband!), I am finally beginning to resurface.
I have loved my time as shopkeeper.
I have loved meeting all of you.
I have loved spending my days here, surrounded by cute stuff that I lovingly selected and displayed.
Sigh. I'm going to try to do this:
Thank you for being here with me. Your support is huge, seriously. I'm not just saying that to be nice. I get a lot of support, strength and understanding from you guys.
xo,
melissa
(photography by my pal Stacey Hedman)