We made it.
In a little over 30 days, we took this place from this…
to this.
The weeks leading up to the shop opening literally took the wind out of me. We were eating fast food at every turn, sleeping little, drinking lots of caffeine and no water, and if I’m honest, washing hair too little.
Whoa. That was honest.
I managed to snap a few pictures of the whole space Saturday morning around 8:15, so forgive the lack of perfect lighting and composure. This was survival mode, y’all.
We knew it would be a busy day, because Troy was playing Navy & our sweet little community does some downtown tailgating, which I love, by the way! We also hoped that we’d get to meet a few blog readers and chat with friends that would drop in.
I ordered giant balloons (because they are the most CHEERFUL thing on the planet), and little miniature cupcakes from Gigi’s. I dragged my Keurig up there, and my sweet mom made homemade apple cider. It was a beautiful day, sun shining & birds chirping.
We had the doors propped open as we finished up, and our first customers trickled in around 9, an hour before we opened. I didn’t even have time to hang the canvases in the back and some chippy aqua doors above the mantel.
A sweet couple got here from Tallahassee around 9…I was so blown away they’d made the trip. P.S. I realize I’m not talking about all the products, but I wanted to fill you in on the happenings of the day, so I’ll try to balance the storytelling.
This vintage-inspired library cabinet makes my heart go pitter-pat and I’m not sure that I care if it ever sells. And I love our large schoolhouse chalkboards….mercy.
We clearly carry our own painted and built furniture, antiques, found vintage items, and new pieces alike, but we also wanted to carry little bits and pieces that are so unique and so our style…things that would make me gasp.
Or, make me squeal, “Ahhhhh….” as I did so many times at market.
Hence, the mercantile wall. It’s where we are displaying our new Annie Sloan fabrics and little bits and pieces…
And who doesn’t love wooden spools of jute and velvet ribbon in fabulous colors????? Seriously, they are some of my favorite bits in the shop.
Decorating the tree with the pinecones was fabulous and I’m also in love with the reclaimed wood stars….all things Christmas sold like crazy this weekend, and I’m reordering most of it today.
All things chalkboard flew out the door, too, and I must say, I was tickled that so many things were so popular…it was affirming in the best way.
We are happily stocked on all things Chalk Paint and MMS Milk Paint…
I had fun doing a little demo, too, and helped lots of people with colors and techniques.
I, unfortunately, was so busy by 9:30 that I didn’t stop to snap this picture until everything slowed down a bit. Y’all. It was so much more than I could have hoped for. I got to meet so many of you, and to you, I say thank you, thank you. It was a selfless thing to make the drive, to come support us. I thoroughly enjoyed each conversation, and feel so blessed to know you all.
I was on the floor, with Natalie, meeting folks and helping with colors, pricing, and purchases, and literally didn’t stop or pause until 2 p.m., and poor Matt didn’t stop checking people out for 4 hours!!! And I’m so serious…no exxageration. That’s why I say we weren’t ready.
Our pillow shelves are cleared minus 2 designs, and we also sold a couch, 2 upholstered chairs, a huge bench, 2 large art pieces, 4 vintage pieces, and 3 light fixtures….plus all the smalls that went out the door. We are close to cleaned out. I could have never, ever, in a million years anticipated that…from a business perspective or from an emotional one.
I was humbled. My heart was full, thankful.
For people like Sandi (above), June, Dawn, Dawn, Kellie, & Beth, who all came to my first workshop and made the trek to come to our opening…and speak such blessings to us. To my mom and dad, for their unfailing encouragement and help…always. To my sweet friends, Jen, Jennifer, & Carol Leah who made the trip to celebrate. To my sweet cousins, Jennifer and Eden, who did the same and helped in more ways than they know. To my aunts and uncles for their loving, supportive words, Matt’s parents, and the rest of our wonderful, beautiful family…to our friends, Julie, Jenny, Lisa, John, Anna Lauson, and Natalie…for listening to all the idea bouncing, brainstorming, and planning that they didn’t have to. To Transformation Church for praying with us and blessing our shop the night before we opened. To each of you, for every kind, encouraging, gracious, blessed word you have spoken to me in the last 3 years and this last 30 + days.
To Matt, the love of my life, and very best friend. I can’t even begin to imagine what opening this shop would have been like without his support and love. To my children, for the sweet hearts…and for their learning to be giving. For Grayson, and his help stacking paint, throwing away trash, box crushing, and so much more. For little Ava, who liked to label stickers onto products.
We made it.
What a journey it was. I’m resting easy knowing it’s only just begun.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” –Ephesians 3: 20,21
From a mostly lurker/infrequent commenter, I just wanted to say Congratulations! You must be so relieved, exhausted, exhilerated, grateful, and proud. You did it! Wishing you much success and fulfilment.
Lovely post! Wish I could have been there! Continued good luck!
I’m so happy for you!!! Thank you for taking us on your journey.. my dream is to have my own shop one day when we move back home to Michigan { we are stationed in NC due to my husband being in the military} Your journey has inspired me!! I can not wait to see more updates on the shop & hope one day I can come visit your lovely little place! Thanks for always inspiring!!
xx Liz Marie
Lizmarieblog.com
I am so, SO happy for you and your family. You have worked so hard for this. Your store is exquisite. Thank you for sharing your journey. Congratulations.
Congrats to you and your family on such a lovely shop. It is so beautiful. Your journey has been so wonderful to watch and I can only hope to visit one day.
You made it!! And it looks all so wonderful and inviting and cozy and… just perfect. Just like the kind of store I could spend hours in. Well done, you :-). You and all your loved ones. Wishing you many, many wonderful hours in your store 🙂
Congratulations and God Bless your new shop!
I have so enjoyed your wonderful journey to opening day. Very inspiring from a little too far away to visit..Congatulations on a job well done!!!!
Oh, I so need to take a road trip down to ‘Bama from Michigan…the shop looks awesome!!!! And so blessed to be surrounded by so much love. 🙂
WOW what a beautiful store,congratulations on your successful opening. I wish you continued success.
The shop looked fabulous, I think I stayed for almost two hours just taking it all in and enjoying the atmosphere. And of course stacking up my pile of goodies. I will be back in a few weeks to see anything new!
Dawn
Wow, Wow and Wow is all I can say. I have followed your blog for awhile and you turned your dream into a reality. I’m not sure how many people I know could do something like this. We all say lets do this, lets plan this but how many of us truly do it. The store turned out great-I’m proud of you. Way to Go! Lisa
Congrats. The store looks beautiful as expected! Can’t wait to see more!
Congratulations! What an amazing job you did! It looks beautiful!!
So very happy for you and your successful grand opening! The shop is beautiful and a wonderful reflection of all of your hard work and God’s grace in your life!
Wishing you continued success!
Allie
congratulations! the shop is beautiful!
Oh how I wish I could have been there for you, friend! I’m so proud of you, and I had NO doubt that you would be over-the-moon successful! Congratulations on everything! Hugs to you!
I’m so glad it was such a big success! I had plans to drive from Bham and then my son got sick on Friday. 🙁 I was so sad I missed it but so glad that so many came! I can’t wait to order online once you have that option and hopefully make a trip down there soon too!
I LOVE it!!! Wish I could get there SO bad!
Shauna,
The shop is gorgeous and it is so amazing to see someone reach one of their biggest dreams. Congratulations!
I was near tears reading your post. Lovely, just lovely.
Jenny
Congratulations on such a wonderful opening day! The store looks wonderful and I hope to come see it in person one day soon! I spied several things in the pictures that might need a home in my house : )
congrats!! the place looks amazing. you guys did a fantastic job! 🙂
Congratulations to you and your family! It all looks wonderful! If I lived anywhere near I would have loved to come! So happy for you!!!
So much to be thankful for…it’s truly a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing your journey with those of us who follow your blog. To God be the Glory!
Thankyou for turning our eyes to the God who made it all possible in the midst of your success and excitement. To HIm be the glory indeed! Your journey reminds me of having a baby. The day comes and it is so exciting and then you have the task of finding out what the new normal is and settling in around each other. I pray your “settling” process may be a fruitful and blessed time.
congratulations. what a huge amount of work you’ve put into this and you deserve every success that comes your way. all the best for a continued successful business.
cheers fiona xx
So happy for you!!!! The shop looks amazing!
Amen Sista! So thrilled for your success!!!
Oh my goodness, everything looks absolutely gorgeous, wish I was closer to you!!!
I cannot wait to come see this one day. Wish I could’ve made it, but the pictures are so beautiful and I am so happy that it went so well for you! Yayayay!
Can I just take your whole store, and put it in my house. Please? I love everything you do. It’s like you see all the wonderful ideas in my head and execute them so perfectly. I’ll just have to keep checking your blog daily for inspiration (which I do.) Stalker?? Hmm…moving on. I live all the way in Arizona, but I plan on making a trip over your way some day to visit your store, go to a workshop, or something of that nature. I just love your style, and your work is beautiful. And you got me into painting furniture, which is now my favorite hobby. Thanks!
God Bless and good luck in your new venture
Ok, I’m a little teary-eyed! It was amazing to see everything so bustling Saturday, and I felt a little nerdish telling Rich, “it was just so exciting!” I’m moved at how wonderful your support system is and how sweetly you appreciate them. May your endeavors in house and shop continue to be so blessed!
I am so happy and excited for you! What a great feeling, knowing your hard work was appreciated.
Still trying to talk James into a road trip to see you!
Leen
Blessing to y’all
I’m so excited for you! If I still lived in Montgomery (now I’m in Washington state) I’d have to come see the shop but I wish you the best!!!
Congratulations to you! The store looks fabulous! You are living my dream. I wish you the best!
Our family just happened upon your lovely shop while visiting Troy from Austin, TX for a family reunion. Your shop was an unexpected treat! I’m ready to invest in one of your future franchises…hint, hint! Again, your shop was absolutely lovely & inspiring! Continued success, Sue from Texas
It’s just so beautiful! What a blessing to have had such a successful opening day! And what a journey in just over 30 days! The thankfulness in your post made me teary. I just love happy endings (AND beginnings!!). I hope someday we can get up there from Central FL!
All the best,
Claire
I have been checking your posts on the progress and I have to say the shop looks great! It is always great to see somebody’s dream came through and I wish you the same rush as today for most of the days!
If it would be closer I would like to come and see your shop, but pictures must be enough for me 😉
Greetings from Czech girl living in Belgium (Europe 😉 )
It was good to meet you and Matt on Saturday, and the next time we come, we’ll remember the time change…silly us! You are stepping out of the boat, but The Lord is in control of the waves! LBY!!!
The store had a GREAT vibe with everyone buzzing about. All of the customers were talking to each other, getting opinions and helping select chalk pain colors. Your community definitely came out to support you. Jennifer and I had a blast touring around downtown with our little ones. It was great seeing everything come together. I cannot wait to decorate my tree. Come on Thanksgiving night!
See you again soon!
YAY! This is seriously so awesome. I wish every small town in America had a shop like yours. Will definitely be stopping by on our next jaunt from Louisiana to Georgia. Hooray!!
The shop looks beautiful – it’s not a surprise you’ve done as well as you have! Your hard work, perseverance and FAITH have all paid off. You deserve every ounce of success you receive.
Congratulations!
Wishing Oregon wasn’t so far…your shop looks incredible. Will you be offering any items for sale on your online shop?
I am thrilled for you. Your shop looks amazing.
It looks amaaaazzzing! I could just move in and live there. You go girl!!! 🙂
Your shop is just beautiful!!! So encouraging to hear you give the glory to the Lord. If we had a shop like yours in my town I’d be in big trouble!
Well, girl. If I could have made it to Alabama for your opening, I would have! I want you to come to my house and decorate it.
Any time. No rush. 🙂
Wow….what a great start…wishing you many blessings for even greater times and sales in the future!
Just curious…how in the world did you home school Grayson during the past 30+ days?
Your shop is GREAT!!! Would love to stop by if I am coming down there.
What an exciting grand opening. Congratulations and all the best to you! Loved hearing the updates on how everything was coming along.
Abba is the author of MORE…how He searches for a heart that seeks Him..you must have been seeking girl:)
can you believe it? wow!
it looks beautifully magical and I can see it just blooming..growing
filled with love and creativity…no telling where this will lead:)
xoxo
Absolutely, amazingly fantastic!!! I so wish I lived closer. God is truly blessing you!
PS…in a future post I’d love to know if your bookcases ( for pillows, etc,) were bought or made.
I’ll probably never get to see your store in person, but I shor do love what I’s see here 😉
Congratulations on a great beginning!
Here’s to a successful venture. And more hair washes.
Bliss
Dear Shaunna,
You Did It….You Did It!!!!!!
So very proud and happy for you. Now don’t forget to wake up…go to the shop..and do it all over again tomorrow!!!
A Fellow Chalk Paint Stockist,
Janet xox
The Empty Nest
what a transformation! I didn’t know what I was expecting but your shop is awesome! It’s so big and unique. Continued success and God’s blessings. and so happy for you!
Terri
Everything looks amazing! Congrats on a wonderful opening day and many more to come.
Big congratulations!! The store is gorgeous!
Could Portland Oregon be the home of your next shop? You will NEED one on the West Coast…. or anyway WE need your shop in our beautiful Northwest. Consider yourself invited.
What a great shop you and your loved ones have created. Over the internet you can feel the LOVE! God’s Love!
Thanks for sharing your journey with us, I personally feel invested in your dream and love the photos and comments, and hearing about your growing pains.
Jane in Oregon
Absolutely beautiful – wish I could visit. May God bless you as you embark on this great adventure.
Hi
I cannot see your images on your website anymore! 🙁 Very sad…. I am using Internet Explorer 9. Do you know why I cannot see them?
Oh WOW!!!! Boy do I wish there was a store like this close to me!!! It is beautiful – you and your hubby must be so proud. I wish you much success and hopefully my family will make a road trip someday – and I’ll leave the children at the hotel.
Shaunna, I am just beyond excited for your success on grand opening day! I can only imagine how rewarding it was for you to be received with such open arms from your community … both your home community and your blogging community! I think it speaks volumes to how people perceive you that they were there to support you on your big day. The shop looks just lovely and I hope to get to visit myself one day! Many, many congratulations from Birmingham!
Shaunna, The shop was everything we hoped it would be and more,wishing you much success and hoping I can make it back there soon.
Congrats on your AWESOME Grand Opening!!!! The shop looks outstanding and i wish a ton of success. Maybe I will head up to Troy after the holidays:)
Blessings,
Linda
Congrats!!!!! it looks amazing!
I’m so glad to hear you had such an amazing opening- I only wish I could have been there! I’m determined to get there some day soon, though! Everything looks wonderful, and I know you are feeling awed and grateful for God’s blessings. 🙂
Congratulations and big hugs to you, my dear friend. I am just bursting to get down to Alabama to give you a huge hug and see your amazing dream-come-true shop.
Great job!! The store looks so great!
Wow wow wow! I am so impressed with you Shaunna and every detail is gorgeous! I am so excited, happy, elated for you and I can only imagine the hours that went into creating this incredible shop which is bound to be a success! Raising my glass to you on this grand opening day! xoxoxo Kate
So truly truly happy for you! Congratulations!
wow, this is incredible. what an amazing feat, and the shop looks so perfect!
So awesome. I’m actually tearing up! What a dream come true. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! It looks like you had a fabulous grand opening!! Every corner of your shop looks beautiful!!!
Beautiful!! So very happy for you; I just wish I lived closer so I could’ve been there, too!
Congratulations on your big day!
Congrats to you and Matt,
Your shop is an answered prayer to me and my family. PTL.
I would love that vintage library inspired cabinet! It too makes my heart go pitter patter! I wish I was there to cart it home!
Kindest regards,
Jennifer
Congratulations!!! Wow I am so very impressed with how everything came together in such a short time…I know it wasn’t easy but ya’ll made it a reality!! Thanks for sharing this part of your life with all us DIYers. May God richly bless Perfectly Imperfect…Just love this title!!!
Oh dear friend! How I wanted to be there!!!! I am so SO SO proud to call you my friend and what amazing things you are doing! Reading this post brought so many emotions through my mind and heart. It is beautiful reading/watching you follow your passion and dream.
Let’s talk soon, umkay? xoxoxo
Love your store, blog and how your style 🙂 Wish I could make it to your store, live in Upstate NY 🙁 Let me know if you ship at all, saw so many things in your pictures that I want for my house!
LOVE your store! It’s gorgeous! It looks like you took A TON of time to get it just right! Well done!
Die. Ing. Over your talent and style!
Congratulations Shaunna! Your store looks so gorgeous and I would love to visit someday.
Congratulations and what a beautiful store ! Where did you get those large acorns?
Thank you! We ordered those at Market, Jess!
🙂
shaunna
I have just discovered your blog today and this post really inspires me to keep moving forward with opening my own little shop (but I’m scared to death). I would be thrilled to have half as good of a first day as what you had when my opening day arrives. I love the whole look and feel of your shop and hope to draw more inspiration from it and your blog. 🙂
This is purely awesome ….so glad you shared, love you blog