• My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

Hands On Design

Needlework and Cross Stitch Designs by Cathy Habermann

  • Shop
  • Tutorials
  • Floss Tube
  • Blog
  • Contact
  •  

Back to the basement for me!

July 29, 2015 By Cathy Habermann Leave a Comment

Long story or short?? How about the highly edited version!

17+ years ago I opened my needlework shop. After a difficult search looking for affordable, convenient & not falling down commercial space, I dipped my toes into the retail world…in my basement.

At the time, we lived in a house with a separate entrance so customers didn’t have to traipse through my home. It was a great way to build a good foundation of inventory, business contacts, and customers. 3 years later, we moved to a small building (think Cat’s Meow type building for those of you who know what that is!) and not quite a year later we moved again, upping 450sq ft to 2100sq ft!

Each time we moved, I learned what was necessary in my work space. Fast forward when I closed my shop after 9 years when kid’s activities took over, I created a finishing studio (different home now) in our basement.

As CherryWood Designs began, I kept the supplies & inventory at my home (basement again), but we designed out of a coffee shop, so it all still worked. Around that time, I graduated to an upstairs studio – I felt like I had been invited to the grown-ups table!

Going solo as Hands On, I was once again FT out of my home but started to discover that I no longer “fit” in the smallest room in the house (not including bathrooms of course!). Designing took place in the kitchen – not good for the diet. Shipping took place in the dining room – not good for family togetherness. Finishing took place in a room I could barely move around in – not good for my sanity.

After one of those “what if” type of conversations (my husband loves those) – I decided to take over the downstairs game room…yup, back to the basement!

Contractors, cabinets & countertops (new lighting too) – Hands On Design has a new, much more efficient home!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_1

Cecile & Rachel of Just Another Button Company made this for me to celebrate the new digs! They are correct, this is my happy place!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_2

A very cleaned up version of what it looked like when we started (this place saw lots of Legos, train tracks & video games!)

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_3

All cleaned out!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_4

Day 1 progress! (Dan is my favorite contractor – we have done many projects together over the last 15 years!)

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_5

Woo hoo!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_6

Billy helped me move all the “stuff” in!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_7

Counter space for shipping, cabinets for all sorts of supplies…

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_8

and a nice nook for designing & stitching!

Back-To-The-Basement_Blog-Image_9

The cats are still trying to figure out the new place – I’ll have to get a bigger computer screen if Whisker doesn’t stop visiting me like this!

Well, I’d better get back to work & show just how efficient I can be!

Enjoy the Stitch!
Cathy

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Like this Post? Subscribe to My Newsletter!

“Fun Summer 2015”
It’s All ’bout That Tray!

Comments

  1. Robin says

    July 29, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    What a fabulous design/stitching studio you have created from your basement! Love all your cabinet/countertop space.

    Robin in Virginia

    Reply
  2. santadeb says

    July 29, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    So happy for you …..you deserve a big beautiful place!
    Deb

    Reply
  3. Marilyn says

    July 30, 2015 at 3:51 am

    Glad you have your own spot again.
    Happy designing!
    Marilyn

    Reply
  4. Faye says

    July 30, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Oh Cathy!!!! How exciting for you!!!!! I would L-O-V-E to have a wonderful space like that~ I'm in our basement also after graduating out of a spare bedroom… Your space looks great with the white cabinetry …. It really lightens up the space.. I'm using all recycled dressers and desks at the moment.. And, it works fine but is just dark and smaller feeling…. I look forward to seeing your beautiful creations coming out of your fantastic new work space~

    Reply
  5. Oma says

    July 30, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    What a wonderful place to spend your time, it is so organized and comfy…I am so looking forward to your new designs coming out. I'm enjoying all the months in chalk.

    Reply
  6. Stitchinowl says

    July 30, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    Your redesigned space looks great! I love that you still made room for your cozy nook. 🙂
    Carolyn

    Reply
  7. Bernie Juracek says

    August 1, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    Cathy! Your Happy Place is wonderful!!!!! There appears to be enough room for Happy Dances, too!!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Maggee says

    August 2, 2015 at 8:07 am

    What a great space! We do not have a basement, or it might possibly be mine!

    Reply
  9. StitchinByTheLake says

    August 4, 2015 at 2:56 pm

    How wonderful Cathy – you're going to spend many happy hours here. blessings, marlene

    Reply
  10. Kitchensredefined says

    September 8, 2015 at 6:26 am

    Awesome Post.
    You share good information about home improvement.
    Thanks for sharing with us

    omaha kitchen remodeling company

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shop By Category

Newsletter Subscription

Search

New in the Shop

  • MAD FOR PLAID
  • SNOW ON THE GROUND
  • THE WINTER BASKET $12.00
  • PENGUIN.PLAY $7.00

Hands On Design Instagoodness …

The weather might not agree that it’s officially The weather might not agree that it’s officially Spring, but I have started to spot some of our feathered friends out & about.

Well Rounded - Perennial Pinwheels: available from your local or online shop as well as my website.

#handsondesign #wellrounded #perennialpinwheels #perennials #fabricsbystephanie #dmc #ladydotcreates #handdyedlinen #handdyedtrims #hungrybird #babyrobin #flosstube #stitch #needlework #pointdecroix #welcomespring #stitchsomehappy
I get asked a lot ‘what is your favorite design’.

No easy answer here. I love when a design comes together with a powerful message, one that I wrote, with meaning and a flow that picked up momentum the second I opened the window on my computer screen. 

The Smallest Seed, from the very beginning, has served as a philanthropy design. It hangs in my home as a daily reminder. 

#handsondesign #thesmallestseed #crossstitchforacause #moderncrossstitch #pointdecroix #needlework #flosstube #stitchsomehappy
Such a fun weekend with my stitching peeps. I as Such a fun weekend with my stitching peeps. 

I asked my friends if they would be ‘student testers’ for a class that I am teaching next week @salemstitches - They were troopers and passed with flying colors. 

I hope you have a group of friends like this. So much laughter, amazing food (wore my stretchy pants), storytelling and enabling (we are staying at a quilt shop!)

#handsondesign #thequiltedsteeple #algonaiowa #stitchyfriendsarethebest #retreatweekend #quiltshop #crossstitchretreat #makeabox #girlfriendsweekend #practiceclass #stitchsomehappy
For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. 
Good health, good luck & happiness for today and every day. 

#handsondesign #happystpatricksday #stpatricksday #crossstitch #season2 #moderncrossstitch #flosstube #stitchsomehappy
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Not everyt I’ll let you in on a little secret. 

Not everything I had designed made it to Nashville Market…it happens. You know its’s gonna be really cool but it just needs a little more time.

Life is running at the speed of crazy right now, it’s OK to say, you just need to wait for the right time little one

#handsondesign #futurerelease #pointdecroix #crossstitch #flosstube #vintagetomato #vintage #toohexie #allingoodtime #pincushion #itsallgood #stitchsomehappy
Who’s ready for Summer? I know, I know…let’s Who’s ready for Summer? I know, I know…let’s finish winter and have spring first. We are busy preparing Kit #2 of the Gather Round Club - Gather Butterflies 🦋 

#handsondesign #gatherround #gatherroundclub #hodgatherroundclub #subscriptionbox #moderncrossstitch #threadcard #pointdecroix #dmc #ladydotcreates #noteworthyneedle #shippingnextmonth #stitchsomehappy
Join Me on Instagram

Helpful Links

  • My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

FOLLOW US ON:

Facebook-Logo_For-Website Instagram-Logo_For-Website

Get My Newsletter

And be the first to know about new products, events, tutorials and more!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Hands On Design

A Habermann Company · cathy@handsondesign.biz