Japanese Fabric

I'm lucky, my sister has lived in Japan for the last five years or so. She's sent me some wonderful fabrics and I'm pretty interested in perhaps carrying some of them. I've spent a few days work on a quilt using some of what she's sent me, mixed in with a main color to make the Japanese fabric go a bit further.
I've just finished sewing a huge amounts of  strips for and ironing the seam and I'm really liking the way they're coming together, and I love the fabric. It sews nicely and irons nicely.
And speaking of sewing, I broke down and bought a new sewing machine this year. A fancy one, though not over the top. I've had a lot of trouble with the tension and was *this* close to bringing it in when I realized I hadn't been threading the drop in bobbin correctly. Oops! This should be a lesson, read the INSTRUCTIONS!
I kind of long for my old fashioned front loading bobbin... but this one has some fancy stitches I'm excited to try!
I found some pictures today of a store using what looks like Ikea shelves for their fabric. I like the way this looks, though I'm also thinking of lifting the shelves off the floor. I'd also like the fabric to only run in the centre of the shelves, leaving the bottom for such things as batting, and the top shelves for books and merchandising (quilts etc.) I have a shopping list for Ikea and hoped to get there today but it didn't happen. I'd like to do some experimenting with fitting the bolts of fabric and perhaps using some of the extra shelves for book/magazine holders or doors.

First Post!

Well, I've started this blog to trace the history of my *maybe* store. After working in design and construction for the past 15+ years (lets leave it at 15+) I've decided it's time for a career change. Part of this is because the constant computer work has destroyed my wrists (I've had carpal tunnel release surgery on both wrists) and part of is just needing something new. I want to work doing something I enjoy, and I also want to be my own boss.
So for years now I've designed retail stores as well as the construction drawings to build them. I've got an odd sense of what works for retail, visually, signage etc.
I think I can do this!
For the last month I've been doing research into opening a business. It was fairly broad at first but now I'm starting to narrow it down. At first I was thinking of fabric/quilting, yarn/crochet/knitting and cross-stitch, but I think the key is to narrow it down, specialize and make myself stand out with DIFFERENT.
I want fabrics that you can't find just anywhere, and a location that make people want to drive for an hour to get there and hang out. I'd like to have a lesson area, even if I need to hire someone with more experience for classes. I can visualize it in my head right now (though I don't think the location exists here to fit)
I think Mission is a good location. We're poised for huge growth in the next ten years with huge new developments in Silverdale (and hopefully the waterfront) and the district really wants to encourage people working in the place they live. So there you go.. it's a start anyway!