Heitz Handbells and Music

February 1, 2012

2012-02-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Do you know it has officially been 2 full years since Norm and I became Heitz Handbells and Music?
Truthfully? It has been very difficult getting out of the "hole". We are climbing out. Feels great!!! :)

For the year 2010, my personal goal for our company was adding onto our customer base. I knew Norm had lost customers due, in large part to his medical issues and the resulting inabilities to keep up service.
We were so incredibly busy with moving into a store space and setting that up and then learning Quickbooks and cataloguing the music and inventorying!!! Ooof. At the same time we were working on setting up a website which was open to the public in November of 2010.

My goal for 2011 was to double the amount of money we made in 2010. We started pushing ourselves to go to workshops and festivals. We constantly worked to improve our displays. We increased our inventory radically. Quickbooks was a constant in the improvement realm. Inventorying and reworking and improving the website was also a constant job.

It is now February 1st 2012. It took me a month to figure out what my goal for the company is for 2012. I'll tell you next year :) BTW, we more than doubled 2010's intake last year. And our website is slowly catching on. I'm still trying to get descriptions finished. It's just that it is the last job of a long list of jobs. As usual, the most important thing needs to be accomplished first.

We are finally stable enough to get into Sue Nelson's KidzRing books thanks to "encouragement" from a customer. They are very doable for extreme beginner's, boomwhacker situations, senior citizens groups, persons with disabilities. Call us for more info.

Have a great month, Carol and Norm

December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Happy December!!!
I'm in a blah state of mind largely due to the fact that personal issues are frustrating, Norm's going through a rough patch, and I can't visit my family this Christmas. BUT!!
I have decided to work hard at getting a marketing email out for Christmas gift ideas for handbell enthusiasts. When Norm and I started our business together, we agreed we didn't want jewelry. I don't wear any (neither does Norm lol) and Handbell Services is doing a wonderful job at that. As they have tuned themselves to their interests, so we tune ourselves. I am a serious musician type person and am not into knickknacks much either. So our gifty things tend to be more educational or need specific. I'm sure there are plenty of practical minded people out there.
Also, I had planned on reviewing Christmas ensemble music for those who are interested in off-the-table ideas. I'm still going to do that on Bell Folk and Stuff. Maybe today I won't work on descriptions on the web.
So...ideas? We have some fun mousepads, CDs, Michelle Sharik's DVD, game books, devotional books, bell tree music and needs, bell photo notecards and posters, pencils, colored gloves, boomwhackers, calculators, windchimes (silver and gold), chocolate. hmmmm.

October 31, 2011

2011-10-31T07:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!! It's been forever since I last wrote. So much has been happening. Carol went to Fargo at the end of September for a Director's Seminar, Sioux Falls in October for their Fall Festival, and this weekend I'm going to Duluth for the Twin Ports Handbell Festival.
Our displays are improving massively. I'm so happy with the results. The wire racks are very helpful although not easy to stick in the car. I think Norm and I have, for the most part) chosen wisely with gift ideas: Marilee's notecards and postcards consistently sell, the chocolate sells, the mousepads, boomwhackers too. The CDs are selling but only occasionally. Oh. Raleigh Ringer gloves disappear constantly. Yeesh. :)
I've worked hard to beef up our solo area. Now I'm working on duets, trios. Once I get the supplies being consistent, it's easier to just rebuy rather than wonder what's going to sell. I'm also still interested in bringing...ha! ...brain fart!!...oh I know, information for people interested in different sides of music, ie composition, conducting, improving ringing, etc.
Norm's constantly working on the computer tweaking Quickbooks or our catalog (spreadsheet), entering new data, fixing things. Things are going well.

September 30, 2011

2011-09-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

First, I gotta tell you that we've been invited to 3 workshop/festivals this fall and I've been so excited about the extra exposure and activity. Bells of the Lakes had their seminar at the end of August as usual and we had a display in the social room. That was great. Frank helped me set up and tear down. That's a definite process. I bought some plastic table clothes to dress up the tables some. Light teal-y blue. Worked well.
Then I drove to Fargo for the Director's Seminar with Frank driving his car. I'm going to have to figure out this car situation as gloves/binders add too much to my car. I just don't have enough space. However, again Frank helped me set up and it went very well. He's extremely helpful and it's nice not to do all the heavy lifting. I had bought some display racks after I saw Handbell Services with theirs and I really like that choice. Again, a great display and fun time. I prepared packets for their reading session.

We are at the 24' table mark with 16' having

or using both sides of the table. I still haven't figured out the "where is the cashier sitting" part.
Oct 22nd I'm driving down to Sioux Falls and the to Duluth November 5th.
Norm likes staying behind. I like getting out.
....Now to continue working on improving the website.......

August 17, 2011

2011-08-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

We are rushing into fall. Carol is also working on finding music for her kid's choirs. Our church has totally contemporary music, so I'm always looking for music that we sing at church that has been arranged for handbells. Not easy.
I'm going to set up the web site the rest of this month for new items that we've bought and in which people may be interested. I need to find a person for Bell Folk and Stuff for either September or October.
Anyway, keep focused on what's ahead. What's behind is already finished.

August 1, 2011

2011-08-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a blast at the National Seminar. We are looking at 2 -3 more sight ringing sessions for Duluth in 2012. Check the Area 7 site for all event information. Plus don't forget the Bells of the Lakes workshop August 27th at Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church, Minneapolis.
August 1st through 13th is our extra 3% discount over and above our regular discount. Check About Us on our Home Page to see the regular discount information.
Have a great time looking over all of the new music. What a blessing that we have so many talented composers.

July 20, 2011

2011-07-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

The National Seminar in Minneapolis was awesome. So many people remembered Norm and welcome him back after however many years of absence. He was afraid no one would remember him and yet, they did.

Carol met people she had been facebooking with: Gail and Erin Downey, Michele Sharik, Rima G (I'm going to spell her name wrong.) What an eventful batch of packed days, classes, concerts, going through the exhibits, eating....talking. I felt really good about the networking that we did, the customers that came to our exhibit, the sales.

People are enjoying the chocolates and the novelty items we are displaying. We need get more space so that we can have more music out. Both of us are more excited about this year.

July 12, 2011

2011-07-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Excitement grows. You can here the music: the timpani is pounding, violins are bowing ferociously, the trumpets are calling, the hairs on your neck start rising, goosebumps up and down your arms....It's almost here!!!!
I can barely wait!!

july overstock list

2011-06-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

SKU	Title
12127	Abiding Joy
AG 35026	Adagio
AG 35072	Adios!
PSM 4-17	Ah Holy Jesus
11440664	Air from Water Music
976604	Alas And Did my Savior Bleed
HP 5209	All Glory Laud and Honor
HP 5210	All Glory Laud and Honor
975847	All Glory Laud and Honor
AG 23017	All Things Bright and Beautiful
HP 5235	All Through the Night
1497	Allegro Brillante
976915	Amazing Grace
CGB 392	Amazing Grace
SG 5922	Angel Gabriel, The
1478	Bach Pastorale
FBBG 0957	Balm in Gilead, A
CGB 286	Be Thou My Vision
977133	Beach Spring Stomp
CGB 075	Bells in the Steeple
11440714	Bells of Praise
1418	Bellude of Praise
1194	Belpre
1778	Billboard March, The
AG 4040	Bless This Child
HP 5310	Blessed Assurance
LS 90018	Blessed Assurance with Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
LS 93033	Blessed Exaltation
AG 35069	Blue Danube Waltzes, The
12027	Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
AG 003	Busy Ringer Series - Collection 1
JHS 9049	Call Change Ringing
LS 90016	Canterbury Chimes
976380	Canticle
1150	Canticle of Hope
AG 23013	Cantus Invenilis (Youthful Song)
AG 45053	Cantus Invenilis (Youthful Song)
CGB 371	Carillon
201105	Carillon Christmas
HP 5163	Carillon Te Deum
AG 35052	Cathedral Prelude and Psalm
HP 5045	Celebration
1373	Celebration Fanfare
AG 35056	Chorale Prelude on Jesus Christ is Risen Today
AG 3014	Christ is Born
SHB 22	Christmas Fanfares for Handbells
SHB 67	Christmas Has Come Again
HL 5031	Christmas Joy
HL 5088	Christmas Joy
HP 5263	Church's One Foundation, The
RO 2901	Cold December Flies Away
976117	Come Christians Join To Sing
CGB 152	Come Let Us Eat
JHS 9174	Come Thankful People
LS 001	Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain
2388	Come Christians Join to Sing
AG 45045	Come O Spirit Dwell Among Us
AG 45046	Come O Spirit Dwell Among Us
AG 45046	Come, O Spirit! Dwell Among Us
12111	Come Shepherds Rise!
1689	Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus
AG 5023	Concert Variations on a Theme in g minor
1042	Coronation March from The Prophet
AG 57004	Coventry Carol
1891	Crown Him Lord of All
AG 23007	Crown Him With Many Crowns
977006	Dance Americana!
HP 5190	Daystar
201020	Easter Rejoicing
JHS 9173	Ein Feste Burg
1430	Eternal Father, Strong to Save
HP 5293	Fantasy on Hyfrydol
12092	Fantasy on Lasst Uns Erfreuen
1857	Feliz Navidad
201066	Festal Fanfare on Darwall's 148th
SHB 02	Festival Day
CGB 112	Festival Jubilate
AG 36001	Festival of Joy
AG 3019	Festival Overture
LS 90014	Festival Peal
LS 002	Festival Piece on Hyfrydol
1110659	Festival Sanctus
CPBS 0555	Festive Dance
AG 2023	Festive Peal, A
AG 45043	Festive Praises
AMHB 10	Festive Prelude on In Babilone
201080	First Noel, The
PSOB 003	French Noel
SG 2891	Friendly Beasts, The
AG 34016	Frolic
JHS 9348	Furioso
HP 5032	Genesis
976578	Gift of Finest Wheat
201036	Gifts of the Magi
AG 35022	Giubileo
1924	Go Tell It on the Mountain with "Troika" from Lieutenant Kije Suite
12159	Good Christians Friends Rejoice
AG 35141	Hark the Herald Angels Sing
976121	Head That Once Was Crowned, The
1725	He's Got the Whole World
AG 35065	Holly and the Ivy, The
1978	Holly and the Ivy, The
RO 1204	Hosanna Loud Hosanna
MSM 30806	How Firm a Foundation
HP 5280	Hymn of Grateful Praise
SFP 124	I Love You Lord
HP 5323	I Wonder as I Wander
RW 8171	If I Take the Wings of the Morning
976826	Invocation
977189	Jesus I Will Ponder Now
976826	Invocation
977189	Jesus I Will Ponder Now
SG 3921	Jingle Bells
2157	Joy to the World
1111161	Kyrie
AG 45033	Lacrymosa
CP 7020	Let's Ring Disney Classics
2253	Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending
CGB 243	Lord's My Shepherd, The
12118	Lullaby Carol
NM 381	Luther's Chorale
AG 35106	Mallet Madness
L 262	Marantha
CGB 104	March
HP 5321	Meditation on Forest Green
MSM 30801	Meditation on Morecambe
PSM 3-54	Meditation on Veni Emmanuel
L 318	Meditation on Were You There?
1421	Medley on the Cross
1186	Melody in F
1840	Merry Melody, A
PSM 3-55	Midnight Stars Make Bright the Sky
1611	Mighty Fortress is Our God
AG 35034	Military March
1110552	Morning Has Broken
RO 1801	Morning Prayer and Vespers
CGB 167	My Faith Looks Up to Thee
L 352	My Lord What a Morning
MSM 30301	Nearer to the Cross
CGB 105	O Christmas Tree
12065	O Come O Come Emmanuel
1894	O Jesus I Have Promised
SG 104	O Little One Sweet
976844	Of the Father's Love Begotten
201236	Onward Soldiers
AG 23450	Our National Anthem
1385	Pavane
1320	Peals of Praise
2139	People Look East
1110046	Picardy and Star Song
RO 3229	Pilgrims and Praise A la Carte
L 379	Praise
1110630	Praise God Praise Him
1110352	Praise Him Praise Him and Jesus Loves Me
1718	Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
1719	Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
1974	Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
12131	Praise Thou the Lord O My Soul
AG 46002	Praise to the Lord
201010	Praise with Timbrel and Dance
12087	Prelude XXII
AG 3053	Psalm 9
SPHB 121	Psalm of the Dove
CGB 115	Quiet Alleluia, A
BP 457932	Rejoice
1110808	Rejoice in God's Saints or Sing Praise to the Lord
976388	Rejoice O Pilgrim Throng
1613	Rejoice the Lord is King
AG 45048	Requiem
AG 3035	Ring for Joy
RRBL 5016	Rise Up O Church of God
HP 5334	Risen Today Alleluia
49442100	Rocking Carol
AG 45028	Rondo del Espanol
49442101	Rondeau in C
1218	Roulade
1219	Roulade
RW 8121	Saints Medley
0012380	St Anthony Chorale
1110633	Shall We Gather at the River
FBF 0702	Sing and Rejoice (Ring and Rejoice)
1374	Solemn Passacaglia
CGB 118	Song of Jubilation
CGB 477	This is My Father's World
NM 270	Two Narratives: 1) The Storm 2) The Feeding
49442025	Two Noels
L 328	Unto Us a Boy is Born, Noel
1110703	Variations on Kingsfold
1414	Variations on Mit Freuden Zart
1413	Variations on Mit Freuden Zart
SFP 120	Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
LS 93031	Visions
1110634	Wake Awake for Night is Flying
LA 1038	Waltz of the Toys
LA 1100	Washiki Kane-Dokei (Japanese Chime Clock)
1699	We Praise Thee O God Our Redeemer
1701	Were You There on That Christmas Night?
1267	Were You There?
AG 35025	What Child is This
AG 3061	What Child is This
976153	What Child is This
AMHB 18	Winds Through the Olive Tree
CGB 130	Woodland Sketch, A

June 29, 20111

2011-06-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

JULY OVERSTOCK SALE!!!!

The overstock list is done! Wahoo! Where is it?
It is on my computer. How do I get it here? I just don't know.
It is 10 pages. I put it in PDF. I'm trying to figure out how to create
a link.
612-208-1741 or 1 (877/866) 426-3235
heitzhandbells@yahoo.com
for an attachment.

Don't forget August is coming up too!

SUMMER SALES COMING!!!

2011-05-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

This summer we are going to have 3 sales:

JUNE 1 - 30
All out-of-print music is 40% off.
Many of these oldies but goodies are in your files,
but are they in good condition? Many of these pieces would be great
for ensembles. Have you checked them out? Do you have all of your favorite
composer's earliest music?
We have at least 6 copies of the out-of-print music listed on the website.

JULY 1 - 31ST
All overstocked music 30% off
A list of overstocked music will appear here and on Bell Folk and Stuff. Search through it and find some really great music!!

AUGUST 1 - 13TH
Ready for the fall?
Get an extra 3% discount over and above our regular discounts! Be prepared!

May 10, 2011

2011-05-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

So. I'm working on our very first email ad. My sister in law, Eve Neuhaus, helped with finding a free company. Now I'm constructing. It takes a lot of work but I'm sending it out this week!!!
Norm has a contact who wants to sell their 3 octave set of Whitechapels.
We are constantly tweaking and adding to the site.
Busy, busy, busy

April 6, 2011

2011-04-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Lansing and it was great. Lots of people to visit and meet. Display went well....I need to continue working on displays. So today you get a view of progressive displays ala Heitz Handbells.

This is Rochester, MN June 2010. Our first display.
Next is the display at Anthornis in Plymouth, MN February 2011

As you can see, no table covering. However, we've started to think about compactness of display. Alanna has been helpful in that respect. Also Carol decided to try file boxes for education, worship aids, hymn collections. This you can see in the next pictures at BellFest, Arden Hills MN March 2011.

I've also done a display at Lansing Michigan, March 2011. Ringing on the River North. However, the pictures are on a different computer.
Norm and I need to find cheap but nice looking table covers. And we want a banner.

March 22, 2011

2011-03-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Well. We are working hard trying to improve our displays for events. Thursday I am leaving for Lansing, MI to display at Ringing on the River North. Driving with a packed car. We're trying so hard to be good with our space. I'm starting to measure the display. Please pray for an easy and clear drive both ways for me. Lots of energy when I get there and loads of customers.
Physically Norm is doing better. Still major problems with energy and his back. I can't imagine all the pain he is in daily. These 12 months have been wonderful for me and my own personal struggles with emotions and Norm and his feelings of hope and energy. We have no problems getting along most of the time.
Please also pray that we make good decisions about which events to go to. We really make money at events and need to get to as many as possible without straining ourselves.
Also, the website is still in its infancy and not used as much as it could be.
Well, anyway...pictures of Lansing will come..I hope.

March 15, 2011

2011-03-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

With all the things to think about and all the joys of what is happening around me, my spirit is so sad about Japan and their tragedy. The 50 heroic people who are trying to save those nuclear facilities. It just hurts so much.

March 3, 2011

2011-03-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Welllll. It's almost BellFest!!!!! That'll be a very fun day. I just heard from Bill Mathis yesterday that next year Hart Morris will be conducting. Woohooo!
Anyway, we will be displaying on Saturday at Bellfest. Should be great.
I've finished entering all of Jeffers into the website. Now I'm working on new music and starting Concordia, From the Top, etc. Plus, since I'm planning on going to Ringing at the River North, Lansing MI at the end of March we are working on display items. Our store is a mess while Norm and I are trying out various styles.

February 14, 2011

2011-02-14T08:19:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!
Well, we had a great time at Anthornis. David Harris was extremely patient and pushed us nicely:). I can honestly say that "Anthornis" the piece has improved immensely since last year. Remembrance went very well as did Herr Liebster. I think Little Fugue was not done as well as it could have been. But the whole experience was just awesome. North Heights was the 5th set of tables back and I could relax and watch the director.
Heitz Handbells and Music was there along with Raleigh Ringers products. It was a good weekend for both companies. I also bought some Raleigh Ringers products for Heitz Handbells. So we'll sell their fun gloves and CDs too.
Hope your day is full of roses.

February 1st, 2011

2011-02-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Happy February!!!!!
Well, I am rapidly getting everything that was supposed to be in Quickbooks last year, into Quickbooks this year. Yeah!!
And I've downloaded everything into the website that Jeffers puts out, except for Jeffers themselves. Well....that's a ton of work.
Meanwhile, we had a decent January. I'm looking forward to a comparable February, Anthornis, and whatever we can cook up to pull people in. We're putting out a new postcard this month.

January 22, 2011

2011-01-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was our 1st anniversary for Heitz Handbells and Music. Neither of us realized it until most of the way through the morning. We ordered take out pizza and enjoyed talking with the customers and friends who came in. It was a great day and we both have a feeling of great accomplishment. The look of the store has been pretty stable for 1 month. We have been online for almost 2 months now. I've been screwing things up with the pictures a bit and am waiting for our website designer to fix my mistakes.
Norm is double checking all the entries and I continue to enter music. I'm working through the Jeffers' companies: I've finished Red River, Ring Out, Ringing Word, Ring Praise. I'm now on Fred Bock, Composer's Press, Busy Ringers, Robert Groth, and Your Songs. When I'm done with that I'll start on Jeffers. It's a lot of work, but the feeling of accomplishment so far is great.
Alanna asked us if we wanted to do the Reading Session for Anthornis. So we're working on that. And I've asked permission to display at BellFest and we've signed up to display at the Lansing Festival in March.
Norm continues to "enjoy" editing my mistakes, talking to customers, taking orders, creating descriptions, etc.

December 31, 2010

2010-12-31T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's the last day of this year. I had a wonderful 2 hour talk with our CPA.. Lots of work to do for him.
New Years' Resolution. Get more into Quickbooks!!
Due to a friends suggestion, I downloaded Gimp as a photoshop program.
I have been working very hard getting more on the site.
Norm has been working very hard on descriptions.

Happy New Year!!!!

December 22, 2010

2010-12-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Yeow!!!!! I either have to write more or quit this. I can't seem to remember the stupid password. Anyway. Issues: Heitz Handbells wants Microsoft Publisher and/or Photoshop Elements for Christmas. HH wants to know if people know we exist. HH wants people to really use the website!!
Sigh. Can you tell it's Christmas??? I (Carol) always get depressed at Christmas.
So. I have finished adding all the ensemble music we have and yesterday finished adding all of Red River Publishing's music on a spreadsheet. All I have to do now is put the data on the website's spreadsheets. Next entry: worship aids and education.
Then!!! I need to make sure Quickbooks is set up correctly. Actually I'm working on that, reading Quickbooks for Smarties and talking to a person to help me get it all together.

November 22, 2010

2010-11-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

Day One of "We're Live!"
Other than being extremely hyper-excited, I am very excited. I can't believe it. Well, there's tons of work to do yet..lots of music to enter. BUT I just can't stop looking at our site. Sigh.... Isn't it pretty????

Help Wanted

2010-11-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

MESSIAH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is looking for a Director of Chancel and Handbell Choirs at the Traditional service. "Applicants should have a passion for music and direction, a proven track record of excellent leadership, team-building, and recruiting skills. Interested applicants should send resume, references, and philosophy of ministry to
jobs2@messiahchurchmn.org".

Messiah United Methodist Church
17805 County Rd 6
Plymouth, MN 55447
763- 473-6968

November 6, 2010

2010-11-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

Wow is this a fast year. We are continuing to work on the web site. It is currently being tweaked with new photos and rearrangements and better headlines. We will open before all the music is ready and inputted. But that's life. We are so close though.
I'd like to know how much money people have before they start a business because I feel like a money pit. Maybe we need investors, I don't know.
What I do know is that we are slowly crawling out of the pit we started in and people have been very responsive. We are truly blessed with great friends and support. I really don't care about my own salary, but I'd like to see enough money coming in that the bills are paid.
We are looking forward to the Director's Seminar next July and I hope also to attend the STEP solo/ensemble workshop next July. Every festival we can afford to be present at will be a step in the right direction.
Well, anyway, I don't always say write because I don't always feel I have something to write that is positive and up. It is definitely a hard walk to restart this business.
Prayers and good thoughts toward our getting an SBA loan please.

September 21, 2010

2010-09-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Ha!! Forgot my password and user name. Pretty good huh???? So I had to start all over with that process.
Anyway, I was so excited when someone came into the store and said he had found our blog. Really made my day!!! He not only found our blog, but he found our store because of the blog.
Hey!! We're on facebook too :o)
Anyway...you'd think I 'd be done by now with all the set up and web site, etc. NOT!
Norm is working on descriptions of music...and huge, major big deal and it takes forever. I continue to fill out spreadsheets, spreadsheets, spreadsheets. I sure hope this doesn't take until 2011.
Twyla and Jim came in and put up my Music Room puzzle and the cork board.
Now I don't have to tape comments to myself onto the wall heehee.
We've been selling alot of KidsRing and BellFest music. We really appreciate all the wonderful patronage up to this point. Hope to continue to see new faces.

August 21, 2010

2010-08-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm all geared up for this coming week. See what it'll actually bring. The store is looking good. I'm slowly buying containers and display material. We've changed the handbell table as people weren't using it much. We do have the bell tree up with bells. Work on the web site is slowly coming along as is cataloguing all the vintage music. Norm is updating and fixing our Quick books program so all items are the same. We've made so many changes that we have to pull everything together into one style. Getting there though.

August 8, 2010

2010-08-08T17:16:00.001-07:00

Norm and I are continuing to work hard at checking and rechecking the alphabetical boxes as well as the level boxes. Norm is doing a lot of the work while I am trying hard to continue with the web site and with cataloging the smaller publishers and the "vintage" music. Life is never dull.

July 25, 2010

2010-07-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well, things are continuing to improve in our little domain. We are now tweaking our alphabet and level boxes. Tweaking because we get in a lot of music, but I forget to put it out in those areas. Sigh. So, Norm has taken that on now. Tweaking also because I am now into the daunting task of catagorizing all the music that is vintage or from smaller publishers. I've done some separately, but we have quite a bit of music that is "permanently out of print". In and around that we are working hard at getting our lists ready for the web site. We won't have pictures of music or sound files for a while. One of the hard parts for me is to describe a piece of music. I'm slowly getting there.
We're going to have a fall get together Aug 23 - 28. We have music for all the events happening in the cities area for 2010 and 2011 except for BellFest. That is coming. Bill has pneumonia unfortunately.
It's really amazing how computer oriented my work is...Norm's too. Maybe that's just for now and will lessen up as time goes on.

July 4th!!! Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a very busy month (of June that is). Norm continued to enter Lorenz products into our catalog. He was finished right before the festival and we were messing around with column changes....and guess what! Let's just say that we're backing up a lot more often. I started my own Lorenz worksheet for the web site and Norm...started....all....over... Well, actually, I had a perfect copy of the Hope information and all the other publishers were happily sitting in my computer, so it is just Lorenz. Ah well.
The festival was a whirlwind of activity. Wednesday the 23rd we spent packing boxes and the cars...5 hours. Exhaustion. Then Thurs, Fri, and Sat were wonderfully busy days. Both of us are quite content. We have some tweaking to do to make checking easier.
Now Norm is working on a customer base and I am continuing with my projects: web site, quick books, Lorenz.
Thanks to all of you who have fought for the freedom of our country and for our rights! If you know a Vietnam vet, give him or her an extra special hug!!

May 23, 2010

2010-05-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, the open house has come and gone. It was a wonderful time with friends of ours visiting and customers looking at music. We received flowers (I'm still amazed by that) and cards and well-wishes. We could only smile all week long.
Our process of setting ourselves up is continuing as Norm continues to update and upgrade the catalog (a humongous deal) and I continue to set up accounting and the customer area. We are getting in stock orders and working on the web site. I think that is the slowest in coming. Oh well. We are gearing up for the festival in Rochester, making plans, deciding what to bring.
A customer on Saturday suggested we do another "open house" in fall for those who are preparing for the church year. So we may do that. We are also talking about summer hours.

May 2, 2010

2010-05-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

I decided to look around a bit on this page to see how on earth some of my favorites blogs look so neat and mine so.....hmmm. Anyway, I figured out how to add a picture and I'll work on this more each weekend.
In the "what am I doing" area, I am now trying to enter 7000 titles into Quick Book. Sigh. Yes, I know how to paste from Excel but you still have to double check entries. Check me out next year. heehee.
The highlight of the week was when Twyla came back and helped me to decorate the teal wall with handbell notation posters. It's very pretty. My crappy pictures don't do it justice. I'm still working on the alphabetical boxes. Yeesh. I need to put in overtime. :)
Another handbell director came and we had fun comparing mallets. That was really fun!! I need to get some Schulmerich ones there so that people can really try out different kinds.

April 24, 2010

2010-04-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've been working hard at the alphabetical boxes. I finished the "new" music area. Twyla came over this week and helped me reupholster the piano bench. She'll come over later this coming week to help me put posters on the wall. I'm continuing to create an "ensemble/solo" music area as well as do the alphabetical boxes. I need also to work on the boxes that has everything by level. It's a lot, but I'm excited and happy. I've worked on entering all the accessories in the computer. Our website is still slowly coming along. The open house is May 17-22!!! I hope we get lots of visitors.

April 18, 2010

2010-04-18T19:48:00.001-07:00

Hey, I got all my filing finished!! Wahoo!!!!! I've been working on the customer area and it's pretty good. I also have to finish the back room and get it a little neater. It's coming along.

April 11, 2010

2010-04-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Okay like I know it's been a while. We spent Easter at my mom's so there was no blogging that weekend and I haven't figured out how to keep myself busy in the evenings when I'm tired. I have finished rearranging all the files. I am now filing away all the music that was laying around...(of which there are boxes). Sigh. The bells have been polished thanks to Twyla's girls and the postcards have been sent to Norm's customers of the last couple of years. The customer room is not perfect, I have to set up the displays. But the tables are together. Yeah!! We are definitely getting orders, although very few call me (no I'm not crying). We have gotten in a few gifty type of items, have another possibility coming, and my sister/brother have created fair trade/organic chocolate bells. Those are dark, milk. Dark, milk caramel filled. And a zebra mint bell which is dark and white chocolate stripe with mint. BUT only for chocolate lovers who come in!!!!

We are definitely going to Rochester. Yeah! I'm excited, still working like crazy and loving it.

Now some pics.

This is known as Carol's mess.

The red clothed table will hold music for area VII events as well as music for the upcoming season. The table without a cloth will have displays of alphabetical music. You will see the blue clothed table as you come in the door and it will have all the new music that has been published during the year. Then the alphabetical boxes will start. There will also be a place for accessories. In the back you can see 2 6 foot tables. The one on the left will have an octave or 2 of Malmark bells so people can ring if they wish. Plenty to buy too!! And the one on the right will have more boxes of music people can look through.

March 27, 2010

2010-03-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well. Finally have all the music filed except for miscellaneous and vintage. The rooms are a mess. However, we have the furniture in the room. I need to start putting it together and touch up the wood. We may have some assistance in the bell cleaning aspect. I'm excited, nervous. We want to be able to say, we're open and it looks great!!
I want to send postcards out and encourage people to check us out. I want to see the place done first!!

March 20, 2010

2010-03-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Spring!! Yeehaw!!
Anyway, believe it or not, I have finally finished counting and cataloguing our Hope Publishing and Lorenz Publishing music. They are also newly filed. Now comes the really messy part. I'm amazed that we're even considering the possibility of opening any time soon. HA. Anyway..I basically pull all the music out of each drawer and and separate it according to publisher: Alfred, Beckenhorst, GIA, Jeffers, and miscellaneous (which is actually quite a few small publishers as well as the vintage music). Then, I'm just filing all of this alphabetically (of course). I'm up to the F's. The problem is that it makes a real mess. However, Joanne K came over one day and helped organize some cabinets as well as organize the customer room.
Norm is bringing over the piano this weekend. We brought over the bells from the storage area. Now to neaten and put out music in a nice way. I still don't have a desk. That is coming soon:)

March 8, 2010

2010-03-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a while. I've been extremely busy keeping it together with directing 2 choirs and ringing in two. Bells of the Lakes had their Bellfest on Saturday and I had a lot to do for that. Plus I wanted to have Heitz Handbells first show at Bellfest. Then we had a concert Sunday afternoon in Faribault.

Amazing! And I wonder when I have time to work on the house!

Anway, I need to catch up on all the things you have missed in setting up our store. I wanted to show you pictures of the move. So, first you have a picture of Norm. He was still really recovering from his stroke and therefore "supervising".

Norm's storage area was filled with 44 - 3 drawer file cabinets and about 13 - 2 drawer file cabinets plus close to 50 boxes of music. These pictures show a little bit of it all. But all of that filled a 24 foot truck to capacity!

After Norm and I spent 3 hours prepping to move, the movers took 3 hours to fill the truck. I drove the truck to Richfield to our newly painted office and our 3 "assistants" took almost 5 hours to empty the truck and put the cabinets in place.

Norm did alot of measuring!! Now we are finally together, inventorying, and trying to get things put into place so we can open Suite S to customers.

February 20, 2010

2010-02-20T12:05:00.001-08:00

Well, we are "in". Doesn't mean much when the place is a total mess, but we are there. Both of us took Wednesday off as we were so sore. Thursday we did a little more of extras. Friday, Andrew (Norm's friend) came and helped us organize the large file cabinets so they look significantly better. I then cleaned 3/4 of the cabinets. We started reorganizing the music!! Yeah!!

February 17, 2010

2010-02-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

What's moving in like? Sigh. Well, there is fixing things so that the "Professional Movers" can put things into a van. 2 1/2 hours of physical work for me, 3 hours of work for them. Drive this 24 foot truck to our new location. Not that big of a deal, except man did it drive hard. Very sluggish, hard to turn, scccaaaarrreey. I made sure someone helped me back up each time. Went down an alley...whew. Finally, after maybe 45 minutes of trying to position and reposition the truck in the alley, we gave up and I drove the truck into the parking lot. Longer distance for moving the file cabinets, but easier for the 3 guys to move. Two of these guys are friends of Norm and Frank came to help at my request. Yeah Frank. PLUS, one of the 2 wheelers' wheels was flat. Frank went and got that fixed. Brother. 4 1/2 hours of moving into the office. I carried a lot of boxes but refused to move the file cabinets much as they weighed between 100 and 200 pounds. Way too much for me. Finally, at 9:00 pm we were finished. The place is a biggggggg mess. So much work to do. But I drove the now empty and easy to handle truck back to Budget, picked up my car, said bye to Norm, got a sandwich, and went home. Boy am I sore today.

February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T06:58:00.001-08:00

This is the first coating of Suite S. Joanne, Ken, and I worked on it Tuesday the 9th. Ken taught me how to trim more perfectly and I'm much better at it now. We managed to first coat three walls.

We finished the first coating and I started the second coating with Twyla on Wednesday. We finished on Thursday and the place is looking great!!

After a couple of false starts and a sudden illness on Norm's part, we hope to begin moving tomorrow!

February 6, 2010

2010-02-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it! Actually on Thursday my friend Twyla came to help and stayed all day so that we could get it finished. Yeah!! Suite R is painted and it looks nice. On Friday the rug cleaners came. I will return on Monday to start painting Suite S. Just thought I'd show you some before and after pics.
Carol

ok. I don't know how to do this very well yet. I can't seem to get the pictures arranged right. Oh well. Something new to learn :)

February 4, 2010

2010-02-04T06:28:00.000-08:00

Pictures coming soon!!!! I have managed to paint one coat on Suite R. Today my friend, Twyla, and I will paint the second coat and it'll be ready for a rug wash tomorrow. Norm is moving the stock in on Saturday. Yeah!! Next week I want to paint Suite S so we can actually start looking good. Tom V is almost finished with our logo. Yes!

February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T07:29:00.001-08:00

I still have a hard time with 2010. I want to write 2110, but we're not in a Star Trek movie :). Well, yesterday we signed our new lease. We officially have keys but can't move in yet as the walls need fixing and they're going to put an opening in one wall. So, yesterday I finished working through music to decide if we're going to buy any. I'm working on a flyer for Bellfest. Kinda of a "let people know we exist type". Tom V is finishing the work on the logo. Today, the Comcast people come and I reaaaallllly want to start painting. Sigh.

Friday, Jan 28, 2010

2010-01-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

Sigh. Incredible amount of work to do. Oh well, chin up. I am half way through the customer base (yeah!). I am still tweaking the inventory excel program so it's easy to enter on the website. I am almost through a packet of music deciding which we should buy in quantity and which we shouldn't. Thanks to Carla and Joanne K. for going through the music and giving me their perspectives. Suite R will be ready for us to start our work in on Monday Feb 1. I want to paint it an Oatmeal color before all the file cabinets move in. I am seriously multi-tasking but doing well at it. Not as good as a friend of my sister's who multi-tasks like she has multiple heads! HA. Anyway, Tom V has been working on the logo and gave me two ideas he has been working on. Very exciting!

Wednesday, Jan 27

2010-01-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

So. All excitement aside, I am actually figuring out the basics of Quick Book. I've been entering in all of Norm's customer base. That'll take a few days:) Plus I'm working on the catalog trying to get it usuable for our website designer. There's plenty of tweaking to do. The most exciting part of yesterday (other than the panic attack because Norm was a no-show for his appointment with me. Of Course I think of all the worst things when instead he was stuck in another appointment that took longer than expected). okok. I went to Home Depot to check colors. I decided on a vanilla not quite yellowy but not really white and a teal that's brighter and greener than what you'd normally expect. I'm hoping to get help painting starting Monday. At least get 1 room done in a couple of days. Then Norm can move in the files.

Tuesday, Jan 26 2010

2010-01-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

Well, we now have a "space". We will be in Suites R and S (combined into 1 suite) at 6603 Queen Ave S, Richfield MN. Not even 1 mile from home. I could walk. Wahoo!! Yesterday I bought a printer that I liked and got it set up. I worked on our expenses so far, started paying for a website to be created.... Oh my. Today, I finally figured out how to get the tops of 8x14 pages printed off so I could have the entire agreement. Amazing. I'm going to look at paint. Work on Quick Books.

Monday, Jan 25 2010

2010-01-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hi! Carol Scheel here. Norm and I are working on getting Heitz Handbells and Music set up. I never realized how much work there is to setting up a company: website, store front, learn Quick Books, do this, do that. Whew! We are working on getting into a store front at 6603 Queen Ave S, Richfield. Not really sure which Suite yet as we may move to a different one. Meanwhile all the files are still in the storage locker. I'm working on setting up a new invoice in Quick Books. Everything is on a roll, but not a fast one. I'm really excited about all the support Norm and I have from family and friends. Thank you so much!!