It's All Happening...

Happy Tuesday readers! I am checking in today before the next couple weeks are monopolized by the move. We are set to close on our house in Iowa on Monday (less than a week), then I am headed to Kansas with the dogs to close on our new home next Tuesday...yes, you heard me correctly...in a week, we will be ready to move into our new house. I am finally starting to get a wee bit excited (how could I not be with that view - the red arrow points to our house and shows our fabulous backyard "farm" view)...I was actually in the Kansas City area over the weekend...picking out window coverings and appliances and seeing the Spring Hill area...we drove by the local quilt shop (it's only a couple miles from our house) and stopped at the dog kennel where we will be boarding our fur babies. As a bonus, I made my first trip ever to IKEA (yes, there is an IKEA close by) and made a shopping list of items that we will pick-up in the coming weeks. It was a whirlwind trip, but quite productive. Today, I cleaned the garage and storage shed and packed some of the last boxes - I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel...but I know I will have my work cut out for me unpacking and settling into the new house and area.

I am hoping to have Blue Ribbon Designs back up and running by the end of April...I will be sending an e-mail to my current clients with details as soon as they are available. I will definitely post when I am taking orders and opening my Etsy and website stores...you will only have to be patient a tiny bit longer. I can't wait to get back to work - designing, sewing and filling orders! We spent some time at the new house over the weekend and I have a plan for my office, studio and warehouse.

I personally want to thank those of you who placed an order for my first Norwex party and/or shared about your experiences and favorite products - thanks to you, I am able to start building my collection...a couple more orders and I should be able to reach my goal (a mop - yes, I have hardwood floors, along with lots of tile in the new house - I know it is a lofty goal, but the mop is at the top of my wish list!). I have been so thrilled with the few products I have and I can't wait to try more. The Pet Towel has been a lifesaver during the terrible weather this past Midwest winter and is now saving me with all of the rain...I am so thankful I have one for each dog! My party is still going on for a couple more days, so if you are just seeing this and would like to help me out, you can place an order for my online party and/or view a catalog, by visiting this link:
http://carmenjacobsen.norwex.biz/en_US/customer/party/3651994
I truly appreciate it...and if you have any questions or favorite products to tell me about, please comment below!!

Last but not least - here is the last quilt I completed before I started packing for the move - I titled it "Pineapples and Prickly Pears"...I designed the pattern and made the sample for AccuQuilt a few months ago. It uses the new(er) GO! Pineapple 10" Finished Cutting Die. I really enjoyed designing and creating this quilt and see more pineapple style quilts in my future.

I'm looking forward to getting back to work in a few weeks and creating projects that bring me joy! I have so many lists and ideas, it will be hard to choose where to start...and my beloved sewing machine is finally back from the repair shop (yay!), so I plan to start bonding with her as soon as I can...

For now - I hope you can be patient with me while we travel to Kansas and the dust settles from the big move - I will be back here to visit with you as soon as I can!

Looking Forward

Hello friends and visitors! It's been a month or so since my last post...and many of you know that is because we are in the process of moving from Iowa to Kansas. This means not only moving from our home of fifteen years, but moving my business/studio, as well. Our home in Iowa is finally under contract (sidebar - I don't recommend trying to sell a home in the middle of a terrible Midwest winter - insert eye roll here)...and we have a home under contract in Kansas - yes, things are finally coming together...whew! This whole process has been a challenge and we aren't even moving into our new home yet...

We are scheduled to close on both homes April 12th - fingers crossed - and I am a little overwhelmed with everything we have to do. I have received a lot of questions about where we will be in Kansas, as I have taught quite a few classes and retreats in the area. We are actually going to be in Spring Hill, KS - one of the fastest-growing cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our home is new construction (see photo above)...and no, we weren't necessarily looking for new construction...but after months of looking, my husband viewed a handful of new homes and this one was perfect for us. Yes, I am excited everything will be new...but it also means we have to purchase all the window treatments and some appliances, plus have the garage door openers installed, etc. - and our home doesn't even have sod or a fence yet (kind of a big deal when you have two German Shepherds...luckily, we have a six-mile walking trail around a five-acre pond within sight). As a bonus, our backyard butts up to farmland/a farmer's fence - providing a great view - and we are told we will see cows, which makes me happy! This our first experience with a Homeowner's Association, so that is all new too...and I have to completely learn the area...so it is entirely a new journey...

I will be in Iowa until April 8th...and moving into our new home on April 13th (crossing my fingers). I am hoping Blue Ribbon Designs will be back up and running before the end of April, as I know many of you are anxious to get your project bag orders filled and finishing orders underway! Believe me, I am ready to get back to work too - having my entire studio packed for months is truly wearing on me. Once all the details are official, I will be e-mailing specifics to my clients...and as soon as we are settled, my website store and Etsy Shop will re-open for business. I truly want to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this BIG transition.

To add a little beauty and creativity to this post, here are more lovely project bags I completed before I packed up my studio for the move...geez, I never thought I would say I missed sewing bags (only because I have made SO MANY), but I really do...I can't wait to be in my new sewing room!

I actually have a few needlework finishing projects left to share with you and one more AccuQuilt project I finished up before preparing for our move...I will be back to share those when time allows. Thank you all for hanging in with me during this crazy transition!