It was about this time 2 years ago that I started thinking that I might like to move my business out of my home.  Hmmm, maybe it was a little bit later towards spring, but we are definitely getting close.

It took awhile to decide what to do and where to go, but on June 1st, we started moving my longarm studio into a storefront in downtown Traer, and I started stocking up on some inventory.  We officially opened the doors of Knots and Bolts on August 8, 2008.  For the most part, everyone was very supportive, although I’m sure many of you wondered what kind of a crazy person I was, and at least one local naysayer said to someone else “She knows it’ll never work.”

What that person never understood was that my motivations, goals and needs were very different than what I’m sure she thought they were.

What I have come to understand over the last few months is that my goals and needs aren’t quite being met by the life I’m currently leading, and so it is time for some change. Luckily, I like change, I like trying different things, and I’m not afraid to admit that something isn’t working for me.

I suspect you can see where this is headed: sometime in the next few months, I’m going to be moving my business home. I don’t have all of the details worked out yet, nor is the timing quite nailed down.  I am not sad, nor do I feel like I have failed.  I’m sure there will be lots of tongues wagging, trying to figure out my “true” reasons, and even though I surely hope no one says “I told you so” to my face, I’m sure someone out there will be thinking it.  Luckily, I don’t really care what other people think:  my husband and I know that I’m doing what is best for me, and for our family.

I can’t tell you all of my reasons.   Most are, frankly, no one’s business but my own.  Lest anyone worry, there is nothing wrong, everyone’s healthy, happy and…just trust me, everything’s fine.  I’m sure many people will assume it is for financial reasons and yes, the economy sucks, but this is not a financial decision.  I still think a shop of this type can be done and done well, but I’m not the person to continue trying to do that at this time.

One thing I will tell you is that I thought it would be good for me to get out of my house.  To go to work, and then to come home and be home.  Turns out, the grass really was greener on this side of the fence, and while working at home has it’s drawbacks and pitfalls, I prefer it.  I’m glad I tried this, though, because I would have always wondered and wished that I had.

Of course, this means trying to cram everything that I’ve accumulated back into a house that has been rearranged around not having a longarm in it.  It’s going to be…interesting, to say the least.   The longarm/sewing studio will go back in the master bedroom, which means Mark and I have to move our bedroom upstairs to the current sewing room.  And that room needs a new carpet and fresh paint before we move into it…and of course, it’s currently neater, but still full of sewing room stuff.   (We’ve already asked:  the boys don’t want to move out of their current room, which WAS our room…)

So.

In my 1000th post, I alluded to a giveaway that would be coming, to celebrate 1000 posts, but it’s also going to be part of trying to help me fit back into the house.

Because, wow, I have to clear out some inventory.  Seriously.  I mean, Wow.

At this point, I’m intending to keep the online shop open, in some shape or form, though I will be experimenting with what I have on offer in the shop.  However I still have to clear out some things.  A girl can only fit so many bolts of fabric and skeins of yarn into one house.

And it’s going to be tough, since so many people I know are trying to get on the stashbusting wagon right now.  I’m hoping that even if you can’t help me clear out some fabric and yarn, maybe you will be willing to pass the news on to your friends.

I’m going to write a separate post, which will be the post for you to comment on, in order to join in the giveaway.  There will be other ways to get entries in the giveaway, too, so be sure to check it out.  It’s going to be big!

To read more about the giveaway and sale, you’ll want to visit this post: Great Big Giveway and Sale

Well, I think that’s all I have to say about all of this for now.  There will be more.  There always is.  Thanks for reading and commenting and supporting me.  I’ll let you know what kind of trouble I’m getting in to next.

Suzanne