Huge Changes Ahead!

Hello sewing friends!

Boy do I have some news to share… I’m moving! To Japan! What?! YES!!

I’ve been slacking more than usual on the blog this year because I have been crazy busy trying to bust out as much overtime as possible at work and preparing for my new life. Not to mention we got rid of internet at home a few months ago because our provider was awful and, hey, may as well save a few bucks. 😉

So what’s going on? Why Japan? WHAT?!

DD and I have been thinking of the next adventure in our life. He approached me early last year with the idea of starting a craft beer brewery. He’s been home brewing for a while now which got me interested in it because, well, beer is AWESOME. The craft beer scene in the U.S. is going crazy and Tucson alone has over 20 breweries, with new ones popping up every few months. And they ALL are doing well! So why Japan? Long story short, Japan’s a little behind the U.S. as far as the craft beer scene goes so it’s a great market to get into now before the boom.

So how are we getting there? I spoke about my participation in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program 10 years ago in this post. It was such a great experience with so much support that I’m doing it again! This time, I’ll be on the mainland instead of teeny tiny Sado Island.

The plan is to teach for a couple/few years while DD gets the brewery up and going. We were scouting out potential cities in January and fell in love with Niigata, but we’ll be closer to Kanazawa, Takaoka, and Toyama this time and all three look promising, too! So who knows where we’ll end up right now.

What’s going to happen with Sew RED-y? Well, I definitely plan on still being a part of the online sewing community. My posts may be fewer and farther between, but hopefully with different content than just “LOOKIT WHAT I MADE!”

For the past 2 years, I’ve been blogging for Cali Fabrics and unfortunately had to pull the plug on that since life will be hectic and I’ll be across the Pacific. It killed me a little inside since I absolutely loved working with Ron and the Cali and Co. Blog Squad. I am super grateful for my time and experience blogging for them and for all of the awesome fabric!

I’m also heartbroken that I won’t be able to be a part of my Sit and Sew group, either! 😦 For the past 7 years, we met on Fridays to chit chat, sew, snack, and goof around. My Sit and Sew group has been such a big part of my life here in Tucson and it definitely helped me grow as a sewist and blogger. So much, MUCH thanks to my sewing sisters Dana, Sonya, Shirley, Rose, and Diana for the support and inspiration these past 7 years. And the biggest thanks of all goes to Dana for it being her brainchild and making Sit and Sew what it is today! I love you ladies. ❤

Christmas Party 2017!

And to all of my readers, thank you for all of the support over the past 4 years. I look forward to this new adventure and am excited to take y’all along for the [virtual] ride!

-RED

P.S. There will be some radio silence on Sew RED-y while I’m settling into my new home and figuring out how to get Internet in my apartment. I’ll be back soooooon! 😉