It took both retirement and encouragement from an employee to get Sue Sagmoen to open another business in Kewanee.

“I didn’t enjoy retirement,” she said. She missed her customers, the bustling atmosphere of the shop and “the creative outlet.”

Sagmoen and her husband Will moved to Kewanee in 1986. She opened up Heartfelt Gifts on Main Street in 1991. Early on, she sold gifts, baby clothes and of course, her fudge that the shop became known for. In the back of the shop she sold knitting machines and taught classes on how to use them.

Eventually she added floral pieces and hired Mary Duffy, who began to design silk arrangements to sell.

“As it went on, it kept expanding and expanding,” Sagmoen said.

For over three decades, Heartfelt Gifts was the place to go for unique gifts, tips on decorating, floral arrangements and of course, fudge. But in 2023, Sagmoen turned over the reins to Tiffany Bockewitz, who had rented space from her in the shop.

Bockewitz had wanted to open up a boutique and so Heartfelt Gifts closed and the Blissful Branch Boutique opened in February of that year, although Sagmoen continued to do custom silk flower arrangements with the help of floral designer Connie Sturtevant.

“I still kept the floral work because that was something we liked,” she said.

When the Quilt Box at 105 E. Third St. closed up in September of 2024, Sagmoen moved in, launching her newest venture, Blooms by Heartfelt, a floral shop. At Sturtevant’s urging, Sagmoen added fresh flowers.

“Connie had a willingness, inspiration, and know-how,” Sagmoen said, and her husband, Ed, built the cooler where the fresh flowers are stored.

“Connie has been instrumental in getting the process started,” said Linnea Gustafson, who has worked alongside Sagmoen for several years. “I was a good customer and I was also good at bookkeeping and they hired me,” she said.

Gustafson acts as the administrative assistant and rounding out the shop’s staff is floral designer Angie Zarvell.

Blooms by Heartfelt will offer a wide range of services such as funeral, memorial, wedding and dance flowers, created in both silk and fresh. In addition, they will make custom floral arrangements for all occasions and even offer free delivery to local businesses such as schools, hospitals and funeral homes. For a small delivery charge, area residents can have their flowers delivered right to their door.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, the business will begin its three-day grand opening. Hours for the grand opening are Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to attend and all attendees will receive a gift. In addition there will be refreshments, door prizes and a Blooms Bar, a cart filled with a variety of flowers for customers to build their own custom bouquet. The price of the bouquets varies depending on the flower choices.

Sagmoen said there are other plans on the horizon. Floral arrangement classes will be offered in the future and fairy garden creations might be another class, she said. She also has plans to take her Blooms Bar on the road and offer that service at area events.

Sagmoen and Gustafson said they hope customers coming to the new floral shop will feel taken care of.

“They can expect to be heard and cared for and their vision brought to life,” said Gustafson.

Blooms by Heartfelt can be found on Facebook here, or online at the business website here.