-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Kyrie Borsay, owner of K.D.'s Over The Moon, poses at her downtown gift shop. Borsay sells art, clothing and a variety of unique gifts.

A visitor to K.D.’s Over The Moon might find a colorful handmade pillow cover in the front of the gift shop. Then in the back of the shop they might create their own Christmas ornament.

These are just two of many possibilities at one of Fort Dodge’s newest downtown businesses.

Owner Kyrie Borsay opened the shop, located at 1109 Central Ave., on Nov. 5.

She’s still working on arranging the store exactly how she wants it.

“I have antiques because I happen to love them,” Borsay said. “I also have some very nice consignment items — consignment clothes and some unique gifts. My mother lives overseas and she sent some of these beautiful handmade table runners and pillow covers from Turkey. I have little craft kits for sale. I also have books. Lots of books. I have baseball cards. I have vintage wedding dresses.”

One wall is called the “red, white and blue wall,” which features items with a patriotic theme.

“I come from a military family,” Borsay said. “My mother is a retired colonel in the Army. My brother is a retired Marine major. My uncle was killed in Vietnam. Iowa, in particular, sends a lot of soldiers through the National Guard over the last many years. People have a lot of pride in their military service. I’m so proud of my mother and brother for what they did, giving back to this country. I am very proud of that.”

Borsay’s travels and her passion for art inspired her to own a shop.

“I’ve always collected things from my travels all over the world,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to travel because my mother has lived overseas (Germany) and then I’ve always liked cool antiques and I really appreciate art. I come from an artsy family. As I began to collect, I realized I can’t keep all the wonderful things that I have. But I hope someone will see the same beauty in those things.”

In the back of the store is a makerspace.

There, visitors can paint, draw or sew.

“I have specific crafts set up at different tables — stamps, coloring or painting, Christmas ornaments, sewing machines and fabric,” Borsay said. “I have paint and tools, sanders and drills and lots of loose ends back here. Things that maybe someone could imagine into something else. A creative space where people create.”

Borsay invites the public to use the space whenever her store is open. For use of the space, all Borsay asks is for a donation.

“I accept donations,” she said. “I have to keep my supply up. I am going to offer specific craft classes. But if you don’t have money, I don’t want you to feel like you have to give.”

Borsay really hopes that the community will make use of the makerspace.

“I am trying to collaborate with others in the community to use this space as well,” she said. “We have been locked up with COVID for far too long. I am capable of doing small or large groups. If some people want to get out of the house over the winter with a small group, I can arrange that. People can bring their kids. I have all levels, from plain old crayons to much more complex stuff.”

Borsay, a native of Augusta, Georgia, holds a Doctor of Philosophy in education. She earned that honor from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Borsay taught English-related courses for over 20 years.

Borsay said she didn’t necessarily plan to open a business this soon.

“It was something I thought I’d do in my retirement,” she said. “I kept driving by this spot and inquired about it and it all worked. Prayer and meditation and it all happened.”

The location of her business is within the Hower Block. Danny Hegen, owner of the property, was awarded a $75,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant in recent weeks. Some of that money will help support Borsay’s business.

The name “K.D.” is Borsay’s initials (Kyrie Dora). The “Over The Moon” portion was inspired by the loving relationship she has with her children.

“Since my children were really little, I used to tell them I loved them to the moon and back and back again,” Borsay said. “And we would always go back forth — to the moon and the stars and then the moon and the planets. My very first tattoo when I was young and immature was a moon. I’ve always felt a connection with the moon. When this started it felt like moon needed to be part of the title.”

And Borsay feels over the moon about being part of the downtown scene in Fort Dodge.

“I am just over the moon about having this opportunity in this space in this town,” Borsay said.

She was complimentary of fellow main street business owners.

“Everybody on main street has been so welcoming,” Borsay said. “Everybody really supports each other.”