Fiber Harmony (Stitch 'n Dish)

Category: Crafting (general)

  • A refuge in fabric

    A refuge in fabric

    I have a confession: I hide in my sewing/craft room. Sometimes this is to decompress after a stressful day at work, while other times it’s to avoid the news story of the day. Still other times it’s to distract myself when I’m worried about someone I care about. Recently, I was there for a hybrid…

  • Hunting and gathering fiber

    Hunting and gathering fiber

    Audiobooks are a wonderful companion for exercise, and for those who are otherwise engaged in solitary tasks – such as crocheting, knitting, or sewing. Sometimes they even unexpectedly give us insights into those same activities. Such was the case this week when I was working on my latest tote/market bag. As I noted in my…

  • A mindful approach

    A mindful approach

    I have been reading and thinking a lot lately about the way we are tempted, and even manipulated, by companies that want us to hand over our money to them. In my blog post about retail manipulation I shared some of the research on how stores intentionally place items, advertise them and offer us coupons…

  • Shared fiber joy

    Shared fiber joy

    Now that I am once again driving into work 5 days a week, I am pretty much “done” by Friday night, or “all in” as my British friends might say. Working from home for the past 5 years meant that I got more sleep, eliminated the stress of commuting, and had a LOT more work/life…

  • A trip to the library

    A trip to the library

    I try to get at least 6,000 steps every day, and more whenever possible. It’s an easy way for me to manage my physical health, mobility, and it’s one of the best “tonics” I have found when my mental health is lagging. I am fortunate to live in an area that was blessed by the…

  • The end

    The end

    This weekend the crafting and sewing world faced the reality of the beginning of the end for a retail staple. The retailer Joann entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a second time in less than a year. Liquidation sales began in the 500 stores slated for closure under the agreement with another 300 or so remaining…

  • Craft Economics – a primer

    Craft Economics – a primer

    Many people are taking to YouTube and other social media sites to raise the hue and cry to “Save Joann’s“. While I will be among the sad when (not if) they finally close their doors for the last time, I think it’s really, REALLY important to understand what factors went into this final implosion. I…

  • The 3-C’s of Fiber Self-Care

    The 3-C’s of Fiber Self-Care

    The term, “self-care” emerged in the mid-20th century. It came out from the Civil Rights movement, and the Black Panthers, specifically, are credited with mainstreaming the concept. Today it remains a popular description of activities we are encouraged to engage in – or refrain from – in support of our own emotional, mental, physical and…

  • Stash half-full (a perspective)

    Stash half-full (a perspective)

    The rumors have been flying for some time, and yesterday on Reddit, the details started trickling out. By this morning there were full posts on the decision by Joann’s corporate overlords to declare bankruptcy for a second time in a year. First of all, I want to state my deep and heartfelt sympathy for the…

  • More gifts of love

    More gifts of love

    Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post on my other site about my Christmas memories from childhood. In that post I shared that I remember few, if any, specific toys or gifts, but that I do remember the room full of people that loved me and my sister, and the warmth of my grandparents’…