Fiber Harmony (Stitch 'n Dish)

Tag: economics 101

  • A loss of community

    A loss of community

    Crafters are creative and can transform simple things into works of art. As we continue to process the stages of “grief” around the loss of community that once resided in our neighborhood Joann stores, we can move on into new ways of being in community, finding and/or creating activities and small groups that promise a…

  • Reflections

    Reflections

    The last time I shopped in a Joann store was more than three months ago, right before their final closures. I said goodbye to the employees I knew, wishing them well, and as I walked across that parking lot one last time, I knew I was saying goodbye to an era in my life. As…

  • A new era for local shops

    A new era for local shops

    I wrote the blog post below after visiting New Orleans for business almost 2 years ago and posted it on my previous blog site. Today, as the news in the fiber arts community is overflowing with store closures, retail bankruptcies, and economic scares, I am thinking of how the larger crocheting and knitting communities as…

  • 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…

  • It’s all in the timing

    It’s all in the timing

    The last few blog posts I have written highlight my personal goals for 2025 of shopping less and getting into the habit of using what I have on hand, specifically as it relates to yarn and craft supplies. I have worried about my tenacity in sticking to this, and how best to balance those times…

  • My conscience and my stash

    My conscience and my stash

    In pre-holiday housecleaning this weekend, I finally faced a hard reality: I have more yarn that I could reasonably use in any knitting or crocheting projects, even if I knitted and/or crocheted for hours every day for the next 30 years. In addition to this, I had to ALSO admit to myself that I will…

  • The Amazon Economy

    The Amazon Economy

    My sister and I have been wanting to do a small, local craft show event “for old times sake“, and we finally did it this past weekend. Mostly we had sewn items that included reusable holiday gift bags, wine bags, reusable coffee cup sleeves (think Starbucks without the cardboard) and tissue holders. I also had…

  • Forgotten treasure

    Forgotten treasure

    Earlier this year I made a commitment (to myself) to shop my stash FIRST when beginning a new project. As part of that initiative, I ALSO committed to finishing in-progress projects that I find tucked away, or rewinding the yarn into a ball/skein if it’s one of those “I have NO idea what this is!“…

  • Challenge of the STASH

    Challenge of the STASH

    In my crafting communities, a lot of the conversation of late has been around our yarn or fabric buying habits. Almost all of us shared that we have more yarn or fabric than we’ll ever use – and we are a group that includes a wide range of ages! We know that continuing to purchase…

  • Let’s talk craft show pricing

    Let’s talk craft show pricing

    I come from a family tradition of artists. My father is a scientific glassblower who supported our family for a number of years as an artistic glassblower in the 1970’s as he was getting his start This meant that my sister and I spent many Summer days running around at juried arts festivals all over…