Go forth and craft!

Once upon a time, I had to return some snaps to JoAnn's. That was all I had to do. Just walk in and return. the. snaps. But then... I didn't have any other plans that night... the manfriend was working late...  one thing lead to another... and I left with about $30 worth of fabric and lots of new projects percolating in my brain.

Found this on a shelf at JoAnn's. Seriously.

I love shopping for fabric. I love walking down the rows of bright colors and prints and glitter, thinking about what each one could be used for and letting the fabric inspire the project. I love getting to know a fabric by feel - and sometimes passing judgement if it's cheap and gross feeling (I'm looking at you, rayon). Cotton fabrics just make my heart go pitter patter.

Sewing is in my bones. I spent most of my childhood in a fabulous (now closed) locally owned fabric store called Baer's. First of all, there was a huge Plexi-Glass box of random buttons that I could play in for hours while my mom was getting her fabric cut. I can still remember the button wall, the cutting tables, the bridal area on the first floor; the paper dolls, the remnant room, and the apparel fabric on the second floor, and the third floor - oh, the third floor - was entirely devoted to home decor.

I come by my fabric addiction honestly. I watched my mother buy yards and yards of fabric. In an attempt to break the cycle, I try very hard to not buy fabric unless I know what it'll be used for. So, when Court drunk texted and asked me to make her a quilt, I about passed out from excitement. She's all about fun, bold colors and geometric patterns, which means really fun fabric shopping:

I also try really hard to not start too many projects at once or they'll never get done. So here's what I've been working on or have waiting to be loved on:

a tunic made from some crazy pseudo-Lisa-Frank-on-acid knit fabric:

It's hard to be this fabulous.

a navy blue tailored sweatshirt top:

In progress!!

a gray blazer lined in a bright blue:

Totally not in progress yet.

and a birthday present:

Pot holders for Amy!

And an apron.

One of the Hancock's in the city is closing at the end of the month, which means super cheap stuff. And one of the few times I allow myself to buy fabric without a specific project in mind. I got an adorable teal fabric with big white polka dots. I'm having visions of a 1950s style summer halter dress thing. And probably ric rac. Because duh:

See? Adorbs.

Don't get me wrong: it makes me so sad to see fabric stores - especially Hancock's - close their doors. When Baer's closed, it was an Event in our family. It means sewing is a dying art. It means that the craft-fabric combo stores are winning. It means shopping for fabric online, which terrifies me. And it means higher and higher prices elsewhere since there's no competition.

That all being said, I'm poor. I hate shopping for fabric at JoAnn's, but I'll take my fix where I can get it. I will go to a closing store to get the things I need (and the things I didn't know I needed) at a price I can afford. I will use the coupons I find online, the coupons they send me in the mail, and the coupons available on the mobile app. And I will sew. It might seem weird or obsessive that I spend all day sewing for other folks and come home to continue to sew, but it makes me happy. I don't know what else to do to keep these stores from closing, other than to carry on and give them business and encourage as many people as I can in their sewing (and yes, crafting) endeavors.

Happy place.