Stitch 'n Dish

Tag: fiber artists

  • Solace

    Solace

    Earlier this week I had to say goodbye to my best buddy for the past 16 years: my kitty, Ganymede. He was the last one remaining from his litter as his brother, Figgy – who was my grandson’s kitty – passed away a couple weeks ago. Their sister, Callisto – who lived here with Ganymede…

  • That was fast!

    That was fast!

    My hope for assistance in avoiding mindless fabric and yarn shopping was short-lived. In fact, it didn’t even last a week! On May 31, 2025 the remaining Joann stores closed for good, and today – only 5 days later – the media was filled with announcements about Michaels acquiring Joann’s Intellectual Property (IP) and private…

  • New normals

    New normals

    My last trip into a Joann store was a few weeks ago, but I continued to “monitor” the liquidation activities on Reddit. I wanted to stop by one of the remaining open stores in my area, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so, and for a few reasons. On one hand I felt that…

  • The Joann story (as told by AI)

    The Joann story (as told by AI)

    I had a brief side-hustle at a local Joann store a couple years ago – right before the bottom fell out. As a long-time shopper and a former employee, I have been most interested in the trajectory of the bankruptcy and its eventual, and if we are being honest, expected, ending. On my other blog…

  • A positive pivot, perhaps

    A positive pivot, perhaps

    As the month of May winds down, and reality around the final closing of every last Joann store settles in, I know I’m not the only person feeling a little “lost”, some sadness, and a distinct sense that we’re witnessing the end of an era. I’ve also started to realize that I’m doing a lot…

  • Simple gifts

    Simple gifts

    My youngest granddaughter is blessed with plenty, in many ways, which sometimes makes gift giving a challenge (for me, anyway). Therefore, I rely on hints – a “wishlist” of her latest favorites – from which I am able to choose an appropriate gift. A couple years ago, I decided to combine wishlist gifts with something…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Love, recycled

    Love, recycled

    When I see a handmade afghan or quilt in a thrift store or yard/garage sale, I am always curious about its history. I recently found matching twin sized blankets at the local thrift shop – one of them pictured below. The photo was taken hastily and does not reflect the neatness of the rows and…

  • Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    I’m still trying to figure out how it’s already nearly the middle of October, as it feels that the end of the 2024 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival (August 23 – 25, 2024) was just a week or so ago! I have been thinking about that festival, along with many related topics. As it pertains to the festival,…