Myself and many other makers are grieving the sad news of JoAnn Fabrics closing all of their stores. For many of us, JoAnn’s is a main supplier of our materials. Yes, I will have to find alternate avenues for my supplies, but that is not the only reason I grieve. Jo Ann Fabrics has a very special place in my heart.
When I joined my older brother in school, my Mom went back to work. As an amazing seamstress and crafter, she got a job at our local JoAnn Fabrics store. I loved visiting my Mom at work. So many memories of going to work with my Mom in the summer time or Christmas break and hanging out with all the craft supplies. Walking up and down the aisles, dreaming up things to make.
In the early days of Cabbage Patch Kids, JoAnn’s carried the Cabbage Patch heads, and there were patterns to sew the bodies. Yes, that aisle in the store was a little creepy, all the heads lined up, with no bodies, but for little Faith, it provided an opportunity to get her first Black doll, hand sewn by her mother. The very same doll you will see as my baby model for the baby items in our inventory.
Another fond memory – the discontinued pattern books. Those large, thick sewing pattern books that you could peruse to find the perfect pattern to sew. As the season passed, the books would be discontinued and thrown out, making space for the new season of patterns. The crafter in me had an idea. I shared the idea with my Mom, and she asked management for permission. So much excitement with the approval that I was able to take home the discontinued pattern books. What was my big idea you ask? With a trusty pair of scissors, I cut out the drawn people. I created my very own paper dolls, and I would make up stories with them. Each season, new clothes and new characters.
Scrapbooking, jewelry making, floral arrangement, drawing or painting, through the years, there has always been some kind of craft at my fingertips to try and do.
So many memories like these are racing through my head, finding joy in the sadness of a great store going out of business. Even when my Mom retired, I still wanted to support JoAnn’s, and they supplied me with fabulous yarn to create beautiful items to share with the world. Crafting just isn’t going to be the same without them.