Author: Teresa

Quilts, good books and dogs. Plus a cup of tea. Life is good.

Recent reads

February 12, 2025

This book caught my eye on a recent visit to the Smyrna library. It’s not quite what I thought it was going to be about, but it’s still a worthwhile read.

I was reading it while my color processed at my last hair appointment.  Trey, my hairdresser, got excited when he saw what I was reading. Turns out, it’s one of his favorite books.

There’s a lot of science and research that goes into keeping you engaged in video games, playing the slots and mindlessly scrolling on social media. Humans are constantly scanning and comparing to see if they are missing out (FOMO anyone?). The author refers to it as a scarcity loop – a behavioral pattern that encourages people to repeat behaviors that can be fun in the short term but harmful in the long term.  The author suggests that we change our thinking to an abundance loop instead.

My takeaways from the book in no particular order:

  • Quit worrying about what other people think.
  • Forget about status.
  • Take 60 seconds to make a decision to buy or not buy.
  • Buy “gear” that will help you in an area of your life that brings you joy – not stuff to sit on a shelf or be tucked away in the back of a closet.
  • Eat simply – ultra-processed foods are harming you.
  • Practice mindfulness.
  • Focus on gratitude.
  • Make a game to use what you have on hand instead of automatically buying something new.

Some of these takeaways were most helpful in deciding which SUV to buy.  The 60 second decision rule helped narrow it down to the final two contenders.  Both were within budget, but I went with the slightly more expensive one that made me smile the most when I drove it.  It’s red because I love the color. I care not one iota that my red SUV sticks out in the sea of predominantly white, grey and black vehicles in my local community.

Class is in session

February 10, 2025

Last Saturday, we began our series of beginning sewing classes at the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum in Carrollton. It was also a Quilts of Valor quilt presentation and sew day. My students and I were invited to attend the presentation ceremony. Very moving.

Yes, my classroom is missing about half the tables because they were pulled for the QOV festivities. Not to worry – I have four students in this session – 3 adults and one ‘tween. (The kiddo was a surprise!) Everything was precut for our placemat project, so we didn’t need those extra tables. We’ll definitely need them next time!

The unexpected surprise was having the director inform me that the class tote bag sample had gone missing. She had the bottom insert, but not the bag. Very strange. Believe me, I took every other sample home that afternoon!

Students were all smiles as they posed for pictures with their completed placemats.

Sadie and I went shopping for more fabric to make another tote bag. Hopefully, I added in enough to make strap and boxed corner samples for class, as well!

Meanwhile, BOLO for our missing tote bag:

 

No looking good for Joann

February 3, 2025

Today, Sadie & I went to the Alpharetta Joann store. Our mission was to find fabric to make another sample tote bag for the beginning sewing class at the SQTM. We ended our shopping trip with Sadie saying good-bye to several staffers we’ve gotten to know from previous visits.  Joann received a lot more business from me because of its pet friendly policy once the local quilt shops in the area that were pet friendly closed.

Employees didn’t say much about the future of the company. One did say she hoped a new buyer would be found so that the fabric and sewing part might return after the bankruptcy was over.  I agree.  Joann fills a niche that Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Wal-Mart don’t.

This store reminds me of what Hancock Fabrics stores looked like before it went out of business (i.e. liquidation sales began).  There are posters in the check-out area reminding staff not to accept any more deliveries. Lots of holes in the shelves where merchandise would normally be. Disorganized bolts of fabric set out in big cardboard bins in the middle of the floor.  (The bins resemble the Gaylord boxes I used at the end of the school year to discard weeded library books and outdated instructional materials. They came in on pallets and were hauled away once full.)

WARN act notices (about pending layoffs) are being filed in states where Joann does business.  The one filed in Ohio, where Joann is based, shows that the business wind down will happen quickly, with most staff being gone by the end of March/April.

Joann has agreed to sell itself to Gordon Brothers Retail (who has indicated its plan to liquidate the company) should another buyer not be found in the next 10 days.

You read correctly. Joann has about 10 days before it goes back to bankruptcy court and sells itself to the highest bidder.  If you have a gift card, get to the store NOW to redeem it while it still has value and there’s some inventory left from which to shop.

And should Joann not rise from bankruptcy, we’ll figure out other ways to get our fabric and craft fix.

We always do.