After all this time, you’d think I’d remember how hectic the first month of school can be.

Nope.

The past three weeks have been a blur. I’ve done nothing but eat, sleep and breathe school. No time for gardening, housework or sewing. Thank goodness hubby was away at an ATA tournament the past 10 days. I’ve managed to keep up with the laundry, but the fridge is empty and my tomatoes need to be harvested.

So tomorrow – Saturday – is a “no-school and no-computer” day for me. I will piddle to my heart’s content around the house – run errands, iron clothes, fill the bird feeders, tend the garden and S-E-W.

I have some biz things to make and some pants to hem for me. The hemming is important because those pants represent an effort to achieve BALANCE.

You see, the kids at my school have to wear a uniform. After much thought, I decided that I needed a uniform, too.  So, a business casual look – a jewel neck rib knit 3/4 sleeve top with khaki pants – it is. My niece sells Premier Jewelry, so I’ll be accessorizing my uniforms  with some style. It might seem a little casual to some folks, but I crawl on the floor to fix computers, squat down to shelve books and sit in a rocking chair for storytime. (This outfit also works quite well when I teach sewing classes or meet with quilt clients.) I adore skirts, but they don’t work so well in my line of work. A v-neckline is definitely more flattering on me, but the jewel neck means I don’t have to worry about flashing my cleavage in front of a fifth grader or parent.

My first installment of uniform tops arrived today – courtesy of an end-of-season sale at Belk’s. Pants are from Eddie Bauer that were purchased last fall (and have been sitting in the to-be-hemmed pile ever since – my bad!).  The end goal is to streamline my morning routine so I can ease into my work day. Things definitely do not go better for me if I am rushed.

Yes, school in these parts starts back God-awful early.

Our summer was cut short due to an adjustment of the yearly school calendar.

The good news is we’ll be completely done before Memorial Day next year.

The bad news is it’s early August and I’m seeing way too many pictures of my friends at the beach and lake on FB and IG. They don’t start school until after Labor Day. 😦

Sewing-wise, I am working on a mosaic quilt, pillows from a bridal gown and a family wall-hanging featuring clothing/pictures from all 6 grandkids for a special couple. Some pattern editing to come, but this year’s start to the school year has been much less hectic than last year’s.  Thank goodness!

Hancock Fabrics is no more.  The location near me finally closed its doors. 

I fondly remember many a Saturday morning spent as a kid with my mom as we made the rounds to Cloth World and Hancock’s to look for fabric. You see, Mom made just about all my clothes until I reached sixth grade. When I got older, we made the trek to Buckhead for special fabrics at Sew Magnifique. Sadly, Sew Magnifique closed many years ago and the only place left to get quality dressmaker fabric in Atlanta is at Gail K’s.

With Hancock’s closed and it being a Sunday (Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday) it meant a trip through all of the construction traffic to Joann’s to pick up a few items I needed and to use a gift card I’d received for my birthday.

I had a stack of coupons with me (and on my phone), which the cashier dutifully scanned during check-out. Be aware: Joann has changed its coupon policy! Books are no longer eligible for coupons, die cuts are not allowed…read the mice type…and my 15% teacher discount which used to good be on EVERYTHING is also now restricted. The recent sales flyers have also featured 30% discounts instead of the 40-50% discounts as in the past.

Is this lessening of discounts and a more restrictive coupon policy because Hancock’s has closed (no need for as deep discounts to be competitive) or is it because the sewing/craft market has changed?

Yes, online sales are increasing, but according to one industry source,  80% of sewing/craft shopping is still done locally either at a brick & mortar location or a “pop-up” shop (like at a guild meeting).  People go to a particular location because of relationships they develop with staff at the store or because the shop has the tools/supplies they need at fair prices. Hancock’s was my go-to place for general fabric needs and if I needed help when I got stuck on a sewing project (NOT quilting). The staff at my local Hancock’s had a depth of sewing knowledge that is sadly lacking from most big box craft stores.

So now, I have to hunt for other places to meet the sewing needs that Hancock’s used to cover. Inconvenient, yes, but I am beginning to see an opportunity for me to fill some of the void – at least on a local level.