Your last chance to redeem Joann gift cards

February 12, 2025

Joann has a big hearing on Friday morning (2/14/25) at 9:30 a.m. in bankruptcy court to finalize store closing procedures, which will include not accepting gift cards after a certain date. There’s usually a 14 day notice until a retail shop in bankruptcy stops accepting gift cards as payment. If I read the pleadings correctly, Joann is requesting the 14 day window to start ticking as of the date of the signed order. My best guesstimate is that you’d better redeem any gift cards you find by the end of February or you”ll be out of luck because the gift cards will be rendered worthless at the end of said 14 day period. Check with a Joann staff member before loading up your cart if you plan to redeem gift cards.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Joann’s has posted a rather large list of stores it plans to close. According to the list, we’ll have two stores left in the Atlanta area by the time all is said and done – Kennesaw and Decatur. The powers-that-be appear to be leaving some other Georgia stores open, too – namely Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville & Savannah. When I looked at locations around the SE, it seems that one location will remain open in most larger cities or locations where the single store may draw from a wide geographic area. For example, I did not see the Pensacola, FL or Panama City, FL locations on the closure list, although the store in Ft. Walton Beach, FL – located between the two stores – is on the closure list. It appears someone gave some thought as to which stores to actually close, rather than going strictly based off numbers. Thank you.

The two remaining Atlanta locations are about the same distance from me, so Sadie gets to keep shopping at Joann. Folks who live farther out will still have options – online shopping plus brick & mortar at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels or a local quilt/fabric shop. All is not lost. We’ll just have to find new ways to get our fabric and inspiration fix.

Scour your desk drawers, junk drawers, old purses, tote bags and car cubbies for any unused Joann cards. Check your balance here, make your list and get shopping! Your best bets are likely to be fabric, interfacing, batting, some notions, yarn and storage containers.

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: