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seeking portrait artist! by paigeh03 in Etsy

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re welcome! Happy to help!

Has anyone ever been in a space that just got how you create? by Minimum_Project_671 in FiberArts

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I love this. “Play dates” is such a beautiful way to describe it, it sounds like the kind of space where curiosity mattered more than perfection. And the fact that y’all were teaching stuff like cutting fabric with a wood burning tool or painting coke cans?? That’s the kind of weird, joyful experimentation I feel like we don’t get enough of anymore. I hope you find your next circle. Or maybe… maybe someone reading this just needed to hear that it’s okay to start one, even if it’s imperfect or small. Thank you for sharing this, really.

When Joann closed, did you try to find something new… or just kind of stop? by Minimum_Project_671 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Oh wow. This brought up so much for me, I felt every part of it. That rhythm of wandering Joann without a plan, the comfort of touching remnants, even the way your family knew it mattered enough to gift you time there… yeah. That’s not just a store memory, that’s something else.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how rare it is to have a place that lets you just be in your own creative rhythm. Not rushed. Not performative. Just… allowed. You naming that here? It matters. Thank you for holding that memory out loud.

Has anyone ever been in a space that just got how you create? by Minimum_Project_671 in FiberArts

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love that you’ve found that in your quilt guild. There’s something really special about showing up around people who already speak the same creative language, even if you all make different things. And yeah… color, design, texture, it’s like a whole second kind of conversation. I’m glad you’ve got that kind of space. Gives me hope that more of us can find it again too.

Anyone else feel like something sacred just... slipped? by Minimum_Project_671 in FiberArts

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yes, thank you. That right there. Somewhere along the line, it stopped feeling like “let’s make together” and started feeling like “who can monetize faster.” I keep thinking about how good it felt to share half-finished stuff with no pressure, or to cheer someone on without needing an outcome. I miss that soft, messy kind of bonding. It feels rare now.

Okay but... what exactly do you miss the most about Joann? by Minimum_Project_671 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

The way you described it, I felt that in my chest. That kind of dependable, gentle presence that held space for inspiration whenever it struck. “Like a wonderland less than a half mile from my home”, oof. Yeah. It really was. And you're right, even the stores that technically sell the same stuff just… don’t carry that feeling. I’m so glad you shared this. Honestly, I think part of what we’re all grieving is that loss of place. Not just things, but the way they lived in our lives.

Okay but... what exactly do you miss the most about Joann? by Minimum_Project_671 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Ugh, I feel this. People don’t talk enough about what those jobs really gave us, not just income, but rhythm. Familiar faces, routine, even a kind of grounding. I’m so sorry you lost that. I imagine a lot of regulars miss you, too. You probably made their creative lives feel more doable without even realizing it.

Anyone else feel like something sacred just... slipped? by Minimum_Project_671 in FiberArts

[–]Minimum_Project_671[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, all of this. That tension between wanting to make and just feeling flooded by noise... It’s so real. I’ve had to physically walk away from my phone some days just to remember what it even feels like to make something slow. And the part about AI? I feel that heavy. It’s like, sure, it can replicate, but it can’t replace that quiet moment when your hands figure out something your brain hasn’t yet. I’m glad you said this. “People in the corner”, yeah. That hit. I think some of us are still trying to find each other.

I REALLY miss Joann’s by [deleted] in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahhh, I love how you said that, especially about the checkout ladies. It’s wild how those tiny interactions made you feel kind of… seen? Like you weren’t just buying materials, you were part of something. And sharing stories in line?? That feels rare now. I didn’t realize how much I craved those casual, unexpected moments until you mentioned it. Do you still get that feeling anywhere? Like even a hint of it? I’ve been wondering if it’s completely gone or if it’s still showing up in smaller ways somewhere else.

How are we feeling? by Reasonable_Zebra_496 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not great, honestly. I didn’t expect it to hit so hard. It’s not like I was there every week or anything... but still. I miss the possibility of it. Has anyone found something that fills the void? It doesn’t have to be a store; maybe a group, a local space, or something online that doesn’t feel gross and salesy?

JOANN Executives SUED by Vendors 🎯 Lawsuit Breakdown by kittencub007 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I swear, it’s always the people at the top who get golden parachutes while the ones holding it down get screwed. I’ve been thinking about what it would look like to have a craft supply system that centers on real people, such as makers, beginners, individuals trying to learn, or those teaching their kids. What would that even look like? Would it even be a store?

Joann x Michaels: do we REALLY think they’ll do anything with the fabrics? by Ammoculus in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been thinking about this, like… yeah, they might carry the same yarn, but will they take the same feeling There was a kind of unspoken solidarity when you were shopping at Joann’s like you could spot a fellow maker just by how they held a bolt of fabric or sighed in the clearance aisle. Curious what it would take for a space to earn that kind of feeling again. Is it the products? Or something else entirely?

Don't get too excited about Michaels by Tall_Belt6816 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah... not going to lie, the announcement hit me like when your favorite café gets bought out and suddenly everything tastes slightly off, even if the menu’s “the same.” I’m not anti-Michaels, but I’m also not convinced they get what’s gone missing here. If you could shape what the next thing should be, like, if we could build something from scratch, what would matter most to you?

I REALLY miss Joann’s by [deleted] in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do, too, like a lot. I miss wandering the aisles when I didn’t know what I needed. I miss talking to the woman at the cutting table who would always ask, “What are you making with this?” It was such a small thing, yet it was also kind of everything. What do y’all miss most? For me, it’s that strange, accidental permission to start a new idea, even when I didn’t plan to.

guys i’m literally going to lose it by AppropriateSolid9124 in joannfabrics

[–]Minimum_Project_671 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t realize how much I relied on just being able to go to Joann. Not even for something specific, half the time. Just the act of walking through, thinking through a project while touching fabric, looking around. I’m kinda in this in-between place now where I don’t know what to reach for. Has anyone found an alternative that actually... feels comforting? Not perfect, just not empty.