Things Are Different

I went to town to run errands yesterday and made a few interesting observations along the way. In my experience, the day after Christmas typically has been a big shopping day—people are out getting Christmas supplies on clearance, returning items that don’t fit, etc. Last year, Susan and I made the rounds of Michaels, Joanns, and Hobby Lobby to buy clear plastic and glass ornaments at deep discount. We squirreled them away for the homestead foundation’s annual Christmas gift-making workshop this year.

I tried to do the same thing this year. No one had those ornaments in stock. (Somehow I missed noting that before Christmas.) In fact, the leftover Christmas stock was almost nonexistent in most stores, and I was out and about early. A lady in front of me at Joann Fabrics complained to the cashier that she couldn’t find Christmas ribbon on sale anywhere.

I also noted that few people were out shopping. The atmosphere seemed very subdued.

As far as Joann Fabrics is concerned, they have hired more staff recently and I noticed that their posted hours have expanded. The store has been open 11-5 every day for the past year. Now the sign says 10-7. The store is full of racks of unopened bolts of fabric and a ton of fabric has been moved to clearance. I bought a couple of quilt batts so I can move some of these tops through the queue.

I did a fair bit of damage at the quilt store where I teach. I went in to get a backing for a quilt top that has been languishing far too long. I came out with the backing. I also came out with some Kaffe Fassett cotton sateen. It was in the wideback section, but after touching it, I decided it would make a beautiful garment. Maybe the Itch to Stitch Celeste Dress?

The store had also gotten in a shipment of QT Fabrics’ lovely double-brushed poly, so I bought some for another pleated Burda top, and I succumbed and bought two yards of a deep, saturated blue and purple rayon batik for a keyhole top.

[While I’ve been concentrating on serger classes for the past couple of years, I am thinking that I shouldn’t limit my clothing classes to only those which can be made with knits on a serger. I suspect the demand would be there for other types of classes, too.]

Lest anyone (deliberately) misunderstand me, I am not lamenting the absence of rampant consumerism with these observations. That’s all they are—observations. In fact, I enjoy getting out and running errands in Kalispell when it’s not being overrun by crowds. What I saw yesterday was such a departure from the way things have been for many years, though, that I thought it was worth noting.

***************

I bought olive green thread while I was out and about, so I’ll try to get that Nathalie top put together today. At my request, the husband brought me the old generator cover. After I wash it, I’m going to take it apart to use as a pattern for the new one.

He and the employees are going back to work today. I enjoy it when he’s around, but I don’t get anything done because he is a Shiny Toy and I want to talk to him. I need to record next week’s podcast—probably tomorrow—and I have a thousand little details to tie up before the end of the year.