Life after Wal-Mart

I live in the Midwest and that means Wal-Mart in every town. It's been this way as long as I can remember. Wal-Mart was about the only place to shop and it had everything including sewing and crafts. Recently all the Wal-Marts around have been remodeling. Most of the craft stuff and all the fabric has hit the road. At first I was really mad. I thought "Great, they come in, put everybody else out of business and then get rid fabrics." Now I was going to have to drive an hour just to get anything. You know how crappy it is to almost have a project done but run out of thread, or need a button, and realize there is no way to finish!

But something great is happening! Independent stores are coming back! They're popping up like mushrooms after the rain and are just as delightful. One locally owned store in town has quilting fabric. Another has embroidery and there is another fabric store in the next town over. The best part is you can ask these people questions and you don't have to wait forever for someone to get someone else who can cut fabric. And you know what....the prices are just the same.