I honestly didn’t think it would hit me this hard, but hearing that Joann is closing… wow. It really does feel like the end of an era.

For so many of us, Joann wasn’t just a craft store. It was the place where ideas came to life. It was where inspiration sat on every shelf and where a quick “I just need glue” trip somehow turned into an hour of wandering through fabric and ribbon aisles, full of possibilities.

As the designer behind MiakaPatches, I had the joy of working with Joann for years — and I truly mean joy. We dreamed up products together, shared excitement over holiday themes, and squealed (okay, I squealed) when samples arrived. I still remember our first Easter design collab — cute bunnies and pastel florals that turned into ribbon and patches we were both so proud of.

There was something really special about working with a team that got it. Joann understood the maker’s heart. They believed in creativity, in small details, in the beauty of seasonal craft traditions. They gave indie designers like me a platform to shine, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Some of my favorite memories? That giddy feeling when a design finally made it to the store. Seeing photos from customers using our collabs for birthday party favors, baby shower decorations, or handmade holiday gifts. That’s the real magic — knowing that what we created together helped spark joy in someone else’s creativity.

Losing Joann feels personal. It’s not just business. It’s the closing of a space that welcomed all kinds of creativity — from first-time DIYers to seasoned crafters who just needed one more skein of yarn.

To the Joann team: thank you. Truly. For believing in our ideas. For supporting small makers. For being a huge part of our creative journey.

And to everyone who’s ever picked up one of our designs at Joann — thank you. We’ll carry the love, the memories, and that shared spark into every new design we create.

Joann, we’ll miss you more than words can say.
But your spirit lives on in every stitch, every scrap, and every handmade thing that comes next.

With so much love,
Maggie&Miakapatches team