The holiday season is hectic around here, but we just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all the support. We want to express how grateful for all the customers and opportunities 2025 brought to Fruitful Concepts Studio. We are looking forward to the new chapter 2026 brings.
Don’t worry, be crafty! ~Jama
The last post I left you with the words ” It is my hope that we never trade creativity for convenience.” It is a firm belief here at Fruitful Concepts that we were created by The Creator to be creative. It’s in our name, Fruitful Concepts. Down to the very core of this business is the concept that with divine inspiration come an abundance of more creativity. I believe it was Maya Angleou who is credited for saying ” You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” It has been my experience that this statement is very true. It certainly is nothing AI can fake! As a fiber artist, as a human being, I HATE AI. Simply look at the name — Artificial Intelligence. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can replace God-given intelligence or creativity. Sure you could use AI to write patterns, make photos, and write your blog for you, but it can only go so far. Why? Because it has doesn’t possess the one thing needed to be successful…. talent. Talent comes from the soul. We all know that artificial intelligence has no soul. It is mechanics, it can only regurgitate facts that are put in by a human. What it can not do is replace imagination, emotion, inflection, motivation, or connection. Only humans can do that. Creativity and talent comes from a spark within the mind of a creator. It is my upmost hope that as a society, we never let the convenience of data plugged into a computer replace the mind and conscience of creativity! Just know that every thing I write, post, all the pictures and videos are truly me and how I communicate. In all honesty I have used photo editors and filters a few times, but somehow that even that seems too fake for me for constant use. Whatever your talents or creative outlet is, go practice it with all your heart because the world needs it!
Don’t be worry, Be crafty! ~Jama
2025 has been an interesting year for makers. Whether you crochet, knit, or sew the landscape for craft supplies have changed drastically this year. If you are looking locally for craft supplies like yarn and fabric, you may have noticed the availability has gone from okay to barely there over the past few months. Joann’s closed. You would think that with the last major craft store to focus on yarn and fabric closing that other stores would EXPAND their inventory. Instead when you walk down the aisles of these big box stores, there is so much less then even before. I don’t think the marketing teams understand the impact if they increased these items to be readily available. What are are the options? Online stores like Hershners, Mary Maxim, Premier Yarns, and Yarnspirations. The biggest hang up with online shopping is not knowing what you are getting before you purchase. Most crafters, including myself, want to see the colors, feel the textures and make sure the quality of the product is what we are looking for. Let’s face it, we have all at some point bought something online and were disappointed when we got it because it didn’t look like it did on a screen. Don’t get me wrong I love the feeling when you get those packages delivered to you. It’s like Christmas. However I think in our day in age, where technology is taking over, we lose a lot of inspiration by not having the ability to go and walk around in a store to chose our supplies like we once did. It is my hope that we never trade creativity for convenience. Dont’t worry, be crafty! ~ Jama
Good morning all my crafty people! Today is the day. It’s “Deck the Halls” event here in the beautiful Piedmont of North Carolina. If you are local please come join us at Wake Prep Academy in Wake Forest NC from 10-4. We look forward to seeing all of your bright and smiling faces as you come and shop local for the holidays. Thank you for supporting small businesses! As alway.
Don’t worry, be crafty! ~Jama
It is a pleasure to announce that Fruitful Concepts Studio is branching out. With our new Etsy shop we will provide quality hand made crochet items, as well as vinyl decal products. Unfortunately at this time we are not accepting custom orders due to the time consuming process of setting up the shop. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to helping with all your future purchases. Until next time, Don’t worry be crafty! ~ Jama
Y’all can we take a minute to talk about the best yarn sale that is happening (every other week so far) ?? When I first started making things I bought solely one brand of acrylic because of the vast color choices and the affordability. I still use this brand often and built my collection with it. Then I one day I tried this other brand that was readily available in my Walmart with its colors and softness has helped me win awards. Then one day about 9 years ago I went into my first Hobby Lobby….. it was heaven for a crafter like me. I purchased some yarn. I truly fell in love with the texture of their I Love This Yarn. Unfortunately the closest store was 1000 miles from where I lived. Fast forward several years and I now live with in a 50 mile radius of 3!! As much as I wanted to have the bulk of my yarn to be ILTY, it was a bit out of budget. It was $4 a skein and what I had been using was about depending on time of the year was any where from $2.50- 3. I had never seen Hobby Lobby put any of the yarn on sale, that is until about a month ago. I saw a post in a Facebook crochet group that this first time sale was happening on ALL the yarn was 30% off….. WOW! It made each skein $2.79, cheaper than the other 2 brands even when they are on sale. I went on that first week, as I was making my purchase I asked the cashier and she said how much yarn that they had sold that week. It must have been a success because this week is now the 3rd sale. I hope they continue with this great rotation sale! If you haven’t tried I Love This Yarn, I highly urge you to get some and try it out, and if at all possible buy at least a skein every time there is a sale and let’s let Hobby Lobby know just how much we do appreciate their products. Until we talk again, Don’t worry be crafty! ~Jama
Hi and welcome back to Fruitful Concept Studios!! Can you believe that we are halfway through the 2nd month of 2018? Sorry for the absence, I got discouraged that I was talking to myself. However about 2 weeks ago my husband said “Maybe you should start blogging again, I have had 2 people ask about why you haven’t updated your website.” So here we go, even if I am talking to myself. LOL I have so many projects on my to-do list, and keep adding more daily. At the present I have 5 projects going. If you were to check my Ravelry it would show that I have 36 items in my cart. And that is mainly because I have not had time to get around to them yet. As my yarn, pattern (and everything in between) collection grows so does my desire for learning new techniques. The more I know, the more I want to know. Isn’t that the way it should be, always wanting to grow and learn as much as you can? Leave me a comment and let me know what you want to learn more of! Until next time, don’t worry be crafty!
Sometimes with all of life’s up and and downs you just need to recharge. I know it has been quite a while since my late update. The past few months have been a roller-coaster with an unexpected death in the family, vacation, holiday celebrations, sickness, visits with out of town relatives, and the list could go on. Somewhere along the way I lost my motivation for crocheting. Don’t get me wrong, there has been plenty of crafting the past few months, but the burning desire to turn out project after project just was not there. Surely I am not the only one that gets that way, if we are honest it can be about anything in life. So I took time to recharge, not stressing over making or not making anything. That is until this week. As I have said many times, my notebooks are like treasure boxes. At the start of every new year, I start a new one with to-do lists, goals, patterns, etc. I start with a blank page and begin to fill it with crafting dreams and concepts, that most of the time no one else gets to see. This year, that is going to change. I plan on making 2017 the best yet not only for me personally, but for Fruitful Concepts Studio as well. Thanks for sticking with me while I recharged!! Until we talk again, Don’t worry be crafty! ~Jama 
Fall. That wonderful time of the year when things are supposed to get cooler, the colors change into wonderful array of oranges, yellows, and reds. Inspiration at harvest time. Of course I find a lot of creativity at the state fair. Anything from painting and legos, to woodworking and gardening. How incredible to share in all of the artistry from people across my great state, North Carolina. A gathering of all skill levels in just about every kind of thing you can imagine. That is the basic definition of what the fair is. And I was proud to have put in 9 entries into what is my fourth year as a participant. This year’s hard work paid off in a major way for me, as I will be bringing home on Monday 2 Blue (1st place) ribbons, a white (3rd place) ribbon and and honorable mention. There are no words to describe the joy that crochet brings to me. However I can say just how thankful I am that I get to join others in showing off that if you when you dedicate yourself to your passion and calling in life the rewards are endless!
My sincerest apologies for being so quiet the past few weeks. Since we last talked I have finished my husband’s birthday present (which was also a fair entry), almost finished a baby sweater, extended my class at the local library, dropped off entries for the fair, and started knitting 1 of 2 Christmas stockings…. needless to say my busy season has begun!
I finished him up at 6:15 last Friday night, just hours before I had to drop him off for the State Fair showing. Only I would be out in the middle of a hurricane delivering, not only my entries but a friend’s as well. It is called dedication…… or maybe insanity. I get those two confused! 🙂 Seriously we had no idea how bad the storm Matthew would be in our area. There has been flooding and road beds just washed away. Some have lost everything, others there was not much damage. Thankfully we got home safely from Raleigh that Saturday afternoon!
I have enjoyed the classes at the local library for the last 5 weeks. I have met some really great and enthusiastic crocheters there. The head librarian, is the best. Wednesday when I came in she had this beautifully big hook waiting for me. Be still my ever-craft loving’ heart!!!! <3 <3
Today I have fulfilled a dream, as I got to hold an I Love Yarn Day event at this library. I set out loom knitting, knitting, and of course CROCHET pieces. Demonstrated different techniques and had great conversations with several people. We sat, ate cookies, and discussed the how many ways there are to yarn craft as well as our favorite yarns. It was AWESOME!!!
So now as I wait to hear the results from the judging of the NC State 2016 State Fair, I am truly grateful for all the opportunities that I have had the past few months to share my passion for the yarn/ needle crafts! It is my hope that you all go out and celebrate I Love Yarn Day by sharing your love for yarn too! Until we talk again, Don’t Worry Be Crafty! ~Jama