Blk Lava Lamp

Since I was little, I remember tagging along with Gma and/or Gpa to the barn every day to feed and care for the horses. The first barn we had was this old, rickety thing they built back in the ’70s—it was painted black and had a lot of character. Eventually, they decided it was time for an upgrade, so they tore it down, moved the fence, and built a much bigger barn.

Gma had one big request for the new space: a giant craft room. And of course, Gpa made it happen. After that, our daily barn trips took on a whole new vibe. We’d go out to feed the horses, but we’d also show up early or stay late (or both) just to craft.

I can still remember the little details like it was yesterday—the smell of wood burning, the warm blast from the stove in the winter, the icy lemon water on hot days, and the hum of the old window AC unit. Gma was into everything: painting, pottery, cross-stitching, crochet, woodworking, beadwork, sewing—you name it. I’m probably forgetting some obscure craft she got into for a few years, too.

Her creativity came and went in waves, depending on her mood or what stage of life I was in. But one thing never changed—Gma always made space for me. Whether we were crafting or just hanging out, we did it together. I didn’t just grow up with an awesome grandma; I grew up with my best friend.

Of all the art forms that came and went, sewing—especially quilting—was the one that stuck. If Gpa was the one who could fix anything, build just about everything, and grow a whole garden with his two hands, Gma was the creative force who could make magic in the kitchen or craft room. We filled that barn craft room to the brim over the years, and eventually, Gma dreamed bigger.

So, Gpa (being the legend he is) closed in the garage at the house and made her final dream a reality—a huge craft room just steps from the kitchen. Now she could sew and create whenever inspiration hit, without even leaving the house.

And with quilting came the fabric. So much fabric. Every week, for as long as I can remember, we made trips to Hancock Fabrics on Harbison. Unlike other craft stores that had a little bit of everything, Hancock was all about fabric—and that made it our place. We almost never had a project in mind; we just let the clearance bin (and our hearts) guide us.

That’s where Gma passed down her sacred fabric wisdom:
“If you like it, buy a yard. If you love it, buy two. If you have to have it, buy three. And if it’s on sale? Just buy the whole bolt.”

Hancock closed in 2017, and honestly, it kind of crushed us. Since then, we’ve tried to fill the gap with local shops and small online stores, but nothing hits quite like the nostalgia of those Hancock runs.

RIP Hancock’s. Here are some local(ish) fabric shops I love near Columbia, SC