Road Trip!

Most of our hydrangeas have started to turn bronze from the heat and lack of rain, but I still like looking at them.


My sisters were here for a visit, recently, and we had a great time visiting several yarn shops.  Don't worry, I won't take you along to all of them.  Smoky Mountain Spinnery* in Gatlinburg, Tenn. is the coup de grâce when one is shopping for fiber related items so here's a little tour.


It's just off the main thoroughfare in Gatlinburg. The entrance...

Aren't these sheep the cutest.  We thought they were concrete, but they're not, they're resin and a bit pricey, but in case you're interested,  Plow & Hearth carries them. 

The Spinnery has some of the best sheep-y decor I've seen...


All manner of tools for knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving are available, of course.


Handspun yarns were hanging nearly everywhere we looked.

Look at the gorgeously dyed roving.  I was tempted to buy them all to spin into yarn, but I was able to resist that notion, somehow.  o.O

They have several spinning wheels and looms, too.

More sheepy decor.


There were all manner of creatures sporting spin-able fibers. o.O


Some can spin yarn with their toes...evidently.


And some demonstrate how to use a loom.


I found several skeins of off-white & purple baby alpaca on sale.  The Turquoise yarn is for a nifty winter hat.  After touring the shop and finding our treasures we were ready to head to the checkout.


Look at their beautiful, old cash register!  It's an antique, of course, but it still works and brings back memories of days gone by when other stores had them.  If you're a knitter/weaver/crocheter/spinner and are going to be in the area, you'll definitely want to visit The Spinnery.


I'll leave you with a look at our "Black Iris" (that I forgot to share when it was in bloom.)


*No affiliation, just my favorite yarn store.
Have a great week Y'all!