Steve and I just got back from a trip to Asheville, North Carolina. He arranged it as a special treat for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was the best trip ever and we had a fabulous time!
When I travel, I like to buy local yarn or yarn that I haven't seen before. My LYS has a lovely selection of yarn so it's sometimes hard for me to find something new. Asheville has four (yes - four!) yarn stores in or near downtown and I made it to three of them.
Yarn Paradise is located in Bilmore Village, the historic village near the entrance to George Vanderbilt's Biltmore. Parking was easy to find and there was a bench nearby for Steve. The people in the shop were friendly and helpful. I bought Claudia Hand Painted Linen Lace in the Boot Camp colorway (above right). Identical colorways in the sport weight and lace weight yarns were very different. This yarn will most likely become a shawl for me since the colors complement many of my t-shirts.
Earth Guild was a very large store downtown that featured supplies for many different arts and crafts. There were local yarns that I considered but when I saw the colors of the Manos Silk Blend, I decided to splurge on that instead. I think this will become a Summer Flies shawl.
While I was in Earth Guild, Steve found the third yarn store for me: Purl's Yarn Emporium. This store is tucked away on a little one-way street. They had some very nice yarns but there was nothing that called out to me, especially since I had already spent plenty of money on yarn. But I would definitely visit again.
The store I didn't visit is the one I really wanted to see, Asheville, NC Home~Crafts. Somehow I never printed out information before we left so I ended up visiting the stores that came up first on the Google search on my phone. Then we ran out of time. But I have to have something to do the next time I go back, right? :) Many of the yarns in this store are supplied by local artisans, so I'm sure it's an interesting store.
Next up: the food!
yarn before food always! you made lovely selections (and I think it's great that Steve helped you search out the stores)!!
Posted by: mary | May 28, 2011 at 06:35 AM
How great that your husband planned this surprise trip for you! And with lots of yarn shops, too!
Posted by: Carole | May 28, 2011 at 07:09 AM
Sounds like a great trip! Happy anniversary!
Posted by: katie | May 28, 2011 at 08:29 AM
You got pretty anniversary yarn :)
Posted by: erin | May 28, 2011 at 11:22 AM
We stopped by Yarn Paradise two years ago on our road trip to M+M's wedding. Asheville is lovely, as you have described! You've selected such beautiful, soft colors.
Posted by: Robin | May 28, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Happy 25th Anniversary! Sounds like a great way to spend a romantic get-a-way weekend to me!
Posted by: Sheri | May 29, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Happy Belated Anniversary! Such a beautiful part of the world isn't it?
Posted by: Patty | May 31, 2011 at 12:01 PM
glad you had a great time, one of the places i'd like to visit.
Posted by: lydia | May 31, 2011 at 01:55 PM