My birthday is on Sunday (I'll be twenty-two! Goodness...am I getting old? :). A while back I started thinking about what I wanted to do to celebrate...last year we went to a museum and saw Mirror, Mirror in theaters. I had no idea what I wanted to do this year, but then it hit me...
I wanted to go shopping.
First of all, I have to say that I'm not one of those girls who loves to shop. I could care less about buying clothes and accessories and things like that. I do like hunting around thrift stores, and of course, I love to shop for books (and movies).
But for my birthday, I wanted to go crafty shopping. :) And the best place I could think of to go crafty shopping was the little town of Floyd. So we took a little day trip yesterday.
The mountains are so pretty in the spring. We go every fall, but I think the mountains are just as lovely in the spring. Everything is green and magical-looking. Sorry that these photos are crooked...they were taken from inside the truck and I'm too lazy to try and straighten them up. :)
Excuse the glare...but I loved this abandoned old house. It looked like something from a movie.
Before we headed to Floyd, we stopped in Rocky Mount. There's a yarn shop there called The Crooked Stitch. Last fall when we went to the folklife festival, we came home through Rocky Mount and I saw this yarn store. But unfortunately, I'd already spent my money at the festival so we didn't stop in.
So I was very excited about stopping by this time. It's a lovely store, and they sell yarn and fabric (two of my favorite things) and all sorts of other supplies. Our town doesn't have a yarn store...we only have Hobby Lobby. And of course, I love HL, but local yarn stores are so much better. I was overwhelmed with all of the beautiful yarn.
And I had my first encounter with Madelinetosh yarn. When I first started knitting and joined Ravelry, all I heard about was this yarn. And with good reason, too...the colors are absolutely gorgeous. The whole time I've been knitting, I've wanted some of this yarn. And, well. I went a bit crazy yesterday. :) Madelinetosh yarn is expensive, but actually it wasn't as expensive as I expected. {Two years ago, I never spent more than $5 on a ball of yarn. Over the past six months or so, I've finally started spending more on quality yarn.}
I bought one skein of Tosh DK, in this pretty red color (none of these photos even begin to do the colors justice). I'm planning on using this for a pair of fingerless gloves...I've had my eye on a certain Ravelry pattern for a while.
I also got one of Tosh Vintage, in a dark blueish teal color (Kelp, according to the label). I don't have plans for this one yet. :) It's so much darker and richer than the photo!
We stopped and ate lunch at Tuggle's Gap first. My dad had to go to a farm outside of Floyd and get some organic fertilizer, so after that we came back into Floyd.
Did I mention that I met Elvis there?
Floyd has a yarn shop, too: The Wooly Jumper. I had went in there when we went to Floyd a couple of years ago, but I had just started knitting and had no idea what I was looking for. :)
This shop was a bit smaller, but they had Madelinetosh yarn, too! *swoon* :) Meredith is making a pair of socks from the Tosh Merino Light, and that inspired me to do the same thing. I got this gorgeous turquoise yarn, though it'll probably be a while before I start on the socks. :)
So yeah...I haven't even used any of the Madelinetosh yet, but I think I'm already smitten. :)
{My dad buys feed from the mill in Rocky Mount, so I know I'll be going back to the first shop, The Crooked Stitch, soon. I already know the next color of Madelinetosh I want. :) }
And I got two skeins of this Cascade 220 Sport. It looks TARDIS blue, and that's why I bought it.
My collective yarn purchases. This was definitely a splurge- I had been saving money for about a month and a half for this trip. :)
Of course, we had to stop at Schoolhouse Fabrics in Floyd. Three floors of novelty cottons, fleece, knits, wedding fabrics, buttons, notions, etc. It's crazy.
I only bought a tiny bit of fabric here. A yard of this vintage fashion cotton print.
And a half yard of this coordinating print. I'm such a nerd- so many of my favorite novelty prints are sewing-related.
I also bought some long doll needles, some yarn to make more dishcloths for Mom, and something that I'm going to keep a surprise for now because it's going to be a giveaway here next month! :)
Until next time,

Schoolhouse Fabrics! Haven't been there in years. My mom always liked to shop there when we'd go to Floyd. I've had several outfits through the years made with fabric from there. Thanks for the lovely pics of my home-state. Makes me a little homesick to be honest but I loved seeing it. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd that yarn is gorgeous! Such bright and beautiful colors.
Have a lovely birthday! :)
I've been to Floyd several times. One of my very dear friends owns a farm with his parents up there. Oh, memories...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful birthday trip! Looks like you had some great finds! JenL
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, cousin! Bryan
Happy early birthday! And I love that red yarn. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I'll turn 22 this year too, so I know what you're feeling... it's hard to believe that I'm this "old". :D
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I just got back from a weekend trip to a "big city" where I did some fun craft related shopping - something I rarely get to do because of our remote location. I think it's funny that I also purchased a doll needle for the first time, AND that I went to a yarn shop and spent quite a bit of money there too (yarn is just so gorgeous... *sigh*). What are the odds, huh? Your purchases are beautiful!