A Visit to Clara’s Loom

We wrapped up 2017, with a week in Gulf Shores Alabama. Thanks to the generosity of a dear friend we lived like royalty with a beautiful penthouse view of the gulf directly on the beach. The serene beauty of the shoreline was calming and restorative. But it wasn’t exactly beach weather. It rained. It was windy. It was cold. Now to be fair to my Canadian friends, it wasn’t “Canada cold”; it was merely “Georgia cold”.

Regardless of the weather, Coastal Alabama offers lots to see and do. A little online research revealed several arts and crafts attractions to pique my interest. First among them was a place called Clara’s Loom. According to the website, Clara’s Loom is the “destination for textile lovers on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Clara’s Loom is a gallery of handwoven shawls, textile accessories, travel looms and designer yarn. It is the retail division of the Coastal Textile Center and the label of Alabama fiber artist Celia Dionne.” OK count me in!

I arrived at Clara’s Loom in the early afternoon. I rang the bell as I was the only customer. Celia quickly welcomed me into her shop. And oh what a shop it is! It’s not big but it’s packed with beautiful materials and stunning work. Everywhere you look, there is something to discover, to touch and to inspire.

Yarns in the most gorgeous colors and the softest textures.

Outstanding handwoven shawls in all the colors of the rainbow.

Quirky, fun yarn and ribbon strings for hats, belts and lariat necklaces.

Unique and interesting fiber art framed to hang on the wall.

And my personal favorite, lovely little statement necklaces.

It was a feast for the eyes! But the best part of all was Celia. It’s obvious she loves fiber art and she loves sharing her passion. Celia eagerly shared information about her products and her techniques. She generously explained how to make one of those necklaces I was coveting.  I took my time to consider all the options and eventually selected the below yarn.

I’m now in the “mulling stage”. I won’t replicate the necklaces I saw. Instead, with Celia’s necklaces as inspiration, I’ll put my own spin on it. Everyone works differently but I like to let my mind wonder, to admire my materials and mull over the possibilities. Eventually things will click and I’ll know when it’s time to start making.

More Info

Check out Clara’s Loom for information on Celia and her lovely shop.

Another great find on my visit to Clara’s Loom was NeedleTravel.  Their website is a great online resource for locating noteworthy fiber and fabric shops in the USA.  They also have an app, called NeedleTravel, that is easy to use and super convenient.  The “Find Shops Near My Location” is a great feature.  The website and app are updated daily.  They also publish an annual, travel-size reference book called “NeedleTravel Fiber & Fabric Mania! A Travel Guide”.

You may enjoy the Pinterest Fiber Arts board I’ve created to save projects, techniques and inspiration.

Today’s Takeaways

Here are a few suggestions that may spark an idea:
1. Seek out arts and crafts destinations to visit when you travel.

2. Strike up a conversation with an artisan. They’re usually eager to discuss their passion and share advice. Often their enthusiasm is contagious.

3. Try something new. Start small. Buy materials that inspire you. Give yourself time to mull over the possibilities.

Cheers,