Recently I spent some time in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. My sister Sue lives there and DH took me to visit. (An interesting place, Eureka Springs. Quite bohemian and artistic!) Of course, the first thing I did was look for a yarn store! I found a charming store called The Shoppes at Fleece and Flax, on Spring Street. It’s actually part of a shop called Red Scottie Fibers. Here’s a business card with the address and contact information:
A Little Bit of Everything!
The shop belongs to a lovely lady named Debbie Davis. Debbie greeted us warmly with a beautiful smile. She was actually giving a tour of the store to a couple of ladies, but took time out to let me take her picture with Chris, the knitting guru who answered all my questions and took Sue and me around the store.
First of all, in the interest of full disclosure: this lovely ‘yarn’ store sells just about every fiber art/material you could ask for. From yarn (duh!) to needlepoint supplies, to weaving materials and looms, to spinning wheels and materials, to quilting supplies and LOTS of fat quarters, fabrics and quilts–if you can use a fiber to create something beautiful, you can find resources here!
Chris is a knitter, especially when it comes to bias, or diagonal, knits. Notice the crafter’s gloves he’s wearing in the photo? He does a LOT of knitting! I think he enjoyed showing me the yarn just as much as I enjoyed looking–and handling–it! From lace weight to bulky, they have it all at the Shoppes at Fleece and Flax. I found an intriguing, deep emerald green Rowan Felted Tweed yarn on sale and I bought both balls I could find in that shade. I also purchased 2 balls of Bamboo Pop, a bright yellow DK weight Turkish yarn that is 50% cotton and 50% bamboo. (Sue loves yellow, so I’ll make something for her with it. Shhhhh! Don’t tell her!) I’m really looking forward to knitting with this yarn. I ADORE knitting with bamboo blended yarns!
They also have several products from local suppliers. I found knitted hats and gloves already knitted up in various beautiful designs from a local lady. Other products from local people included hand-dyed yarns and woven items. The store also carries roving dyed locally and ready to spin. If you need shawl pins or other notions, many of those are created in the area for the shop as well.
Quilts Everywhere!
If you’re a quilter or an aspiring quilter, you’ll appreciate the quilts on display in this shop. Several quilts were so beautiful that I would like to have carried them home. I think my DH might have had something to say about that! Sue and my other sister, Rhonda, both love to quilt. Sue kept saying, “Oh, Rhonda would love that! Oh, Rhonda would love this!” Some of the fat quarters that Debbie had assembled in neatly-tied stacks would make beautiful quilted items. I wanted to take home a few…dozen.
I haven’t quilted in quite some time, since quilting tends to be contraindicated in a 40-foot motorhome. However, I found something called “Jelly Roll” that apparently allows a quilter to quick-stitch a quilt or other craft using fabrics already connected and color-coordinated. I can’t wait to get into a place where I can haul out my sewing machine and do some quilting!
Oh dear. I’m gonna need a lot of space…and TIME!!!
Looms, Spinning Wheels and Roving
I’ve always wanted to learn to spin my own yarn. Red Scottie Fibers carries a variety of spinning wheels and weaving looms in many different sizes and styles. I thought about purchasing a spinning wheel, but I figured that Dear Hubby might make me ride home on the hood of the car if I did! (Just kidding. He’s really supportive of all my creative endeavors…even the yarn!)
Downstairs is the work area, where spinners and weavers can set up their materials and take classes or just work together to create beautiful spun yarns or woven fabrics. Sue was intrigued by the looms. This lovely shop offers classes in all the fiber arts you can imagine! Many of the crafts have regularly-scheduled classes. If their schedule doesn’t fit your needs, just talk to Debbie and she’ll help you arrange lessons that will work with your available hours.
A Bit of History
Chris told me a lovely story about the history of the shop. Apparently it’s been in Eureka Springs for quite some time–several years, in fact. Sadly, the lady who owned the shop passed away about 8 years ago. Her widower called Debbie about 5 years ago and asked her to take over the shop, as he was elderly and not in good health enough to manage it. He told her that he couldn’t bear the idea that the shop would not be a fiber arts shop and wanted Debbie to take over the shop because he knew she loved fiber arts as much as his late wife had loved them.
So, Debbie closed up her yarn shop and took over this quaint little place. Since then, Debbie has filled it with fibers of all kinds. She kept the needlepoint supplies that the man’s late wife had arranged in clear glass jars by color. Those rainbow jars now line the walls of Red Scottie Fibers. (Chris assured me that the needlepoint yarns were DEFINITELY for sale!) They made such a lovely display all along the walls of the shop.
If you live in the southwest corner of Missouri, the northwest corner of Arkansas, the northeast corner of Oklahoma, or anywhere else within driving distance, visit Red Scottie Fibers/The Shoppes at Fleece and Flax. Eureka Springs bustles with tourists through spring, summer and fall when the Passion Play is active. You’ll find plenty to do there during those seasons. But take a few moments to visit Debbie and Chris. You’ll be glad you did!
Happy Knitting!
Anita