inspired by: penland school of crafts

I'm dreaming of a relaxing time in the mountains sometime soon. I like going in the winter (if snowy roads permit!) when things are quiet and calm. One of the first road trips my husband and I took together was to the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina. It's a beautiful, remote campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains where craft lovers come for workshops and residencies in all sorts of media--from photography to clay to glass to textiles. We went during a break in classes, so we had the campus all to ourselves (we did spot a chicken or two, though). There's inspiration--both natural and human-made--everywhere you look there.

Lucy Morgan established Penland in 1920; today it comprises 400 or so acres of interesting old buildings, studio spaces, a gallery, and gorgeous views. Learn more about Penland here. Visit the Penland blog here.

Above, top to bottom (photos 2,6,7,8,10 via Penland; quilts photo by Robin Dreyer; all others by me/Will): campus entrance; The Craft House, c. 1935; me with a fuzzy expression at the Penland Post Office; Railroad by the Toe River; a bust in the field, artist unknown; The Barns studios; The Craft House porch; water tower, letterpress and print studio; campus view; puppet show on the knoll; quilts at The Northlight Building.