Stephen Quiller during the 2011 Painting Workshop at 4UR.

Bristol Yarnworks Studio is a favorite with the knitters and weavers among us. Many of the natural fibers and yarns sold there are handspun and hand-dyed at the studio, and their quality is  unsurpassed. When we don’t feel like clacking the needles or threading the loom ourselves, we treat ourselves to a Teri D. Inman original masterpiece.

It’s always fun to spend a snowy afternoon at the Creede Beadery with our own Damon and Kiera Gibbons. Beading may not be described by many as “thrilling”, but it can be; sometimes we don’t know what we’ll create until the creation is complete. How wonderfully mysterious.

Anyone who participated in the Painting Workshop with Stephen Quiller last summer will know the Quiller Gallery. The gallery is open by appointment only at this time of year, but Stephen’s work can be viewed any time at his website. We’re already looking forward to the 2012 Painting Workshop with Stephen Quiller next June.

We always like to stop by The Holy Moses before Christmas. Hand crafted wooden toys and hand-thrown pottery are just two of the attractions. It’s a great spot to find unique gifts.

Guests of our Colorado Family Guest Ranch don’t always take the time to head into Creede to browse the shops of Main Street. We understand; folks come here to immerse themselves in the splendor of the mountains. Yet guests who do find their way into Creede always enjoy the time they spend there, whether they browse the shops and galleries mentioned above, or take in a show at the Creede Repertory Theatre.

Some history about the shop (as described on the Creede Beadery website):

One of Kiera's designs, the Rosaline

Creede Beadery was originally Lovering’s Bead Loft, which opened above J. Thompson’s Gallery in 2001. It was owned by Jan & John Thompson, and has a great following of bead lovers who come every summer to create great new designs. Jan and John felt the bead business was growing too big for their loft, and Jan wanted to focus more on her passion for pastel drawing, using the loft to teach classes and expand into her own personal studio. On April 23, 2008, the Thompsons sold their beads to Damon & Kiera Gibbons, who in turn have moved the Location up the street to Pappy’s Place; a great historic building offering a wonderful studio space for patrons to use, and continue to create their fine pieces.

She also sells pre-made pieces, and you can even reserve the beadery for a party! Can you imagine how fun that would be? All the new friends you child has made the Colorado Dude Ranch getting together at the end of the week for a fun craft event? I know it can be hard to pull yourself away from the ranch, but historic Creede is worth a visit, as is the fabulous beadery here in town.

There is some great shopping in Creede. While part of the family enjoys the fly fishing vacation end of 4UR, head to Creede to find some item or trinket to remember your trip by.

Retailers offer an array of goods inside unique specialty shops. There are a variety of Art Galleries, including Abbey Lane, which has a selection of ceramics I always think are fantastic, and Rare Things is also a great shop. They offer designer jewelry, antiques, fine collectibles, decorative arts, as well as strange and fascinating natural wonders. One of their most popular items is the exquisite Inge Horsehair Jewelry Collection. Finely woven horse hair jewelry that is unlike anything I have seen before.

The 4UR Ranch in Creede CO

Of course there are various trading post and country stores downtown as well, with various gear for your stay at the Guest Ranch, should you have forgotten something.

There’s lots of little tasty treats as well in downtown Creede, so stay and have lunch after you shop, or let the kids pick out some sweets from the Creede Trading Post, or the Candy Mine and Toy Store. They’ll probably want more than just toys from the Candy Mine!

If you don’t make it back in time for lunch, stop in at the Mermaid Cafe for a bite, a favorite with locals and visitors to Creede.

If you can pull yourself away from the ranch while on your horseback riding vacation, you won’t regret a trip to Creede!