about the clay purl
We opened The Clay Purl in 2011 in a tiny shop at the entrance of Antique Alley, and have enjoyed meeting the great knitters from around the world who come to enjoy Brown County. Early in 2013 we began our own line of hand-painted yarns, and are excited to be able to offer them online. Many of the colorways are inspired by the beauty that surrounds us. In May of 2014, we moved to a location just off Main St., by the Courthouse. In May 2018 the building was sold, and we moved to the sweetest little shop back in Antique Alley, then after the Covid shutdown, we moved to a larger location 2 doors down. We are tucked behind the Ferguson House and next to Brown County Pottery! My son, Paul, makes some incredible pottery that we are proud to sell at The Clay Purl. We have some other artistic endeavors that show up for sale at The Clay Purl, so come and see us.
We are located at 92 West Franklin St. in Nashvile, IN. In Antique Alley, right next to the quilt shop, the wood carver and the stone cutter.
about michele (shelly):
I was born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana; and studied Business Administration, Marketing and German at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where I met my husband, David. We have two grown children, Alyssa (who is married to Matt Stanley), Paul (who lives in Indianapolis), and two beautiful grandchildren – Elayna and Eyan.
David and I spent our honeymoon in Nashville, IN. Then, several years later we inherited the family “cabin” from my parents. We have always loved “getting away” in Brown County – that is when we weren’t living here! We first moved to Nashville in 1986 and stayed until 1992, when we moved our family to Kiev, Ukraine to serve as missionaries for two years. We returned to Nashville again in 2005, after a short 2 year stint in Bloomington, we now live in Nashville again–I can actually walk to the shop. David is a chaplain for Southern Care Hospice. I have been an art teacher, an office manager, the Marketing Director at Gaither Family Resources in Alexandria, Indiana, and the graphics designer for the Women’s Ministries department at the World Headquarters of The Wesleyan Church in Fishers, IN.
I blog occasionally at michelehayes.wordpress.com
David blogs at runawaypastor.blogspot.com
about paul hayes:
Paul is my son, and he makes some amazing pottery – everyone loves his yarn bowls! Like the rest of the family he attended Olivet Nazarene University, but graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012. He lives in Indianapolis and is the Chairman of the Department of Ceramics at The Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple.
about amanda newlin:
Amanda is an amazing knitter, crocheter and spinner! She has been a regular at the shop and at knit nights since we opened the door. When I am away, she is one of the smiling faces you see. She is a veteran of the Indiana National Guard and studied at Vincennes University. Amanda dyes some beautiful yarn and roving under the label: Bean Blossom Fibers. Pick up a skein next time you visit. She lives in Bean Blossom with her husband Dave, her two daughters Sami and Megan, and the animals (cats, a pug, chickens and goats). You will love meeting and talking to Amanda in the shop. We are excited that she is here.
about abby smith
If you think Abby looks a lot like Amanda, it is because they are sisters! Abby is an artist at heart. She will take fiber, clean it, card it, dye it, spin it and then just start knitting it (or weaving it)! She rarely uses a pattern, and she has a lot of fun playing with the fibers and the colors to create wearable works of art!. She is also an accomplished seamstress and leather worker, so if you see bag handles, leather shawl pins, and buttons in the shop, Abby has been busy. Abby lives in Nashville with her husband, Russ, and kids Finn and Fay.