Timpson Creek Gallery is a collection of furniture and home decor so beautiful, you might just pass out. Inspirational ideas and outstanding craftsmanship come at you from all angles. Where to look first? Each bed, bench and twisted mountain-laurel shelf is a fantastic stand alone. But it's the creative energy of how they put the showroom together which makes one's heart skip a beat. The place offers a harmonic collection of styles from many genres and time periods. It's a picnic basket of eclectic, mountain and shabby chic offerings all rolled into one.
But what's truly interesting about Timpson Creek Gallery is the story, the history, behind it. The whole enterprise was the vision of one man, Mr. Dwayne Thompson. Mr. Thompson is Rabun County, Georgia born and bred. He says a large part of influence can be traced back to two high school teachers; as he first developed his woodworking skills in shop class. Hey, that's good news for all you teachers out there, toiling endlessly on today's semi brain-dead youth: a) There's hope. b) Never can tell what's sinking in. With Dwayne, it sunk in. And paid-off.
After college, he was hired by a local furniture company to turn artists' sketches into complete drawings and build prototypes. A few years later, he went out on his own and opened Timpson Creek Gallery. The success of his life's work is staggering: the handmade furniture, eye-popping showroom, year-round art shows. Or how about the "Sticks-N-Stones" dream home he and his wife created - and I say created, not built - for a reason. An ode to master craftsmanship it is. The fabulous rustic-grey exterior clearly visible to all admires from the street. But I won't tell you which one. I will tell you, I get to pat the mailbox as I jog by on weekend runs. It gives me shivers.
Most people who've been to shop class...well, that's it. They've been to shop class. Not Dwayne. You should see for yourself what this man has done with two hands and a truck-load of visionary determination. If you're ever in the Lake Burton area, make sure you stop in at Timpson Creek Gallery, just 7.4 miles - yes, I heart my odometer - west of historic Clayton. Even if nary a purchase is made, the inspirational ideas will stay with you.
Timpson Creek Gallery a.k.a the shiznit
7142 Hwy 76 West, Clayton, GA 30525
http://www.timpsoncreek.com/
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