A Creative Tour of New Orleans

Artistic highlights from my trip

Last week I went on my summer holiday to New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s been ages since I’ve done a city break, but one of the reasons I was so excited about this destination is that New Orleans is a thriving hub of creativity. Street art, exhibitions, Mardi Gras; the city is filled with artistic inspiration. I was also really happy to see they have several independent yarn shops so, of course, I did end up coming home with yarn in my suitcase…

In this article, I thought I would share with you some highlights from my holiday and show you some of the fantastic creativity I came across, as well as the yummy yarn shop I visited. I left New Orleans with my own creativity feeling recharged and ready to dive into my handmade projects, so I hope this article can do the same for you.

One of the best things about New Orleans is that art is everywhere. The streets are filled with colourful murals, often celebrating aspects of the local culture. It was really beautiful to see - my photos certainly don’t do them justice - and it was inspiring to be surrounded by creativity as we were exploring the city.

The artistry displayed on the streets spilled into the interiors of shops and cafes, too. Whether it was the work of local creators hanging on the walls, or hand painted logos on exposed brick walls, nearly everywhere we visited was contributing to the creative vibes. One of my favourite places was an independent book shop with the logo painted inside and a huge collage of pages and pictures from books on the floor.

I also have to sing my praises for the yarn shop I went to, The Quarter Stitch. I was originally planning on going to a different shop but stumbled across this one on my way to a museum and couldn’t resist. The Quarter Stitch really is a haven for yarn lovers. There were colourful baskets of yarn everywhere, with bunting and knitted sweaters hanging from the ceiling. My favourite part of this shop was the embroidery and cross-stitch patterns; they were covering nearly every wall in the shop like a giant collage. The different designs looked amazing altogether, and my creativity was definitely fired up after seeing the endless possibilities of fibre arts.

The shop also had lots of yarn to offer, from big name brands to local indie dyers; the yarn I chose is from Peru from a brand called Malabrigo Yarn. It’s a worsted weight merino in a stunning deep purple/blue mix, and I can’t wait to find the perfect project for it.

Another part of this trip that I really enjoyed was a visit to the Presbytère Museum. It features 2 fantastic exhibits, one about Hurricane Katrina followed by one about Mardi Gras. At first I thought these topics might be a little jarring, but they ended up being the perfect balance. The hurricane exhibit was obviously quite heavy but the Mardi Gras section is the perfect way to lift your spirits, and I think it made me appreciate the colour and creativity even more.

Mardi Gras is a celebration filled with bright colours, detailed costumes, and fantastic parade floats. It was amazing to see some of original king and queen costumes from the parade and see the exquisite detailing up close. I couldn't stop thinking about how much time and effort must’ve gone into creating these costumes by hand, especially ones that had complicated patterns and endless amounts of jewels sewn on. There were original costume sketches displayed on the wall, and it reminded me of how many of my crochet pattern designs start out. I love seeing the creative process and how other makers labour to create something unique, so this was a great part of the exhibit for me.

The School of Design was also celebrating its 150th anniversary so they had created displays to add even more splashes of colour as you walk through the museum. Some of my favourite pieces are pictured below.

As well as creativity, New Orleans has a lot of culture to soak up. We visited the voodoo museum, walked through the Lafayette Cemetery, and did a ghost walking tour around the city. Even the architecture can be inspiring, especially in the French Quarter and Garden District, with houses covered in pastel paints and elaborate balconies reminiscent of the European heritage.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to New Orleans without including some jazz. Music was everywhere. We went to jazz bars on Bourbon Street and enjoyed amazing bands busking with a huge crowd; even our hotel came with a record player and a great selection of jazz records. As well as being around music and art, it was lovely to be around people who were appreciating all of it. Most of the time we were surrounded by random strangers but everyone was soaking up the creativity together.

Overall my trip to New Orleans was brilliant, and I’m already thinking about going again. The best part was discovering art where you least expect it, like the jazz fountain pictured below, and I’m sure that any creative - whether you’re a knitter, sewer, musician, painter, or sculptor - would feel the same. Before I went, I was in a bit of a rut with my crochet and really looking for something to supercharge my inspiration. New Orleans did exactly that, and the expressiveness and imagination of this city is something that I will never forget.