Category: Bowyn

October 6, 2020

October events: Are you going?

OCTOBER EVENTS

Hooked rug — October’s here, the pumpkin time of year! This little guy was hooked using wool strips and yarn and recycled t-shirts. The background is primarily cotton batik.

October started at a run right out of the gate. Not sure how that can be in these days of Covid, but I suppose it shows that we’re all adapting to our new reality. And, hey, it’s not all bad. Because of Zoom, many of us are seeing each other on a pretty regular basis, which would NOT have been the case if we had to travel any distance to get together.

So, exactly what’s up in October?

Photo for one of the October events — IN THE STUDIO WITH JUDI MILLER – wEDNESDAY, 2020; 1-2 PM EASTERN (11-NOON MOUNTAIN

Wednesday, October 7:
IN THE STUDIO WITH JUDI MILLER

Canadian artist Judi Miller joins moderator Karen Miller of Karen D. Miller Studios to discuss artist residencies. Maybe you’ve considered one? There’s still time to purchase a ticket today to get the scoop. Info can be found here. Starts at 1:00 PM Eastern.

Wednesday, October 14: ALT FIBERS HOOK-IN

This is a chance to just sit and hook together – okay, on Zoom – for an evening. If you’ve been wondering about hooking with something other than wool, this is the place to come and discuss. Grab a beverage and a project and join us. More info can be found here. Starts at 5:00 PM Eastern. And, yes, wool’s invited as well.

Wednesday, October 21: ADOBE WOOL ARTS GUILD MEETING

If you’re a fiber artist in New Mexico and interested in joining AWAG, the only rug hooking guild in the state, please give a yell to attend. We’re not officially meeting in person yet, but Zoom has let folks meet and talk to one another. Please contact moi at Laura@highonhooking.com for more info. (That’s because I’m the guild president.) Starts at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

Monday-Friday, October 26-30: IN THE STUDIO’S FIRST WORKSHOP WEEK

Who says we can’t have classes during Covid? Not only can we, but people from all over Canada and the US and even beyond can participate!

Teachers include: Karen Miller, Susan Feller, Meryl Cook, Beth Miller, and moi. Workshops by Susan and myself are full, but, if you hurry, you might grab a place in the others. (There are waiting lists.) BTW, not only are there classes, but bonus evening sessions include a hook-in and a panel discussion. More info here.

With all these October events, I don’t want to hear that you’re bored or you have nothing to do. You are cordially invited to pretty much…everything! Until we get a Coronacootie vaccine in place and working, this is how we’ll be getting together. But I suspect we’ll keep Zooming at least part of the time because, you know, it works! Hope to see you online!

Dogs present "What's on the frame" this today. — Aren’t they playing nice? Tynan and Bowyn both bring you “What’s on the frame” today. It’s a Boucherouite-inspired rug hooked with t-shirts. I started it on vacation last week. Right now it’s got kind of an October vibe going with those Halloweenish colors.

April 27, 2020

Time to buy the patterns!

"Big Boucherouite' rug hooking pattern, one of our patterns — This is “Big Boucherouite” all drawn out on linen for Leslie. I can’t wait to see how she makes him come to life.

As I mentioned last week, High on Hooking has started something new: We’re offering patterns to all the rug hookers out there. Truthfully, though, we sold our first pattern last year. It was requested, not on rug backing, but on paper. Someone loved our “WOOF” rug but wanted a couple of personal changes made to it. Happy to do it.

Currently, the pattern for “Big Boucherouite” – in linen or in monk’s cloth – is listed up on the Etsy shop. I recently sent one off to Leslie. If you’re interested, I will draw it upon order to your specifications. It’s too big for paper, though. Feel free to contact me through Etsy or via Laura@highonhooking.com. In fact, most any of my rugs can be made into patterns.

This week we’re finishing up a punched pillow and hemming the recycled bed sheet rug. My hands and wrists are unexcited by both of those activities. And then there’s paperwork covering the dining room table (except where the dust is). On the plus side, we’ve started a new rug. Nothing makes me happier than that. And I see a hike in our near future. Early in the day, though, as summer’s suddenly broken here in the New Mexican high desert. Going into the 90s this week. Time to get Bowyn his pool!

Dog on hooked rug — Clearly, Bowyn’s got a ways to go before he can take over for Tynan’s “What’s on the frame.” What is this pattern? But Tynan was distracted and ran off when Tom made noises in the kitchen. What’s a dog to do?

WHAT WILL YOU DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE LIGHTER?

April 22, 2020

Share those hearts! And other news.

Heart hooked rug for hearts for heroes — Show me your hearts; here’s mine. I attached it to my spring door decoration. It was hooked with wool, silk, and silk sari yarns. #heartsforheroes

We’re still looking for those hearts. Tag them #heartsforheroes. If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, click here now. Relatedly, Maggie Bathory at the Aspen Rug Company has a contest HEARTS FOR HOOKERS going on over at her place. Combine our two projects; do good and maybe win some wool!

In other news, I’m still not working particularly efficiently as I’d hoped to back when this all started. If you wish, you can read about that here. The situation wasn’t helped when my kid had health issues that ultimately pushed her into the hospital up in Colorado where she lives…3½ hours away. That was nerve-wracking as Tom and I couldn’t just run up to be with her. Nope, in the end she had to do it all by her lonesome. There have been some hiccups, but her health is safe and she’s back at work…on the frontlines…at a grocery store. (Another plug for #heartsforheroes.)

But I have gotten some things done. Two rugs left the Etsy shop for their forever homes. Yea! Virtual shopping can be as good if not better than going to the store. I know, three pairs of shoes have made it to my house from DSW via the post office. Then there are those two Kohl’s deliveries. Pro Chem and Maritime Family Fiber…

Hooked wall hanging — “Sacred Life” now lives in Louisiana with Susan. She and Carolyn are hoping to make a trip to New Mexico late in the year. Pray they get a chance. Till then, this will have to do.

Intrigue: There’s been an ongoing rug “sale” story; really it’s all about a would-be scammer who wanted to take me for about $1000. And get a rug in the deal! That deserves it’s own post. Watch for it in the future.

Then I sold a pattern of “Big Boucherouite” after someone saw him in Rug Hooking Magazine. Damn, I think that little nugget of information was lost in the coronacootie hubbub. Yep, take a gander in the current – March/April/May – issue. My article starts on page 40. I’m so tickled! Anywho, later this week, I’ll be making that pattern available in linen and monk’s cloth in the Etsy shop. Or just contact me at Laura@highonhooking.com if you’re interested in one. Or in any other rug that I’ve hooked, for that matter. Most can be easily drawn.

Rug Hooking Magazine article — You know, I’ve had short stories printed and even rugs in the ATHA Magazine, but what a gas to have my own article and artwork in Rug Hooking Magazine!

Drawing a hooked rug pattern — This was part of the process when I drew the “Big Boucherouite” pattern for Leslie. Thank goodness for a large area on tile, and even more, doors to keep the dogs at bay.

Ribbon rug journal easter entry — Ribbon Rug Journal entry, April 12: “Easter, 2020” or “Easter, Corona Style.” Hopefully, the Easter Bunny didn’t catch the coronacootie when he delivered the eggs and candy.

Like I said in an earlier post, the Ribbon Rug Journal takes up more of my hooking time than I anticipated. I guess that’s not such a problem this year though. Sadly, so many vending and other in-person events are cancelled that I have time to spend on a big project like this one. Just the other day I finished the first roll of burlap ribbon. The new roll is a tad more difficult to work with as its weave is much looser. Danger, Will Robinson! It’s also wider which is a mixed blessing. There’s more space to hook, but showing any kind of detail is a no-go.

Other than that, there’s lots of cooking and eating and drinking going on in the Salamy house. We’re still really well stocked up. The boys keep us walking most days, thank goodness. It’s safer that way, otherwise the Wild Child (aka Bowyn) gets himself into much too much mischief. He took out a skein of rug yarn within five minutes of it being in the house. Snaked his little paw right through the doggie gate to snag it! I have managed to give them both haircuts, not that I’ll be accomplished enough to hang out a groomer’s shingle when this whole pandemic crisis is over. But I can now wield a pair of clippers and cut toenails. I call that a victory.

dogs on hooked rug — A FIRST! Tynan allowed Bowyn to share his “What’s on the frame” duty this week. (It all fell apart after I snapped the pic.) I’ll hook the last bit of this cheery, recycled bed sheet rug tonight. Then it joins a finishing queue along with a punched pillow.

I’m still interested in what you’re hooking up or even cooking up this Covid-19 “vacation.” Tell us about it below. Better yet, show us on the High on Hooking Facebook page. And get those hearts up on your front windows and doors. Share your love and gratitude with the heroes showing up at your house with yarn and shoes and food and…

February 28, 2020

Tynan presents a new project

Tynan and the new project

DOg and new project — What’s on the frame: Here’s the new punch needle rug hooking project, just one of too many things she has going on these days. And that doesn’t even include training you-know-who.

Tynan here. She’s given me a little access. It’s only fitting as she took the ~~little sh__~~ Bowyn for a walk this afternoon and neglected me. That was after they played keep-the-frisbee from Tynan. Junior likes to show off how fast he can run away from me after he rubs the damn toy on my back. Piss ant!

Anyway, here’s the new project the mistress is working on. She started it for the punch needle rug hooking class she’s teaching up in Santa Fe tomorrow; it’s a demonstration piece. One day to become a pillow. That is, if she can ever finish the old projects. I think that between the punching, hooking, crochet, and embroidery, she’s got at least four in the fire. And all over the house! Oh and, Ruth, my dear friend Ruth, she hasn’t even touched that miniature punch needle project since the day you taught it to her. (But you didn’t hear that from me.)

I hope you all have a good weekend. Maybe you’d enjoy it more if you invited a certain 10-month old Welsh Springer spaniel to spend it with you. I know I would.

Your ever suffering,

Tynan

PS – The class at the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center still has one or two openings if you’re interested. You can call or walk in. It starts at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

February 17, 2020

Hemming, Hooking, and Punching, oh my!

Here in Albuquerque, we’re hemming, hooking, and punching, oh my!

The hemming part of hemming, and hooking, and sewing, oh my!

HEMMING
The secret project is almost done. The hooking’s complete, but there’s a LOT of hemming to be done, rug binding to be sewn down. It’s been taking a LOT of my time. But if I can finish that and figure how to hang it, I think that I’ll enter it into a fiber show up in Santa Fe to run during the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center (formerly Española Valley Fiber Arts Center) Fiber Crawl in May. Check out the info whether you’d like to be a participant or would prefer to check out the festivities this year.

HOOKING
Cathy and I have one more evening in Santa Fe as artists in residence at the Inn on the Alameda. There’s not been all that much action, but we usually get in a few good chats with a guest or two. Two weeks ago we met a group of ladies who came from all over the US to take a workshop that would teach them how to make clothes from the cloth that they’d woven back at home. They were really into the tactile nature of our hooked rugs. One woman had inherited hooking paraphernalia from a relative and got all hyped visiting us. Another loved the idea of using used clothing, especially t-shirts, and wants to give hooking a try. Alas, she isn’t from here, so she’ll have to find a teacher on her own.

Meanwhile, Friday, a friend of a LeeAnne, an AWAG guild mate of mine, came here for an intro lesson Friday. (Bowyn was a BEAR, wanting desperately to become her new best friend. Ideas of what to do with a dog when you teach in your home? Till he’s trained, that is.) Barbara came last week so that she could attend AWAG’s first hooking retreat of the new year. If you’re in the area of Hope Church on Juan Tabo in Albuquerque Wednesday or Friday, 10-3, we cordially invite you to stop by. If hooking’s your thing, bring that. Knitting, embroidery, whatever, we’re happy to have you. (FYI, Thursday, we’ll be holding an in-guild miniature punch needle class, so our hospitality will be “compromised.”)

Lastly, as you can see in the photo, Tynan brings you this week’s “what’s on the frame.” It’s a cheery and color-full rug that I’m hooking with old woven bed sheets. Unlike other on-going projects, it’s highly portable. Each evening, too, I hook my daily entry on the ribbon rug journal. More on that next time.

Punch needle rug hooking example — Come punch with me in Santa Fe on February 29.

PUNCHING
And lest anyone forget, Saturday, February 29, I host my first Intro to Punch Needle Rug Hooking class up in Santa Fe, in the New Mexico Fiber Center’s new shop. It opened back in November. Most exciting, doing a class in Santa Fe instead of Española cuts my commute by a full 30 minutes! If you haven’t been there, make sure you make a trip. It’s cute and carries more finished goods than the Española headquarters. And if you’d like to try punching à la Amy Oxford, sign up ASAP. If you can’t make that class, contact me about a class in my home or even yours.

Toma nd Bowyn, man and dog — My other two boys, Tom and Bowyn. Like most days in New Mexico, Saturday was sunny, so the four of us piled in the car went off on a jaunt. Have you done any good walks and hikes lately?

Okay, things could be a lot worse. Hemming, hooking, and punching are all better than working in an office or shoveling snow or even having a mammogram or dental work. Frankly, they’re better than teaching Bowyn over and over how to be a good canine citizen. He’s stubborn and more than a little crazy, that one. But you have to love him. Or at least Tom and I have to. WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THIS WINTER DAY?