Category: Covid-19

May 5, 2020

Rug fraud and more narrowly averted!

The rug fraud started innocently enough in an email.

Good Morning,

Hooked rug — Item #1: The rug at the center of this story. Carnivale Zebra-Style.” Hooked with old t-shirts. 48.5″x11″ (it’s back in the **Etsy shop**.)

This is Emily Hill. I would like to follow up regarding the Zebra Style rug.. I was wondering do you know how much it would be? like the total amount. And is it ok to send check for payment? I would like to purchase this outside of etsy since I have an uncle who is paying for it and will mail out a Check asap for Payment.

The shipping address is 1135 Old Fritztown rd., Sinking Spring, PA 19608.. I will just need the total price with shipping, as well as to what name and a mailing address to send payment. Thank you

Emily Hill

I’ve done transactions off Etsy before. This one sounded like a young girl getting a graduation or birthday present from her uncle. Not really a problem.

Hi, Emily-

What a nice uncle you have. The $315 includes shipping and handling. Have him send the check to:
Laura Salamy
X St.
Albuquerque, NM 8####
As soon as the check clears (we’ll do it electronically), I’ll package it up and mail it off. I’ll also send you tracking info at that point.
Thanks for giving the piece a home. And stay safe!

Laura
Highonhooking.com

Emily was responsive, got back to me the next morning.

Awesome! It should be made out today.. I will let you know as soon as it’s sent and on the way and we will be in touch. Do you want to provide a phone number as well to reach you via text?

I provided her with my landline as, unlike my cell, it always rings in the house. And callers can leave a message. But it’s a pandemic. Where would we be but home? It all looks good, so I pull the rug from my shop. But not permanently.

Two days later Emily gets back to me. Apparently, her cousin was purchasing something too. Uncle got a little mixed up. He must be very generous. And distracted by his travel. During the aforementioned pandemic.

Good Morning,

I was just informed the check was made out to you. I would like to circle back regarding the rug.. and see when it would be here like how many days? I mean following receipt of payment. I am sure you understand since I have an uncle who is paying for it. Check was made out by my uncle and I have just been informed it will be a couple days to arrive.. There’s however a mix up here as it appears the check was accidentally overpaid for $950.. I understand the additional amount on the check would have been made out separately to my cousin for the other items that we are yet to order.

I hope you understand.. The good thing a check was made out and we should be able to get everything here on time. I believe we can take care of this if you will let me know as soon as you pick up the mail and I will email the address to send on the extra money when the check clears. Please let me know how you would like to handle things. Thank you

Emily Hill

Now, me, I’m not that generous. Wish I was, especially as this was a couple of days before Easter.

Sorry, Emily-

I don’t think this is going to work.

Laura

But Emily clearly wants that rug. And it is a really nice rug, if I do say so myself. Extra points for how polite she is. And she must be a good Christian girl. She remembers to wish me a Happy Easter not even knowing that I’m not Muslim or some other religion given my Arabic last name.

Good Morning,

Emily Hill

Oh, I understand.

Nonetheless, Emily persists. She wants the rug bad. She’s so excited to know when it’ll ship, that her grammar is slipping. And she forgot to sign her name.

Hi Laura was just making sure you got my messages referenced below explaining the overage check. I know we talked about it before, i just want to be sure you read the email again and do you know when the rug will ship? when it would be here so we can be on the look out for this. Please get back to me as soon as you can. Thanks

I feel for you, Emily. Anyone who wants one of my rugs that bad. Everyone should want my rugs that bad.

Can’t be sure, Emily, as some shipping has been disrupted, but another got hers in a few days from mailing.
Laura

That last bit was sent on Sunday, April 12. Easter! Maybe Emily was at church most of the day, one of those churches in Florida that opened. Oh, but wait! Emily’s first email said she was in Pennsylvania. Or at least that the rug should be mailed there. But later she mentioned that she’d email the address to me. Hey, it’s a pandemic; who can blame her for being a little scatter-brained?

I don’t hear from Emily for quite a while. And I don’t find a check in the mailbox. Damn, she must’ve found another rug on Etsy that she liked better. 🙁

Oh, me of little faith. Emily joyfully connects with me on April 20 regarding the check. But she has concerns.

Hi Laura,

Good News!! I have just been notified you will be getting the check via USPS today. They have it loaded on the vehicle for delivery.. I would think it should be coming today through the US postal service.. Please let me know as soon as as you get the envelope. I am beginning to worry about it. If you will just go ahead and deposit in the check funds to clear the bank. The funds are typically available the next day and we can get this all wrapped up then. Please let me know and we will be in touch. Thank you so much..

Hi, Emily, sure. I’ll watch for it. And as soon as I can access the funds, I’ll pack up the rug.

Stay healthy!

Laura

Hi Laura,

I was just following up with you to see if the funds has been deposited. Please let me know and we can get the necessary items here that we need. I also was wondering if you got those text messages from me?

Emily seems to be hyperventilating. As I mentioned above, I’m concerned about her health. And, unfortunately, I never received those texts as I’d provided her with my landline number. So sorry, Emily.

Indeed, that morning I did receive the check. Here it is.

Fraudulent check — Item #2: Rug fraud – check.

Looks good, no? But wait! Emily told me that it was written for $950. This check is for $1265.00. What’s a fiber artist to do?

I call Granite Credit Union in Utah, where the check was drawn. (Interestingly, it was mailed from Springfield. Oregon. This family really gets around.) After being put on hold several times, I get a real person…who tells me…the check is fraudulent.

Oh, Emily.

You know, “Emily,” the check doesn’t seem to be clearing. I think I’ll keep the rug.

You are horrible and a shameful person. Not going to happen.. We are stopping the payment. You will never steal from us. Shame on you.

Oh, “Emily.”

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…

April 9, 2020

#Heartsforheroes

Hooked rug heart — This is NOT the heart that will go on my front door, but it is a taste of what we want to do. I hooked this one last night as part of the **Ribbon Rug Journal**. I called it “Hear Alert” then, but it’s really “#HEARTSFORHEROES.”

#heartsforheroes

So the country’s come to a standstill. Or so it seems as many of us sit at home making and walking our dogs and bingeing WestWorld and otherwise avoid contracting Covid-19. But we know that’s not true. There are still all kinds of folks out in the big, germy world. I don’t mean your fellow shoppers in Costco or Walmart. No, I’m talking the people who work in Costco and Walmart. Then there are the people driving the trucks bringing the groceries and the toilet paper to Costco and Walmart. And all the other stores and warehouses that are still open.

How about the people working in the post office, people bringing your Amazon packages? And the folks that deliver the news to our doors and televisions. There are the veterinarians and zoo keepers keeping our animals healthy. All those restaurant people making and delivering food to others who never learned how to boil water or to those of us just sick of our own cooking.

And then there are the people actually putting their lives on the line: first responders, nurses and doctors, cops, and firemen. Maybe you’re sewing masks for them in your house right now. Good for you! And thank you. They’re all busy and probably can’t stop to tell you themselves.

I know there are plenty of others out there working while you and I stay home trying to flatten the curve; I just can’t think of all the job categories. There’s not enough time, and it’s not important. What is important is to let them know how much we appreciate them all. In that vein, I’d like to propose a method for doing just that. Actually, friend and fellow hooker Cass from Tennessee suggested it. She’d seen something similar online and thought that the rug hooking community should embrace it.

What if we started a challenge of hooked hearts…design and size, etc., of your choice? They would hang on our doors or some visible place as an outward show of love and appreciation to all of the support personnel…medical, grocers, janitors, truck drivers, police and fire, postal, etc. …I’m envisioning something to represent love and thanks to these folks… Could we start here and post and spread? It seems that if the virus can spread worldwide, this could as well.
— Cass

Well, what do you think? Do you have a spare piece of monk’s cloth or linen? A pattern you’ll never do? Turn it over. Anyone can draw a heart and color it in with wool or t-shirt or whatever your leftover noodles are. It doesn’t have to be huge. Do you prefer punching? Do that, then hang it where folks will see it. Even if they don’t get the full significance, we all recognize the feelings and emotions behind a heart. Not a hooker? Feel free to branch out. Sew a heart, crochet a heart, mold a heart. It really doesn’t matter what they’re made of, just that we get them out there.

Rug Hooked heart celebrating #heartsforheroes — Another hooked heart! This one, a lavender sachet pillow, was done by **Lauren Fuqua of Rugs and Pugs**. I won it in one of her many give-aways. Maybe you already have a handmade heart? Put it up today!

The timing for this is absolutely perfect! Those of you who are Jewish just began your celebration of Passover which remembers the Hebrew Exodus after the tenth and most awful plague inflicted upon the ancient Egyptians. As a Christian, today I mark Holy Thursday, the start of the Easter season. Above all else, Holy Thursday is about humble service to others. Christ washed the apostles’ feet. Cass and I have daughters risking their own health to work as cashiers in the grocery stores where we all continue to shop.

By the way, your heart shouldn’t be limited to your front door or window. Nope, you’re going to post them on social media for everyone to find. And you’re gonna hashtag them: #heartsforheroes. Beth Miller of Parris House Wool Works has gotten us rug hookers used to hashtagging #greatinternationalhookin when we display the rugs we’re hooking during these pandemic days. We can do the same for our hearts.

Please hook a heart and help us to thank the heroes: Amy, Tina, Elisabeth, David, and all the others. And enjoy and appreciate what will be very different Easter and Passover holidays this year.

Please share.

March 31, 2020

So, we have a little time on our hands…

Old Japanese drawing of Amabie — The Japanese Amabie is a mythical creature with a message to defeat the coronavirus: “Good harvest will continue for six years from the current year; if disease spreads, show a picture of me to those who fall ill and they will be cured.” Coronavirus, take that! Read more about the Amabie here.

Like you, it appears that I have a little time on my hands. So much has changed EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE WORLD since my last post. It boggles the mind. Or, like my daughter put it, “I really can’t process this.”

Luckily, the governor here in New Mexico was on the stick and started closing things down pretty early, before we had but a few cases of COVID-19. And we have a less dense population than larger metropolitan areas in the country, especially on the coasts. Even more fortuitously, Tom and I saw the writing on the wall and started ~~hoarding toilet paper~~ laying in supplies before the stores were mobbed. Best of all, I managed to get my hair cut the day before we pretty much closed down town. Score! (If you saw how I mangled my toenails a couple of days earlier, you’d appreciate this better.)

The reality is that our home is a pretty comfy place to be confined to. Not that we’re truly confined. We regularly walk in the bosque, the woods running along the Rio Grande near here. Trips to Walmart and Sprouts and even Costco aren’t forbidden, though I fear they’ll become more and more dicey as Albuquerque creeps closer to our peak viral load come the end of April. We have a freezer full of meat and frozen veggies, plenty of wine and olive oil (the latter being the original reason for our Costco membership; the former being an awesome benefit), a treadmill and bike, LOTS of dog food, books galore, and subscriptions to both Prime and Netflix. Best of all, both Tom and I are starting out healthy. That can’t be understated. Oh, and we even still like each other more than two weeks into social distancing from all other people.

Hooked version of the Amabie — Since the Amabie wants all artists to draw a picture of it, I provided a hooked version. It’s the March 19 entry to my **Ribbon Rug Journal**.

But I do miss my friends and the activities that keep me running around like rug hooking demos in the BioPark, guild meetings, time working with Susan’s Legacy, teaching, visiting and lunches out… This week’s excursions out of the house: 1) Walmart for longer term provisions and 2) the blood bank. If you can donate, call your local blood center or hospital; donations are desperately needed everywhere!

Truthfully, I’m glad to have this gift of time. Even though I don’t work-work any more, I have responsibilities that keep me engaged in the community at large. Frankly sometimes they feel overwhelming. Probably because I don’t work-work, parent full time, and do all that other stuff at the same time. My efficiency and tolerance are out of practice. A couple of weeks ago, when this all started, I thought, yes!, I can do all the things I’ve been putting off. I can spring clean and re-organize the cupboards and pantry. I can clear out the piles. Have I? Not at all. Although, in an initial burst of energy and enthusiasm, I did clean the master closet (containing clothes and

Hooked rug wall hanging — I did manage to finish punching “Desert Sun.” The frame is a recycled basket plate holder. Find it on our **Etsy shop**.

hooking supplies) and adjoining laundry room. That’s it. Turns out I haven’t even hooked as much as I normally would. Though most of my hooking gets done in the evening, I typically day-hook a couple of times a week with guild-mates and friends. Yeah, one afternoon of day-hooking all lock-down. I didn’t think my efficiency could be any lower, but without due dates and such…free fall.

Vending and teaching events are all cancelled. Who knows when we’ll be able to reschedule? Venues like the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center, already in a precarious financial situation, may even fail. If you love NMFAC, old EVFAC, like me, donate to it. You probably have your own favorite organizations; support them before you lose them.

Things look kind of bleak, but they have in the past too. Live in the moment and do the things you’ve been putting off. Call a relative stuck at home alone. Talk to an old friend. I did that yesterday for over an hour. Where else did I have to be? It felt great catching up. Make things, anything: a rug, a shawl, a short story, a cake, a garden. We all know that when we’re creative, our mental health improves.

Dog on hooked rug — Tynan gives you this weeks “Whats on the frame.” We’re hooking with old bed sheets again. Show us what’s on your frame. Or your easel or your hoop or your page. (Meanwhile he’s trying to impress on little brother Bowyn that it’s a major sin to even look at a toilet paper roll with lust in his heart.)

To conclude, your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to show us what you are making these days. Maybe you’ll provide a little inspiration to someone who needs it. I want to see a bunch of photos on the High on Hooking Facebook page. Or email them to Laura@highonhooking.com; I’ll share them. And let us know how you and yours are doing. Spouses, partners, kids, grand-kids, and pets. Love the pets! Use the gift of time to stay home, stay busy, and stay healthy!