Category: hooking

September 22, 2015

A rug hooker’s welcome to Albuquerque

My thanks to ATHA’s Region 12 Adobe Wool Arts Guild here in Albuquerque! I attended my first meeting Wednesday last and was welcomed graciously. It was a pleasure hooking with others again even if I was actually sewing twill tape for the day – prepping one rug and finishing another.

Unfortunately, I left my phone at home that day, so I have no pics to share. My bad! But imagine my surprise when I returned home and took a look at my ATHA magazine that had just arrived, forwarded from my old address in Massachusetts. On page 48, there’s a photo of Dagmar and daughter Fiona Byrd. Gene Shepherd wrote a piece about how my new guild has been admitting youth members for over a year. Fiona’s been hooking for two years. She’s even won a blue ribbon at the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta. How great is that? For Fiona, for the art of hooking, and for Mom Dagmar, Dagmar who I’d met just that day and even sat next to.

Coincidences – or perhaps “synchronicity” is a more apt word – didn’t start there. A gentleman and his wife from Santa Fe showed up at the meeting bearing antique rugs. He was interested in restoration work or possibly selling them. My thoughts immediately went to Jessie Turbayne back in Massachusetts who hung with my old Charles River Guild. “I know someone back at home,” I offered tentatively. But being 2200 miles or so away… And just like that, someone asks, “Anyone know where Jessie Turbayne is?” Uh, yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. I passed her info on to the Santa Feans. Hopefully, she’ll be receiving an email and some pics soon.

So, I have high hopes for my hooking here in Albuquerque. The emotional pains of moving away from friends and family are somewhat ameliorated in this day of easy Internet contact. I can stay in touch with pretty much anyone with email or Facebook. But after almost two months here, I’m craving live-action friends and community. Last week was a good welcome and a perfect start.

Our new crib – come Wednesday. It needs some greening, flowers too, and definitely pumpkins, but all in good time.

This Wednesday brings us to our final moving hurdle; we close on our new house. The process of making it a home starts Thursday. I’ll be busy, but I’ll try to check in as often as I can. See High on Hooking’s Facebook page for updates. And if you have any tips (I’m talking to you, Deb!), please feel free to share them in the comments below.

September 9, 2015

Playing catch up

Sunflowers along the RIo Grande. They've been bursting out all over given the (relatively) rainy summer. — Sunflowers along the Rio Grande. They’ve been bursting out all over given the (relatively) rainy summer.

It’s a slow week here in Albuquerque. That’s probably for the best. It’ll let me catch up on paperwork, write a few thank you notes, and read more of the slush pile for Fifth Wednesday once again. If you like good fiction, I suggest you head to the journal’s webpage and check it out. And I’m not saying that just because I’m an assistant editor there. Really!

Then there’s the resume I’ve got to update for the first time in a few years. When I left Massachusetts, I’d been running a food pantry. It was a job I loved. What to do now that I’m here in New Mexico? My Spanish is pretty rudimentary, pigeon really, so, even if there were a pantry job available, the language barrier would be substantial. Nonetheless, the resume is a place to start along with some gentle networking when I head to my first Adobe Wool Arts Guild meeting here next week.

Great sculpture we found along the Bosque, next to the parking lot, way atop a big boulder. — Great sculpture we found along the Bosque, next to the parking lot, way atop a HUGE boulder.

Another reason to sit back and enjoy the sun and quiet (soon Tom and the kid will be out looking for a car; she’s getting her permit today) is that my rheumatoid arthritis has been acting up lately. Not a surprise given the stress of the move and the purchase of a new house. I’ve heard from one other hooker with RA; anyone else out there? Have any tips for us? I’m lucky in that my hands aren’t affected as much as my hips and feet are. I can generally hook as much as I wish. Though I do cut my strips by hand. I’ll usually feel that the next day.

Lest you think my catch up week means I’m not out there finding inspiration, not so! I have an artist’s date with myself planned for later in the week. Saw a piece in the paper about a tapestry exhibit at the local Weems Galleries and Framing. A few of weaver Susan Klebanoff‘s pieces were included in the story; it’s a solo show. Looks fabulous.

Maybe someone knows what this plant is, but I'm calling it "magical fog grass." — Maybe someone knows what this plant is, but I’m calling it “magical fog grass.”

Lastly, Tom and I eschewed the mountains this weekend for some time down by the Rio Grande, the Bosque trail, specifically, that runs along the river. Fortunately, there was more water in the Rio Grande than there was when I was here two years ago; the drought’s abated some. Enjoy a few pics that I snapped while we were walking.

Where might you be headed for an artist’s date this week? Or do you self-inspire in some other way?

July 20, 2015

Regrets, I have a few…

I move from a wonderful house, neighborhood, job, church, writing group, rug hooking guild in just four days. Across the country. It’s a planned move; I really have no excuse for my regrets, the things I intended to do, but never got around to making real. And that makes me sad.

Our home has sold. We'll miss her. — Our home has sold. We’ll miss her.

While I did make it to the beach this past weekend for a final farewell to the ocean (necessary when you’re moving from Massachusetts to the southwestern high desert), I didn’t manage to get down to Salty Brine Beach down in the little fishing port of Galilee, Rhode Island. If it sounds familiar and you’re not from around here, it’s because part of the beach blew up last week (no, they don’t know the exact cause yet and exploding beaches are not the norm around here, but the sunbathing lady will be okay). It’s a nice, little place to swim, but more importantly, George’s of Galilee, a fabulous restaurant right on the beach, has a sunny deck where one can sit and eat lobster and drink chardonnay while watching the boats and ferries go in and out. I never got that last lobster.
Despite the fact that I was in New Hampshire last August (and lots of times before that), I’ve never made it to the Dorr Mill Store. It’s my twill tape go-to. Have you seen all the colors they carry? And I’ve never made the pilgrimage to Halcyon in Maine where I get (also via mail) much of the rug yarn that I use. Thank God for the Internet on both accounts.
I planned on hitting up all the cultural activities and museums – especially those dealing with textiles like the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts – before I left. Little did I know how much work, the kid’s high school graduation, home repairs, selling the house, packing, and good-byes would take out of us. Damn, we were lucky if we even managed to watch television. Some evenings The Young and the Restless was as artsy as it got. (I love you, TIVO.)
While life’s been a series of “last times” and farewells these past weeks, there are people I would’ve liked to have seen, especially some I’ve only met through Facebook, but are nonetheless very dear to me. I hope you all know who you are. I’m truly sorry that we couldn’t meet face-to-face. Maybe one day in the future. Tom and I will still have family here in New England, and you are always welcome in Albuquerque.

Lastly, I regret that it took me so long to revamp this website and blog. Posts will undoubtedly be sporadic for a few weeks, but I’ll try to get something of the journey and the adventure up to share. Feel free to check High on Hooking’s Facebook page for updates too. Prayers for safe travels are always appreciated. I’ll see you on the other side of the country. Next stop: New Mexico!

July 3, 2015

On the threshold of an adventure…

Time’s running out. Quickly. Yesterday was my last day of work running the food pantry. I hope that I’ve passed on all the “wisdom” I’ve accumulated to Sue while I had the chance. Clients depend on it.

The truth is that even if I didn’t, there are still a few weeks before the moving van arrives to pack up the crap we’ve accumulated over 23 years. We’re on a precipice here, people – about to move from New England, where we were all born and bred, to the high desert of New Mexico.

Where we’ll be starting our new adventure.

When I say “we,” I mean me (the hooker), Tom (the husband), and the almost 18-year old daughter. When I say “born and bred,” I mean raised on Dunkin’ Donuts, trips to Rhode Island beaches, vacations in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, fresh seafood, East coast educations, fiery-colored fall leaves, and, of course, Providence‘s up and continually coming food and art scene.

The truth is that I was born on the western side of Connecticut closer to NYC than Boston. My elementary and high school field trips usually ended up in New York: the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, the Cloisters, the Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Opera… (Who can complain about that???) It was only after college and two degrees – in Rhode Island and then in Kansas – and two marriages, that I ended up in Massachusetts. Where I’ve been for 23+ years. Where I learned to hook. And haven’t looked back.

But for years I have looked forward. Back in 1990 or so, I headed to Arizona on business. It was October, 90 degrees, blue-skied, and glorious. I fell in love with the Southwest. A few vacations and explorations later, and new hubby and I espoused New Mexico, truly the land of enchantment with it’s big sky, clear air, art, hiking, and outdoor lifestyle. Sure, things stood in the way: careers, a kid who needed to finish school, and a mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s. (Life does indeed suck sometimes.)

But high school graduation finally arrived last month, and mother-in-law smiles down on us from up above, encouraging migration to a new and warmer climate. New Mexico’s not populated with quite as many hookers as New England and the Maritimes (you can all stop laughing at my understatement), but I’ll find them. And my hopes are to introduce the art form to new admirers. Preferably in trade for weaving lessons. I’ve always wanted to weave. Have you seen the tapestries of Donna Loraine Contractor?

The next few weeks will be busy. And potentially volatile. Emotions run high when you’re in the midst of a cross country move to a place with no one waiting for you. Just your dreams and hopes for a new adventure. Follow us and see where they take us.