Thursday makes it a year that “regular” life came to an end here in New Mexico. Not knowing what I know now, I rather welcomed it. No meetings for the foreseeable future! Remember – we never thought the crisis would go on for sooooo long, and Zoom wasn’t a BIG THING yet. I figured I’d have time to work on my own projects and actually get a chance to explore other ideas percolating in the back of my brain, maybe even move them to the front.
Some of that happened. I certainly had ample time to “play” with the Ribbon Rug Journal. In fact, without Covid, I’m not sure how I would’ve been able to log each day’s entry. (Now if I can only get to writing the magazine article on the damn thing!) I managed, too, to finish “Holes,” a rug about the effects of motherhood on women. But then Karen Miller came up with the idea for In the Studio with its presentations and two! online Workshop Weeks (keep watch; the third will be coming), my own class offerings, and, of course, rugs to make (I do have an Etsy shop). The forced time at home was not quite so restful. Such is our new reality.
A one-line, mirror sketching from 2019. Sadly, a self-portrait.
But some things didn’t change. This March, as I did in 2019 and 2020, I will participate in Sketchbook Revivalpresented by artist Karen Abend. It’s a free, online event whereby each day for a couple of weeks a different instructor presents a a different approach to filling up your sketchbook or journal. As much as I used to be good at that, I’m not anymore. Sketchbook Revival gives me a do-over each year and a way to learn new techniques. As Karen says:
Some sketches are colorful. A “creature” rug perhaps?
“Imagine waking up each day brimming with ideas, excitement, and confidence to open up your sketchbook and start creating, no matter what.”
As far as I’m concerned, sketching can be relaxing and enjoyable on its own, but more importantly, better sketching leads to more and better better hooked pieces. Click on the link above to join. While there are social media pages to share your work and to see that of others’, I generally prefer to keep to myself. And you don’t have to attend every session. I pick and choose. One comes out every day, but the videos stay up for a few weeks.
This was perhaps my favorite sketching session from last year. Who knew? Architectural drawing.
Day-hooking. I mentioned it last post. It’s not necessarily what you think. But it is another benefit of being stuck at home. I generally hook in the evening. Like many of you, if I don’t work with my hands after 8:00 p.m. or so, I’ll fall asleep. That’s when I catch up on TV and movies. But sometimes – like right now – I’m hooking a piece that needs: 1) good light, specifically, the light of day and 2) concentration. Like I said before, in another world in other years, my guild, AWAG, held three retreats and had a teacher visit us, usually for an open workshop. Each event gave me three whole days to work on more challenging rugs. And a multitude of folks to ask for advice when it was needed. Or even when it wasn’t. LOL
While I tend to do other tasks during the day, lately I’ve been trying to carve out some time for day hooking to get through this one difficult project. I feel guilty sitting on my ass, but the work happens, and I can even get some of those year-old NOVAs out of my DVR queue. So, day-hooking, yeah, it’s a thing.
Meanwhile, the night-hooking continues. Which is exactly what the boys bring to you today in the pic. I’ve started on the fourth of what I’m calling my #happyrugseries. I realized that after such a negative year, I’d prefer to mostly focus on the brighter aspects of life. For this one, I’m trying to really just go with the flow; there’s little advance planning in it. Other than the holes, which the rug dictated to me as I sewed on his tape.
“What’s on the Frame.” Bowyn takes being a High on Hooking dog very seriously while Tynan is quite blasé about it these days.
Nancy Hart of AWAG created a rug a couple of years ago that I really loved. I miss you, Nancy, but you’re here with me in spirit, and your rug is my inspiration for this project. Tom’s going to kill me as parked in the living room is a large shopping bag AND a laundry basket filled with all kinds of fiber to pick and choose from as I go. (Plus the day-hooking paraphernalia.) But I’m enjoying working on it all!
What’s got you’re attention these days as we head into the final stretch of the Coronacootie’s reign?
As I promised the other day, here is High on Hooking’s annual angel for the coming year. Because last year’s “Angel of 2020 Prays Very, Very Hard” clearly did NOT pray hard enough, this year’s celestial being had to be a bit more…forceful. Enter “The Angel of 2021 – Notorious” who has arrived to kick 2020 ‘s butt to the curb. “Notorious” sports a hand-crocheted jabot as well as wire-rim glasses. In each corner of the piece is a symbol of RBG’s life: scales of justice; a courthouse; the sign for equality; and the spiral of life. That last item can be found on the petroglyphs here in New Mexico where the great lady spent a significant part of the year.
This is a card featuring “The Angel of 2020 Who Prays Very, Very Hard.” She sold right away last year, but she clearly needed some better prayers.
“Notorious” is 22.5 inches by 16.5 inches. She was hooked on my usual monk’s cloth using: wool yarn, wool strips, and ribbons.
A close-up of “Notorious”
I’d like to say that she’s available, but she sold almost as soon as I loaded her up into the Etsy shop. (I still can’t get over that!) The base angel pattern is available to be drawn up on request (linen, monk’s cloth, or rug warp). Email me if you’re interested.
Along with the “Angel of 2021 – Notorious,” I wish us all a much brighter and happier 2021.
Tynan and Bowyn present “What’s on the Hook” this week. By the way, the little guy is feeling much better and is back to all his mischievous ways.
What’s next? Why we’re officially into the holidays! Interestingly, that means that, at the moment, there is absolutely nothing on the frame. Not that I’m sitting on my butt, eating bon bons. No! Especially since the damn Coronacootie has seen fit to provide me an extra five pounds given how it keeps me at home. New Mexico has been pretty much locked-down till yesterday. Even if it wasn’t, the surge numbers scare the crap out of us.
Uncharacteristically, there’s absolutely nothing “On the Frame” this week. (Yet.) There is, however, something on my crochet hook. I’m making a cute basket-bag; the pattern and yarn are courtesy of We Are Knitters, if you’re interested. And I’m putting the finishing touches on “The Angel of 2021.” Will show her tomorrow, I hope. That almost-lockdown made it difficult to get a couple of items.
And we’re getting some classes ready for the New Year. God knows it’ll be a l-o-n-g winter, so we need something to keep us busy.
You too can “Build a Baby Boucherouite” or, as I like to call it, Barbies Magic Carpet. It’s what’s next on Zoom for High on Hooking.
First class up will be BUILD A BABY BOUCHEROUITE on Saturday, January 16, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Email me at Laura@highonhooking.com if you’re interested in coming. I ran that class in October during In the Studio’s Workshop Week and it was well received. More info to come, though you can see the basics here. If you’re on my waiting list from last time, no worries, I’ll be contacting you.
Speaking of Workshop Week, in the Studio’s Workshop Week 2 is coming! We’ve got a couple of new teachers this time around, so be watching for registration info too!
Let us not forget that it is the season of gift-giving. Remember that old adage: RUGS MAKE THE BEST GIFTS! Especially, hand-hooked rugs. Check out our Etsy shop to see what we have in our section of Santa’s Workshop this year. Spy something you like, you can buy it there or contact me directly at Laura@highonhooking.com and get $10 off the Etsy price for items over $50. As usual, I’m also open for commissions.
I wish everyone a safe holiday season. Although I’ve removed “autumn” from the house, I haven’t put the tree and other Christmas decor up. I suppose that’s really what’s next here. I have time; Advent just started Sunday. Besides, it’ll be a “small” Christmas this year, only the favorites will be out. What about you? Going all out as usual?
Given Covid, I’m amazed at how busy my world’s been these past months – some days are spinning out of control! Besides hosting events, I’ve been attending plenty of others. And then there’s the literal spinning, as in vertigo. For over a month, I’ve had days feeling as if I’m walking on the deck of a boat. Sometimes the waves are just little ripples, like in a pond. Other times, there’s a big, old storm coming! While I suffer a completely unmerited hangover! The ENT says it’s not an ear or sinus infection, and the chiropractor says I’m well aligned. That leaves those pesky calcium crystals that reside in our inner ears sensing gravity. They need to be re-positioned which is why I’m off for a physical therapy evaluation tomorrow. Here’s hoping they can find a way to end the spinning.
Bowyn on our surprise snow day last month.
Meanwhile, poor, little Bowyn is ailing with a wicked double ear infection and mouth sores that make eating difficult. Dude’s really looking hangdog. Yesterday we saw Dr. Forsyth (of the Taylor Ranch Veterinary Clinic here in ABQ). Now we have new meds and more ear-washing; I am not Bowyn’s favorite person at the moment. Praying he feels better in a few days.
“PLACES” WE’VE BEEN
Okay, less actual places, more Zoom gatherings. Since we last checked in I’ve been to:
The Alt Fiber Hook-In with some lovely ladies from Canda and the US. Perhaps we should plan another for one evening or Saturday? Thoughts?
The Adobe Wool Arts Guild‘s first actual meeting, albeit it virtual, since March. If you’re located in New Mexico and interested in joining, email me. We’re looking to set up a class or two for next year. (Still virtual, I’m afraid.) Maybe you’d like to join us.
In the Studio’s inaugural Workshop Week. This was fun – Karen Miller, Susan Feller, Beth Miller, Meryl Cook, and I each held a workshop; included with “tuition” was a ticket to an evening hook-in and a closing panel discussion. Such was our success, that we’re planning another week this winter. Keep watch for that. There will be all new classes!
In the Studio with Nadine Falgel. Nadine spoke about how she she makes “slow art” to combat “fast fashion.” This being one of my own pet issues, I was really interested. But while I like to recycle old or would-be scrapped textiles into my own pieces, thus keeping them out of landfills, Nadine actually uses these “rags” as her subject matter. See more about her work on her Instagram page. And, BTW, she’s got a solo show coming up in the new year.
hung in the show. It ran until just last Friday. Unfortunately, with the Coronacootie spiking, we couldn’t have the usual opening and closing soirées, but you can see the show HERE, just scroll your way down the page when you get there.
Guatemala! It’s the farthest I’ve gone courtesy of the Stitching Stories Embroidery Workshop from Multicoloreslast week. I took that class because 1) I’ve become more interested in embroidery over the last year or so and 2) I’ve been thinking about doing a story rug. The class was kind of a 2-fer for me. I’ve been holding onto some poems that I think will work well. We didn’t start any projects in the three hours, but we practiced some of the stitches the ladies use and spoke about what we might want to do. Consider, taking one of the online Multicoloresclasses when they offer them again. (It’s easier than going all the way to Central America!) Micaela and Sara were excellent at demonstrating their work and answering questions on their processes. The fact that everything had to be translated both ways didn’t hurt the continuity of the workshop at all. I passed on the hooking class as I already work plenty with t-shirts, but I hear from friends that it was a good experience as well. And the tuition monies go to a great cause!
WHERE ARE WE OFF TO NEXT?
Tomorrow evening at 8:30 I’m heading to the Anchorage Museum in Alaska, for Amy Meissner‘s Intersectional Selves Mending Workshop. More info HERE. Like Nadine and myself, Amy’s also interested in how we can counteror at least mitigate the actions of our throw-away culture. And I’ve got some knit items that I’ve not yet tried to mend.
In the Studio with Larry Weyand airs Wednesday, December 2, at 1:00 Eastern. More info on that HERE. A teaser: Through the process of autoethnography, I explore how my work lies in the space where narrative, psychological resilience, mat making and food intersect. Food and rugs! I’ll have more info later.
On December 8, I’ll be joining the “CSU Libraries and the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising for expert advice on how to preserve your family archives, photos, and textile heirlooms.” It seemed like a good idea. More info HERE. It’s called Caring for Your Family Treasures.
Who knows what else I’ll find to occupy myself in December? As if I wasn’t busy enough hooking and hemming my last rugs of 2020. And don’t even mention the Ribbon Rug Journal! Only a month and a half to go on that…
You too can “Build a Baby Boucherouite” or, as I like to call it, Barbies Magic Carpet.
Plans for early 2021 include the second In the Studio Workshop Week as I mentioned. I’ll also be running Building a Baby Boucherouite on my own for those who missed it in October. Keep an eye out for scheduling if you’re interested.
And although this class is scheduled and up online, I don’t believe that our proliferating Covid problem will allow it to run. Or that I’ll be comfortable leaving home for it so soon after the holidays when it’s clear that so many germs will be shared. (In which case, I can cancel…if there are even any students!) It is, however, just an honor being able to offer a class with Ghost Ranch here in New Mexico.
Just one of the views from Ghost Ranch. Sunsets in New Mexico. Its about the light.
For those not familiar with it, artistGeorgia O’Keeffe‘s home in Abiquiú, New Mexico, sits at the edge of the 21,000-Ghost Ranch property, named as such because cattle rustlers trying to keep their stolen cows a secret said the ranch was haunted by evil spirits. Hopefully, the vaccines we keep talking about will work, and we’ll be able to get to this or a similar class sometime sooner than later.
Dizzy? Head spinning? Have I given you vertigo to go with mine? I hope not, especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner. We’ll have a quiet one here, much like the first holidays when we moved to Albuquerque in 2015, before we knew anyone well enough to share our bad habits and proclivities. (We had to go all Siren-like and lure people in before that could happen.) The kid is scheduled to come down for the first time since this whole mess began in March. We can’t put her off any more. Unfortunately, masks, social distancing, and a 2-week quarantine after she leaves are all on the docket. Thank goodness I have so many things to do!
Gobble, gobble!
If I don’t make it back here next week, I wish you all a wonderful and TINY Thanksgiving. Remember, you can stay small yet still have all the trimmings. And there will be less dishes to wash!
“Holes” hand-hooked art, approximately 68″ tall x 33″ wide. Materials: used children’s clothing and bedding, wool yarn, silk sari yarn, velvet strips, and crepe fabric strips. “…make no mistake, genetic programming all but ensures love and duty toward offspring. That love is patch-worked over our leaking selves, especially over pulse points where we feel the beating of our own hearts.”
“A Vision of Hope and Healing,” 2020’s art show at the Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey in Albuquerque opens Friday evening. It’s a perfect theme for this year, no? Most happily, like last year, I have a piece, “Holes,” that was juried into the show.
“Holes” was last year’s secret project; it’s to be included in Karen Miller‘s motherhood art book coming out in 2022. (More info on that later.) I finally finished it in February. I was also hoping to jury it into another show, but that didn’t work out. Nonetheless, it was accepted into “Hope and Healing” which pleases me inordinately. The Abbey is a beautiful, little place in southern Albuquerque. It’s quiet, even as it looks out onto the city, peaceful, even as you watch planes readying to land at the Sunport.
The Norbertinesare committed to art; you can see it in the church they built. It leads you in, invites you to pray or at least reflect. Their mission and inspiration say it all:
Art at the Abbey gathers people of diverse stories, circumstances, beliefs, and perspectives together in community. We foster an encounter with the human experience and seek dialogue as the Holy Spirit inspires through art, a universal way of expression. By this, we hope to uphold themes of human dignity and openness in relation to overlying realities and movements in our world today to encourage resilience and hope.
In the spirit of Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey stands by the position that all are welcome to bear witness to and participate in their life as community, regardless of religious or spiritual background. They embrace their call to extend the grace and love of Christ unreservedly and appreciate the opportunity to do so through the universal language of art. As a sacred place and home to artworks by various artists of a shared inspiration, they are blessed by Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey to host art exhibitions, a work of art in itself.
“Holes” is a motherhood rug. Perhaps not the one you might expect. While the media, both traditional and social, proclaim the “nobleness” of motherhood, practically sainting mothers, it’s not that way in real life. Sure, it has its moments, more of them, if you’re lucky, but that’s not every mother’s experience. Certainly, it hasn’t been mine. Tom can attest, and he probably needs his own “holey” rug, but he’ll have to hook it himself.
Motherhood, parenthood – I won’t lie, it’s been a mixed bag – love and damage – and I wish a lot of it could’ve been different. But we only have the lives we’re dealt – the kids’ and our own. They’re what shape us.
“Official” Description of “Holes”:
Motherhood leaves behind holes, real, often un-patchable, irreversible. Damage is physical and deeply emotional no matter the child. Children leave holes just by leaving, from the womb or home.
The piece is hand-hooked using mostly recycled textiles. As children wear down their clothes, they can leave their mother in tatters as well.
But there is deep love for our children despite the wounds they inflict. We never lose love for our kids.
Swirls suggest the intertwining of life, blood, spirit. Life and love are dynamic, always flowing between mother and child. Life constructs life, but it also destroys. Some of that dysfunction can heal or at least be patched so that the life and love go on.
Note that there will be Covid-19 protocols in place. Visit the websitefor more information.
If you’re in the ABQ area, please visit “A Vision of Hope and Healing,” if only to experience the Abbey, its stillness, and its magnificent views.
G THING yet. I figured I’d have time to work on my own projects and actually get a chance to explore other ideas percolating in the back of my brain, maybe even move them to the front.
