Category: not-so-traditional hooking

July 12, 2016

Meet the Guatemalan rug hookers

Lucky me – not only did I meet one of the Guatemalan rug hookers, but I got to see the fabulous work that she and her co-op sisters do. Feast your eyes:

Rugs, rugs, and more Guatemalan hooked rugs. All are made of recycled clothing, primarily t-shirts.

This past weekend, Tom and I headed up to Santa Fe’s Folk Art Market. I’d hoped to get there last year specifically to see the Guatemalan rugs, but our house in Massachusetts sold just a few weeks too late, so I had to wait. It was definitely worth it.

It's all about the colors and those birds, and flowers. What a native sense of design. — It’s all about the colors and those birds, and flowers. What a native sense of design.

For those who don’t know the story, back in 2009, after visiting Guatemala and seeing the rampant poverty and environmental and other challenges women and their families faced, Mary Wise and Jody Slocum decided they had to help. By teaching Guatemalan women the art of rug hooking, they would provide them a means of self-support.

Look at these rugs! While hooking’s not native to this part of the world, the ladies clearly took to it. Some became teachers so as to better spread the “Gospel of Rug Hooking.” Currently, there are 63 women in seven communities taking part. With the money they make selling their mats, they can buy and/or improve their housing, send kids to school, get medical care…

I didn't get to take one home. But there's always next year! — I didn’t get to take one home, but there’s always next year!

I was excited to see the rugs in part because of how they’re made. These ladies can’t just pick up some wool at a local shop. Nope, they up-cycle old t-shirts just like me. Though they do cut their strips wider than I do which creates an even meatier rug than my own. But it’s the colors and the motifs they use in their designs that most impress.

Labels indicating authenticity: Made by the Cooperative of Maya Women Rug Hookers.

Our rugs are unique pieces of art reflective of Maya culture. They are made of 100% recycled clothing sourced directly in our communities. We take our design inspirations from the huipils (traditional blouses) worn by Maya women and Semana Santa alfombras. These [alfombras] are rugs created in the streets of Guatemala during Easter using colored sawdust, flowers, fruit and vegetables.

— taken from literature from Multicolores, the organization formed to support Mary’s rug-hooking initiative and the Cooperative of Maya Women Rug Hookers.

Artist Yessika Calgua Morales of Guatemala. — One of the Guatemalan rug hookers: Yessika Calgua Morales..

Artist Yessika Calgua Morales, 22, was manning her booth when I arrived there. It was her first trip to the Santa Fe Market. She did beautifully. Briefly, we talked t-shirts and color. She’s been hooking about 7 years now, and the money she’s made has gone towards her mom’s medical expense, saving for school, and some dentures. And let’s not forget confidence. Learning something new, something alien to your own culture, a culture that’s not always hospitable towards independent women, that’s the BIG pay-off. Go, Yessika!

Tune in next week:
Pics and such on the other 159 booths Tom and I saw at Santa Fe’s International Folk Art Market.

A final looksie at the rugs. — A final looksie at the Guatemalan rugs.

June 27, 2016

Summer hooking New Mexican style

One set of mugs and rugs that's sold at the Railyards Market this summer. — One set of mugs and rugs that’s sold at the Railyards Market this summer.

Summer hooking New Mexican style is…busy! Mostly because I’m selling at Albuquerque’s Rail Yards Market so often. Then there’s a possible show in August that I may do with a friend. And let’s not forget the rugs that I’m coming up with in my head – for me! The Albuquerque Fiber Council’s Fiber Arts Fiesta isn’t until May of next year, but any rugs I submit have to be ready to go in March! Now’s the time to start baking those ideas.

Next mug and rug in the queue. I see bright colors with that black.

Mug rugs are selling best at the market. It’s not surprising; they’re pretty cheap – beginner’s rug buying – and I include a mug with them. They make nifty, little hostess gifts. Above is one that sold a couple of weeks ago. Let’s hope that the one I’m starting tonight sells just as quickly. You can see it to the left here; it’ll be done in t-shirts.

I can't wait to see how these hook up. — I can’t wait to see how these hook up.

After that, I’ll be doing a little experiment based on the bedsheet rugs. Check out these fat quarters I picked up just this morning in a local quilt shop – Hip Stitch. Sure sheets are nice, and I do love to up-cycle, but look at that batik! They’ll look fabulous with a tea cup and saucer I picked up at Savers.

Also on the frame this week, but not for much longer, is my current bedsheet rug. This one’s hooked into monks’ cloth rather than latch hook backing. Makes for a much tighter rug, though it takes longer to hook, certainly. It’s cute, though, and hefty enough for floor use.

MY current bed sheet rug. I'm trying to be "un-fussy" as someone put it in another blog. I'm making up the rectangles as I go along. Only rule: None of the rectangles can look alike. — My current bed sheet rug. I’m trying to be “un-fussy,” as someone put it in another blog, by making up the rectangles as I go. Only rule: None of the rectangles can look alike. “Summertime and the hooking is easy…”

In other news, let me first apologize for the quality of my pics lately. I finally realized that something was really wrong with the camera on my phone, a phone just purchased four months ago. I had Tom look at it after I tried to clean it yet again and wouldn’t you know it, it wasn’t dirty; it was scratched clear to hell! I grabbed his phone – same make and model, a little older even – and took a photo. Perfectly clear! We think I received a bad one. What are you gonna do? A new phone’s on order. We’ll make a close inspection of its camera when it comes in. Next week’s blog should have better pictures, though, in the meantime I’m using hubby’s camera. (See how much clearer the second, third , and fourth pics are above?)

Do you take a summer break from hooking and wool? Take up another activity? Or do you crank up the AC and loop away?

June 1, 2016

Rail Yards Market this week!

Albuquerque’s Rail Yards Market runs Sundays, May-October, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Rail Yards Market – Albuquerque is finally here! For me, that is. Once juried in, I opted to skip May and sell in the summer and early fall every other week. With so many excellent artisans around here, management gave me August off to make room. I won’t complain.

I enjoy sales and such. I try to bring work with me; it generates all kinds of conversation and memories. “I remember helping my grandmother do this…” (Of course, all hookers know that “I did this in the 70s” really means they did a latch hook kit their mom bought them.) Certainly, kids love to try their hand at hooking. And in a town where weaving and quilting are the fiber arts queens, I think it’s time for a new princess to show her hand. I’m happy to be hooking’s ambassadress.

HIgh on Hooking getting ready to go out on the road. Or at least to the Rail Yards Market for a few hours. — High on Hooking getting ready to go out on the road. Or at least to the Rail Yards Market for a few hours.

If you’re in the Albuquerque area between 10:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. this coming Sunday, please stop by. There’s art, food, farmers and their produce, music, and a general good time to be had by all.

Before I can get there, though, I have a lot to do:

Remake tags for every rug. The ones still on some of the mats contain High on Hooking’s info pre-New Mexico.
Check to make sure that my Square is working properly.
Photograph newer rugs.
Finish a couple of mug rugs up. I steamed them two days ago.
Pay June’s rent to the Railyards or all this will be moot.
Sew some hangers onto some of the rugs.
Purchase a basket or two for the small mats.

Many of you know the work that goes into getting ready for a show or sale. I’m not new to this rodeo, but I haven’t done it for well over a year given that we were in the midst of packing, selling a house, and moving in 2015. Time to sweep out the cobwebs and…climb back in that saddle again…

Many hookers are averse to selling away their artwork. Not me; I have too many at this point. Even too many to give away. And I’m making more all the time! Here’s hoping they sell. Are your rugs and mats adorning your own home, given as gifts, hidden away in a closet, or sold to make room for more and/or to purchase materials to make more?

Lest we forget the work on the frame. It's a new bed sheet rug but on monks' cloth this time rather than a latch hook backing. Narrower strips, more holes to fill means it's taking a lot more time! — Lest we forget the work on the frame. It’s a new bed sheet rug but on monks’ cloth this time rather than on a latch hook backing. Narrower strips, more holes to fill means it’s taking a lot more time!

May 11, 2016

Open workshop with Cheryl Bollenbach gone but not forgotten

Cheryl (r) and Dagmar hold up Dag's rug for show and tell Friday. Dag's son was the original artist, but she's the one putting the life into it. She's a fearless fiber artist who incorporated al kinds of new techniques into this rug. — Cheryl Bollenbach (r) and Dagmar hold up Dag’s rug for show and tell Friday. Dag’s son was the original artist, but she’s the one putting the life into it. She’s a fearless fiber artist who incorporated all kinds of new techniques into this rug.

Hard to believe, but it’s a full week later and the open workshop with Cheryl Bollenbach has come and gone.

Fortunately, the lessons learned and the camaraderie enjoyed go on. Case in point: many of us from the Adobe Wool Arts guild are gathering Friday for another round of dyeing. Okay, personally, I’m not doing any dyeing; I don’t even have any wool to dye. I’m just going to hang out and provide the comedy.

Even though I was working with t-shirt strips last week, it didn't stop me from purchasing some of Cheryl's wools. I loved the sparkly stuff; every rug needs a little bling in it. — Even though I was working with t-shirt strips last week, it didn’t stop me from purchasing some of Cheryl’s wools. I love the sparkly stuff; every rug needs a little bling in it.

Check out the stem action on Dagmar's rug. By incorporating cording and stitching and her own hand-dyed yarn, she punched up the texture factor. — Check out the stem action on Dagmar’s rug. By incorporating cording and stitching and her own hand-dyed yarn, she punched up the texture factor.

Linda's Celtic color-planning. Oh, my! — Linda’s Celtic color-planning. Oh, my!

I’ve included a bunch of pics I took last week. Some are of rugs, some are of rugs and their people, and some are just of folks concentrating on their hooking or having fun.

Mary and her dog sat next to me. SHe was so life-like (the dog, not Mary), that I had to reach over and pet her now and again. — Mary and her dog sat next to me. She was so life-like (the dog, not Mary; Mary is full of life), that I had to reach over and pet her now and again. Again, the dog, not Mary.

How my own psychedelic Tynan (the Welsh springer spaniel) is coming. BTW, he’s made out of old t-shirts.

Cheryl helped each of us develop some new skills, learn a few tricks, and look further into what it is we’re aiming to get out of this art/craft of rug hooking. She did some “long and lovely” dying in the Fry Daddy.

The other Linda's rug included her Mom. I salute Linda for learning hoe to do a realistic face. — The other Linda’s rug included her Mom. I salute Linda for learning hoe to do a realistic face.

Mary's mountainscape is full of color. It made her absolutely giddy for the three days. — Mary’s mountainscape is full of color. It made her absolutely giddy for the three days.

Cathy spent three days hooking and then sculpting these rocks. Very cool.

Friday, Cheryl finally put the “fire” into her presentation as she’d been promising: she demonstrated how we might enjoy aiming a heat gun onto decorated Tyvek to shrivel it. “Cut it into strips and you can really hook this up,” she told us. For those not familiar with Albuquerque springs, they tend to be rather windy. Indeed, Friday, Mother Nature let it gust. The doors of our police substation venue were desperate to open and close on their own; Linda was almost blown down as she stepped outside. Maybe fire wasn’t the best idea for the day especially given our EMS facility. Nonetheless, Cheryl was up for it. Alas, the heat gun on hand wasn’t. Too hot, it blew holes into the Tyvek. They were, we noted, quite interesting-looking holes. (Sorry, the wind precluded photos being taken.) Yet I’m sure something could’ve been done with that Tyvek and some wool and a little imagination. And even the foot-long, blue twist tie Cheryl deposited on my table Wednesday afternoon. That’s how she made us feel about hooking. Anything is possible.

Some of the colors I'm using on Tynan. — Some of the colors I’m using on Tynan.

The values of those same greens. I think that one of the most valuable things I learned was how to use my phone's camera to help me be a better hooker. — The values of those same greens. I think that one of the most valuable things I learned was how my phone’s camera can make me use color better and thus improve as a hooker.

A "long and lovely" cooking. — A “long and lovely” cooking.

...and voila! Here's the piece all dyed and washed and ready to use. And it's all mine because I won it! — …and voila ! Here’s the piece all dyed and washed and ready to use. And it’s all mine because I won it!

Darlene hooking her rose with those skinny, little #3 cuts.

Denise, still new to hooking, even did some proddy work. (I've never done that...) — Denise, still new to hooking, even did some proddy work. (I’ve never done that…)

Thank you, Cheryl Bollenbach, for an an informative and plain old fun three days. Kudos to Catherine Kelly for all your organizational work and to all the other members of the Adobe Wool Arts guild for the hospitality and friendship you’ve shown me these last several months since I moved to town.

Denise working hard. So is Pat behind her, Pat who's been hooking longer than most anyone! — Denise working hard. So is Pat behind her, Pat who’s been hooking longer than most anyone!

Much as Rug Hooking Magazine has the first rug last, Liz presented her first rug and her new second rug. Bravo, Liz! — Much as **Rug Hooking Magazine** has the first rug last, Liz presented her first rug and her new second rug. Bravo, Liz!

May 2, 2016

The week ahead

Just stopped by to dash off a quick post – a “postette” perhaps? – as I’ve got tons to do to get ready for this week’s hooking activities. Tomorrow, being the first Tuesday of the month, will find me at Albuquerque’s Botanic Garden participating in my guild’s monthly demonstration. I’ll be bringing my recently completed bed sheet rug and the new one that I’m working on. Yes, I am rather obsessed and finding these rugs great fun to work on.

One finished bed sheet rug to show off at the Biopark tomorrow.

And a new bed sheet rug to demo with the guild.

Then there’s this week’s 3-day rug camp with Cheryl Bollenbach. Like I mentioned last week, I finally decided that I wanted to do a portrait of my dog Tynan. But not a realistic interpretation looks- and color-wise. I do want to realistically capture his spirit. I managed to draw him onto the monk’s cloth a few days ago. Picked the colors only this morning and still have to sew the twill tape onto the pattern. So much to do before Wednesday!!!

Tynan and I are off to workshop with the Adobe Wool Arts Guild and Cheryl Bollenbach Wednesday.

What are your hooking plans and/or goals this week?