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 classat 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.
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 Cathyand 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.”)
Tynan brings you this post’s “what’s on the frame”!
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.
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.
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?
It finally happened: We have a new look! What a way to start off 2020. Hopefully, you like it. It’s a bit cleaner, and, hey, change is good.
“Diamonds of New Mexico” was punched. Take my Santa Fe workshop February 29, and learn how to punch one yourself.
A little catch-up…
The year’s started quietly enough. I’m currently prepping for an introductory punch needle rug hooking class at the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center in Santa Fe. (Note that this is Española Valley Fiber Arts Center’s new name, and the class is in the shop they launched in November down near the Rail Yards. Guess I’m not the only one with a new look.) It’ll run on Saturday, February 29, 10:00-2:00. Bring a small pair of scissors and a lunch/snack. And be ready to have some fun! More info here.
The secret project is still secret. Had to get some other work done besides the website, so we’ll be working to finish that in February. Yikes, that’s only a day away!!!
Cathy Kelly and I are still “working” as artists in residence up in Santa Fe at the Inn on the Alameda. It’s a swell hotel, big old fireplace and all, but truthfully, it’s been a bit of a bust thus far. There’s not much traffic coming through. Big surprise; it’s winter. Next year, I hope to “graduate” to one of the busier hotels on the town’s historical plaza. If you’re around, though, we’ll be at the Inn again February 7 and 21, both Fridays.
The image on the left, the fireplace with it’s cozy fire, is the same one that’s in the lobby of the Inn on the Alameda. Why did I hook it and maybe a…butterfly? That’s a story for maybe next week. Or Instagram. It’s a new project. Because I don’t have enough time (?). BTW, it’s not a butterfly; it’s an open book.
We’ve had bad news regarding a couple of events where I usually vend each year. Albuquerque’s apparently still up in the air regarding the Recycled Art Festival. After having nowhere to put us last year, a new home was promised for this year. Sure. And I’ve got swampland in Florida for sale. Also, the end may be near for the High Desert Studio Tour in November. I’m always at my friend Dagmar’s home/studio where she creates BEAUTIFUL hand-dyed yarns under the name ZiaWoolz. 🙁 We’re hoping to bring new life to this event, so hang on for more info.
Lovely news! Many of you have probably seen Karen Miller‘s book that came out last fall: Eyes Open to the World – Memories of Travel in Wool. One of my rugs is featured in it! I’m very grateful to Karen for that. It’s a delightful book to read and take in. And it gives me more rug hooking street cred, if you know what I mean. And that’s despite the fact that my rug was hooked in recycled t-shirts, not wool. 🙂
I guess that’s it for hooking news for now. Regarding the boys, Tynan is fit as ever. A bit furry this time of year, of course. Bowyn, ah, Bowyn. He’s a character that one and not nearly as easy as his big brother. We’ve had a dog trainer in as there’s NO WAY that he could handle the excitement of a puppy class. By that I mean he would generate much of the excitement. Some might even call it…CHAOS. But after being so sick with puppy strangles last summer when he was just a wee one, he’s definitely bounced back. And I do mean bounce. If you get our Instagram feed, you know that we call him Sharknado. Always in the air, always the mouth open. Some day he’ll be a great dog like Tynan. Some day…
Bowyn at rest. It doesn’t happen much and never when we have visitors.
I think that’s enough for today and three other marathon days at my computer revamping this site, giving it the new look. It’s not even live yet. Pray that that went well and that you’re happily reading away on your own electronic device. And if you have any questions for us here at High on Hooking, know that we’re only an email away. Happy 2020!
Tynan’s back, though no new look for him. And he’s got the newest rug on the frame here at High on Hooking. Its a floral sort of thing being hooked with old bed sheets. Have a great weekend!
Inn on the Alameda: “The best of Santa Fe is just a short stroll from the Inn on the Alameda. We are in the heart of the city, just steps from the city’s best restaurants, galleries, and attractions.”
Amidst all the art fairs and general holiday prep, High on Hooking begins as an artist in residence at Santa Fe‘s Inn on the Alameda this Friday. Woohoo! We’ve never done this before, and happily, we’ll be joined by Cathy Kelly. If you’ve read here before, you know that Cathy and I regularly team up under a tent to sell our hooked wares. This winter, though, we won’t be needing no stinkin’ tent. Twice a month through February, we’ll set up shop and workshop next to the Inn’s big, ole fireplace so that we can chat up guests and share the gospel of rug hooking. This is a big thing; Santa Fe, like most of the American Southwest, is all about the weaving. The history and value of our originally northeastern art is less known.
The Inn on the Alameda is one of Santa Fe’s smaller luxury hotels. Unfortunately, I haven’t stayed there, but after visiting last month, I’d certainly like to. (Pray for a snowstorm to suddenly come up one Friday I’m there?) Cathy and I will be “in residence” from from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on the following Fridays: December 20; January 10 and 24; and February 7 and 21. The address is: 303 East Alameda Street, Santa Fe.In addition to a primo location next to the fireplace in the gathering space, they’re providing dinner for us! How swell is that?
I had applied to Santa Fe’s winter artist in residence program sometime last year and then promptly forgot about it. When the Inn contacted me last month, I loved that they were looking for someone other than the usual painter or sculptor. Not that those things are bad, but you know how fiber arts and textiles so often get shoved to the back of the fine art line. Not this time, baby! Okay, a caveat: the Inn will also be hosting other more “regular” artists throughout the winter. And that’s great; it’ll be a fine mix-up for them.
If you’re in the area Friday and need a break from the usual holiday gift buying, etc., come by the Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe for a visit. There’s even a bar! We’d love to converse and maybe even sell you something better than you’ll get in a tourist trap. As usual, mention this blog post and get 10% off any rug by High on Hooking. If you can’t make it to Santa Fe, be sure to check out our Etsy shop or, even easier, just give me a yell.
Tynan not only offers to you one of this week’s “what’s on the frame,” but he offers you a hearty HO,HO, HO and Merry Christmas! Happy New Year too! See you in 2020!
And if I don’t get a chance to tell you before next week: Have a wonderful holiday whether it be Christmas or Hanukkah! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2020 for all!
High on Hooking’s got a little problem. We’re supposed to be in two places at once tomorrow night. We’ll actually be at the Fall Fiber Fiesta in Santa Fe. In fact, we’ll be there till Sunday evening. Fortunately, this show, “What is holiness?” at the Santa Maria de la Vida Abbey in Albuquerque WHICH OPENS TOMORROW runs till December 13. My piece “Sacred Life” was juried in. Maybe we can go together?
Much excitement going on in our little fiber art world here these days. How about yours?
